My column today, Time to pick a candidate, addresses the issue of looking at the variety of presidential candidates – from both parties – and selecting the one that would best serve your and the countries needs. Feedback encouraged!

Pick A Candidate

Pull quote – … a system for selecting your preferred candidate for president, something that reflects our statewide and national trend of thinking beyond party registration.

Scott Harris

The 2008 presidential election is only 20 months away – which in today’s era of long campaigns means things are heating up already. Most Americans don’t bother voting in the primaries, waiting to vote instead (if at all) in the general election, when the candidates have been conveniently weaned down to two – one from each of the major parties. About that time, you’ll start hearing the phrase “lesser of two evils,” reflecting the fact that a great many voters are not happy with either option.

The time to do something about that is now, while you still have a variety of options and choices. There are already nine announced Democratic candidates and the same number of announced Republican candidates. Some will drop out and more will be added, but the primary season will certainly be active and the campaigning has already been begun.

Allow me to suggest a system for selecting your preferred candidate for president, something that reflects our statewide and national trend of thinking beyond party registration.

The first thing to do is review the candidate’s positions on various issues. Identify issues that are important to you. Keeping the number of key issues to a minimum, ideally three, allows you to focus on the most significant topics. These can include anything that is important to you, but obvious examples are; universal healthcare, Iraq, stem cell research, abortion, same sex marriage, infrastructure, education, taxes, environment, energy independence, and immigration.

Once identified, review the candidate’s positions against yours. This will narrow the number of viable candidates, especially you have litmus test positions – your stance on abortion or troops in Iraq, etc. Try not to get caught up in party generalizations. For example, some Republicans are pro-choice while some Democrats favor our military presence in Iraq; therefore, it is time well-spent to explore all the options, regardless of party affiliation.

Compare the positions taken today against their past voting record. Look carefully at inconsistencies in positions taken and allow for nuances and the impact of time. Not all modified positions indicate ‘flip-flopping” or mere political expediency. Some changes in position are the result of a change in circumstances, or the maturing of a position or point-of-view. Do we really want our leaders married by political necessity to positions taken years ago, or do we want their current positions to reflect new information and a changing world?

Now take a look at any prejudices you may have regarding age, race, gender, religion, experience, etc. We have serious female, black, Latino and Mormon candidates for the first time, and it is impossible that this will not impact the campaign. Some will prefer their candidates “to be seasoned;” some will prefer them young and possibly more idealistic. You may prefer a candidate with military service, or without. You may prefer a governor’s executive experience from running a state, or a Senator’s involvement with foreign policy. Again, identify which of these qualifiers are important to you and use them to winnow those who survived the “issue test.”

I do not support the media’s relentless search for “dirt” on a candidate’s private life. However, much of this information, such as private or public scandals, a history of drug use, or divorces, is publicly available and might impact your views of the candidate. In today’s information age, for better or worse, there is very little we don’t know about our candidate’s personal, professional and political lives. It makes sense to look into the background of those who are still in the running for your vote. Does anything in their past jump out as important to you? If you can’t abide by someone who has done cocaine, or if you feel that a few youthful mistakes only add character, allow these feelings to guide you.

Last, and maybe most importantly, does the candidate inspire you? Can you see him or her as the leader of the free world, motivating America to be the best she can possible be, furthering relations with our allies and friends while not compromising our self-interests? As leaders of the world’s greatest nation, can he or she send us to the moon, or tear down walls?

If a candidate’s deeds match his/her words and views match yours, if you can see this person leading you and this country for four years, then that’s your candidate. Support him/her with your money, time, word of mouth, and most certainly your vote. The first primaries are only a year away.

Scott Harris is a political commentator. Read his columns, hear his radio show and contact him through his Web site, AlphaState.org.