sacred vote:
I do not know how else to put this, but:
You do not reveal the contents of your vote, not to me, not to your dog, not to your family, your neighbors, your friends, your colleagues, your fellow citizens.
Especially when, you are a leader in a Opposition Political Party. Especially not so when you voted for the ruling party. Especially when it's always the rule in the book saying: Your Vote is Secret.
Your vote is secret, and it must always remain so until you kick the bucket. But in the pure rashness of the moment, a dear young man by the name of Yaw Shin Leong, a member and a leader of the Workers' Party of Singapore, decided that he had to tell the world who he voted for in the election. Here's the irony: He was running against the Prime Minister of Singapore (from the Peoples' Action Party) in the 2006 General Elections (at Ang Mo Kio), but as a resident of another area in Singapore, he had to vote as there was a contest in his ward (Bukit Panjang). He voted for the Peoples' Action Party Candidate (ruling party) Dr Teo, over the Singapore Democratic Party Candidate (part of the Opposition "Alliance" in Singapore), Mr Ling How Doong.
It would have been neat to have this action on the ballot paper all deeply buried at the back of your mind and not revealed to anyone, but as always in many politicians' careers, it just takes a few words of folly to destroy your political career.
"Teo Ho Pin. Good MP. I voted for him in GE 2006.", and to further stoke the flames of anger, this was on his blog and hyperlinked to the politician's blog.
You can bet that this sort of furore will break out over cyberspace, with plenty of strong words and insults and flaming and outright anger. Isn't this what you will expect anywhere else in the world?
Imagine how damaging it would be if Senator John Kerry declared that he voted for Bush in the 2004 Presidential Elections, and declared him as "the man who will do a good job in Iraq", or if Stephane Dion went and declared that he voted for the Conservative or PQ candidate in his residential area, saying that there was simply no better choice. It would definitely destroy anyone's career, especially when you've established yourself.
I do not disagree with a member of a opposition political party voting for a member of the ruling party. This is his vote, he can do what he likes with it. This is democracy, gentlemen. However, as i've lamented above, i have a big problem with people who deem it is appropriate to wash their linen in public especially when they don't realize how deeply damaging that act would be to themselves, or to their organizations they represent.
Ladies, Gentlemen, the lesson of the day once again: You do not EVER, reveal who you voted for, whether ally or foe. The repercussions are very, very painful.