Third Party: Would you vote for someone other than Clinton or Trump?

Hillary Clinton for the Democrats. Donald Trump for the Republicans. Both parties have their nominees for president of the United States.

But a lot of voters aren't happy with either one.

There are alternatives. Libertarian Gary Johnson and running mate William Weld, for example, will be on the ballot in most if not all states. And there are a number of other candidates that have made it onto the ballots in some states, including Jill Stein of the Green Party and Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party.

There are those who say a vote for a third-party candidate is in fact a vote for one of the major candidates-usually the one they are against-since no one really thinks anyone but Clinton or Trump stands a chance.

Others say they will not compromise their principles and vote for the "lesser of two evils."

We want to know what you think. Would you vote for a third-party candidate in the 2016 election? Or do you consider such a vote as wasted?

Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, Aug. 3. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.

 

Last Week: Ted Cruz

 

Last week's poll was about U.S. Sen Ted Cruz's speech at the Republican National Convention, where he pointedly did not endorse Donald Trump. Should Ted Cruz have endorsed GOP nominee? Or was he standing on his principles?

 

In my opinion Ted Cruz stood on his principles. I am pleased he did not endorse. Donald Trump is deceptive. The Republican Party no longer represents my values. I'm done.-S.B., Texarkana, Ark.

 

I feel Cruz was standing on principles. I'm having a hard time endorsing Trump myself. If Trump doesn't "zip his lip" about the senator's family, I may not vote. I'm not alone in this opinion and Hillary's out. What's worse than a sore loser? An obnoxious sore winner!-L.S., Texarkana, Ark.

 

Cruz should 'grow up', endorse Trump, and work with his party to change our direction. This is the most important election in my lifetime-either we elect Trump or we continue on the path to fragmentation, economic collapse, abuse of power, pitting brother against brother, and loss of faith in God.-T.P. , Atlanta, TX

 

I never thought much of Ted until Thursday. How can you smile with someone who insults you, your wife and your father? He showed me that he has standards by not backing down under pressure. That is something we all need.-S.O., Texarkana, Ark.

 

I was very proud while listening to Cruz! He did congratulate Trump on winning the nomination! He stood up for the principles that he believes in. So what if he didn't endorse Trump! After what was said about Cruz's family during primaries by Trump, can you blame Cruz? If Trump gets in, you will wish you'd gone with Cruz!-M.W., Ashdown, Ark.

 

He could have stood on his principles and still endorsed Trump. He could have honored his pledge agreement. He came off as arrogant, selfish and unworthy of a look in 2020. He is and was a loose cannon that could go off anywhere or anytime. He failed the Republican Party, the U.S. and himself.-D.P., DeKalb, Texas

 

Ted Cruz has always in my view has been guided by his principles in his service to our state and America. He is truly a great American. When Donald Trump lied about his father and his wife just to advance his own campaign, Cruz found it unacceptable and I admire him for that.-B.C., Texarkana, Texas

 

From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette

 

  •     Imagine what if every politician stood by his word and principles like Cruz. BTW Trump rescinded his pledge back in March.
  •     I admire Sen. Cruz for not taking the easy way out. It took a lot of courage for him to stand in front of a crowd that was obviously hostile toward him and to say the things he said. I voted for him in the primary and would do so again if he was still in the running.
  •     No. He was correct in standing up for his principles and what the majority of people who voted for him feel. Cruz talked about freedom and the Constitution. Is that bad now? And if saying to vote your conscience bothers you, then maybe something is wrong with your conscience.
  •     Donald Trump maligned Cruz's wife and father so I don't blame him for not endorsing him. These attacks by Trump are uncalled for and not everybody lets them slide.
  •     Ted Cruz never had the nuts to be President. If he did, he would have called out the insanity of the news media in this country. Instead, he walked lock step with the Republican establishment which, in effect, aligns him with the progressive liberals. A gutless swine.
  •     He did the right thing. He was standing on his principles. Hard to support someone who was talking negative about your dad and wife just a few months earlier.

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