What Does it Mean to be a Conservative Democrat? [View all]

[RainDog]

I asked someone what this meant, when the person assumed I was making a comment about the President when I wasn't. (fwiw, I was talking about the machinery of money in politics, ala the Koch Bros. as the real power in this nation - they don't run for office, they buy political parties, etc.)

Anyway, so this is the reply I got:

As far as your question goes, I'm a rural democrat on the conservative end of the Democratic spectrum. There are a number of issues in which I disagree with the DU-hive-mind. You're not going to get people who have to shoot prairie dogs (not out of sadism, but simply to keep cattle and horses from breaking their legs in their holes) on board with gun control. My environmentalism mostly extends to things like non-lead ammunition.

I'm also a lot more pro-America than many outspoken DUers.

So, conservative Democrats

1. Are pro-gun (to some degree never specified)
2. Think those more liberal than them are worth disparaging
3. Don't care about the environment unless it relates to their selfish concern
4. Think pro-America means not criticizing this nation

Is that how conservative Democrats define themselves? I would never define myself as a conservative Democrat, tho I held my nose and voted for one in 2012 - an anti-woman (religious-opposed anti-abortion) candidate who recently blocked an appt. by Obama. I detest the man's politics and, if I had a better choice, would gladly not vote for any candidate who is not pro-choice.

Anyway, that's how I've always thought of conservative democrats - anti-choice, religious affiliated with one of the large organizations that are sexist and homophobic to some degree or another, and, sure, pro-gun (though, as someone who has experience with rural life, I find handguns out of place in such a setting, but not shotguns),

but I never really thought of conservative democrats as the type that didn't care about the environment or others who are impacted by such issues.

Are there others here who would call themselves conservative democrats, or who agree with those things - and if so - how would you define conservatism within the democratic party big tent?