Why are you a member of the Democratic Party?

[BeFree]

There is a striking difference between being a member of one of the two main American political parties.

Besides the fact that most of the republicans who are in office are only working to win the next election, there is another, deeper, basic foundational difference.

Remember that republican saying from about 2002?

The saying: "You are either with us or against us".
Remember that?
It wasn't just a political statement, it was an edict from the republicans that "You better watch what you say and who you say it to."

That is the way of the republican party: " do as we say."

The party I align with, the party that I am most comfortable being a member of, is the Democratic party. I am proud to be a Democrat. Democrats would never tell us you are either are with us or against us. If they did they'd be run out of town on a rail, tarred and feathered.
The leaders of my party know better than to tell members that we better watch what we say.

We Democrats are expected to speak up and not toe the masters' line like the 'good' republicans do.

"I am proud to be a Democrat, where at least I know I'm free!"

Why are you a Democrat?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Registered as a Dem in 1965. Even then, I realized that it was the lesser of two evils.

Occasionally, though it's becoming rarer, they run a candidate that doesn't require injury to my nose. And, as time has passed, my inclination to nose holding has diminished.

"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

[orpupilofnature57]

4. Great quotes John & Thomas would definately be dems ,Ben too

Just remeber. http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/09/03_hard.html

[RebelOne]

11. Registered as a Democrat since the JFK election and have voted Democratic party since then. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. I've voted 3rd party on 2 occasions.

'68 and '08 were too big a challenge to my nose holding abilities.

[monmouth]

2. They were allowing girls to join the "all-boys club"..I liked their forward thinking..n/t

[Charlemagne]

3. That is the way of the republican party: " do as we say."

I always say that the "problem" with the Democratic Party is that, as a whole, we are more intellectual; better educated; and more concerned with the details and ambiguities when discussing policy. As such, we arent a monolithic force like the mouth breathers on the other side of the fence. We debate each other and have disagreements, but we do so in an academic and earnest manner.

Therefore, it is hard for us to do things like mount major policy initiatives or form a single media empire whose tentacles all shout the same message. the right can do this and they do. They tell their followers what to be mad about. They tell them it is ok to reject science or facts if it goes against a desired goal. They are willing to starve to death for some ambiguous social/cultural platitude.

Its hard to be a Democrat. But thats why I am a Democrat. Because we are the party of intellectualism, morality, reason, liberty, and justice.

I wish we could mount a multi-pronged uniform national effort at reform. But we refuse to water down the message and refuse to state the problem in folksy terms. Thus the message is lost on most of the country. Finally, and most importantly....we refuse to lie.

We have standards. They dont.

[styersc]

5. I'm not.

I vote almost exclusively for Democratic candidates, but I have an open mind.

[jberryhill]

6. How does party identification equate to "having an open mind" or not?

I'm a D because I do not live in an open primary state, and I want the opportunity to vote in Democratic primary elections.

What does that have to do with whom I might vote for in any general election contest?

[styersc]

7. I live in a conservative open primary state.

I've voted in the GOP primary to throw a monkey wrench before.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. For the same reason I voted for Obama, and will again...

The alternative is shit.

[still_one]

9. I was a registered Democrat for over 30 years. I am now am registered as non-partisan in California

However, I vote Democratic. The reason I do not register anymore as a Democrat is because the Democratic party has lost much of their progressive values that started with FDR, and ended with Bill Clinton embracing the corporate take over of the government.

When the Bill Clinton signed NAFTA, the communication Act of 2000, and effectively endorsed the deregulation policies that the republicans had been trying to get through for decades, I decided I needed to make a statement that I did not approve of that direction, and so I became non-partisan.

[Odin2005]

10. because my parents and grandparents are Labor Dems.

[mikekohr]

12. I Think, Therefore I Dem.

My grandmother, Sarah Taggert Kohr Raulston, widowed with 6 children in 1936, during the Republican gifted Great Depression, always told her grandchildren that she and her children would have starved to death had it not been for FDR and the Democratic Party. I have never forgot her gratitude or failed to heed the following: "It's a mortal sin to vote Republican."

http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/
Bureau County Democrats

[BeFree]

34. Heard that

Several friends have expressed the same gratitude about FDR. That is some heavy experience.

[barbtries]

13. i think it was nature not nurture.

but it has always been so. though if a more leftist party became viable, i might join.

[lpbk2713]

14. I have a conscience.

I could never live with myself if I ever voted on the dark side.

[w8liftinglady]

16. where do I start?

-caring for the poor and uninsured,I saw Democrats as the only ones dealing with access to healthcare...
-as the mother and daughter of veterans,I saw Democrats as the only party dealing with treatment of veterans.
-as the daughter,grand-daughter,niece,cousin and sister of many generations of union members,I saw the Democratic Party as the only party who did anything to benefit the working man.
-as a woman,I saw Democrats as the only party dealing with womens rights and choice.
-as a glbt,I saw Democrats as the only party that openly accepted me.

any more questions ?

[BeFree]

35. Indeed

Democrats win, hands down.

Of course, that makes it quite clear why some are republicans... they don't want everyone to have health care, veterans to be treated right, unions to prosper, or those who have different lifestyles to live with equality or freedoms.

republicans are the party of hate, and the Dems at the least are "live and let live".

[stillwaiting]

17. The ONLY reason I'm a registered Democrat today is...

...so I can vote for the most liberal candidate in primary elections.

Today's elected Democrats are thoroughly compromised.

I have very little faith that the Democratic Party is going to reverse the trend of the past 3 to 3 1/2 decades in this country without serious change to our election system and system of governance. This is where the change must come first before any politician will be able to deliver any significant change to the American people.

Just my opinion...

[BeFree]

36. Yep

There will probably never be a liberal republican in our lifetime who could be elected and work to change the system. At least we do have quite a good chance of there being elected many liberal Democrats who could possibly change the system.

And so the choice between the two is quite evident.

[The Straight Story]

18. Registered as an independent since I was first old enough to vote

Vote dem because I feel they generally have my/country's best interests in mind.

[Iggo]

19. I'm not.

[femmocrat]

20. Because I care about my fellow women and men.

Unlike the cold-blooded, heartless repukes.

I grew up in the 1960s. My heroes were the great liberals of that era like RFK, Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, and even LBJ for his social programs. I cast my first vote for George McGovern in 1972.

The reagan "revolution" was and still is beyond my comprehension. While today's democrats are much further to the right than I would prefer, I would never, ever vote for a republican. They are just sick and twisted, IMO.

[unkachuck]

21. I'm a member....

....of the Democratic Party because the Democratic Party is the lesser of the two evils....

....however, this may change in the future....I'm not willing to shred the Constitution or destroy civil liberties for Party affiliation....

[BiggJawn]

22. I'm not wealthy enough to be a ReTHUGlican.

I know there's people more poor than me who vote ReTHUG, but they listen to Gush Pfleghmball, too.

[edgineered]

23. It's too late for me to answer this -

As a Florida resident I was a Democrat until today.

I want to have a say in Florida's ReThug Presidential Preference Primary election, so it was necessary to PAINSTAKINGLY check mark that box on a registration form. The wealth of good advice here on DU will allow me to cast an effective vote come January 31st.

January 3rd is the closing date for changing affiliation in Florida; perhaps there are more Florida Democrats willing to do the same.

Hopefully, BeFree, you can ask again on Feb 1st when I am once again a Democrat!

Currently Florida Voter Registrations are:
4,045,526 R + 1 (sorry)
4,560,012 Democrat - 1
2,624,753 Other

[BeFree]

37. Understandable

But at heart you are a Democrat when forced to choose betwixt the two.

Best wishes for you in Florida. You have a big mess on your hands.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

24. I registered as a Democrat while married to my first husband

I have remained a Democrat because the alternative is either to belong to a fascist group, or to a fascist group that likes sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

[abelenkpe]

25. Can't follow a party that denies

Science and doesn't support civil rights. Was hoping dems would do more to encourage alternative energy, protect the environment and pursue economic justice. Still hoping for more but know there's no hope with republicans.

[eridani]

26. Because I believe that public goods are good

And third parties just don't take the process of contesting elections seriously.

[bigwillq]

27. So I can vote in the primaries.

Was registered INDY until 2004.

[opihimoimoi]

28. the dem party represents a collective way to consolidate Positive + Power.... I am supportive

[BeFree]

38. That's it in a nutshell

Sink or swim. I prefer to swim with my kind.

Mele Kalikimaka!

[opihimoimoi]

43. And a HAPPY NEW YEAR...free of the GOPers....I wish...

[quinnox]

29. Its the only game in town right now

As a liberal democrat, I have grown increasingly fed up with the rightward tilt of the Dem party in recent years. I thought Howard Dean was going to start a renaissance of standing up for real and traditional Democratic party principles again, but that proved to be all too fleeting. With Dean now off the scene, the Dems more than ever need a wake up call. Time to embrace the liberal ideals and not be ashamed for being a progressive. The Dem party might as well start calling themselves GOP-lite if they don't turn this ship around radically in a new direction.

[Zorra]

30. Yes. nt

[UnrepentantLiberal]

31. I'm not.

I switched to independent when the Dems started acting like Republicans.

[tk2kewl]

32. Simple. People over Profits.

nt

[hobbit709]

33. Because there is no viable Socialist option.

But I'm getting more and more disappointed.

[Magoo48]

39. I vote Dem because there is no party representing my part of left field.

[Motown_Johnny]

40. Because the alternative is unthinkable

[TBF]

41. I support labor -

due to the system we have in this country that means I vote democrat.

[Shandris]

42. It's a matter of practicality.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

[PCIntern]

44. Because I have a three-digit I.Q.?

Because I'm not the center of the Universe?
Because I really care about the welfare of everyone, not just the wealthy?
Because mommy and daddy were?

A few more reasons as well....