Political scientist James Campbell doesn’t like Donald Trump much, but he is still going to vote for him. He argues that there is a difference between “supporting” a candidate and “voting” for him. He says that he does not “support” Trump–rather, he will feel free to criticize him and denounce him–and yet he will still vote for him, since the alternative is Hillary Clinton.
What do you think of Campbell’s distinction? Is he parsing those words too fine? Isn’t voting for someone a tangible act of support, indeed, the support that really matters? Or is he providing a helpful way forward for anti-Trump conservatives?
From James Campbell, A Plea to Never Trump Conservatives to Think Twice, Maybe More. | RealClearPolitics:
Thinking Republicans should NOT SUPPORT Donald Trump, but they should reluctantly VOTE for him. On what matters most, and that is public policy, Trump is not nearly as bad as Clinton. Shout that Donald Trump is an idiot from the roof tops and into any microphone thrown in front of you–but then declare a vote for him.
The distinction between supporting and voting for a candidate is not a gimmick. There is a real difference. Support implies a positive assessment. A vote is a choice. I suspect the overwhelming majority of Republicans disgusted by Trump are even more appalled by the prospect of a Clinton presidency. So declaring a distinction between their support and their votes is the right and honest thing for them to do.
It may also be the best course for future GOP unity. If Trump loses the election, as seems likely, internal GOP warfare will grow even worse if the loss can be plausibly blamed on the establishment sitting the election out. Republicans need to unify. Trump should do his part for this, but the rest of us should go as far as we can. We don’t have to support our candidate to vote for him. We can even openly denounce him. But by nominating Hillary Clinton, Democrats have made it possible for us to vote for a candidate we don’t and can’t support.
See also the rejoinder by David French.
