What's a conservative Democrat?

[Virginia Dare]

just out of curiosity, does anybody out there consider themselves a conservative Democrat, and if so, why? :shrug:

[mrcheerful]

1. A poor american that doesn't want to see change?

[Atman]

2. A scamming con-man like Lieberbush?

:shrug:

.

[mmonk]

3. Some are conservative.

Some are republican leaning people that didn't change party affiliation like many dixiecrats did. Some have effectively brought about one party ideology with just a touch of difference in flavor. But the truth of the matter is, what used to be considered conservative is no longer. Conservative can pretty much be applied to the democratic party while rightwing radical best describes the republicans.

[whistle]

4. Well, they are certainly out there...

<snip>
Conservative Democrat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The factual accuracy of this article or section is disputed.
Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page.

In American politics, a Conservative Democrat is a Democratic Party member with conservative political views.

Conservative Democrats of the 21st century are similar to their moderate Republican counterparts, in that both became political minorities after their respective political parties underwent a major political realignment which began to gain speed in 1964. Prior to 1964, both parties had their liberal, moderate, and conservative wings, each of them equally influential in both parties, with the Democratic Party being more associated with populist positions and the Republican Party adopting a more laissez-faire role; President Franklin D. Roosevelt had proposed a realignment of the parties in the 1940s, though the trends which brought it about did not accelerate until two decades later. During this period, conservative Democrats formed the Democratic half of the conservative coalition.

After 1964, the conservative wing assumed a greater presence in the Republican Party, although it did not become the mainstay of the party until the nomination of Ronald Reagan in 1980. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, retained moderate and conservative wings through the 1970s with the help of urban machine politics. This political realignment was mostly complete by 1980. After 1980, the Republicans became a mostly right-wing party, with conservative leaders such as Sam Brownback and Wayne Allard, while the Democrats became a mostly left-wing party, with liberal leaders such as Ted Kennedy and Jerry Brown. However, both parties have a notable centrist wing, with moderates such as Joe Biden in the Democratic Party and Rudy Giuliani in the Republican Party.

Since 1994, conservative Democrats have been organized in the House of Representatives as the Blue Dog Democrats. Another coalition of moderate Democrats within the United States Senate is the Democratic Leadership Council, which promotes center-right<1> <2> social/cultural positions on political issues and neo-liberal fiscal issues.
<MORE>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Democrat

[YOY]

5. Someone who is what the Republicans should be

but are not because they were high-jacked by the Neocons and their redneck and fundie followers.

Unless you are talking about Lieberman...in which the definition should be "someone who should be a Republican."

[BOSSHOG]

6. Interesting question, maybe I'm one

When it comes to voting and advocacy I'm a flaming liberal, but my life is rather sedate, boring, "conservative." Stay at home and raise my tomatoes kinda guy. My partying days are way behind me except for the occasional daytime soire to the quarter; we are home long before the sun goes down. On the other hand I don't dabble in such conservative values as spousal abuse, divorce, sex with children and lying. I'm so confused. I don't know if I'm a "conservative" or not. But I do know I am a law abiding, tax paying, productive citizen.

[A wise Man]

7. A 1959

Georgia Wallace, Lester Maddocks, Bull Conners loving hick.

[dmallind]

8. Well by some definitions I could be.

I don't like the Wiki definition but I count myself as a Blue Dog, which could at one point and in one way be thought of as at least fiscally conservative in that they (and I) support balanced budgets, restraint in taxation and discretionary spending to that which is really necessary or widely beneficial, and regulated free trade capitalism. That however is much different from where today's conservatives are. Socially I'm pretty liberal of course, although personally I am fairly orthodox and "traditional" in appearance and lifestyle beyond tattoos and occasional bisexual activity.

Essentially I'm an Eisenhower Republican without the religion-inspired social hangups. The Reps have longs since departed from that position of course.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. A chump.

[bunkerbuster1]

10. If by "conservative" you mean

someone who doesn't believe in doing reckless stuff, taking the time to consider all likely scenarios prior to supporting most any type of government-backed intervention, whether diplomatic, economic, or military--yeah, I'm very conservative.

Unfortunately, "conservative democrat" generally means someone who doesn't like them faggots and dykes gettin' hitched, and who thinks white women ought birth the babies when they get themselves knocked up.

And we're supposed to fall all over ourselves soliciting the votes of such "conservatives." Which is nuts.

[WI_DEM]

11. A Jeffersonian who doesn't like big government except for maintaining the common

defense. Usually a hawk on military spending. And especially in the days when Jim Crow ruled a firm advocate for "States Rights" meaning opposing Civil Rights. Most of those Southern Senators like Sparkman, Russell, Thurman (when he was a democrat), ect were "conservative" democrats. They generally favored farmers and small businessmen but were weary of many New Deal and Great Society reforms and vigorously opposed civil rights.

[WinkyDink]

12. What's a conservative Democrat? A Republican who's ashamed to own up to it.

[Solo_in_MD]

13. That is a broad brush...many definitions out there...

For example, though quite liberal, I am a fiscal conservative. I want public money raised and spent wisely and well. I abhor morgaging our future and passing a crushing load on to the next generation.