What’s Wrong With Liberal?
March 26, 2008 – 11:39 am by AndrewI just read an article in the Washington Post about how Obama is being branded as a liberal. Oh no! A Democrat has left-wing positions! Of course, if he didn’t have left-wing positions would he even be a Democrat? Well apparently not as Hillary has been criticizing him too:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign has also started slapping the L-word on Obama, warning that his appeal among moderate voters will diminish as they become more aware of liberal positions he took in the past, such as calling for single-payer health care and an end to the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
I wish he was still calling for single-payer health care, as it’s the only idea that makes any sense, but I digress. So when did liberal become a bad word? Personally I’m proud to be a liberal. Why? Let’s look at some definitions of this tainted word:
From American Heritage Dictionary,
- Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
- Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
And From Wikipedia,
Liberalism refers to a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal.
Hmmm. Free from bigotry? Tolerant? Individual liberty? Open-minded? These are clearly ideas I would not want associated with America or it’s president. I mean, what about our proud tradition of racism and intolerance? Are we just going to forget about all that? Heritage is important. Seriously though, I can understand Republicans using this kind of attack, but what about Hilldawg? Is she not running as a liberal? That’s what I’m getting from her campaign. They say people will be turned off by Obama’s liberalism. She says that McCain is more qualified than Obama. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST YOU’RE RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT! I just don’t get it.
Hillary comes from the camp that believes all Democrats will vote for their nominee no matter what so you should appeal to the conservatives. I reject that way of thinking. I don’t see McCain running on Democratic values because he’s locked in the Republicans. Hillary’s campaign actually reflects the relatively recent shift in American discourse and ideology towards the right. You’ve got the Republicans who are unabashedly conservative, and the Democrats who are mildly conservative. I want an unabashed liberal for our nominee. Unfortunately even Obama is running from this label. But while he’s running from the label, which I hate, he does seem to actually be quite liberal, which is good. Last year he was rated most liberal Senator by the National Journal.
I wish Democrats and “progressives” wouldn’t run from the liberal label. I wish they weren’t such pussies. Maybe with a real Democrat in power, and a Democratic majority in congress they will grow their balls back and reclaim their label.
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, ALL RIGHT WING NUTS ARE THE SAME, ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH THEM IS A LIBERAL. DUMB SHIT. IGNORANT MOTHER FUCKER.
Reply to Arnold Thuh?
Reply to Andrew“Liberalism refers to a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal.”
Democrats are not liberal. anyone who wants the government to control more of peoples lives is the opposite of that. I hate how the word liberal is used to describe those who put more sanctions on peoples lives.
thats right, both of those parties suck, wake up.
Reply to AnonFor starters, we all need to stop being surprised that Hillary is backstabbing her own party. She’s a career politician. Still, you can’t ignore the possibility that she truly believes that she can beat McCain and Barack can’t. Although, as I said, she’s basically giving up all the soundbites the RNC needs to create another “Flip Flop” scene. Also, when it comes to the L-word, don’t forget that this country’s politics are driven by keywords, and wikipedia doesn’t mean dick against the connotations to and biases of the general (uneducated) public.
Reply to baehrSingle payer health care? Let’s think about this for a second. You want to put our means to health in the hands of the government, I mean they have never fucked anything up, right? Why don’t we take some responsibility for our own lives and deal with health when we still can, when we are young. Make better choices with natural foods and activity levels. We would not be paying for nearly as much health care, I guarantee it.
Reply to Roach“wikipedia doesn’t mean dick against the connotations to and biases of the general (uneducated) public.”
True, that’s why we need to undo the bias, liberal is a good adjective and we need to reestablish that.
Reply to Andrewshe is an undercover neo-con, and is working for mccain.
Reply to brianRoach, you need some serious, serious enlightenment when it comes to healthcare subsidies by government. That’s right government subsidies. I know you are only used to your government giving subsidies to big industries like oil and defense, but bear with me a minute here, I can show you how tax payer money besides lining the pockets of big defense industries and other government cronies can actually benefit normal people in the US. (Gasp! We don’t want that where would we end up then ? Well, pretty much where you are now, a populace that is bereft of basic services and crumbling infrastructure while your rich are getting richer.)
But anyway, the point is this : Single Payer health care SUCKS !!! That’s right it sucks. But guess what government assisted *access* to health care doesn’t mean single payer. My parents, although merely low level workers in industry, never had to worry about healthcare and could afford to send me to college abroad. Why ? Because they lived in Germany where they have private doctors and private clinics as well as public clinics and public/private hybrids. The point is the clinics and doctors themselves aren’t touched in this system.
Private insurance companies are also allowed its just that in addition to all that there is basic, good quality government subsidized insurance plans available. Get it ? The doctors aren’t nationalized (ala UK and Canada)) but the government just makes sure affordable, good quality, comprehensive plans (that’s key, no pussy footing around with people not being able to get insurance) are available.
They cost you about $200 a month, if you choose to go for them. The private plans start at about $200 a month too, but they go up steeply with time, in about a year or two the rates for those just go up and up, while the basic but very good government subsidized plan stays pretty stable in terms of cost. That is the difference and its worth exploring in my opinion. Will it cost the US to implement such a secondary subsidized insurance scheme ? Of course it will, but by God, your government is already taking SO much taxes from you and excuse my french but its fucking wasting it at the moment on cronyism and other types of fruitless desert country cash hole endeavors that benefit a few. Man, when are you going to at least to let Big Brother work for you, instead of him taking your money and fucking wasting it all with your approval, because hey, at least you have the feeling he isn’t in your life when he spends the money elsewhere. That’s such a stupid attitude because all he does is hide what he spends it on, he still takes your money all the same, its just being spent on bullshit.
You don’t have to copy snotty European attitudes, (American attitudes are just fine - can do spirit and all) just take whats best in their systems and let it work for you. Right now I find it very, very sad when I land at an American airport and it fucking looks like a 3rd world country when you look out the plane window - old cars, workers have tattered old uniforms, the places seems to crumble when all the while I know how many resources there are in the country. Compared to that, you land anywhere in Europe and everything is clean, modern, well maintained. Why is that ? Does that really befit the US ? Can’t you see that ? WTF are you guys doing over there ?
Reply to The Great AvengerYou already have single payer health care.
You just don’t like that it’s YOU.
Reply to PoonzillaI find it infuriating that the Clinton camp is using the “L word” in a negative way… It’s disgusting.
Reply to The Presidential CandidatesThis Hillary scorched earth shit has got to stop. I once supported her, now, if she’s the nominee, I’m not voting at all.
Reply to Bill Moore