I’m proud of the Democratic party. I was happy when Joe Biden was chosen as the Democratic candidate: I like Joe Biden, because he’s a likable guy. That was almost his “role” in the Obama administration – if you don’t believe it, check out all the memes on facebook where Joe makes a joke, and Obama put his head into his hands (probably to hide his laughter). There are a lot of reasons I like Joe Biden, but that’s not what this is about. I was happy he was selected as the candidate precisely because of what makes him less than perfect for some other Democrats – he’s more of a moderate than a true left-wing liberal. 

The modern conservative Republican party looks, to many not belonging to that group, (I resisted the urge to say “gang”; there are many who are unruly, but at the heart the party is too organized to be called a gang) to be a party of fear. They appear fearful (mostly that someone is going to come and take away their “stuff”; also that there won’t be enough “stuff” to go around), and one of the things they fear MOST is the dreaded “LIBERAL.” (See Sean Hannity’s book Live Free or Die where he says in the introduction: “Progressivism…is intrinsically radical. Left to their own devices, they would move the country wholesale into socialism AND AUTHORITARIANISM. Americans cannot afford to let our guard down for one moment if we hope to pass on the blessings of liberty to our children.” If that’s not fearmongering, what is?) And I know some people who scorn the moderate path, who want to lean more to the left. Opponents of moderation have been very vocal in the past few years, chanting their belief that the problem with the Democratic party is that it’s not liberal enough. However, I respectfully disagree. 

I believe that most people I know, whether they be Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, are, in reality, moderates. I have friends “on both sides of the aisle,” so to speak, and I’ve found that most of them are, like me, moderate. The more conservative are usually one-issue-voters, and whatever that issue is, it’s probably on the Republican side, but in other areas it’s surprising how moderate (and even progressive, sometimes) their views are. The Republican party is full of rhetoric like Hannity’s, making “liberals” and “Democrats” seem like some sort of political vampires, but my experience with my more like-minded friends tells me that’s not true, either. Again, they’re more like me: moderate. Even in the various politically-inclined groups I have joined on facebook (not very many, since politics is such a downer these days, but enough, and insulated enough to provide me with a modicum of hope), most of the people who post are…well, moderate. So I’m proud of the Democratic party’s putting forward a moderate candidate. This election will turn on the number of cross-party voters that can be swung toward that moderation. However, we must be very careful. 

I already have friends who are stating publicly that they will vote Democratic, despite that one issue that has held them back for so long. This is not only heartening; it is a major coup. Perhaps if we can hold on to those moderate voters, we can take our country back from the fringes of the insanity and fear it’s gripped in, and put it back on the path to that brave new world that the founders of the United States expressed: where ALL men are created equal, and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. BUT, we must be very careful. As party, and as people of that party, we MUST be careful to be welcoming and respectful to EVERYONE, otherwise, we’re no better than those we struggle against. I have heard a friend say that, even though she will vote Democratic, she still feels there’s no place in the Democratic party for her – because she’s pro-life. I have heard someone in one of those political facebook groups dismiss the concerns of a trans member, when that member pointed out a concern over non-inclusive language. I have heard many people disparage the new Supreme Court judge (let’s face it, she’s not just a nominee now, she’s going to be confirmed) because of her family. We can’t afford to let this continue. Not just because of the chance of losing this election (which is still a very real possibility, no matter what you think you see or what polls may tell you), but because it makes us no better than those sowing fear and division. As Michelle Obama so famously said, “When they go low, we go high.” Go high, my friends, and be strong. 

So, what do you think? 

(*Respectful discussion is encouraged; be prepared to support your position.)