Why do conservatives think the Democratic party is Liberal?

Question

The Democratic party in the US is NOT liberal. The Democratic party is conservative and the GOP is extremely conservative. Left of right on the sociopolitical spectrum does not equate to liberalism. There is the Green party and the Socialist party that are liberal. But, the two-party system in the US won't give other parties a chance.

Compared to the rest of the world, the US is a conservative nation. It's privatized Health Care should be at least one case in point.

This question is based on the world's perspective, not from the US perspective.

Answer 1

Because compared to the Republican Party, the Democratic Party is liberal, and conservatives think the world revolves around them. That's why they actually believe that right-wing propaganda (a.k.a. Fox News) is fair and balanced.

I completely agree that the Democratic Party is a conservative party, especially when compared to real liberals like the Greens.

Answer 2

Some of the answers here make it obvious that the advertising wizards and PR gurus had their way with the US political playing field. For one, discussion has been lowered to the level of a pep rally where two teams oppose one another without any space for alternative opinions.
Another achievement has been the sidelining of meaningful issues and the emphasis given to religious/moral issues in order to alienate the population from policy debate. Gay marriage was a prominent issue in 2004. What was being decided though, was America's role in the Middle East.

The hollywoodization of politics in the US is at such an advanced state that Americans no longer have stances on major issues but rather pigeon hole themselves somewhere in the two camps and defend issues as conservative or liberal rather than as being rational, irrational or whatever value judgement may be appropriate.

The epithets involved are antiquated and denote no meaning. What is a liberal? The truth is that conservative and liberal are at home in 19th century debate, just as right wing and left wing have a limited meaning outside of the French Revolution.

You can thank the education system for that.

If americans truly wish to see a democracy they ought to cease pep rally politics and debate policy. This site is filled with visceral attacks against opponents and very little sensible explanations and flexibility.

Then again, the US does not even have a labor party, even thirdworld countries have parties representing their workers. In the US, both parties represent the corporation. Period.

edit: Republicans are not conservative and Democrats are not Liberal. They both believe in radical capitalism. One mixes fundamentalist Christianity in its ideology while the other plays on populism without ever fulfilling any promises. They are both the parites of CEO's.

Answer 3

That's actually not near true. The modern Republican party is liberal. The democrat party is also liberal, but more so. The Republicans claim they're small government but then enact such bills as the Patriot act along with others that actually put control in their hands. Also known as BIG government. The only TRULY conservative party is the libertarian party. The only direction that the republican party is conservative is on social issues. Even then, back in the day conservatism still meant staying out of people's lives. Now they're always telling me who I can/can't marry, how to raise my children, what religion to be, and such.

So where did the small government party go?

Answer 4

The Democrats are more liberal than the Republicans who tend to be the more conservative. There are both liberal and conservatives in both parties. We are a two party system and when you have enough people to make up a large enough % of Americans to be worthwhile we will create a new party.

Answer 5

Nope, sorry, I'm not buying that one. Do I have to point out the whole Lieberman thing in Conn.? The liberals have hijacked the Democratic Party much like the Ultra Conservatives took over in the Republican Party 2 decades ago. Far too many Dems are taking their marching orders from Moveon and daily Kos.

Answer 6

You claim that the Green Party and the Socialist party are liberal. Have you listened to the Democrat party recently?

Government control of businesses
Government control of healthcare
Government regulation on "greenhouse gasses"
Government controlled "carbon offsets"

Are you really kidding me? Maybe you better take a much closer look at the democart party. It could swallow up both of the parties you mentioned and there would be no noticable difference.

And please don't insult conservatives by claiming the democrat party is conservative. That is a blatant insult and further insults like that will only get you really disliked.

Answer 7

Uhm, yes it is. That's simply the way it is. The Democratic party as a whole has liberal views, but just because a person is a member of the political party doesn't mean they believe the same things as the party does.

And, no, not just the conservatives think the Democratic party is liberal.

THE DEMOCRATS THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS LIBERAL.

Why would they think that? Hmm, I wonder. . . maybe because. . .

THEY'RE LIBERAL.

Get over it.

Case closed.

You lose.

Answer 8

Since politics do fall on a spectrum, liberal and conservative are always relative. If one is speaking of mainstream politics the Dems are liberal. When compared to smaller groups they may be considered conservative. There is no concrete definition for either label.

Answer 9

It is the goal of communism to misconstrue the language associated with individual rights as well as assign false practice ideas in regard to the meanings of each party.

Traditional Liberalism is based in individual rights, party names make individualism difficult based upon the construction of their policies as well as social organization; i.e. job market and job availability.

Answer 10

Are you serious? You are talking about the democratic party of the United States right? If so, you are completely in the dark. Just look at the political views the majority of democrats support! The majority of them are left of center, while others are extremely left, so far that they are called 'Socialists'. Get a clue buddy, stop listening to all that left wing propaganda and stop for the love of god, drinking all that liberal tainted kool aid!