Liberal = Democrat?

Question

So, since some of you were confused by my last question, what I am saying is that I always have considered them the same.

BUT on here, some differentiate. Someone said that Bill Clinton was a Democrat but not a Liberal. Some claim to be Liberals (not Democrats). Aren't they all the same?

Answer 1

Liberal and conservative are ideologies. Republican and Democrat are parties. It is true that most Democrats are of the liberal ideology, and the same would go, visa versa, with Republicans. So no, liberal is not synonymous with Democrat. But many will use this term interchangeably, because so many liberals are Democrats, and because so many Democrats are liberals. Does this make sense? If not, I will try my best to further clear it up...

Answer 2

No! They are not the same! I am a very, very liberal thinker, and very, very liberal politically. I vote for whatever I, personally, think is right--be it a "conservative" proposition or a "liberal" one, a Democrat's bill or a Republicans.....A liberal is a forward thinker, one who is not afraid to try something new. A conservative, on the other hand, is more set in their ways, more into the status quo. Get a dictionary. Get a history book. Read something other than these jerks on Answers. (myself included.) This is NOT the place to study politics, history, or anything else for that matter. This is just a place for opinions. (And, unfortunately, many are just plain stupid.)

Answer 3

Not at all. Some Democrats are moderate, some conservative, some liberal. Same goes for Republicans. It just depends on the extremity of your view points.

Answer 4

Not even close. Nor is liberal always to the politcal left. The last chance for conservatives may have been Goldwater. Even Reagan, who had some conservative tendencies, was overtaken by the liberal Republican wing. By traditional standards, on the conservative-to-liberal axis, both parties are all over the board, wherever they see political expediency. It's more important to win than to be right. A truly conservative administration, for instance, would almost certainly not have chosen to go into Iraq when we did, just as one example.

Answer 5

Liberal doesn't equal Democrat just as if a person is Democrat it doesn't mean they're liberals. I'm a Democrat but I'm no liberal becuase I disagree on some of their issues. I'm anti-gun control, pro-death penalty, favor tax cuts, pro-gay rights, pro-choice, against the Iraq war, pro-environment, anti-drug, and I would want private charities instead of government welfare. A liberal would detest the things I support, they hate guns and don't like the death penalty. Many of them want higher taxes and like welfare. That is where we disagree.

Answer 6

It's not the same thing. FOR EXAMPLE: Harold Ford Jr. of Tennesee is a Democrat, however most of his beleifs are conservative (supports prayer in school, anti-gay marriage, etc...). An example of a Liberal Democrat: Ed Kennedy & John Kerry. Bill Clinton isn't far left, I see him as moderate.

Answer 7

I am a conservative Democrat. There are liberal Republicans. The party you register yourself with, isn't necessarily the party you have to vote for. I just don't like the neocons who have taken over the Republican party. That's why I switched my voter's registration.

Answer 8

Pretty much. The Democrats are a liberal political party. It's a distinction without much of a difference.

Answer 9

there is differences within the Democratic party. there are blue collar Democrats that tote guns and hate illegal immigrants, but are very pro labor...there are social Liberals who are pro gay rights...there are people who are anti-billionaires and don't want American kings....there are the Greens who are very pro environmental....it's a melting pot of America.....I am personally almost Libertarian and am very pro Constitution.....I'm not always Liberal, but the camp that I'm in, for all it's diversity, is still closer to my ideal than Republicans who represent the richest among us and would benefit if the general population would just do as they wanted.

It's just easy for the Right, and sometimes the ignorant among them, to generalize and demonize all Democrats as pinko Communist Liberals who would want America to be a socialist state...it just ain't so. It's just was easier for them to hate all the Left if they can turn us into one size fits all cartoons. Sometimes I think that rather than analyze something, most people just find it easier hate others without going through any critical thought process

Answer 10

They are not the same, Joe Liberman is a true democrat, and Michael Moore and Al Gore are example of liberals.(the extremist side)