YO, WHAT THE HECK IS "TOO FAR LEFT"?!!!

[shoopnyc123]

Okay, sick of the pundits saying Dean is "too far left"...what the heck does that mean? It reminds me of the phrase in the gay community "Coming Out". People claim they're out then, after inquiry, they're out to friends, but not to family; out to family but not the workplace, (you get the picture).

SOOOO, Left means what, and to whom? You're best friend is black? You don't go to Church, and God forbid, are an atheist? You smoke pot?

Only one "LEFT" description per post, to keep it interesting.

[NNadir]

1. These days it seems more and more like it's too far left if your

swastika is too small.

[unfrigginreal]

2. In this case

it means "doesn't take orders well". The pundits that are saying it are getting it from the party power brokers.

[Maple]

3. It's too far left

if mainstream voters won't vote for it.

The only criteria there is for getting elected.

[shoopnyc123]

6. Well what's a "mainstream voter"? (NM)

[Don Claybrook]

4. Too far left is an invention of the media and the GOP

The GOP knows good and damned well that if the real issues were framed honestly, if politicians' true motivations were known, Republicans wouldn't be able to win anything bigger than the local dog catcher election. Therefore, they spin like tops. You can read that as 'lie' if you'd like.

Unfortunately, some Democrats have been sucked in by this spin, and some probably have even less honorable ends in mind. You can read that as 'part of the problem, just like the GOP', if you'd like. And yes, here I'm referring to the DLC-types, the "centerists".

I think many of the rest of us have been swept up in this fear-based thinking and ignore our better instincts in order to pick what we believe to be a "safe" candidate. And you can read that as 'partially whored-out', if you'd like.

Thanks.

[liberalmuse]

5. The Bolsheviks?

I think it's too far left when you start draggin your elitist rulers in the streets and slaughtering them, but I would argue to say that this is actually a right wing thing to do (violent revolution), and peaceful protest in the vein of MLK and Ghandi is truly the left wing way. So there really isn't a 'too far to the left'. Kucinich is just right, IMO, and not too far left, and Dean is more to the right (my opinion), but right in the middle in reality, and not too far to the left by any means. Then again, I'm too far to the left as far as over half the people in this nation are concerned.

[Nite Owl]

7. The Repukes

have moved the marker. They have gone so radical right that someone like Dean just appears further left. To me Dean is a centrist.

[shoopnyc123]

8. I agree Owl...

Dean seems VERY centrist to me...

[Djinn]

10. same thing happening here

in Australia where our "left" party the ALP have just voted a economically far right MP as their leader (although I can't dislike him too much he did after all call shrub the most dangerous and incompetant president in living memory)

also in UK where a tory stooge like Blair has redefined labor values as "New Labor" whatever that means

seems like any desire for the rich and corp's to pay their fair share (not even asking for higher rates anymore just equal) of tax - suggesting taxes be spent on schools or hospitals and beleiving in something called "society" makes you a dangerous rapid leftie nut in the eyes of our political masters

[OHdem10]

9. To far left is really code

We have permitted the RW to make four letter words out of Liberal, Left. Lefty. I will be willing to bet no one whos uses this phraze could define it. It is the way the Media and the right call Democrats names without being called on it. Now that we have Centrists they picked up the Republican Jargon. If Dean is too far left, then Lieberman must be RWinger. It is simply an easy accusation. People should make them explain how he is too far left. Unless our party has decided the only issue that will count
in the elecetion is Civil Unions. This is the only thing I can think of that has branded him a lefty. Other Candidates Centrist too, say they are for gay rights.--are they all lefties too. My point is most often "too far left" is just a name calling device to make others think you are in the centerand to frighten the unsuspecting public about your opposition. I am not even a Dean Supporter.

[diamondsoul]

11. "TOO FAR LEFT" = anyone who doesn't

bull-s*t his way into office.

[George_Bonanza]

12. Dean is hardly too far left

He's not even the most left sans the "Unelectable Three" as fate as dubbed them, of the Dem candidates. It's just a sad reflection on us that powerful organizations are able to use a perfectably not-that-offensive term and turn it into a frightening label. If Dean is too liberal, than so is Clinton. It's a joke.

[David__77]

13. Forget left and right.

That's a severe distraction. Conventional political "spectrums" are meaningless for the most part. This is progress versus barbarism--humanism versus bestiality.

[JohnKleeb]

14. Its mostly the civil union stuff

BTW we get that all the time in our camp.

[VermontDem2004]

15. As far as the media tells us is far left

According to the media right now Dean is far left even though he is not.

[OhioStateProgressive]

16. left means supporting Kucinich:)) (its a joke, nt)

[dolstein]

17. If you have to ask, you'll never get it

NT