Am I really a Dem?

[Finch]

I’m worried I your average moderate Dem a little to the right on social issues and to the left on economic ones… I tend to watch CNN and MSNBC and read the Washington Post and New York Times... However occasionally I do watch Fox I find Bill O’Reilly good entertainment and yes I sometimes agree with him… now is this wrong does this make me a bad Democrat? Does this mean I’m really a Republican, I mean I think that what Gavin Newsome’s doing is stupid and illegal, don’t get me wrong I think gay marriage is a state issue and neither Newsome or Bush should try to alter that but Newsome’s overturning the will of the vast majority of Californians now I would argue against gay marriage however that’s my view and if the majority wanted to make it legal in my state then fine but I would continue to disagree but then there you are I’d except the will the majority, also I have no problem with Mel Gibson’s the passion of Christ and am quite worried by the shit that people are throwing all over him just for basically expressing what’s written in the gospels… now with these moderately conservative social views am I in your eyes still a good Dem… I want to know… because I’ll vote for Kerry in November (if he’s the nominee) and I vote to re-elect my Dem governor (even though he’s not the greatest) and I’ll vote for Dems in the senate race in my state (even if it seems a long shot) however there are republicans who I could vote for (McCain, Snowe, Powel)… Any feedback?

Sorry if some of you see this as a bit of pointless thread but I’d really like to know what you think…

Thanks…

[movonne]

1. Probably Not!!!

[Finch]

3. Why?

I just don't see how my views would put me any where but to the left of Lieberman and Breaux and to the right of Kerry and Dean? Why do you think that some one who is left on economic issues and right on social issues cant be a Dem it seems to me like i pretty much fit with what many souther Dem's espouse traditional social values and economic populism? Why does this some how mean I'm not a Dem?

[Kathleen04]

2. I think that you are a Democrat.

It's a matter of priorities..it sounds like you've basically decided that you can get past not agreeing with the Democrats 100% on social issues in order have the economic policies that you agree with.

Republicans either 1) believe in an economic policy that's to the right or 2) they just can't get past the conflicts that they have with the social/moral issues.

[Finch]

9. Thanks Kathleen

I know there are many hardcore dems on the board who generally agree with the Dems on social issues and economic issues and I respect there views (while I can still disagree with some of them) and the same can be said of Republicans...

But it has to be said that on the board there are a lot of purist Dems who apply a lot of litmus tests to test what they see as Ideological purity if you see what i mean... no way is this the majority but there is vocal group on the board who are really opposed to any kind of conversation of the issues and vocally lacerate even the most liberal Dems for what they see as failings. Once again I'd just like to say these guys are the minority but for me who's a fairly moderate dems (and most of my friends who are politically active are much more liberal in their views) it’s worrying to see this ideological snobbery...

Well that’s today’s talking point... JOKING!!!

Thanks again Kathleen I was really worried I was moving to the right but now I think on it they are way too far from me on economic issues as well as some social issues having said that on social issues I'm probably similar to a GOP/DEM moderate like McCain, Snowe or Lieberman and on economic issues I'm probably closer to Gephardt or Edwards...

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Here, try this test

http://politicalcompass.org

[atreides1]

12. Tried the test

I'm Economic Left/Right:-8.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian:-4.82

Now can someone explain what it means.

Thanks

[Systematic Chaos]

15. I just tried it too

Looks like we're fairly similar:

Economic Left/Right: -8.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.46

[strategery blunder]

23. I tried it and came up with

Economic Left/Right -6.38
Social Libertarian -2.82

Thanks for the useful survey; I think I'll pass it along to my non-DU friends:)

[IronLionZion]

5. sure

just make sure you vote Democratic this November.

[Alenne]

6. Do you think you are a Democrat? nt

[Imajika]

7. Your fine..

Your a moderate to conservative Democrat. Without voters like you, the Democrats would never win another Senate race or Presidential election.

I am a bit conservative on economic issues, very liberal on most social issues.

I strongly support gay marriage, but I oppose what is happening in San Francisco and elsewhere. The law is the law, and I believe it should be observed in most cases. Californians just spoke on this issue and they do not want their state recognizing gay marriages. That means progressives have their work cut out for them to change public opinion. What should not happen is what we are seeing now - this is only going to cause a backlash and set back the push for equal rights for gays by years.

I have no problem at all with the Passion or Mel Gibson, and consider the attacks on him to be mostly wrongheaded. Some people do make a good argument that the emotional power of the movie, tied with a potentially negative portrayal of Jews, could encourage hate crimes - but I don't buy it, and besides, I am big on freedom of speech and hate seeing a director attacked the way Gibson had been.

O'Reilly can be entertaining, but he is basically a moron. But hey, to each their own. Just don't fall for his "I'm a moderate" crap. O'Reilly is no moderate.

Please remember, even if you find a moderate Republican you like, always vote for the Democrat - even if you are not crazy about doing so. It is important that we take back the House and Senate, in additon to the White House. We also need every Democratic person we can get in our statehouses and state mansions.

Lastly, remember, DU is a largely a home for progressive activists and the base of the Democratic Party. Thus, the opinion you read here is far more to the left than what you'll find throughout most of America. Just because you disagree with much of the commentary and opinion you read on this forum, does not make you a bad Democrat.

Stick around, DU is the best site on the net. You might even find yourself seeing things differently, and perhaps reading all the great information here will make you a bit more progressive.

Imajika

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bandit]

10. Something for you to consider

The government issues licenses for many things. Driver's license, hunting license, business licenses, and marriage licenses. Why should they discriminate on one license but not the others. It is one thing for the church to say they won't perform certain marriages but for the government to discriminate on the issuance of a license on the basis of sexual orientation is disturbing to say the least. What is to stop them from saying gays can not receive a driver's license, or a hunting license? We are talking legalities here and not morality. Either we are all equal in this great country of America or we are not equal. If I wish the government to issue me a license they should not even ask what my sexual orientation is.

[BigDaddyLove]

11. In my opinion, you're more a real-world Democrat than.....

most people here.

Forget being a 'good' Democrat and think for yourself.

[1monster]

13. From your profile, I'd guess you are young...

While I'm now a dyed in the wool YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT, there was a time (summer 1968 through summer 1974) that I supported Nixon. (How the heck did that happen?! Before he was killed, I was a very ardent Bobby Kennedy follower.)

The whole Watergate fiasco turned me off all politics until I was so repulsed by Ronnie Reagan that I registered (Democrat) to vote against him and have voted in every election since.

Don't worry about labeling yourself at this point. You are still formulating your thoughts, opinions, and feelings about politics (and hat is a process that should continue for the rest of your life).

Stick around DU and read the information that comes in here daily. Keep educated about what is really going on in the world, not what the talking heads and biased rags tell you is going on...

On social issues, you will find that being a Democrat generally means that there are many issues that we personally may not like, but we feel very uncomfortable about forcing our views via legislation on others...

Re: Mel Gibson's movie: I really don't understand how it is supposed to inspire anyone. This movie is not about Jesus's life or his message or even the "rebuilding of the church in three days". It is a torture movie, that doesn't even get the important details right.

The only thing that really troubles me is that you like Bill O'Reilly. That's scary. :evilgrin:

[bushwakker]

14. This party is truly a big tent and you are in it

There is plenty of room for those of the moderate left in the Dem party. WE are the mainstream party and the GOP is the radical party. Don't let some here on this board denigrate your DLC leanings. Many of the Kucinich and Dean supporters who dominate the debate here aren't even Dems - they support their man to the exclusion of all others. Hang in there.

[sendero]

16. If you...

... look at the platform and policies of the Reps and the Dems and find yourself agreeing with the Dems 1% more, then you are a Democrat.

Don't let the purists scare you, there is no litmus test. Please vote Dem in November!

[ParanoidPat]

17. That depends, what does it say on your voter registration card.....

.....and who do you vote for? :evilgrin:
The answers to those two questions should give you a hint.

Welcome to DU! :hi: Find a place in the 'big tent' and make yourself at home. :)

[IronLionZion]

18. apparently I'm more liberal and libertarian than I thought

Economic Left/Right: -5.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.67

hmm...just like Gandhi

[Finch]

19. Thanks Guys...

...It has to be said that sometimes the purists do seem to beat up on moderates a bit... but I’ve always been one for tolerating other peoples views even when I disagree with them... my voter registration is Dem and i am in a swing state and I fully intend to vote for Kerry and the Dem candidates for Gov and Sn... But thanks again and while i might listen to O'Reilly I’ve never seen him as a moderate he just strikes me as the voice of a fairly conventional conservative if a very vocal one... I'd take issue with the idea that "the passion" is only about the violence its about the suffering that Jesus endured and yet he still went through all that and then descended into hell for three days in order to forgive mankind all its sins and yet he never wavered in his mission to save mankind despite all the persecution he endured even from those who loved him... I admit Gibson does dwell on the Gore a lot but that’s what it was really like and its the same time period that "passion plays" have covered for over a thousand years... well sorry to preach but then again that’s for the support guys, and I’ll stick around the board it might help to have a moderate dem voice around this place and some of these threads are too interesting to ignore… Thanks again… see ya…

[DrWeird]

20. I think you're a Yoosta Bee.

<http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=16482>

[fujiyama]

21. No one...

has a right to tell you whether you are a "good democrat" or not.

It's obvious your views are a bit to the right of this message board, but your views are for the most part, similar to most moderate democrats.

I must ask though, what about gay marriage bothers you? What do you think about civil unions though?

I understand that this issue bothers many people, but I honestly don't know how it's an issue that affects those that aren't gay.

[Zhade]

22. If you agree with the proven liar O'Reilly...

...then you sound underinformed more than anything else (check out FAIR's very well-written The Oh Really? Factor for an excellent breakdown of the evidence of O'Reilly's lies). Nothing here to say you're not a Dem, just that you are still paying attention to media that knowingly lies to you, its viewer (or reader).

That's honestly not meant as an insult. After 9/11, I briefly trusted b*sh, until the shock wore off. Part of that waking up came as a result of my research into everything from politics to history to religion.

Your attitude alone reveals you to be a decent person, though, so I wouldn't worry at all. You and I might be far apart on issues, but I for one welcome the honesty in your post. :)