Why are YOU a Democrat?

[Seen the light]

In your own words, why do you think that being a registered member of the Democratic Party is right for you?

[Sapere aude]

1. The Democrats are the political party that most closely reflects the political beliefs I have.

I am a liberal who realizes that everything can't be the way I want it. Liberals don't live in the country alone.

[patricia92243]

2. Because I am not a Republican, and that is the only viable choice. n/t

[LSparkle]

3. Because I think we're all in this together and government has a role

Because I believe in the idea of the "commons" and in us being a civilized society that OWES something to one another, not a dog-eat-dog, survival-of-the-fittest circus.

[some guy]

4. so I could vote for DK in 2004 primary. n/t

[NC_Nurse]

5. I'm not sure today.

Some days it seems like such a pile of bullshit with NO way out.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Because I'm a liberal

I believe in tolerance for all, equal rights for all, choice for women--I care for others. The Democratic Party is the party of those who care and realize that we are all related and what is done to one effects us all.

[TahitiNut]

7. I'm not and I don't.

:shrug:

I'm a non-partisan, independent, liberal democrat and don't owe anyone a vote.

[GreenPartyVoter]

27. I know what you mean.

[slackmaster]

8. Nixon

n/t

[El Supremo]

9. The Democratic Party has historically tried to represent the middle and lower class.

And not the rich and special interests. It has tried to reduce the problems associated with capitalism.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Because I may be a lot of things, but I'm not an asshole, at least.

[panader0]

11. For me it's mainly social issues. The Dems stick up for the poor,

they provide milk for underprivlidged kids in school, on and on and on. But this social consciousness,
(as opposed to repubs obsession with wealth) translates into the area of environment, world peace, racial equality, education, and all of the traditional Democratic values. Unfortunately, many of our elected reps seem to have lost their way.

[The Inquisitive]

12. because it is currently the only viable political party

honestly, where else is there to turn really?

[stillcool]

13. Because I have...

no choice...if the government is to be 'fixed' from within, and elections being what they are, there is no option. The republican party is and has always been representative of business interests. The democratic party at least has the pretense, due to a handful that continuously speak the truth, of being representative of the people. With each passing day the reality that our government is not 'our' government becomes more obvious.

[More Than A Feeling]

14. Because I believe in strong corporate regulation, honest and efficient government,

preserving ecosystems and a clean environment in general, economic fairness, and social justice.

The Democratic Party is closer to that than Republicans are, and our system isn't set up to support 3rd parties.

[muntrv]

15. Because I side with the little guy.

[El Supremo]

16. It certainly is not because they keep us out of unjust wars.

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. I actually just registered to vote again and for the first time in my life i put "Democratic" as

party affiliation. I had always registered as an independent before. I guess i thought i didn't want to be tied to an ideology, even though i had one!

I must admit, my political beliefs have evolved substantially over the last 20 years. I know i was always Pro-Choice and thought diplomacy was better than weaponry as a method to solve international problems but i have struggled with my points of view regarding things like gun ownership and welfare, for instance.

Now however, i feel that if we are going to live in a large, complex society, we had better have intelligent methods of dealing with difficulties inherent in large, complex societies. It is my opinion the Democrats do a better job than Republicans in this regard.

[maveric]

18. From my Granpa: "Dems stand up for the working class and repubs only...

care about the rich."
This man with only an 8th grade education told me that when I was about 7. Those words have stuck with me throughout.

[jgraz]

19. Today? I honestly have no fucking clue.

Ask me again in a few days... :banghead:

[emilyg]

20. My Dad

would haunt me if I changed parties.

[franmarz]

33. self delete

[mmonk]

21. Robert Francis Kennedy

[focusfan]

22. Because I believe everyone is equal,also

I think absolutely NO ONE has the right to tell anyone how to live their life.I think peoples sex lives,or preference,religeon,abortion rights,what kind of car they drive whether or not they wear seat belts or anything that interferes in peoples lives.I also do not think the rich and powerful should be treated any different from the rest of us.Maybe what I feel is neither democrat or republican I just feel that everyone has to make their own choices and no one is any better or worse than anyone else.

[Jed Dilligan]

23. George W. Bush nt

[WinkyDink]

24. I believe the principles of the Democratic Party are closest to the Sermon on the Mount.

[Bluebear]

25. Today? I have no fucking idea. nt

[proud patriot]

26. I came back to the Democratic Party

when Dean ran for President before that I was registered Green.

I came back so I could help the Democrats defeat fascism(republicans)in America.

[LSK]

28. several reasons

[mcscajun]

29. Because I have a heart.

Because I have compassion for others.

Because the Democratic Party has done more for the ordinary people of this country than the Republicans.

Because there once was a President Nixon.
Because there once was a President Reagan.
Because there is a Current Occupant of Our White House named "Bush".

Because for all their faults and flaws, the Democratic Party is still the best hope for the future of America.

[Clovis Sangrail]

30. I won't be as soon as I can reregister

I've swallowed a lot of crap from "my party" over the last 6 years.
No more after today.

[LSK]

and you were going where exactly???

Making things easier for the GOP?

:shrug:

[Bluebear]

37. That's it, we are stuck in a quagmire of a party.

No other choice.

[Clovis Sangrail]

44. I can no longer compromise my values

I'm fully aware that our system is broken... and any vote I might cast for a 3rd party candidate can be looked at as a vote for the republican candidate.

That's not because I voted that way, but because the system is broke.
I have followed this logic for a lot of years and voted pretty close to party line. If the race was even close I would vote for the Democratic candidate even if the 3rd party candidate was far more representative of my views.

My conscience won't allow me to do that anymore - not after today.
Before today the congressional democrats were partially complicit in this war; after today the party leadership is fully complicit in continuing this war.
(I realize not all democrats voted for this)

What is the point of supporting the party if the party doesn't represent you?
They had the public behind them and they could have had the votes... but they didn't have the spine.
I will still likely vote for a number of democratic candidates, but I will no longer compromise my values, at all, by considering party affiliation when choosing who to vote for.

I hope the party leadership wakes up and again begins to represent "the people".
Until it does I'll be registering independent.
(or maybe progressive democrat)

[Madspirit]

40. ...and where will you go?

There's nothing better in this country and they are still tons better than the Repugs.
Lee

[janx]

31. GWB

I was never a Democrat before the Chimpster; I was an independent voter. The Chimpster happened, and then Howard Dean happened, and then I registered as a Democrat. My parents were moderate Republicans (I'm not sure if they were even registered as such). My mother voted for Clinton over Reagan because she saw the disaster of the religious right's takeover of the Republican party.

The hijacking of the Republican party inevitably lead to a belated change (still happening) in the Democratic party, and this is probably for the good of everyone, except there's some dead wood to be culled from Congress even as we speak. The cool thing about what Howard Dean advocates is that people cannot just sit around and expect politicians to run things for them.

HOWARD DEAN: the anti-Bush.

Given my age, background, and experience, I understand that quite well. ;-)

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Madspirit]

34. Because

There is no viable Socialist Party in this country.
Lee

[MonkeyFunk]

35. Because

no other party that can accomplish anything reflects my views better.

[bdamomma]

36. cause we care about peoples' well being, and we are for the

middle class unlike the stupid repigs who like money and business too much.

[pinto]

38. Dems represent the broadest interests of the country. Our party's

political history, however fractured, maintains the basic contract between the federal government and the American public. It is sincere, imo, and deserves our support.

Republicans favor reneging on that contract across the board. Libertarians don't recognize the contract to begin with. Other third parties ignore the contract, substituting political opposition as a national agenda. None work as well, overall, to advance the interests of all Americans as the Democratic party.

It's hard to see that underlying bedrock just now, understandably, given the Iraq funding fiasco. I realize that.

But the broadest support for national progress, effective government and realistic international relationships remain with the Democratic party, imho.

Just my two cents. Thanks.

[LWolf]

39. I'm not sure that it is right for me.

I am a registered Democrat because I once believed that the Democratic Party was the party that represented the "people," those people like myself who aren't born to privilege, money, and power.

I no longer believe this; perhaps I'm here because Democrats seem, on the surface, to be better than Republicans. I don't know that they are so much better that I'm persuaded to remain a Democrat much longer. I'll give them 18 more months, and see what changes.

[Madspirit]

41. Fair Weather

Don't be a fair weather friend. They certainly have our backs better than anyone else.
Lee

[LWolf]

49. I want representatives who

go to work regardless of the weather. They don't need an 8 year "inclement weather" day. Neither rain nor heat nor gloom of night should keep them from their appointed duties.

I still feed my livestock in bad weather. I still get up and go to work. I still earn my paycheck. I still pay the bills.

[Madspirit]

54. Huh?

So either the metaphor of "fair weather friend" is something you're unfamiliar with or I'm being dense. Probably me.
Lee

[LWolf]

59. I'm familiar with the metaphor.

You're suggesting that I am a "fair weather" friend to the party.

I'm suggesting that the party is a "fair weather" friend to me.

[Madspirit]

61. Ahh

I get it now.
Lee

[uppityperson]

42. I'm not registered member. They are better than the alternative.

It is the only hope to counter the others. I wish we had a viable third party, have worked for one in the past but at this point am more concerned with damage control, with slowing down all the BULLSHIT that has happened in recent years.

[AnOhioan]

43. Bad time to ask this particular question

[Seen the light]

51. Far from it

Reading responses on DU earlier today is what prompted me to ask this question in the first place.

Very interesting and honest responses though and I appreciate that.

[LostinVA]

45. I'm not -- I'm a member of the DSA

But, I support the Dems politically. Even if they often don't support ME.

[scarletwoman]

46. In my state, we don't register by party, I've never been a "registered" Democrat.

In primary elections, you have to vote one party on your ballot, but it's an anonymous choice, just like your vote itself.

I have never voted for a Republican in my life. I have occasionally voted for Greens in local races, but never anyone but Democrats in national races.

I was raised to consider voting an absolute minimal civic duty, and have faithfully voted in every single election since the midterms of 1970 -- the first year I was eligible to vote (I missed being eligible for the 1968 election by less than 2 weeks :( ).

I'm largely a Democrat by default -- the alternative is unthinkable. However, it becomes clearer and clearer as the years go by that our national political institutions are so fundamentally and pervasively corrupted, that I'm no longer sure if I can, in good conscience, continue to acquiesce in playing my little part in the charade.

sw

[Seen the light]

52. Sorry, I couldn't think of a better way to ask my question

I just tried to boil it down to the simplest possible question. Thanks for the response though.

[scarletwoman]

55. No need to apologize! There is absolutely nothing wrong with your question.

I was just replying honestly.

sw

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

47. I've been a "lesser of two evils" registered Democrat since 1965.

The sole reason being that I can then vote for the "lesser of two evil" candidates that the Democrats run in the primaries.

Then I have only to evaluate how much punishment my nose can take and decide if I'll vote for the Democrat, Third Party, or shake my head sadly.

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." --Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." --Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." --John Quincy Adams

[DemGa]

48. 'Cause I hate Republicans

Lol.

That's where the people are who feel and think like me.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

50. It all started with Hurricane Andrew and Bush Sr.'s complete neglect

of a devastated city of poor americans. He did have time to fly in and check on his monied friends at a posh private community in the upper Keys. My husband was managing a local hardware store in the Keys and these rich bastards would walk in and DEMAND all the plastic and lumber that he had, adding "I LIVE AT OCEAN REEF!" Hubby looked them straight in the eye and said, "We're all out." Then he gave away all his profits by passing the plastic and lumber out the back door to the poor people who had lost their entire homes in the hurricane.

And we've never looked back since.

[Hubert Flottz]

53. It's the lesser of three EVILS!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

56. I'm Just Me. Just So Happens That When It Comes To Issues That Matter, Dems Are Far More In Line

with where I stand.

[leftofthedial]

57. I was a Democrat because we were the party that stood for

social justice

workers

civil rights and civil liberties

enlightened foreign policy

a strong domestic agenda

consumer protection

regulating the fascist/capitalist bloc

strong environmental protection


Now, though, I don't know why. I guess because Democrats are slightly preferable to repukes in one or two of these areas, although they certainly don't "stand for" any of the above anymore.

[BuyingThyme]

58. Because Republicans suck.

[Oldenuff]

60. I'm not so sure it's right anymore

It all feels so hopeless when you get shat on by the people you elect to get things changed.I'm losing faith in my party and am thinking seriously about voting for a 3rd party candidate.

I may have to "hold my nose" and vote Dem again,but I'm getting darn tired of the "lesser of two evils" candidates that we are continually being offered.

On second thought,I just might vote 3rd party in protest.All my vote seems to get is non binding resolutions and a bow to big bizz anyway.

[alcibiades_mystery]

62. I'm not a Democrat