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As Jason mentioned yesterday in his new feature, The Projectionist, tonight is the YouTube/CNN Republican debate.
Sure, debates are useful in helping us select candidates, but let’s face it, the big players commandeer the mics while the Tancredos, Gravels and Richardsons are lucky if they get to mouth “hi mom” to the camera.
Fortunately, Minnesota Public Radio came up with this cool quiz that matches your thinking on today’s hot topics with the candidates who’re most likely to get your drift. I took it earlier this week and was shocked to learn that the candidate I was planning to vote for in the primary wasn’t the one I should be voting for. Even more interesting was discovering a candidate with whom I had nothing whatsoever in common. I’m not talking “She’s a little bit country, I’m a little bit rock’n’roll” here folks. I’m talking ZERO, zilch, nada, niente, rein, neechyvou, klum, nichts, nil, nula! And that’s sorta scary, isn’t it?
So watch the debates, ‘cause they only happen once every four years, but I’m not sure they’ll help you as much as this sort of quiz. Who agrees? Disagrees? Or has two cents worth on how best to pick a candidate?
I took the quiz and ended up with Ron Paul, which is good because I hope that he wins!
posted by Dan on 11-28-2007 at 10:10 am
Thank you for the link. So much of what you hear about the candidate (actually many things in life, actually) is either from a source promoting one candidate, or putting down another. It was really nice to have a compartivie look.
posted by Elizabeth on 11-28-2007 at 10:55 am
I came up with Joe Biden. Kind of surprised me. I definitely need to do some more reading.
posted by Dusty on 11-28-2007 at 11:27 am
Thank you for publishing this! It really made me look at the issues that I agree with and which candidate I matched best. I wasn’t shocked by the first ranked one, but the next three surprised me.
posted by Rebekah on 11-28-2007 at 3:35 pm
Well, that was a shock. I matched one of the candidates on almost every issue and it was John Edwards, of all people. Hrm.
posted by flatluigi on 11-28-2007 at 5:10 pm
Thanks… this made me stop and think about where I stand and how I’d like things (education, mortgage crisis).
A side note - Clinton and Edwards look so happy to be at the top of my list. Chris Dodd… not so happy looking to be #3.
posted by Trena on 11-28-2007 at 6:38 pm
Well I wound up with the one Democrat I don’t want to win! Second place was a 3-way tie between one that will never win, one with almost no chance, and one I hope will win. I love this website!
posted by Tricia on 11-28-2007 at 8:26 pm
That was interesting. I had a two-way tie on my top scorers, but I was surprised who they were. I’ll have to a little more research.
Thanks for posting the link!
posted by Janel on 11-28-2007 at 8:29 pm
I’ve taken two, and both times Dennis Kucinich was almost 100% matching to my beliefs. I don’t think he has a chance, so will probably vote for John Edwards (#2), except that I don’t think he has a chance either. Well, then, that leaves Obama. I also like Joe Biden. Anyone, really, but Hillary or a Republican.
posted by Barbara on 11-28-2007 at 10:03 pm
My top match is the person I had already planned on voting for, but it’s very nice to have the issues laid out this way. Now I feel more confident in my choice. :) Plus, I think there’s a chance that my #2 will win before my #1, and now I don’t feel quite as bad about it.
posted by caitlen315 on 11-29-2007 at 9:34 am