OK, so a prominent DUer was banned for disloyalty to the Democratic Party. [View all]

[backscatter712]

Still seeing some gravedancing over that.

Well, here's my take.

BEFORE I am a Democrat, I am a democrat. I am a progressive. I am a socialist.

I believe in protecting the environment.
I believe in keeping us out of destructive and pointless wars.
I believe in equal rights for black people, for Latinos, for Muslims, Christians, Jews, Atheists, for women, for the LGBTQIA community, and for every human being.
I believe in a secular government, not theocracy.
I believe in helping the middle and lower class, and pushing back against predatory big business.
I believe in health care for all.
I believe in making college education accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay, and without incurring crippling debt.
I believe in opposing demagogues and fascists.
I believe in fair trade, instead of outsourcing work to the countries that pay the lowest wages and treat workers the worst, leaving us here hung out to dry.

That is where my loyalties lie.

Not with a political party. I register as a Democrat, participate in Democratic party processes, and work to elect Democrats in order to further the goals I have above.

I'm not a fucking idiot, so for those looking for a TOS violation, no I'm not going to vote to Naderize the party or the country. Yes, I know what Duverger's Law is.

BUT, I am only loyal to Democrats if they're loyal to what I believe in. And I'm not going to blindly follow the diktats of characters like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz just because she puts a "D" next to her name.

As far as I'm concerned, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is as bad as any Republican. She's as corrupt, as abusive of power, and as devoid of integrity or loyalty to the values that Democrats purport to promote.

The Democratic party, at its best, promotes strong values, and makes our country a better place.

But the Democratic party at its worst falls to corruption, kisses the ass of the powerful, and throws the little guy to the wolves, while giving an unctuous smile and saying "What are you going to do? The Republicans are worse! We suck less!" If you think I'm going to give my loyalty to those who pull that shit, you've got another thing coming.

I'm sick of false promises. I'm sick of kabuki dances. I'm sick of dealing with those that would resort to smears and dirty tricks to win an election, instead of running on the merits. We're not going to let a good man get Dean Screamed so the billionaires and Wall Streeters get a candidate that does little more to them than tell them "Cut it out."

I'm sick of fair-weather friends for the LGBTQIA community, and minorities, and civil rights. I want someone who will stand for what's right, and do it with dignity, even if the fight is lost.

The Democratic Party is a means to my ends, not the end itself. And when the Democratic Party fails to uphold its values, and my values, it will lose my loyalty, and I will find creative new ways to promote my values.

So stop demanding I bend the knee and kiss the Democratic ring. You want my loyalty? EARN IT.