If you are pro-choice, somewhat friendly toward gays, not sure about civil rights for people of

[IsItJustMe]

color any more, and agree with the Republicans on everything else, can you still call yourself a Democrat.

I am sure you all know which candidate I am talking about.

[jobycom]

1. If Obama says he's a Democrat, he's a Democrat. We've had them more right-wing than him.

I don't like him much, but I'll defend him at least that far.

[murielm99]

3. I have some people in my precinct

who work as Democratic election judges and take a Democratic ballot in every primary. They refuse to call themselves Democrats. They tell me they are independents.

I have spoken with them. Their views make them more Democratic than either of our would-be nominees. Go figure.

[jobycom]

4. I say that, too, a lot.

I tell people I'm not a Democrat, I just vote that way because so far the Democrats come closest to me on the issues.

I'm not sure there's really a difference, but by saying it I undermine the Republican "yellow dog" arguments, that I'm just defending or voting for whomever because they are Democrats.

It's a big party. It has room for all sorts of liberals.

[murielm99]

6. They can call me a yellow dog.

I am a yellow dog.

I think we are doing something wrong if people are afraid to identify themselves as Democrats. I am not sure how to correct it, either. Moving to the right, as we have, surely is not the way.

[jobycom]

9. I'm not afraid to, I just don't like the tyranny of labels.

I'm not a Democrat because of any party loyalty, or because I like donkeys better than elephants. I probably prefer elephants, for that matter. I'm a Democrat only because I vote Democrat, and only because they consistently represent my views more closely than the Republicans.

It amounts to the same thing at the voting booth, but it gives me the freedom of thought to disagree with the party, and even in a hypothetical situation to vote for another party if they suddenly became the party to better represent me (and had a realistic chance of winning).

[papau]

7. I agree - besides he is as good at sounding like a compassionate Democrat as Bush was at

sounding like a compassionate Republican.

[crankychatter]

2. they can call themselves Rhutabegas if they want to

I'll still vote for the other person

:-)

[CalGator]

5. She has a (D) next to her name,

so unless/until she pulls a Lieberman, she is one.

[AJH032]

8. actually, I have no idea who you're talking about

because neither of our candidates matches that description (and I'm just going by their voting records, which shows, you know, the truth).

[jobycom]

10. I wasn't sure, either

But with so much Clinton bashing, I thought I'd jump in with Obama before it all got started. :)

Both candidates have made odd statements at times. Obama has sounded soft on Affirmative Action, for instance, and Clinton... well, I'm sure an Obama supporter could think of something. But in the heat of a primary, with all candidates trying to be everything for all voters while not leaving their base behind, things get said that really don't represent what a candidate believes or does. I agree with you, voting record and achievement is more important.