Are Democrats & Progressives The Same ?

The picture above is of Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the most famous Democratic presidents.   He was also a progressive.   But is that always the case?   Are all Democrats also progressives?   If you listen to Republicans you might think so.   The Republican Party has tried to brand all Democrats as progressives (liberals, left-wingers, socialists, etc.) in an effort to get themselves elected (and they have tried to demonize any term signifying someone with a progressive agenda).

I wish it was true.   I am an unashamed left-winger and I would love for all Democrats to support at least a semi-progressive agenda, but it just isn't true.   All anyone has to do is look at someone like Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) or Bill White (Democratic candidate for governor of Texas) or Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) to know that not all Democrats are progressives.   Those I named are definitely conservatives and there are many more in the Democratic Party just like them -- too many for my taste.

There have been some posts on supposedly progressive blogs lately -- blogs like Daily Kos (and a couple of Texas blogs I won't name).   These posts have declared that a vote for the Green Party is a vote for the Republican Party, even if there is no Democrat running in that particular race.   That's a rather large load of unadulterated horse manure!

Here in Texas, we have a statewide race for State Comptroller that has no Democrat running.   The only choices for the office are candidates from the Republican Party, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party.   As a progressive, I have been urging people to vote for the Green Party candidate in this race.   That is because if the Green Party candidate can get over 5% of the statewide vote, then the Green Party will have automatic ballot access in the 2012 election.

But these Democratic bloggers don't want that to happen.   They don't want any party on the ballot that is as progressive (or more progressive) than the Democrats.   They think that will force all Texas progressives to vote for Democrats in every race -- even if that Democrat is a conservative, is corporate-owned, is unethical, or is just downright incompetent.   I think that is wrong.   True progressives should not have to violate their principles and vote for someone who does not represent their best interests just because the Democrats have made sure no real progressive candidate is on the ballot.

Now, the Green Party is not going to win a statewide election in Texas.   That is not the point.   The point is that another progressive alternative in the voting booth can put pressure on the Democratic Party to avoid nominating and running conservative, corporate-owned, unethical, or incompetent candidates.   That's because if enough progressives vote Green, then the unworthy Democrat will lose.   Progressives should have that choice, just as conservatives can use the Libertarian Party choice to put pressure on the Republican Party.

In addition, in a true representative democracy, the more candidates and parties there are the better.   It really bothers me that Democrats (and bloggers who claim to be progressives) would support excluding any party (regardless of the party's orientation) from ballot access.   Like it or not, that is simply an anti-democratic action.   Aren't Democrats supposed to support more democracy -- not less?

Should you vote for the Green Party candidate in the State Comptroller race this year?   That depends on whether you are a Democrat or a progressive.   A Democrat will support and vote only for Democrats -- regardless of their competence, ethical challenges, or place on the political spectrum.   A progressive will vote for most Democrats (the progressives and even the middle-of-the-roaders), but will not compromise their values to vote for an unworthy candidate -- even if that candidate runs as a Democrat.

I am a progressive, and this year I voted for every Democrat on the ballot except one.   I also voted for the Green Party candidate in the State Comptroller race, in hope of helping that progressive party gain 2012 ballot access.   I also voted for a couple of Libertarians (when there was no Democrat or Green candidate in the race) because I think they should also have ballot access in 2012.   It is good for voters to have as many choices as possible.   It is also good that the third parties can put pressure on the two major parties to remain true to their values.

Should you vote for the Green Party candidate in the State Comptroller race?   That depends on whether you are a Democrat or a progressive.   They are not necessarily the same.