Another example of this, again from Chicago, is the late Mike Royko. He was a Chicago democrat, by heritage and demeanor, but in actuality was quite conservative. He wrote a GREAT column about socialized medicine that I think is very relevant today. Here's a link:
http://www.bizbag.com/Misc%20articles/Royko%20on%20MD%20earnings.htm
You'll get no argument from me on a mere party label. Some of the worst politicians happened to be Republican such as Fighting Bob La Follette, a far left senator from Wisconsin. Likewise New York Mayor John Lindsay has an 'R' next to his name but was not a Conservative by any stretch.
On the other hand, some of the old-line Southern Democrats genuinely loved God, the military and the Constitution. One who springs to mind is Congressman Martin Dies of the second district here in Texas. Sure, he had a 'D' next to his name but he, as much as anyone, paved the way for the anti-commie crusade of Senator Joe McCarthy. It was Democrat Dies who spearheaded the committee, named after him, that became the House Committee Investigating Un-American Activities. He was a fierce anti-communist and also opposed the programs of FDR in spite of sharing the party label.
Another good one of more recent times was Senator John C. Stennis (D-MS). During the Watergate era, a bunch of trumped up nonsense ginned up by the WaPO's Ben Bradlee, JFK's old drinking buddy, it was that Mississippi Democrat who remained allies with Nixon after several Republicans threw him under the bus.
What was the date on this column ?