[Previous entry: "Democrats bar Nader from convention"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Restore Honesty gone"]

07/24/2004 Archived Entry: "That L Word"

Posted by antle @ 04:47 PM EST [Link]

DUSTING OFF THE OLD L WORD: I'm in Boston this week during the Democratic Convention, though the reason for my visit is as much R&R as seeing the party of plunder up close and personal. Ryan Zempel has started something of a diary over at Townhall.com, much of which I can agree with.

One area where I think he's off-base, however, is in his assertion that the Democrats have reclaimed the "liberal" label with gusto. Yes, they have nominated a ticket that consists of two senators with high National Journal liberal ratings. But the Kerry-Edwards campaign has been tapdancing away from the characterization of their ticket as liberal.

I was recently watched a debate between Kerry advisor Tad Devine and Bush campaign strategist Matthew Dowd. Devine repeatedly rejected the idea that Kerry was a liberal, and in fact presented him as a moderate. He emphasized Kerry's alleged support for middle-class tax cuts, making abortion rare, the 1996 welfare-reform law. This doesn't sound to me like a campaign or a party that's ready to come embrace the old "l word," at least in rhetoric as opposed to policy.

Replies: 2 comments

Don't trust those Democrats Jim! Unless she's cute that is.

Posted by Steve Martinovich @ 07/24/2004 07:22 PM EST

Those are indeed words to live by, Steve!

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that the Democratic ticket isn't liberal. I'm just pointing out that they are not eagerly advertising their liberalism or accepting that lable. The "l word" still doesn't sell well in American politics.

Posted by W. James Antle III @ 07/24/2004 09:51 PM EST