In the tv series, he was the mercenary capitalist of the family.
In the very first episode where they buy their famous school bus, it is Danny who haggles with the car dealer over the price while his Mother just stands aside. The car dealer is pleading with Danny while Danny just keeps on shaking his head 'no'.
Liberals assume that they're automatically right simply based on the fact that they're liberal.
Bonaduce dealt with that one exactly they way they should be dealt with. I know quite a few old farts who would say almost exactly the same thing because in their day those nutjobs were simply written off as idiots.