Does anyone else think that something is inherently wrong with this?

[UpsideDownFlag]

you know, when the DLC is being used by Faux news as propaganda for their agenda? I've been watching it off and on for the last few days, and all they're talking about is Al From and Co. Dissing Michael Moore, which they use as proof that 'responsible leadership' is trying to purge the foolish/radical elements from the party...

does this not worry anyone else? make you think twice about it, maybe?

[Lerkfish]

1. don't need to think twice: sometimes a cigar is a cigar...

..the DLC and the right wing of the republican party are spewing the same propaganda...therefore the DLC is in cahoots with the right wing of the republican party.

simple, eh?

[UpsideDownFlag]

6. touche. nt

[ElectroPrincess]

40. What can I say ... even on CNN

Donna Brazille (DLC) and Bay Bucannan (Right Wing republican) have never been "chummier" on their segments. BTW Donna seemingly loves that role as a straight woman for Bucannan to rant away at the liberal Democrats.

[maxsolomon]

2. if MM is a radical, then...

then there are no radicals left in this country. his critique is incredibly mild & polite for a radical.

who's that anarchist-primitivist dude in oregon (he's so influential i can't remember his name)? that's a "radical". ELF, those are "radicals".

faux does what faux is supposed to: limit the terms of debate to center right to far right.

[Lone Pawn]

7. Well, he is fairly radical

by comparison to the rest of the nation. DU is just so liberal he only seems centrist/liberal to us.

[comsymp]

11. DU is Liberal!??

Thanks - really needed that!

[Sterling]

20. Yes that was some funny shit.

I am not sure their is a such a thing as a left wing radical in the US. At least not one that is high profile and certianly no one in office.

[UpsideDownFlag]

92. well, apparently not ALL of DU is so so liberal. as evidenced...

by the DLC-ites.

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. MICHAEL MOORE ISN'T A DEMOCRAT!!!

When will these people get that through their thick skulls. He is an Independent (with a capital I) who supported Ralph Nader in 2000. The only reason he supported Kerry this time around was because the stakes are just too high. Michael Moore shouldn't be looked upon as part of the Democratic establishment. He helped to try to defeat Bush. THAT'S ALL!

[UpsideDownFlag]

5. i'd rather have him then the DLC....don't know about you. nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Oh geez, I agree

I just get frustrated when people imply that he represents the mainstream of the Democratic Party. I think what he's doing is great, and I'd be happy to claim him as a Democrat anytime he wants to join up, but as far as I know, he's registered as an Independant and continues to be. I like that he's beholden to no one.

[saracat]

8. When he supported Nader he was a DEm. Don't know about now.

[NYCGirl]

12. Here's his voter registration from The Smoking Gun.

But I do agree, he is not a "spokesperson" for the Democratic Party. He is, IMO, an artist.

[UpsideDownFlag]

13. thanks. i was pretty sure he was a dem. nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. Okay, my bad. I'm pretty sure about him supporting Nader

in 2000 though. However, another new thing I found out is that he shares his birthday with my niece! April 23rd - A bull headed Taurus. What a surprise!

[JNelson6563]

43. He's a Michigan resident now

and Michigan doesn't have "party of choice" on our voter registration.

Just and FYI.

Julie

[UpsideDownFlag]

21. update: it turns out that he is a dem. see below. nt

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. LOL!!!

Maybe they're convinced Faux Views is exclusive, mandatory viewing for the right-wing so they can get a candy-wrapped message out...marketing 101.

[Mountainman]

10. I just don't give a shit about what Faux news does or thinks.

[UpsideDownFlag]

14. i normally don't, but when people who claim to lead my party

are helping them spoon feed the sheeple more bullcrap...then, i care.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

15. The DLC is shameful

They've got absolutely nothing to do with what Democrats are about.

Somebody ought to make that really big public information.

And then, somebody - preferably a bunch of wild-eyed lefties with more energy than I now have - should start the "RLC," and go around spewing as much left-wing rhetoric as can be managed without bodily injury.

[greenohio]

16. Diane Fienstein, Chris Dodd and Ed Rendell with be the death of us.

Those evil DLC pukes.

[UpsideDownFlag]

17. individually, they're not all bad. but as an organization,

especially under the leadership of al from, yes- i do believe they will be 'the death of us'.

besides, you didnt answer the question in the OP. does it strike you as odd that the DLC is being used to further propagate F*'s Message?

[greenohio]

18. Whatever. I hate the org, but the people are great makes SOO much sense.

So if they disbanded the DLC or renamed themselves to the Michael Moore fan club, you would like them?

[UpsideDownFlag]

19. "or renamed themselves to the Michael Moore fan club"....

...i dont care what they call themselves. what i care about is when al from has the gumption to say flat out that MM is bad for the dems, when he is simultaneously bringing the dems down with his policies.

[greenohio]

25. Then hate Al From...not then entire DLC....

sounds like a transfernce problem to me.

[UpsideDownFlag]

30. the DLC, under Al From's leadership

will be our undoing.

[greenohio]

31. Then hate Al From...but lay off Feinstien, Dodd, Rendel, Landreiu

Cantwell, Kerry, and the rest of them. Why demonize a group of our own. I am begining to wonder about those who attack fellow Dems almost constantly.

[itzamirakul]

66. If these folks are so great...

then why do you think they continue to allow From to speak for them? ently they agree with what he is saying esp. about Moore, so then why shouldn't they be demonized? If they disagree with From's position, they should come out and say so if they hope to keep the DLC in any position of influence in the party

Green Ohio: you seem to want to ignore the fact that these folks in the DLC are growing filthy rich from the corporate donations they receive. Why the hell should they care if the Democrats win or lose? And as long as their are folks like you who continue to support their policies, the Dems will continue to have identiy problems.

The DLC cannot do anything for me except go in a corner, shut up and sit down.

[UpsideDownFlag]

23. you cant make sense of that fact

that Diane Feinstein is different than Al From?

[greenohio]

24. Then demand a new DLC chair..not complicated...don't demonize the org.

It really isn't that complicated.

[Geek_Girl]

33. The Problem as I see it

Is not necessarily the politicians themselves but the organization seems to be controlling both the message and the politicians. So unless they change I can't see any other way to deal with it other than attack the politicians. The politicians are going to have disassociate themselves from the organization otherwise they won't be getting any support from me. How else are things going to change? If you have a better idea let me know.

[greenohio]

34. Are you saying that Feinstien is under someone else's control?

Uh huh. Organizations are made up of people who believe in the basic tenants of the org. Feinstien, Dodd and them joined. If the DLC dissolved and those same people started a new club called "hey please be nice to us" would it make a fricken difference? Apparently in your mind.

[Geek_Girl]

35. I'm sorry

I'm not sure what your point is. If the DLC is moving the party to the right, which all indicators seem to be pointing in that direction, and the DLC is attacking progressives, which they are, and they DLC candidates Like Kerry are going around talking about how we need to change our core principles on abortion, which he did, and the DLC is spouting anti Moore propaganda that the right wing media is feeding on, which it did. Then there is something seriously wrong with the DLC and if a politician wants my support it better distant itself from the DLC. I won't support nonsense or stupidity.

[UpsideDownFlag]

37. dont bother trying to explain.

if they can't figure it out already, they're not going too. All that's left is for us to be cudgeled for being honest.

[greenohio]

38. honestly stupid you mean

The DLC moved us to the right? Thats right, Diane Feinstein is a symbol of the rightward direction. You guys don't even know what the tenants of the DLC are. I'm sorry but Reagan slaughtering us in the 80s is what shifted us, and the whole country right, long before the DLC...or do you guys subscribe the conspiracy theory that the DLC was underground then secretly helping Reagan? Did your blog tell you that too?

[UpsideDownFlag]

58. i suscribe to the idea

that the DLC should not be trusted, having signed on to many of the same PNAC objectives as the neocons. i subscribe to the idea that the organization (not necessarily each member) was created to bring down the party from within, by making their goals indistinguishable from those of the repubes.

[Silverhairfox]

26. Direct Me

I am new to the board. i have been reading bits and pieces since the election. I lean to the right. But I read this board to see what the left is thinking. I like the information, I don't like the hate and foul language.

I have read on many occasions that the "right" doesn't understand what the true left is all about. I am here, I want to learn, it may take some time, I may not agree, I may find that I may have more in common than i think..... So where do I go for education about the left and good conversation rather than the hate (ex. post that hopes Miller rots in Hell, etc.) and foul language.

I have been amused that many of the things that the right is accused of doing are the same things that we think the left is doing.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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

[hatrack]

79. You shouldn't be surprised

On November 2nd we all got to watch American democracy shove the gun barrel deep into its throat and, while humming Lee Greenwood's classic "Proud To Be An American", blow off the back of its own head.

Opinions vary as to what the next step should be. Some DUers are busily trying to reattach bone fragments to what's left of the occipital region of the skull using masking tape and bobby pins, periodically stepping away from the corpse at the warning cry of "Clear!" Sadly, the defribillator doesn't seem to be working very well.

Others are "trying to make the best of it", and are engaged in wiping the blood off the drywall and looking for more buckets and sponges.

Meanwhile, our deep-pocketed hosts to this lil' political clambake are shusshing those of us not on Brain Detail, rapping us on the knuckles when they feel it's necessary. "Hush!" they say. "What corpse? I don't see a thing!" "I haven't the faintest idea what you're even talking about! Have another beer and grab the remote!"

Yeah, some of us are a little bit pissed off. Is it your position that we shouldn't be?

[LibDemAlways]

78. I saw an interview with Rendell shortly

before the election. He said that if the chimp won we'd all have to unify behind him and work together. These "go along to get along" types are exactly what's wrong with the party. Do the repukes urge other repukes to fall in line and support Dems? Hell, no. They fight tooth and nail, make a big stink, block legislation -- in short, whatever it takes -- to push their agenda. They roll over for no one.

[Sugarbleus]

27. Yes, this worries and INFURIATES me.....

I posted about this mind set in other threads. I'm glad more people are realizing what's going on around our party.

Dontcha just love how they get on the air waves and spout out what "We need to do" and "Who we need to purge" WITHOUT bothering to ask we, the supporters of the dem party????

[UpsideDownFlag]

29. "WITHOUT bothering to ask we, the supporters of the dem party"

the reason is simple: they're afraid of what they'd hear from us.

[Sugarbleus]

32. LOL ...indeed!! n/t

[Geek_Girl]

36. What is the Deal With the DLC

Why do John Kerry, Barry R. Finegold, Dianne Feinstein and Wexler and other Democrats who I respect, belong to the DLC? Is this about campaign money?

Why does the DLC seem to have so much power when they don't seem to represent what most democrats stand for?

[wyldwolf]

39. ah... there is the crux of it...

Why does the DLC seem to have so much power

They don't

they don't seem to represent what most democrats stand for?

What do most Dems stand for? I've never seen a study done on it.

The DLC-fear on DU represents their "boogeyman." The right stirs people up with "commies" and "liberals" and "terra-ists." DU has "DLC."

[ElectroPrincess]

41. If the DLC doesn't have "that much" power THEN

Why is your person and a few other pro- DLCers here attempting to *beat* this perspective into the rest of us at DU?

All the verbal dancing' and sparring is reminiscent of a WWF match and not always thoughtful exchanges.

[wyldwolf]

42. too funny!

If the DLC doesn't have "that much" power THEN wy is your person and a few other pro- DLCers here attempting to *beat* this perspective into the rest of us at DU?

uh... because it's true. :shrug:

All the verbal dancing' and sparring is reminiscent of a WWF match and not always thoughtful exchanges.

Ah, we agree on something. But, of course, the anti-DLC'ers (who ALWAYS start the flame wars) are masters of the WWF-style verbal dancing' and sparring. Their inability or reluctance to back up their assertions with just one shred of evidence prevents any thoughtful exchanges.

[greenohio]

46. Awwwww, do you feel like you're being beat? Those bad bad DLC'ers

never stop inflicting pain. They killed Kennedy you know.

[greenohio]

45. Well put.

[Geek_Girl]

47. I'm being serious

I would like an honest answer. Why do so many of the democratic politicians belong to the DLC? Does anybody know?

[wyldwolf]

48. honestly, there aren't that many

..there are 75 DLC members in the house (out of 435 House reps)

..there are 19 DLC members in the senate (out of 100 senators)

..there are 54 DLC members in the 50 state legislatures (that is only averaging about 1 in each state)

..and a scant few in other local and state branches.

However, the anti-DLC'ers really recognize that distinction. To them, anyone who it to the right of their own political beliefs is "DLC" and evil, for example - Joe Biden (who I personally feel is a great Senator!)

[itzamirakul]

70. It's about money, power and their own

possible futures after they leave government service. They are getting paid either in money or favors from the corporate donors. This gives them a certain amount of power to make sure that the Dems do not run an effective campaign and thus are sure to lose. And above all, they are covering their heinies for future jobs for themselves, their wives, children, brothers, sisters, etc.

[Geek_Girl]

75. Then why is Kerry a member of the DLC

He has allot of money. I just would like a clear answer on this why are candidates that I don't consider to be centrist like Kerry in the DLC? Why are some of most prominent democratic politicians DLC members?

[itzamirakul]

95. For the same reason

that so many voted FOR PNAC and FOR THE WAR. It was politically correct to vote that way and politically correct (and safe) for Democratic politicans to join the DLC. After all, Bill Clinton was one of the co-founders, and HE got elected, didn't he?

You mention Kerry as though he was some kind of God to all of us when, at least for me, he was not the best choice. Don't forget that Kerry was forced upon us by the DLC as being "more electable" than Dean or any of the other candidates. Being a 40-year, straight Democratic ticket voting GOOD, LOYAL Democrat, the minute he was the "chosen one", I jumped on the Kerry bandwagon with both feet and went to work to make sure that he was elected, despite my personal reservations about the man. I venture to say that I and many others worked even harder than some of those at the DLC worked, to get our candidate elected.

I DO consider Kerry to be a "centrist" for that is the type of campaign that he ran, and if he could not stand up to the DLC if they disagreed with a more forceful, aggressive campaign, then perhaps he was not the man for the job anyway.

[UpsideDownFlag]

59. ...jesus. that is dissapointingly naive. nt

[wyldwolf]

61. why so?

[UpsideDownFlag]

60. who do you prefer, LIEberman or Wellstone?

who do you think was a better senator, who looked out for the people's interests?

answer: the one who didnt sell his soul to corporations.

[wyldwolf]

62. Clinton

Thank you.

[UpsideDownFlag]

64. did you ever answer my OP's question?

does it strike you as worrisome that the DLC is being used for Faux propaganda against michael moore, and by implication, the more progressive wings of the party?

[wyldwolf]

68. it worries me everytime the right uses words of Democrats against them

The DNC, DLC, DFA, or any democratic organization has no control over it.

But that doesn't mean democrats can't say what they feel.

[UpsideDownFlag]

81. "But that doesn't mean democrats can't say what they feel."

*cough* as we speak, the DLC is attempting to prevent them from doing precisely that. :argh:

[wyldwolf]

83. how so?

*cough*

Have they blacklisted anyone? Have they jailed them?

Or have they merely expressed an opinion that you disagree with? :argh:

[UpsideDownFlag]

85. aalrighty.

you said the following:

"But that doesn't mean democrats can't say what they feel"

I pointed out the irony of your remark, saying but that's what the Al From's of the world are doing to michael moore!

you, for some reason, can't recognize that calling someone 'unamerican' and etc. is trying to minimize their effects on the democratic party. I don't know why, but you can't.

[wyldwolf]

88. alrighty

Al From's of the world are doing to michael moore!

Show me where Al From said Michael Moore can't say something

you, for some reason, can't recognize that calling someone 'unamerican' and etc. is trying to minimize their effects on the democratic party. I don't know why, but you can't.

Again, you divert from the point.

Where has anyone said Moore can't say what he wants?

[UpsideDownFlag]

90. it's become apparent that neither of us are going to satisfactorily...

..convert the other. I feel like i've made my point at least 5 times, you probably do too. toodles.

[greenohio]

44. You respect them? Man the DLC plants are everywhere.

Quick get some tin foil to protect you.

[ElectroPrincess]

49. And they are *bullies* because they insult you if you don't agree

I've seen thread after thread of you two tag-teaming each other.

Newsflash: You will NOT be successful to BLUDGEON the "good deeds" of the DLC into our heads. All the insults only distances you more from reaching the people who may be open to your message.

You first ostracize "don't let the door hit you in the a**" THEN you make glaring generalizations about the membership of DU not liking the stellar representation of the "so called" Democratic principles a la DLC.

You're behaving like republicans (attacking individuals and then generalizing to the entire message board).

I don't know why you think being rude will get you any respect on this board but you will not change any minds by these continued tag-team attacks. In fact, it just reveals the dark underbelly of the steps you will take to "get your way" here.

[UpsideDownFlag]

65. "You're behaving like republicans"

no, no, that's the DLC.

[Forkboy]

80. greenohio's own words

"I just am sick of people demonizing fellow dems.But apparently that is the standard around here."


He hates it so much he decided to do exactly that.

[gcole]

50. kick

n/t

[KnowerOfLogic]

51. Been saying it for a long time - these sellouts undermine the entire

democratic party and everything we are working for.

[GOPBasher]

52. They want to keep us divided. Let's not let them.

Let's remain united. There are different factions of our party. Let's keep trying to compromise between all of them.

[Silverhairfox]

53. DLC

If the policies of the DLC bring the Dems back to power, isn't it worth going along with them to get control and then wage your fight to move the party to the left?

[GOPBasher]

57. It's not bringing us back to power, because...

The DLC compromises on the wrong things. We need to compromise on some issues, to be sure. Generally, it's more on some of the social issues. But economic populism is NOT what is losing us elections. Being for the middle class instead of the rich is not going to hurt us. It's other issues that are hurting us.

I'm glad we compromised in the 1990s on welfare reform. We needed to do that. But why do we need to compromise even MORE on those issues? I don't think we do.

[rman]

71. If the DLC had its way we'd become a second Republic Party

guess what party republicans would vote for?

[UpsideDownFlag]

76. look at the facts. they have NOT brought 'us' to power.

bill clinton gained. the dems lost. we now are a minority in congress, the governer's seats, and have lost over 1,000 state house positions.

[okieinpain]

54. I'm still trying to figure out when did I vote for al from.

[Razorback_Democrat]

55. The right wing would love to have the DLC as opponents

then they could really say Republican lite and mean it.

[mattclearing]

56. What's to worry about? Only Republicans take them seriously.

If they buy what the DLC tells them, they will know jack about what the Democratic Party is up to.

Which is just fine with me. Let them have their echo chamber. Out here in the real world, we will whup DLC ass.

[wyldwolf]

63. which is why the last 3 Dem presidential nominees have been DLC

...because only republicans take them seriously. :eyes:

[UpsideDownFlag]

67. or maybe it's because they've consolidated the power within the party.

and they will be our undoing.

by the way, did you ever answer my original post's question?

[wyldwolf]

72. but still only republicans take them seriously?

Yes, I answered it.

[UpsideDownFlag]

74. i never said only repubs take them seriously. i take them very seriously.

seriously enough to recognize that they will be our undoing.

[wyldwolf]

84. no, you didn't, but the person who began this part of the dialogue did.

..before you spoke for him/her.

[UpsideDownFlag]

93. tell you what- what do you think of this couple of paragraphs?

The Democratic Leadership Council is an organization of moderate leaders of the United States Democratic Party which works toward moving the Party toward moderate centrist positions. It was called the "Democratic Leisure Council" by the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Mario Cuomo. It is their position that left-wing positions are not politically viable, citing the failed candidacies of George McGovern and Walter Mondale. Bill Clinton, a successful candidate, was active in the organization and is sometimes cited as evidence of the success of their policies. However, then-DLC chairman Joe Lieberman was among the first Democrats to criticize Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Critics cite DLC-supported measures, such as the Welfare Reform Act, as having the effect of alienating the traditional constituencies of the Democratic Party such as labor and minorities, causing an overall reduction in voter turnout. Some contend that 2000 presidential campaign deadlocked because voters could discern no significant policy difference between George W. Bush and DLC activist Al Gore.

Around the start of primaries in the 2004 presidential campaign, the organization voiced concern that the Democratic contenders might be taking positions too far left of the mainstream. Howard Dean, an early front-runner, was specifically attacked by DLC founder and CEO Al From.


eh?

[wyldwolf]

94. ok

The Democratic Leadership Council is an organization of moderate leaders of the United States Democratic Party which works toward moving the Party toward moderate centrist positions.

See nothing too misleading here. I would probably say the DLC is moving the Party BACK toward pre-McGovern moderate centrist positions

It was called the "Democratic Leisure Council" by the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Mario Cuomo.

The same Jesse Jackson who made an off-the-record reference to Jews as "Hymies" and New York City as "Hymietown?" While Jesse Jackson was initially critical of the "third way" or more moderate policies of Bill Clinton, he became a key ally in gaining black support for Clinton, and eventually became a close advisor and friend of the Clinton family. Clinton awarded Jesse Jackson the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor bestowed on civilians.

Cuomo? He turned down an offer from Clinton to be a Supreme Court nominee. Imagine had he accepted...

It is their position that left-wing positions are not politically viable, citing the failed candidacies of George McGovern and Walter Mondale.

I agree - at least on a national level.

Bill Clinton, a successful candidate, was active in the organization and is sometimes cited as evidence of the success of their policies.

Yeah. I know many spin it by saying it was Clinton's charisma, not his policies, but they're fooling themselves. They overlook the fact that most of Clinton's policies worked (and some that didn't were only enacted after GOP tinkering)

However, then-DLC chairman Joe Lieberman was among the first Democrats to criticize Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

So? Dennis Kucinich voted for the resolution calling for an investigation into President Bill Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. If Lieberman is a bad dem for it, so is Kucinich.

Critics cite DLC-supported measures, such as the Welfare Reform Act, as having the effect of alienating the traditional constituencies of the Democratic Party such as labor and minorities, causing an overall reduction in voter turnout. Some contend that 2000 presidential campaign deadlocked because voters could discern no significant policy difference between George W. Bush and DLC activist Al Gore.

Of course critics contend this. I've read it here on DU. But evidence is lacking to support the contentions.

Around the start of primaries in the 2004 presidential campaign, the organization voiced concern that the Democratic contenders might be taking positions too far left of the mainstream. Howard Dean, an early front-runner, was specifically attacked by DLC founder and CEO Al From.

Again, so? This is politics.

[rman]

69. DLC = Clinton, Kerry and many other party officials

they seem to take the DLC serious, as do the media, and the big corporations.

Then again, all of them have no clue what Dem voters are up to.

[wyldwolf]

73. what are dem voters up to?

I mean, besides making Kerry the nominee and giving him the most votes for a Dem in history?

Sure, I know there are activists on the further left, but they hardly speak for the dem voters.

[Geek_Girl]

77. Are you trying to make the point

that the majority of Dems agree with the DLC strategy to move to the right on issues, and get rid of Michael Moore and Move On because they make the party look bad?

:shrug:

If you agree with that strategy just say so.

[wyldwolf]

82. where on earth did you get that from?

My post said nothing of the sort...

..and your assessment of the DLC is off anyway unless you can definitively define where the line is between left and right on individual issues and can provide source material showing the DLC's position on each individual position has moved further right from DNC platforms of the last 50 years or so.

...but I guess first you have to decide what those issues are and why they are the most important ones.

:shrug:

If you can do that, let's hear it.

[Geek_Girl]

86. Well after reading this

Link
Link

The impression I have is that some DLC candidates that I've been watching are moving to the right on economic and social issues. Maybe I'm totally full crap and don't know what I'm talking about. But that is what I think.

And you didn't answer the question really.

But let me ask it another way. Do you think the party should move to the right on social and economic issues and do you think Michael Moore and Move On make the party look bad?

[wyldwolf]

89. Instead of "asking me another way..."

Why not answer my qualifier questions in the previous reply so I can better give you the info you want.

reminder:

definitively define where the line is between left and right on individual issues and provide source material showing the DLC's position on each individual position has moved further right from DNC platforms of the last 50 years or so.

first, though, you have to decide what those issues are and why they are the most important ones.

Are abortion and gay rights the most important issues to you?

[geniph]

87. Why do they keep using Moore as an example of a Democrat?

Moore is quite openly not a member of the Democratic party. Nor is he required to be.

That's like attacking Perot as an example of a Republican - it's completely irrelevant.

[UpsideDownFlag]

91. go to the smoking gun, look at his voter form. you'll be surprised.

he considers himself an ideological independant, but very clearly (and on paper) is in the dem's corner right now.