The question isn't whether or not I will vote for the Democratic candidate.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

The question is: What defines a Democratic candidate?

[geek tragedy]

1. the one who gets nominated by the Democratic party.

This has been another episode of "Short answers to simple questions"

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. So you're bound to party labels rather than any set of principles?

[Dawgs]

4. Some people are okay with the status-quo.

Pretty sad, huh?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. The status quo needn't be a bad thing

if it were based on Democratic principles rather than mere party labels.

[geek tragedy]

6. the two are not in conflict. the Democratic nominee will be vastly superior

to the Republican nominee by any set of progressive standards.

[Lizzie Poppet]

8. If it's Hillary, that'll be like saying...

...a sucking chest wound is better than having your leg blown off.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

11. Yes, and a broken toe is always preferable to being shot.

[Dawgs]

3. Thankfully the two party system won't be around for long.

[stone space]

5. I understand that there's a convention coming up.

Have you noticed all those caucuses and primaries going on, lately?

[MineralMan]

9. Oooh. I know! I know!1!

The democratic candidate is the one on your ballot in the Democratic column, or with the word "democratic" next to her name. That's how you will know.

That candidate will be the one nominated by the Democratic national convention, held in late July. That candidate will be the one with the most pledged delegates from all 50 states' primaries and conventions. That candidate will be the official nominee of the Democratic party. That's how you'll know. That candidate will be the one giving an acceptance speech at the convention and naming her choice for Vice President. That candidate will be the one being supported by all of the actual Democrats you know.

So, I hope you'll be marking your ballot for the Democratic candidate for President, along with all the other Democrats on that ballot.

[Punkingal]

10. You certainly speak truth.

"The democratic candidate is the one on your ballot in the Democratic column, or with the word "democratic" next to her name. That's how you will know."

Sometimes that is the ONLY way to know how to tell one from a Republican.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

12. Again, this is nothing more than an appeal to party labels over principles.

[MineralMan]

13. Reality: Either the Republican or the Democrat will be President.

It is a binary choice every four years. You make your choice and hope the Democrat wins, because we do better with Democrats in the White House. Nothing could be simpler.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

14. Republican isn't bad because it's the word "Republican" bit rather because those

who run under that label prefer profits over people, ill-considered wars and a general disregard for the inter-dependency of human communities in favor of those who are more materially prosperous.

Running under the label of "Democratic" doesn't not magically turn these vices into virtues or make them palatable.

What you describe is rank, debased, amoral partisanship and it serves no purpose except to empower the partisans at the expense of the people.

[stone space]

15. You asked a question about a political label.

The question is: What defines a Democratic candidate?

Does it shock you that folks answered the question that you asked?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. What shocks me is that so many who profess to be "Democratic" have nothing more than

than the color of a team jersey to offer a world that is in deep, deep trouble.