Are there really people on DU who won't vote for the Democratic candidate if

[alcina]

191. So what is a democrat?

From Merriam-Webster:

democratic - adj

1: of, relating to, or favoring democracy
2: often capitalized : of or relating to one of the two major political parties in the United States evolving in the early 19th century from the anti-federalists and the Democratic-Republican party and associated in modern times with policies of broad social reform and internationalism
3: relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses of the people <democratic art>
4: favoring social equality : not snobbish

I suspect I'm not the only one here who prefers to focus more on definitions 1, 3, and 4 above, when speaking of democrats. And while DU's Mission Statement does indeed include as one of its goals "helping elect more Democrats," that is only one part of its mission of being "an online community where politically liberal people can do their part to effect political and social change." Furthermore, it says that DU has "no affiliation with the Democratic Party. Democratic Underground is a truly grassroots community where regular members drive the discussion and set the standards."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus

In other words, despite what I've seen posted by others on DU, there does not appear to be any requirement that those of us participating be card-carying, line-toeing members of the capital-D Democratic party. And anyone who dismisses those of us who question a so-called democratic process that expects us to vote blindly for someone just because the DNC says so are, IMO, acting far more authoritarian than democratic.

Now that's not to say I won't vote for the Democtratic candidate whomever he or she may be; though I will admit I'm having some doubts lately. In my lifetime, the "liberal" party in the US has drifted slowly but certainly to the right. And each election we are told, but think of the alternative. And each election I think, is this really my only option?