I AM A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT (Great C-SPAN Letter)

C-SPAN ^ | 8 March 2004 | Angela Beckles

[11th_VA]

C-SPAN 25TH ANNIVERSARY STORY WINNERS

I have been a liberal democrat all my voting life as are my father and mother. We are African Americans and the democrat ticket is our voting birthright. In my mind, the conservative racist Republicans wanted to “Turn Back the Clock” on any progress Blacks have made over the past forty years.

I began watching Washington Journal on C-SPAN about eight years ago. I love the call-in show and I am good at being able to get my calls answered (every thirty days of course). In 1996, I called in on the liberal line. I firmly made my position known about the issue of the day. This was during the good ol’ days of Brain Lamb hosting on Mondays and Fridays. Brian said to me, “Caller, why are you calling in on the liberal line?” I answered, “Because I am a liberal.” He replied, “Caller, your views are clearly conservative” and the guest agreed. I remember saying in a stunned and somewhat confused tone, “Well that is how I feel.” Brian began his regular spill of insisting callers call in on the proper lines. On that day, I began reconsidering my political position.

Today I am a registered Republican. I was a delegate at the 2001 Georgia State Republican Convention with Ralph Reed as the state chairman. I participated on committees to organize Republican rallies in my county. I am glad to be American thanks to C-SPAN and their “Conservative,” “Liberal,” or “Moderate” call lines.

[11th_VA]

Great letter - reality sets in !

[Old Sarge]

Hm. So this lib had a "Come to Reagan" moment.

That's one...

[ladtx]

I suspect there are many more out there like this. Limbaugh gets this type of caller frequently. I've heard him tell callers their views are really conservative views, some act surprised and become almost speechless.

[boxerblues]

If people would simply write down their views and compare the to the Dems or Republicans many would be shocked to find they really are one of us.

[Izzy Dunne]

This was during the good ol’ days of Brain Lamb hosting

A good ole Southern Tradition...

[thedugal]

If people would simply write down their views and compare the to the Dems or Republicans many would be shocked to find they really are one of us.

That would require honest reporting of the issues. If the average democrat was nearly as leftist as the average DUmmy thinks then Dean would have kicked Kerry's butt back to Boston. One of the fundamental problems we have is that the leftists frame the debate. The question is never, do you support homosexual marriage? A large majority of Americans clearly do NOT support gay marriage, even majorities in democrat states like CA and MA want to ban gay marriage.

So the debate is over, we won right? Noooooo. They go and get their activist judges and their anarchist mayors and they defy the will of the people.

Now the argument has become: Do you realllllllyyy think that we should AMEND THE CONSTITUTION!! just because some people want to get a piece of meaningless paper that says they are "married"? Now if most Americans knew that an amendment is the ONLY way to stop the leftists, the majority would endorse it. But instead the debate has shifted and now its just about the hatefilled religious right on an unjust crusade against "people in love".

[jla]

If people would simply write down their views and compare the to the Dems or Republicans many would be shocked to find they really are one of us.

You know, Boxerblues, it is really that simple.
The hard part is getting folks to do it.

[doc30]

I'd like to know what those particular views were that made the host think the caller was a conservative and not a liberal as he claimed.

[boxerblues]

Someone had posted an online quiz several months back to determine what political party you most identified with fairly accurate results. It took my SIL several times to realize she could not in good conscious be a good Catholic and continue to vote Dem. I wish I would of bookmarked the site.

[11th_VA]

I'd like to know what those particular views were that made the host think the caller was a conservative and not a liberal as he claimed.

As I recall, Welfare reform was a big issue (Clinton had to sign) going into the '96 election. But that's just speculation on my part. I heard the writer interviewed on C-SPAN this morning. Her father raised herto believe she was a Liberal Democrat. Her husband is a Major in the military, and probably helped her clarify her positions.

[Born Conservative]

Here is the quiz: http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html

[BluSky]

The libs are good at keeping their rank and file deceived and confused in order to keep them in line and voting 'democrat'. (Classic Kerry (D): For an issue, against the issue, For this, aganist it, etc.)

It happens, one begins to think for themselves and breaks the ranks.

Congratulations to those that have been enlightened and, refuse to no longer be leashed. The veil has been lifted for you.

[two23]

Here is one (of many--run google search)
http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/PolitQuiz.html

[4mycountry]

Would have. ;)

[syriacus]

Amazing. I'm glad to see C-Span is posting this on their webpages.

Thank you for letting us know about this.

Signed,
Another Former Liberal from a "Generations of Democrats" Family.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

"So this lib had a "Come to Reagan" moment."

Great line.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Really good letter. My son in law is a Democrat, but to hear him talk, you'd swear he's a conservative Republican. There is hope for him ;-)

[mewzilla]

That's one...

She's the tip of the iceberg :)

[jcb8199]

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

Best one I've found to date.

[StriperSniper]

Saw the taped segment this morning with he reading it. I figured someone posted it. ;-)