Do we want our party to become the party of DINOS?

[Cleita]

I just saw this in the LTTE portion of the Los Angeles Times in reply to an article, "The Politics of Prayer" by Tony Quinn. I haven't referenced the article because it's in the archives and for all intents and purposes inaccessible unless you really want to read it.

However the second letter to the editor states:

<snip>
Quinn's commentary on the shifting base of the Democratic Party is right on. I am one of those disaffected Democrats with no place to go. My party has become intolerant of the moderate who still holds to basic Christian values. Yet the Republican Party, with its more traditional values, remains a party of big business at all costs and scorched-earth policies.

It's time for the formation of the New Democratic Party: a party that supports the equal rights of women but rejects feminism; a party that supports choice but rejects abortion; a party that guarantees equal opportunity to gays but supports the institution of marriage between a man and a woman as essential to the survival of our culture; a party that treasures its natural resources but finds ways to allow for development in measured ways; a party that protects the rights of workers and their income levels but does not tax our businesses out of business; a party that leaves no one behind but does not reward laziness; a party that allows accumulation of wealth but vigorously prosecutes those who cheat and steal at the highest corporate level. If someone will start this party, I'm in!<snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-le-hall31jan31,1,4354393.story

I don’t know about this exercise in ideological oxymorons, but why are these people calling themselves Democrats? Here it is, our real problem, DINOS. Could Du’ers refute what this person says? I’ll start.

You can’t have equal rights of women without feminism. Feminism is the word coined to mean equal rights for women.

[Toots]

1. What they are is Republicans whose party has left them

They are moderate Republicans whose party has been taken over by the Delays and Cheneys. They feel lost. I think the best thing in the world would be for them to form their own party. They are not Democrats and never will be.

[Cleita]

9. Seems so doesn't it?

Maybe it's time for us to start a party of Social Democrats getting back to our liberal roots. Too bad the Green Party couldn't do it.

[lastknowngood]

2. Ok here is how to understand these fools

they are actually moderate republicans who no longer have a place within their own party and so are trying via money and influence to co opt the democratic party as their own. This is the DLC "democrats".
The real democratic party has allowed them in because we are a diverse group and are trying to expand our so called base.

[petrock2004]

3. i'll take a crack

a party that guarantees equal opportunity to gays but supports the institution of marriage between a man and a woman as essential to the survival of our culture;

wouldn't equal opportunity for gays mean their opportunity to enjoy "civil rights" that you take for granted -- i.e. "civil unions"?

or maybe this idiot is just talking about their equal right to be raped and beaten in army hazings?? :eyes:

[acmavm]

4. This person sounds a tad schizophrenic (??spelliing).

.

[Devlzown]

5. "a party that supports choice but rejects abortion"

:wtf: So if they reject abortion, exactly what choices are left to support? Ideological oxymorons indeed!

[delhurgo]

6. This guys language is a little harsh, but I believe he makes some good ...

...points. The only thing I'm not sure I agree with him on is gay marriage. I'm undecided about that. Civil Unions seem like a good compromise. Everything else though I think he gets pretty much right.

Feminism today is not the way it was decades ago. Back then it was about equal rights and freedom. Today it seems more like its about overbroad sexual harassment laws, speech codes,... and essentially using the gov't to try to force their sensitivities on everyone else. Many of today's feminist are not shy about calling for outright censorship of things they find offensive. Feminists of decades past were more libertarian. Choice was about more than just one issue. Thats why they were so successful imo. Many of the younger women are rejecting this new militant feminism. I believe what this guy hopes for re: feminism is slowly happening.

I don't believe he's suggesting a major change in what democrats are for, just in the way issues are framed. Thats how you win. Clinton was a master at this. Hopefully Kerry or whoever will be too.

[Cleita]

7. Feminism is about overbroad sexual harassment laws???

What kind of sexual harassment is acceptable to you, may I ask?

[Cocoa]

8. this is just one person

and someone that has read one too many Zell Miller books.