Who do you vote for? And why?

I've been thinking about this question for a few days now.  After talking with some of my more conservative leaning friends & family I wonder how they decide whom they are going to vote for.  For that matter, how does anyone decide? 
Do you vote by political party?  "Daddy always voted ______ so I'm going to vote______."
Do you vote according to the candidates religion or views on social issues.  Pro-Choice or Anti-abortion, equal rights for all or Anti-LGBT?
Or, maybe do you look at the big picture and think about what the candidate will do that is good for the majority of the people? 
I really hope with everything I have in me that it's the last one.  Because you see, there are a lot of people living in this country and, newsflash! they all aren't the same as you.  All this talk that the Republicans, or Tea Party or the far right wackos are putting out there now about who can marry whom, and who can or cannot vote or what goes on between you and your doctor, or who is coming to get your gun, (no one by the way)  is a huge distraction from the fact that as soon as they get into office they will screw you over so fast, you won't know what hit you.
 Think back now to the 2000's, ol' W & his gang had control of the whole shebang.  Did they outlaw abortion? No.  Did they outlaw same sex marriage? No. Did they deport all the illegal aliens? No.  What did they do?  Spent a nice little surplus we has by taking us into two illegal wars and cutting taxes at the same time.  Who does that?  Crooks. 
I could go on & on but I'm not going to dredge up the past.  I just beg of you to think about who you vote for and why.  Read the first amendment of the Constitution.  For that matter, read the whole thing.  This marriage equality thing has nothing to do with what the bible says or what you think God says.  It has to do with basic civil rights for all humans.  See this little spontaneous speech from Mayor Cory Booker. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/26/1058913/-Mayor-Cory-Booker-s-spontaneous-marriage-equality-speech?detail=hide
Our religious beliefs should really have very little to do with how we vote.  It's not supposed to be about that. It's supposed to be about what is good for the whole country.  What can make us great again. We have the freedom to believe or not to believe in the God of our choice.  We need to keep that out of government.  And keep government out of our private lives.  I can't understand how a party of small government wants so bad to be big enough to see what is going on in my bedroom & doctor's office.