Are you a Blue-Dog Democrat?

[RiverStone]

As a relative new DUer, I was told once that DU represents the "liberal" wing of the Democratic party. Though from what I've observed over the past 4 months, we seem to span left to right and all shades of BLUE.

It has also been suggested that Nancy Pelosi will have to negotiate with the Blue-Dogs to assert our majority position in Congress. That led me to the question, "What is a Blue-Dog Democrat"?


I'd be interested in hearing what makes you a Blue Dog and do you feel at home on DU?


* * * *

Just FYI, Googled Blue Dog Dems and found this definition:

Blue-Dog Democrats tend to differ ideologically from another coalition of moderate Democrats, the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). The DLC describes itself as new Democrat and positions itself as centrist while taking moderate or liberal positions on social issues and moderate positions on economic issues and trade. Democrats who identify with the Blue Dogs, on the other hand, tend to be social conservatives, but have differing positions on economic issues ranging from fiscal conservatism to economic populism. For example, most Blue Dogs are strong supporters of gun rights and get high ratings from the National Rifle Association, many have pro-life voting records, and some get high ratings from immigration reduction groups, which cannot be said for most members of the DLC. On economic issues, Blue Dogs span the spectrum from fiscal conservatives to supporters of labor unions, protectionism, and other populist measures, while the DLC tends to favor free trade.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Democrats#Differences_between_the_Blue_Dogs_and_the_Democratic_Leadership_Council

[PDittie]

1. No

I represent the Democratic wing of the party.

[warrens]

2. Republican-hating pitbull, more like

Blue dogs are OK, and we need that wing in the party. The more the merrier.

[Tom Joad]

3. More appropiate term, Yellow Dog. Like the painted lines in the middle of the road.

Yellow. That is the best way to refer to folks who support many of the Republican initiatives like the conservative Dems.

[Ron Green]

5. "Yellow Dog," as I understand it, is a Democrat whose party loyalty is such that

he'll vote for a yellow dog if that's who's on the Democratic ticket.

[dae]

9. You are correct,

because I've voted for some stinkers in my day just for that one reason.

[dae]

4. I guess I'm a mongrel, a touch of Blue and a whole lot of

warren's Pitbull.

[Fovea]

6. I am a progressive on 90 percent of issues.

I am an economic populist, pro universal health care, pro free public education to the level of a bachelor's degree.

I am pro national service (draft, vista, peace corps)
Pro internationalism in diplomacy, but not global free trade (because there is no free global market except perhaps in guns and drugs). I believe in nationalizing oil, nat gas, coal, and other non-renewables to fund renewable and new energy sources such as the work done by Robt. Bussard with non tokamak based fusion. I believe that Kyoto, while seriously flawed, is better than our current Jonestown-like policies on the environment.

I believe in a certain amount of protectionism.I think there should never be a trade treaty that does not guarantee fair wages with the right to organize labor in any country we trade with. I do not believe in the race to the bottom, the suspension of habeas corpus, or many of the things my Dem rep (Dennis Moore) seems to support.

I am very pro union, very pro education, very pro-choice, very pro-gay marriage, very much for a basic change in American policies on health, drugs, election finance, science positive policy,and public transportation. In short, I would be ok if we became more like the E.U. But I do believe in responsible private gun ownership.

[lakeguy]

11. DITTO! nt

[elocs]

7. There is a line somewhere that separates a Republican from a Democrat.

For many there is something, some issue or stand, which moves a person over the line from being a Republican to a Democrat or the other way. So a person may be like Republicans in many ways, but that one thing made them cross over the line to vote for Democrats. If they want to vote for a Democrat just like the Liberals, then I'll take their vote. We may as well be practical about this and not bite off our nose to spite our face.

I think we may have too many labels, but in spite of that I would call myself a pragmatic and realistic Liberal overall. I am liberal on social issues and believe we have an obligation to help those who are less fortunate. We need to be good stewards, not only of the Earth, but also of our finances. So while I believe in spending money to help, I want the most bang for the buck and not see the money poorly or unwisely used. That just means the money available will go further. Contrast that with the Republican motto of "everybody for themselves" and "not a dollar spent that does not benefit me". Simply, I am a Democrat and proud to be one.

[MazeRat7]

8. I don't think I fit into any one label....

There is always someone more to the left tham me and someone more to the right. Where am I on that entire continuum ??? :shrug:
By all accounts, I'm somewhere left of the lefts center where ever that is.....

MZr7

edit: Oh and yes... we are a diverse lot here... Welcome to DU!!!

[BayCityProgressive]

10. The Democrats

would be about 3 different parties in most countries.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. No

Social conservative? Ha!

[DenaliDemocrat]

13. I am pretty much a populist with some real Blue Dog tendencies