What exactly is a democrat

[againes654]

Well I consider myself a democrat. I have always been a democrat. I tend to be more liberal than conservative. Several discussions on DU over the last few days prompted me to write this. There are some on this forum that feel that if a person does not support a democratic candidate, that they must be a freeper, a troll, or a republican.

I think people have forgotten what it is to be a democrat. Here is a definition.

dem·o·crat /ˈdɛməˌkræt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. an advocate of democracy.
2. a person who believes in the political or social equality of all people.
3. (initial capital letter) Politics. a. a member of the Democratic party.
b. a member of the Democratic-Republican party.

4. Also called democrat wagon. a high, lightweight, horse-drawn wagon, usually having two seats.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/democrat

The first definition is an advocate of democracy. So what is democracy?


de·moc·ra·cy /dɪˈmɒkrəsi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -cies. 1. government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
2. a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies.
3. a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
4. political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5. the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/democracy

No where in the definition of democracy do I see anything about political parties.


Now the 2nd definition of democrat is a person who believes in the political or social equality of all people.

I think we can all agree, regardless of whom we support, that we believe in this definition. I could go on, but I think you all get my point.

Being a democrat, or an advocate of democracy does not mean that you HAVE to agree with every political figure that is a REPRESENT IVE of the democratic party.

If I don't agree with candidate X on several issues doesn't mean that I am not a democrat. Actually I believe that if a candidate does not represent democracy, is it very democratic to support them because of their party affiliation.

We all have to remember what being a democrat really is, and evaluate whether your candidate best represents that. Otherwise, the once great democratic values will be completely lost!

[bryant69]

1. Do feel like any of our candidates for the Democratic nomination does not reflect democratic values?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[againes654]

2. I think there are candidates that don't

want the socially equality of everyone, so yes I do.

Edited to add: I do think this country is as far from democracy as it has ever been, so that is why I said "best represents those values". As a democrat, isn't that what we are supposed to look for?

[bryant69]

5. Nope.

We are supposed to look for the candidates who will do the best in the General Election; you can't do anything if you can't win the election.

OK, I don't entirely believe that either - but obviously there are a number of valid ways to pick a candidate. Deciding which ones favor the Social Equality is one, and probably a valid one - but it's not the one I'm using.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[againes654]

6. Ok if you are ok with that

you are completely entitled to you opinion. I for one will support the candidate that best supports what I believe a democracy to be. I will not support ANY candidate, regardless of their party affiliation, that I believe will step on democracy.

[bryant69]

8. That's very noble of you

In the spirit of your nobility I will forgo referencing the obvious touchstone.

I will vote for the Democrat regardless of who it is among the current candidates (if Dick Cheney gets the Democratic Nominee I won't vote for him).

Bryant

[Kelly Rupert]

3. Well, yes, but we're all Democrats.

Most of us happen to be democrats, but at the same time Republicans are often democrats as well; few Republicans would seriously claim that we ought not have elections in America. Similarly, most Democrats are republicans, while no Democrats are Republicans by definition.

[againes654]

4. Ok

that confused me, but if you know what you mean....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Are You Talking About A Democrat or a democrat?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. Democracy Is A Form Of Government

A Democrat is one who belongs to the Democratic party...

[againes654]

11. That is one definition of a Democrat, but it isn't the ONLY definition.

dem·o·crat /ˈdɛməˌkræt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. an advocate of democracy.
2. a person who believes in the political or social equality of all people.
3. (initial capital letter) Politics. a. a member of the Democratic party.
b. a member of the Democratic-Republican party.

4. Also called democrat wagon. a high, lightweight, horse-drawn wagon, usually having two seats

[Kelly Rupert]

10. Well, I'm saying that

Democrat and democrat are different words with different meanings, as are Republicans and republicans. Every politician in American is both a democrat and a republican. About half are Democrats, and about half are Republicans. The incidental meanings of the words don't really have anything to do with the parties.

To know what Democrat means re: policy positions, check out the Democratic National Platform.

[againes654]

12. So what are you trying to tell me?

I am sorry I didn't capitalize Democrat when I should have. That is my mistake, and obviously what you paid the most attention to. I love that about some Du'ers, how you grab on to one thing out of a post, and that is it. I had a greater meaning to my post, but maybe it only made sense to me. :shrug:

[Kelly Rupert]

13. No, you misunderstand.

We're all Democrats. Being a democrat doesn't have anything to do with it.

[againes654]

14. We are all Democrats

What is your definition of Democrat? Is there a different definition for democrat?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. A democrat is one in favor of majority rule

If 50.1% of Americans felt abortion should be illegal it would be illegal if we lived in a "democracy" We live in a democratic republic or a constitutional republic or a constitutional democracy where there are limits to what the government can and can not do to us as individuals, even if a majority say so...

[Kelly Rupert]

16. A Democrat is

a member of the Democratic Party, which is one of the two major American political parties. Its platform can be found at http://www.dnc.org/a/2005/09/the_2004_democr.php , though it was last updated in 2004; it will be updated again at the convention in 2008. Its current agenda can be found at http://www.dnc.org/agenda.html .

A democrat is generally someone who believes in a democratic government, which applies to every elected American politician (technically, they're all democratic republicans). The definition having to do with "social equality" is more specific to European politics.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. You Should Read The Federalist Papers

America is technically a republic... The founding fathers were "small r republicans"... Madison was a small d democrat and small r republican... Americans don't vote on every single issue... Their votes are "usually" heard through their elected officials...