Is "Liberalism" a dirty word? [View all]

[da_decider]

I see all these GOP loons running around the country, claiming to be the "real conservatives" running for White House. And not only in their primaries, even during general elections they are not shy about being proud of their "conservative values".
What I never hear is a democratic politician claiming to be a "real Liberal". Why is that? Liberals are for equal right for all, no matter the race/gender/sexual orientation/religions etc etc...We are the big tent party, we stand up to defend Americans gays, Muslims, Hispanics, Blacks, women...Why Obama does not running on being a liberal?
Needless to say, conservative propaganda machine is great at what it is doing; smearing the left and branding liberals as anti-Americans.