Are some subjects taboo for Democrats to campaign on?

[kentuck]

For example, is it taboo to discuss raising taxes on the wealthy?

Is it off limits to discuss cuts in the Defense budget?

Is it taboo to discuss job programs for the unemployed?

Is it off limits to talk about the inequality of wealth in this country?

Is it taboo to discuss criminal penalties for big banks and Wall Street?

Is it off limits to discuss campaign finance reform and taking money out of politics?

It seems to me that there was a time when these subject matters were standard issues for the Democratic Party? Am I wrong?

[Autumn]

1. Yes it is. When you stop and consider that

those things benefit the same Democrats who don't campaign on them.

[polichick]

2. You're thinking of a time when the party represented the people.

[Scuba]

3. Goldman Sachs said to leave those things alone.

[NightWatcher]

4. has any "mainstream" democrat ever publicly supported Marijuana legal/decrimin?

I consider that to be too Progressive to touch for most

[liberal_at_heart]

6. they're such cowards. Even before there was a majority support for recreational use, there was

majority support for medical marijuana. I don't know. I may have to take that back. They're not cowards. They're just bought off by tobacco, liquor, and pharma. They're greedy cowards. How about that? That's a pretty accurate description.

[NightWatcher]

8. Imagine a candidate that comes out in favor of recreational pot

I don't care about the rest of their platform, they win the WH for 2 terms....Hell, they could amend the Constitution and get elected 4 or 5 times.

[Blue_Tires]

5. Any criticism of Israeli foreign policy mean an automatic loss

along with any mention of normal trade relations with Cuba...

[PeteSelman]

7. Yes. Yes, it is.

Because all of those things go against the interests of the people that have bought and control the political process. Both parties. So don't expect any noise on those fronts. Expect a lot of "we spend too much" and "we're going to have eat our vegetables". Euphemisms for cutting the safety nets further while cutting taxes for the fat cats.

[geek tragedy]

9. Taking your list in order

1) Raising taxes on the wealthy was the main issue in the 2012 elections, resulting in taxes going up on the wealthy after the election.

2) The defense budget is being cut significantly by sequestration

3) Democrats have proposed numerous job creation programs. All have died via filibuster or because John Boehner hated them.

4) Inequality of wealth is something that gets touched upon, but does not get treated with sufficiently high importance. Democrats have probably been too afraid of the "class warfare" tag.

5) There's talk about criminal penalties by a few, but having politically-motivated prosecutions isn't a great idea either. If there's proof for a conviction, prosecutors should seek it. Unfortunately, proving criminal fraud is very difficult, especially when the criminals hire the best lawyers money can buy to help them proactively create a paper trail designed to create reasonable doubt.

6) Democrats talk about it all the time--the President as much as any. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court is wreaking havoc in this area and until one of the Foul Five gets replaced, the elected branches can't do much about it.

[Bluest4t3]

12. The banker's need to be thrown in jail!

"5) There's talk about criminal penalties by a few, but having politically-motivated prosecutions isn't a great idea either. If there's proof for a conviction, prosecutors should seek it. Unfortunately, proving criminal fraud is very difficult, especially when the criminals hire the best lawyers money can buy to help them proactively create a paper trail designed to create reasonable doubt. "

They need to pass some type of new law and apply retroactively then.Not realistic and would never happen, I know, but there HAS to be some way we can get at those 1%er *&^%$#s. Makes me wish we had a Hugo Chavez for our country sometimes!

[geek tragedy]

17. So, you're advocating that the constitution be suspended to pass

a Bill of Attainder and ex post facto law?

[Bluest4t3]

18. Of course not.

Just rambling. It is sad that wall street can steal and steal and face no repercussions is all.

[Mother Muckraker]

10. For some..... Tesla "taboo" to criticize

I was criticized for attacking Tesla/Elon Musk.

People are under the false impression that Musk is somehow "pro-environmental" and is an Obama supporter. Both of which are false. So far, it's a matter of public record that Musk has misinformed the public about a number of issues. Their most recent pieces of misinformation involves misleading numbers on their financial reports.

These knee-jerk responses to Musk criticism are based on faith that Musk's mere statements equates to fact. His degree in science and business is an undergraduate degree. He is no genius other than projecting Nikola Tesla's genius onto himself via name association. Other than the affable outer shell, Musk is just another billionaire salesman like Donald Trump.

[Fumesucker]

15. Candidates and politicians "campaign"

We here on DU discuss things but by no means can it be construed as anything approaching campaigning.

[bvar22]

11. It is certainly off limits to mention the plight of the Poor.

The last time "The Poor" were mentioned as a platform issue for the Democratic Party was the day John Edwards resigned from Campaign 2008.

[el_bryanto]

13. talking about those things looses you money -

which is pretty lousy - they should definitely be part of the discussion in my opinion.

Bryant

[Arcanetrance]

14. It shouldn't be those should be the bread & butter issues of the Democratic party

[Vashta Nerada]

16. Pretty much.