Where are all the Democrats? What does it mean to be a Democrat anymore? [View All]

[saracat]

In the last several days, I have been told the most astounding things by folks who I have perceived as Democrats. They have trashed the teachers and their union, literally using the phrase"F**K the teachers". They have on more than one occasion expressed pride that an anti-Choice group would endorse our legislation, and claimed they were an integral part of our party structure.Many have expressed support of the derailment of repealing DADT and support of the WH's asking for that delay. Others express support of the killing of wolves and other anti-environmental legislation.Combining all this with the support of troop escalation, the expansion of faith based efforts by the government and the lack of any fiscal accountability for Wall Street, I have been repeatedly stunned.

I have been told unequivocally that "winning is everything" and "it does not matter is this is a good or a bad bill, we have to pass it anyway".

This is NOT the Democratic Party I joined. It is NOT the party I have given my support to for years.If the Democratic Party doesn't stand for Unions, fair wages, environmental protection, reproductive choice, civil rights for all Americans, peace, Freedom of religion and separation of Church and State, as well as corporate regulation and accountability, what do we stand for?I honestly do not know anymore.I do not see how anyone can oppose any of our basic values and still call themselves a Democrat and yet many are.

The so called "pragmatists, who seem able to use any of our basic values as a bargaining chip label those who would support human values as "purists".Oddly enough those pragmatist have gained very little political mileage for their giveaways and have not been able to achieve compromise. They have gotten nothing in return, not even a single vote.

What has happened to the Democratic Party? I want the Democratic Party back. I want a Democratic Party worth supporting. I want a Democratic Party that makes me proud.The triangulating, compromising, bipartisan politically expedient incarnation of today is an embarrassment.