# Is there a Democratic candidate for POTUS I can support? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 20, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714 "2019-11-20T17:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/61 "2019-11-20T21:09:35Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > I’m pretty dumb that I need this explained to me, I guess… > > But why the vehement opposition to gun registration? Guns aren’t a big part of my life and I don’t pretend to understand all the issues, but having to register your weapon just doesn’t seem like a huge burden to me. > > I’m sincerely asking because I want to understand, not trying to make a point. **Oakminster** can certainly answer for himself, but in the case of many gun owners, registration is viewed as a prelude to confiscation. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/62 "2019-11-20T21:09:46Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Voters in states that are in play do matter. Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, possibly even Georgia and (gasp) Texas could, theoretically go Dem in 2020. I don’t think they will for Bernie or Warren. I disagree. I think there’s a significant number of voters who think that Clinton, Biden, et al don’t care about them and don’t understand their issues, whereas someone like Sanders does. Populism can be used for evil, but it can also be a powerful force to get people involved in the system. We’ll see. But this is some pretty serious thread drift. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/63 "2019-11-20T21:10:31Z")
The US has the highest firearm deaths and the least restrictive laws of any large developed country. Under Trump the country is deteriorating. Cited. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/64 "2019-11-20T21:11:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Not sure what you mean by “lose health care”. I’m not a fan of the “medicare for all” plans I’ve seen mentioned. We’re already in a war, and have been for years. And all of my guns were lost in a tragic boating accident in January, 2009. And a good thing, because Obama would have taken them like he took mine! Actually, I think it might be a good evening for the gun range… ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/65 "2019-11-20T21:11:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > **Oakminster** can certainly answer for himself, but in the case of many gun owners, registration is viewed as a prelude to confiscation. Are you concerned that you car will be confiscated? ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/66 "2019-11-20T21:16:40Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > **Oakminster** can certainly answer for himself, but in the case of many gun owners, registration is viewed as a prelude to confiscation. Registration is “viewed” as a prelude to confiscation. So a _belief_ that it _may_ happen. Meanwhile, every day, Every Single Day, 310 people are shot. Just so you can have as many guns as you like. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/67 "2019-11-20T21:21:20Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Are you concerned that you car will be confiscated? No. There is not a significant, well-funded movement to confiscate cars. For guns, there is. We haven’t had someone run for president on the platform “Hell yes, we’re going to take your SUVs”, but the same is not true of firearms. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/68 "2019-11-20T21:24:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > No. There is not a significant, well-funded movement to confiscate cars. For guns, there is. We haven’t had someone run for president on the platform “Hell yes, we’re going to take your SUVs”, but the same is not true of firearms. Sure there is. Regulating safety systems, fuel economy, and yes even OMG registration, are all mandated by the government. You know why? To limit the amount of carnage. But thanks for the sidetrack. You’re the best. ETA It wasn’t you that sidetracked. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/69 "2019-11-20T21:27:59Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > No. There is not a significant, well-funded movement to confiscate cars. For guns, there is. We haven’t had someone run for president on the platform “Hell yes, we’re going to take your SUVs”, but the same is not true of firearms. You mean the candidate that never got over a couple percentage points and is long since gone? That guy? That’s who you are afraid of? Is paranoia a requirement for buying a gun? ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/70 "2019-11-20T21:32:24Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > You mean the candidate that never got over a couple percentage points and is long since gone? That guy? That’s who you are afraid of? > > **Is paranoia a requirement for buying a gun?** Bolding mine. Well yeah. For many one issue voters it is the main requirement. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/71 "2019-11-20T21:38:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > My criteria include, but are not limited to: > > 1. Generally considered moderate on most issues. > 2. No support for any form of gun ban, whether limited to “assault weapons” or not. > 3. No support for any form of gun registration or licensing . > 4. Support for legalization of marijuana is a plus, but I can live without it. Apologies if you already answered this, but why those, and only those, criteria? Why do things like equality for all, helping the less fortunate, honesty in leaders, not supporting white nationalists, or putting the good of the country before your personal finances, not matter nearly as much as your guns? It seems to me that, to best way to sway the tiny, moderate branch of the Republican party that you seemingly self-identify as, would be to emphasize priorities. Like that maybe having a rational decisionmaker is better than having a unthinking narcissist. Or that maybe making sure that all Americans have opportunities to move up in income brackets is more important than 1,000 people getting even more insanely rich. A discussion of the priorities seems to be the only way to effectuate any change. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/72 "2019-11-20T21:42:35Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > You mean the candidate that never got over a couple percentage points and is long since gone? That guy? That’s who you are afraid of? … Noting his presidential candidacy and statements as an indication of the movement to confiscate guns does not mean I’m “afraid” of him. It just means that I’m aware that people like him exist, and they’d like to take my guns away. I don’t want them to succeed in that, and opposing registration requirements is one step in frustrating their aims. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/73 "2019-11-20T21:48:48Z")
Obama should have gotten an award from the NRA and the gun makers and dealers for all he did to increase sales. Guns and ammo were flying off the shelves after he took office. Of course he did not change any major gun laws from what I know. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/74 "2019-11-20T21:49:00Z")
Pro tip: he was never considering voting for a dem. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/75 "2019-11-20T21:49:02Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Someone thinks they are awfully important. > > 2nd amendment absolutists are not the majority, why do you think you deserve to be treated as such? > > [https://www.npr.org/2019/08/10/749792493/americans-largely-support-gun-restrictions-to-do-something-about-gun-violence](https://www.npr.org/2019/08/10/749792493/americans-largely-support-gun-restrictions-to-do-something-about-gun-violence) > > More importantly why should both candidates in the election be on your side of this issue when the American public as a whole is not? Why should your views hold supreme? Just because that’s what you want? 2nd Ad absolutists are a very small minority. But America is split pretty evenly on the issue of gun control. Most Americans are in favor of some mild controls, and if there is a school shooting more Americans are in favor of stronger laws. Few Americans want to ban a large class of guns, like handguns. It does seem like thise time all of the front running Dems are in favor of stronger gun controls than most Americans. Oddly trump is no friend to gun owners, either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/76 "2019-11-20T21:52:06Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > The US has the highest firearm deaths and the least restrictive laws of any large developed country. Note the cherry picking there of “large developed country”. :rolleyes: Somehow, Mexico isnt “developed” or “large” which would be a surprise to it’s inhabitants. The Murder rate continues to decline. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/77 "2019-11-20T21:53:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It does seem like thise time all of the front running Dems are in favor of stronger gun controls than most Americans. Not saying you’re wrong, but your claim should be cited. What specific controls are Warren, Biden, or Sanders in favor of, that are favored by fewer than 50% of Americans? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/78 "2019-11-20T21:54:05Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > Registration is “viewed” as a prelude to confiscation. So a _belief_ that it _may_ happen. > Meanwhile, every day, Every Single Day, 310 people are shot. > … There are about 10-11K gun homicides in the uSA a year. Not 113,150. You are off by a order of magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/79 "2019-11-20T22:08:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There are about 10-11K gun homicides in the uSA a year. Not 113,150. You are off by a order of magnitude. He didn’t say 310 people are killed with guns every day. He said 310 people are shot every day. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/80 "2019-11-20T22:10:17Z")
I want to vote democrat but I insist my candidate be pro-life and anti-gay marriage!! Why is there no candidate for ME?! Waaaaah! Come on, man. No one is gonna be your perfect match. Find the one that won’t totally wreck the country. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714.md?page=5)