I am a democrat not reluctantly but by choice

[JohnKleeb]

This party is the party that respected my ancestors as people, not just laborers. The party that gave countless veterans a second chance and spurred the modern middle class. The party that was for civil rights. The party that opposes discrimination. I am a democrat not reluctantly but by choice, a liberal one at that, and I like John Kerry.

[GRLMGC]

1. Thanks for this post

You articulated my feelings and, I'm sure, the feelings of many others perfectly.

[JohnKleeb]

2. sure

[seito]

3. I am proud to be a Democrat

I love what we stand for.

Human rights, equality, education, the environment, helping those in need etc.

I love John Kerry and John Edwards. :hug: They are good people. You can feel it when they speak. The words come from the heart, not the political playbook. I will never believe that John Kerry sold out, or any of that other CRAP that is being spewed around.

I did not come to my decision lightly. I have done a whole lot of research and every new thing that I find makes me that much more loyal to John Kerry. He fights for what is right JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I can not explain the feeling that I have. I have never felt this way about any politician. I know that he is where he is, at this point in time, to bring down the most evil force that has ever threatened this nation.

He will not relent in this fight and neither will I.

No Retreat No Surrender

[New Earth]

4. i dont' know what i am

i don't think i'm a democrat though, not by name.

i'm a progressive liberal, find a lot in common with Democratic, Green AND Libertarian parties.....i guess i am a Democratic GLIB???

[ginnyinWI]

5. I'd really like to know just what label I belong to

does anybody have any resources? like definitions of what each group believes? Or maybe it is not so cut and dried.

A related question: is John Kerry to the left of the DLC? I think he must be--but just how far left is he within the Democratic party? Is he in the center, or left? All I hear is slanted opinions. How does he really compare to Howard Dean, who some say is actually in the center.

[JohnKleeb]

6. Yes Kerry is to the left of the DLC

Kerry has more in common with Senator Ted Kennedy on the issues than he does with DLC Senate Chair, Evan Bayh. Yes, I would say Kerry is to Dean's left.

[ginnyinWI]

7. That's cool.

I have always thought that Kerry is further left than he lets on most of the time! It's all good to me.

[JohnKleeb]

12. right he was a leftist who had a centrist sound to him

Dean was the total opposite, a centrist who sounded leftist.

[GRLMGC]

8. Seriously

He's pretty liberal but to some on DU, he's "nothing but a Republican". Go figure. You can't please everyone.

[JohnKleeb]

11. ha a guy with a similiar record to Teddy Kennedy, thats the most absurd

thing but of course this attack generally comes from supporters of candidiates who didn't have to vote on things. They generally use IWR, PA, NCLB, and NAFTA for their rationale, even though that's just such a bs rationale.

[LittleClarkie]

9. He's a mixed baggie

He's to the left on the environment, he's a fiscal pay-as-you-go guy (paygo), he's a bit of a hawk in foreign affairs, back to liberal with health care. I'd call him a progressive in some ways because he has innovative ideas, like getting Americans into the same health care system as Congress. And yet he's not afraid to turn around and ask his own party if we are completely right in our stands on affirmative action, abortion or gay marriage. He's Catholic enough to me somewhat conservative in his moral thinking, yet knows enough to keep keep "church and state" separate in his own life.

What an oddball.

Looking at Christmas toys lately, I've decided I desperately want to find an Island of Misfit Toys play set. Don't you feel like that about us Dems sometimes, like we're all the misfits.

I want a Charlie in the box. I want a Herme, complete with Dentist book and doll with teeth, singing "You can't fire me, I quit. Why don't I fit in."

Oh dear. I've snapped, haven't I. And in plain view, too. Perhaps I'd better find a way to get some sleep, and quick.

[TayTay]

10. We're the island...

And the misfit toys come to us. It's where they figure out that they are not really misfits at all, just misplaced or misunderstood.

[ginnyinWI]

13. Sounds like JK is a maverick

---that's the term some have applied to Russ Feingold, too. The right kind to have in government.

Hey we're not the misfits--they are! They just think they are in the majority because they see it on TV. The stats say otherwise. So keep on keepin' on.

[angrydemocrat]

14. This is one of the hard parts about my hero

I don't see how you can label a great man like Kerry because let me lat it out as I see it then see what kind of label you guys think would fit. It won't be easy but here it goes:

1)social security - he is more to the left

2)education - definitely to the left (Big hawk on education opportunities for all Americans)

3)Big on Equal Rights Issues

4)Big on Civil Rights Issues

5)Fiscal pay as you go (Big hawk against debt finds it very irresponsible for the government to be allow big tax breaks for the rich and run up a debt for future generations to pay. Has crossed party lines to vote for pay as you go issues)

6)Military and Foreign Affairs - (Major Hawk on these issues wants a strong military at all times that can handle anything but is a man
that truly believes war should be a very last resort. If it needed he would be a forceful commander and chief but would have excellent and obvious reasons to go to war before doing so. Would always be up front, and stern when handling these issues. Foreign Affairs would be a issue that whoever he had in his cabinet better be willing to here they are wrong when they are because he would be the type to say Oh hell no it don't work that way and there is no way in hell I'm going along with that)

7)Health care - definitely left (Believes in health care for all Americans regardless)

8)Welfare - Left to center (Believes there is reason to have welfare system to help those that are poor and less fortunate but believes in some reform to provide education and job training to those on welfare so that they can get off welfare, providing daycare, and before after school program for children in the welfare system so parents can work to get out of off poverty.


Kerry is a man of intelligence that can see all sides of of an issue and incorporate all data before he makes a decision. Kerry is comtemplativeand thorough. Kerry has the qualiyis of a political.

[angrydemocrat]

15. LMAO

You can tell I was falling asleep when I was typing this post from last night! Look at all the mistakes. OH Well! Sorry. LOL.

[Siyahamba]

16. Fiscal pay as you go

* had the audacity to call John Kerry a tax-and-spend liberal just because he believes that we should have the money to fund things before we actually fund them, rather than not have the money and fund them anyway, sticking us with the bill - plus interest - in the future.

[ginnyinWI]

18. yeah, it was all lies, start to finish. n/t

[ginnyinWI]

17. oooh this sounds like a fun exercise

Let's see, left on most issues, fiscally conservative--
I'd say a Fiscally Conservative Liberal Democrat.

As for the national security issue, it's a complete myth that Democrats are weak on security. Back in the days of FDR and Truman, everyone considered the Democrats the party stronger on defense. Even up through Kennedy and Johnson.
Then somehow we lost that reputation, probably through the right-wing stepping up its propaganda against us as they fought to rise to power. But its a complete lie--so Kerry is just being a typical Democrat, strong (but smart) on defense. He would use diplomacy and other means along with the threat of or use of force (as a last resort). It's unfair to call him a hawk if that means "itching to make war". Even doves know that war is inevitable for very, very good reasons.

[angrydemocrat]

19. I don't mean hawk

as in the means of itching to make war by no means. Kerry is against war unless it is a very last resort. When I say hawk I'm meaning this is one of his very strong points. He is very serious in everything he does when it comes to these issues. He takes these issues very very seriously at all times and never gives an inch in what he believe's. He is very smart and has very good insight when it comes to these issues that is what I meant by hawk. No this man is definitely not one for war unless it is a last resort but he would use force if necessary and be stern when he did.