In tommorrows debate the liberal slur...

[BayCityProgressive]

What should Kerry's response be when Bush calls him a liberal? "No I am not a liberal Im a moderate" OR "If supporting medicare, affirmative action, social security ect makes me a liberal than im a liberal" OR "labels dont really matter anymore and here is why..." OR flip it into an attack on Bush's compassionate conservatism?

Also if Bush tries the you can run but you cannot hide shit Kerry should say "the only one running is the president-hes running away from a failed presidency and he is the one hiding behind distortions of my record because he cannot face his own miserable record."

[cheezus]

1. the guy who calles himself a "compassionate conservative"...

the guy who calles himself a "compassionate conservative" is trying to label ME?

I think that the american people are smart enough to know when they're trying to be confused with a label.

[donco6]

2. I like number two.

"If supporting medicare, affirmative action, social security ect makes me a liberal than im a liberal"

[necso]

3. How about:

"You can call me anything that you like -- but I am a patriot, who has served his country in its need, and, as President, I will serve the interests of all Americans."

Or something like that.

[BayCityProgressive]

4. thats a good idea too...he could also say something like

Roosevelt is a liberal and he passed social security, johnson was a liberal and he passed medicare, kennedy was a liberal and he led the nation towards civil rights...which of these things do you disagree with mister president?

[necso]

7. Yea,

but never accept your opponent's assertion -- if you can help it.

"Liberal" is just a "label", and Kerry might wish to make it clear that his policies will be those best for all Americans... And if these just happen to be "liberal" policies, well, that is what it is.

Welcoming the liberal label might make the left feel good -- but, again, never accept your opponent's assertion -- if you can help it.

This is a "debate", right?

[sr_pacifica]

9. You are correct, and I like your suggestion n/t

[sr_pacifica]

10. The problem with that is

believe it or not, Roosevelt is seen by many Republicans as the president that f* up this country because he involved government in ways it hadn't been before. They forget that people could simply die from lack before we had government welfare programs.

[Snotcicles]

5. Christ was a Liberal I guess I'm in good company. n/t

[question everything]

6. From the L word by David Barsh

The story of the United States is in fact the story of the greatest triumph of liberalism in the history of the world. Its framework is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and its clearest embodiment is the Declaration of Independence:

"That to secure these rights (for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness), Government are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

Imagine the United States without the benefits that liberalism has bestowed: Social Security, unemployment compensation, the right to form labor unions, farm price supports, student loans, civil rights legislation, child labor laws, the minimum wage, Medicare and Medicaid, workplace safety regulation and environmental protection.

Liberals and liberalism gave birth to the basic notion of affirmative government, the idea that people are not meant to be isolated alone, dog-eat-dog and devil take the hindmost. Affirmative government is our shield against the profound selfishness and callous disregard for others that is represented by modern conservatism.

[procopia]

8. Rush Limbaugh et al, have distorted the meaning of liberal

for years, turning it into a perjorative. Thanks to George W. Bush, the word liberal has returned to new heights of respectability.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

11. How about

He just whips out a Websters Dictionary and reads the meanings of the two words.

Conservative: desposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc. and to limit change. Cautiously moderate. Traditional in style or manner

Liberal: Favoring progress or reform. Free from prejudice; tolerant. Characterized by generosity. Ample or abundant.

Which you YOU rather be classified as?


Since when did the word "liberal" become such a nasty little thing. To me, the definitions are pretty clear.


Straight from Webster himself!