Why do people choose candidates based solely on such non-issues as abortion and gay marriage??

Pure ignorance and homophobia.

I don't. I choose based on the candidates platform primarily. However, if a candidate takes a position that is in opposition to my interests, I'm likely to note that. Particularly so when the candidate tries to hide that position as McCain does with women's health issues generally and the right to choose specifically. He's against the right to choose and he tries to fudge the issue to make people think otherwise.

Democrats 2008

Homosexual marriage condones homosexuality to children.

Gay is not OK.

People firmly believe abortion is murder.

As for your important issues that is what presidents have cabinets for.

The first candidate that actively criticizes Gay Marriage has my vote!!

First of all, Roe v. Wade was 1973 and if my math serves me right thats not 40 years ago. Also, states have gone back and forth on the types of abortion including during of pregnancy allowable. Also, if you "like abortion then do it". Thats sick. I would say that abortion is on the minds of a lot of people but I guess your opinion trumps the rest so we should put it to bed.

The real reason is that the REAL issues that really affect us are not as easy to talk about. It's much easier for a candidate to get up and talk about gay marriage or abortion. And I think people don't want to hear about the economy either, or education, or health care, etc.

The real issues are riskier to talk about because they involve asking the American people to make sacrifices. They involve our realizing that we can't have everything, that we have to make choices, sometimes hard choices. That makes them risky to talk about. For instance, you can't have tax cuts and increased spending AND a balanced budget. Nobody wants to hear that, and any politician who dares say it will get bashed by his opponents.

So politicians come up with 'distractive' issues to avoid having to talk about real issues. Weapons of mass distraction, you might call them.

Yes in this case. I would of voted for McCain but McCain has gone to far to the right and wants to take away the women's rights to decide what is best for herself. I will not vote for McCain because he is trying to over turn Roe V's Wade. That's the right of a women and Dr to decide what is best for her. No birth control pills, no life saving measure for her in case her pregnancy goes wrong.

That is a real issue for all Women.

If you're not Gay or a Women I guess these issues wouldn't mean anything to you. But there are millions of voters that those issues affect. So you vote on your issues and leave the rest of the nation to vote on theirs.

I do vote on the economy, foriegn policy and Iraq policy first but I am still pro-choice and pro-gay marriage.

I guess for people who vote on only those issues, it does seem silly. But more logical than voting on lapel pins, or McCain leaving his wife 20 years ago to be honest.

Maybe if you were gay, or a woman, those issues would be big in your mind. That does not mean those are the only issues they consider, or even the main issues they consider, but they certainly are a consideration for some.

I agree with you. We have so many more pressing problems that involve the destruction of this wonderful country. Besides, those two issues are strictly personal and will not affeck the safety of this country!

Well what's important to you might not be important to them and that's o.k. Never the less I agree w/you but I also know and "respect" people like the ones you describe and they just don't see the big picture like we do because those issues are not what matters to them.