In my more than two years as a columnist, and many times over the last three decades, I have been asked why I am a Democrat.
The answer I gave back was, at times, facetious. I would ask “why aren’t you?” Then I would tell why I am.
The first reason that I am such a fervent Democrat is, with the exception of the American with Disabilities Act, every law passed for the underdog has been the work of the Democrats.
Civil Rights, LGBTQ Rights, Women’s Rights, student loans, Pell Grants, the minimum wage, campaign finance reform and other policies have been made law by the Democrats or have been thwarted by the Republicans.
All of these laws fought, bled, and yes, died for have been championed by Democrats.
As for the solid Democratic South of Jim Crow, that is a blight on my party’s legacy.
It is telling, though, that soon as the Civil Rights Bill was passed, those racist southern Democrats became Republicans overnight. The Republicans like to call themselves “the Party of Lincoln.”
This is beyond farcical because, if alive today, Lincoln most certainly would be a Democrat.
Today’s Republican Party is made up of clueless folks who do not realize they are voting against their best interests.
The Republican Party of today is home to many fringe groups who veil hatred in the talk of freedom.
This would be laughable if not so dangerous.
The Democratic Party is for all Americans, especially those who need a helping hand.
As someone who has received a helping hand many times, I would be nothing but a common hypocrite to not be a Democrat.
The Democratic Party stands for fairness.
It stands for righteousness.
It is the party of equal opportunity.
It is the party that has fought unfair inequality for a century and continues to fight this unconscionable economic inequality now.
I used to say there were only two reasons to vote Republican.
You either were rich and greedy or poor and ignorant.
While this may sound harsh, I believe the same holds true.
Today’s Republicans have shown to only be interested in taxing the poor and middle-class while slashing taxes on the wealthy.
I learned early in my political awakening that the Conservatives love to mask this fleecing of the middle-class and poor with decisive social issues that are essentially meaningless to the political process.
They smokescreen and people are easily distracted. It is past time for this crass, un-American tactic to stop. It is time to wake up.
So I ask you, my readers, to really look past the lies and our own prejudices and see who really exemplifies the American Ideal.
Who is working to make sure all Americans have the chance to succeed and live what is called “The American Dream?”
The ones wanting that and working toward that are the Democrats.
That is why I have always been a Democrat and always will be.
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