I'm one of the Dem's that the Rep's doesn't want you to know about...

[zaj]

I think that there are a lot of us non-stereo-typical Democrats. We aren't dixicrats like Zel, we aren't eco-terrorists, we aren't catholics, we aren't union, we aren't minorities, we aren't the privilged elite, we aren't north-easterners, we aren't hollywood...

We are just moderate-liberal Democrats who value people over entities, who live and let live, who have a genuine sense of optimism about people and life, who hope for the best but plan for the worst, who don't really believe that greed is good, who believe that capitalism is the best system, but it's not perfect.

But the media and the Republicans party have succeeded in defining democrats by the most ideologically driven within our party. And because our party is such a broad collection of diverse interests, it is difficult to market the face of the center of our party. It's far easier for the Republicans to paint the most colorful in our party with the colors of fear and hate.

Here's my story ... What's your's????

-==- -==- -==-

(taken from a post I made on another board)

I've never been a extreme liberal.

That I spend my time in the den of regressive intollerance and republicanism that is <the politics section of an NFL football site> (where to many, Zell Miller is a communist) - I might appear ultra left. I'm not, never have been, never will be... just ask my wife (the real liberal in the family).

I've always been an entrepreneur. I was raised one by my entrepreneurial mother. I managed my her first business (temp staffing firm) almost 15 years ago at 17... (The experience of buying a new business) is mostly nothing new to me. I've owned a software business for the last few years. I have an MBA and am a graduate of the UofA's entrepreneurship program.

That said, I consider myself progressive, moderate and a Democrat... and very willing to pay my cut to common cause. I'm not greedy. Never have been. The more well off I've become over the years, the less greedy I am. I have more to give now.

I am CLEARLY an opponent of the current regressive policies of Bush, the regressive right, the neo-revisionist republicans currently running that party.

I've always been open to the traditional conservatives in the Republican party, but they are being stampeded by the "success" of pandering to the far right and the catering to the puritanical hate that has been fostered in the last decade throughout much of the country.

I've voted for John McCain every year that he's run here in AZ. Even in 2004 when he was campaigning for Bush... There are plenty of national Republicans that can and should have a voice in the party, but don't... and that's what I've been fighting against.

I've always been a fiscal conservative, and environmental conservative (now labled as "liberal" by the revisionist republicans), but a person willing to make policy trade-offs to overcome ideological hurdles (alaska drilling as part of a Apollo-type energy plan).

I'm a moderate (left leaning) Democrat.

[knowbody0]

1. labels suck

the right wingers need something to hate and blame. to me, liberal just means open minded

[zaj]

2. Don't apply a label, tell a story.

Because, yeah, labels suck.

[sangh0]

19. That's excellent advice

"Tell a story"

[MisterP]

3. hello, zaj

[Taverner]

4. The Democratic Party is Pro-Capitalism

The Republicans aren't, period.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

6. The Repubs should re-read the Wealth of Nations,

along with the Federalist Papers. Ir's funny how they talk about free markets, yet their policies don't bear out their rhetoric.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

5. Me too!

I've always felt like I've been sort of the odd man out politically. I consider myself a moderate (left-leaning Democrat. On economic issues, I'm moderate-to-liberal (Clintonomics), on social issues I'm moderate (pro-life, mainstream evangelical Christian), on civil rights and civil liberties issues I'm moderate to liberal, and I'm moderate to conservative on foreign policy issues.

As a young, college-educated black male (age 25), there are those in certain circles that would expect me to vote Democratic by default. While historically the Democratic Party has always been the Party that spoke to my interests (and those I feel, of most Americans), and still is. I never vote for Party by default. Generally, I believe in the principles of the Democratic Party. I voted for Kerry because I felt his agenda was the total package for a better America, particularly in regards to the War on Terror. For all intents and purposes, I am a moderate Democrat, a Christian, and an American.

My best friends are Republicans. They're decent people, and I respect their views, even if I don't agree with all of them. Actually, they're pretty liberal on social issues, so they're more like libertarians. On economic and civil rights issues, the majority of my immediate family is more liberal than I am. On social issues, my parents in particular, are much more conservative.


Anyway, that's my story.

[sithknight]

7. how does being pro-life make you moderate?

I mean, are you talking on a philosophical level? Or do you then carry it over into thinking we should restrict the bodily integrity of women at the fetus line?

Sorry, I'm not trying to be an ass but to my mind "pro-life" (as political lables go) does not fall down into the middle of the road.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

8. Well, let me explain.

As a matter of principle, I find abortion morally wrong. I realize however, that it is a complex issue, so I'm willing to make exceptions in those cases of the life of the mother being threatened, incest, etc. I just think we need to find ways to really reduce the number of abortions. Republican policies won't get that done. I draw the line at partial-birth abortion, though. Right-wingers seem to be more pro-birth that pro-life, but abortion is a serious issue, and like I said, we need to find ways to reduce the overall number of abortions, and not enact policies that made lead to an increase in the elimination of the lives of the unborn.

[zaj]

9. I'm pro-Clinton when it comes to abortion...

Safe, legal and rare.

And you are right, the Republican policies won't allow that outcome to exist. That they don't understand complex issues well, and that they trivialize things to the point of developing a solution that will make something illegal and increase the # of times people take part in the activity (drugs, abortions, etc).

[RedCon1]

16. Animals only eat their young when they have to; therfore,

I would prefer to see society changed in such a way that creates an environment in which potential mothers and fathers don't see abortion as the best alternative. Oh yes, I am one of those Democrats that doesn't fit the Republican created stereotype also.

[lastliberalintexas]

12. There is no such thing!

*Partial birth* abortion does not exist and is not a medical term- it is a political, emotional, propagandist term used by the right to gather support for limiting women's rights.

Please find me information concerning a late term abortion (the more correct term, although a D & X procedure is what the medical people call it) which was performed for reasons OTHER THAN saving the health and/or life of the mother. You know- the already born person. It's unlikely that you would be able to find any such statistics, since the very reason those procedures are performed is to save the woman, not for mere "convenience" as the right wingers would have you to believe. Please do some research on this issue- I think you'll be surprised at what you find.


Furthermore, if abortion is so wrong (I suppose you think it's murder), why is it ok (ie, not murder) just because the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest? I have some modicum of respect for people who think that abortion should be banned in ALL situations, since they at least remain logically consistent.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

14. Well actually, it's basically murder in all cases.

I'm saying that I could sympathize with those situations. In a perfect world, there would be no abortions. You're right though, the unborn child doesn;t forfeit his/her life because of rape or incest. All I'm saying is that if we're going to allow women to terminate the lives of their unborn children, then at least it be for the most extreme cases.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. i am pro-choice but personally pro-life..i would never impose my personal

beliefs on anyone....and i am personally true pro-life, from conception to natural death...anti- war & anti-death penalty

[zaj]

10. Anyone else?

[lukasahero]

11. Sorry I would but I don't fit the bill

Apparently as a north-easterner, I AM one of those Dems the Repugs like to warn you about.

It's alright, I've gotten used to being demonized not for what I believe, for how I live my life or for what I value and bring to the community but because of where I live.

I refuse to participate in the red "state" bashing but damn, I wish "Massachusetts liberal" wasn't the worst thing you could call a person today in America.

[lastliberalintexas]

13. Sorry

John McCain is not a moderate, never has been and never will be. He is the tool of the right wing who is used to sell their brand of fascism, and is trotted out when they need someone who isn't perceived to be a Nazi. I can't believe anyone on DU would vote for that man.



My story-

I am often confused for a repub by people who don't know me. I am Southern, white, upper middle class, a professional, hetero, married, one son, marginally Christian (though I don't think organized religion is any better than organized crime), and live in a fairly rural area. Those who actually know me know that I am a pacifist, a member of the ACLU and Greenpeace, a Socialist with Communistic sympathies, oppose the "war" on drugs, and think that Europe and Canada are doing most things correctly. I AM one of those Dems/Liberals that the repubs warn you about- I just don't look the part.

[JohnnyCougar]

17. I voted for McCain in 2000.

So that makes two of us.

[More Than A Feeling]

15. Awesome thread

I, too, am a moderate, left leaning Democrat. I share the position of the above poster on abortion. We do need to implement policy that reduces the number of abortions without criminalizing them.

I believe that markets work, with the proper regulation. I believe in common sense solutions to preserving the environment using market incentives where appropriate and command and control where necessary. I do not believe apocalyptic scenarios involving an environmental doomsday, with the possible exception of global warming, because, honestly, we just don't know where we are.

Many of my friends are republicans, and we get along just fine, though with lots of arguing.

I am an ally of the gay rights movement. I personally believe gays should have the right to marry. But I would be willing to get behind a position that says that marriage is a sacrament of whatever church, and they are free to marry whomever, but rights come from the state granted unions, which both gays and straights should have. Therefore the whole sanctity/morals argument is a bunch of crap.

I am in favor of a sensible foreign policy that does not preclude war or preemptive attack, but we have to be sure.

I favor abolishing the death penalty and legalizing/regulating/taxing marijuana.

[zaj]

18. I agree with all of the above...

[yurbud]

21. the conversion of a hetero caucasian

I was very conservative in the 80s, then I read an article near the back of the newspaper about the Reagan administration messing with college financial aid to shift from grants to more loans, and from federally guaranteed loans to higher interest private loans.

I was going to college about 90% on financial aid, so this was screwing me directly.

I teach college now, and make a point of telling my students when politicians do things that make it harder for them to go to school like raising tuition, reducing enrollment (both of which Arnold did as soon as he was inaugurated), or cutting Pell Grants (which the Bushies did right after the election even though they only saved one tenth of one day in Iraq).

Tell people when things happen that directly screw them. It makes an impression.