Are "Conservative Democrats" good or bad for the Democratic Party?

[kentuck]

The close victory by Lamb in PA has generated some debate about whether he won as a conservative Democrat or as a moderate Democrat? Does it really make a difference so long as he votes with his fellow Democrats 80%-90% of the time?

Would it be possible to win back the "conservative Democrats" that went to Reagan during the 1980's? How much "purity" are we willing to surrender in order to grow the Party?

Is it even fair to call these candidates "conservative" if they are only representing the people in their districts? How much compromise are we willing to make with our political ideology? Is it really "compromise" or is it accepting the reality on the ground?

I think these are questions we need to address as the Democratic Party.

Just my opinion.

[LexVegas]

1. Left leaning moderate is now conservative. JFC.

[Demsrule86]

70. Some think 16 means that the 'establishment' lost and now we need a universal message, and very

progressive candidates can be elected in all 50 states. Our revolution types accept only those Democrats who have the prescribed view point...Trouble is, if we do that,we lose. Primarying Joe Manchin is an example of this stupidity. And the house is on fire. We can't lose without dire consequences. And as it turns out 16 was way more complicated than right vs left or corporate or all the other stuff I have read about ...we were attacked by the Russians and can take no lessons from this horrible election. There may have been vote flipping in fact.

There is no good to be found in 16. From the primary to the general, it was a mess. We can not base strategy on this electoral debacle. I believe and hope I am right that it was a once in a generation sort of election and will not be repeated. One caveat, we must remain vigilant about Russia who will do us harm. And I know for a fact there are Republicans here trying sow division...they have signons...and who knows their post numbers. One stalked me on twitter. My son got wind of it (works with the guy) and lectured me endlessly on internet security. I had to change my twitter name. So we face most likely attacks from Republicans pretending to be one of us and Russian trolls doing the same...not just here, but everywhere. We have to use judgement in our interactions online and take any divisive rhetoric with as my Mom said...a grain of salt.

[leftstreet]

2. Which conservative issues did Lamb run on?

We'd have to know that first

[marylandblue]

6. gun control is the only one I can think of

They said he was pro-life, but that was just his personal view, politically he is pro-choice. So abortion is no longer working for the right the way it used to.

[Demsrule86]

29. He is for background checks...he is a fine candidate and the kind we need to win.

[marylandblue]

34. Background checks poll at around 90%, so that's a winner

But he doesn't want to do more than that, like ban assault weapons, and that may be a fight in any hoped-for Democratic Congress.

[Demsrule86]

49. He can't in that district... so Background checks is a start. What would you get from a Republican?

Nothing.

[marylandblue]

55. I'm fine with that

First we take back Congress. We'll figure the rest out later.

[Demsrule86]

71. And the only way to take back Congress is with moderates. If you look at the map, it is clear.

I ask those who advocate a rigid ideological Democratic Purity...show me how we win a Senate majority without winning in red states with moderate candidates. Five of our current Senators are moderate and the Senators from Virginia are on the cusp of moderation...so we can't even come close without them. Thus far none have been able show me a path to victory that can be achieved with a one size fits all candidate. We also need to run local races in red states and try not nationalize the elections so there can be no universal message. We need a big tent to win a majority.

[tonyt53]

106. I keep saying this same thing. MOST Democrats ARE moderates. Gotta make room for 'em.

We win with a candidate that has a message that fits where they live. This is the very reason so many Democrats didn't vote in '16. Those purity tests some want is a recipe for failure.

[Demsrule86]

107. I couldn't agree more.

[Fiendish Thingy]

118. Excepting some social issues (gay marriage),Moderate Dem in 2018 equals Moderate GOP in 1978

I want the Democratic Party to represent liberal, progressive issues from traditional New Deal and Great Society policy positions, to modern day issues like marriage equality, gender equality, gun safety, living wage, universal healthcare, and the like.

[tonyt53]

133. How long have you been living in that cave? The issues you listed ARE what Democrats want.

But one thing is for damned sure, unless a candidate is a moderate Democrat, they won't win any election.

[Fiendish Thingy]

134. Been there, done that

That logic didn't work in the 90's (or else we wouldn't have had Gingrich's Contract On America, etc), and it hasn't worked since then.

Moderates bring in lots of corporate donors, but don't win majorities, or support traditional Democratic policies or values.

[Eliot Rosewater]

128. AT this point if a democrat has to wear a pink leotard

with a blonde wig while whistling dixie and standing for the rights of martians to marry donkeys, then fine by me.

BUTTS

in


SEATS

M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H M A T H

[Squinch]

89. Background checks poll at 90% and we cant get them passed. Get it?

See how it might be helpful?

[FakeNoose]

91. Conor Lamb is pro-choice

As a Catholic he believes that abortion is wrong, as his personal choice. But he also believes that every woman has the right to make her own decision about motherhood. I'm fine with that because it exactly mirrors my own beliefs.

The only thing the Democratic Party needs to shun is the ANTI-CHOICE people, and that would include most of the fundies and evangelicals, plus many conservative Catholics.

[Freddie]

127. Any politician who would legislate anti-choice

Nope. But being "personally opposed" but not wishing to impose their religion on others, is fine. The Tim Kaine/Joe Biden approach.

[David__77]

3. The question of what some call identity politics is a factor here.

As are guns and environmental policy. I don’t think this is a left-right thing. It’s a New Left versus Old Left thing.

[Demsrule86]

72. It is a win lose thing...I can accept a guy who personally opposes abortion but believes in

a woman's right to choose. It is pretty amazing a guy with this view was elected in this district in fact. Guns are definitely left right in that they are used to demonize Democrats in red districts and states...as for the environment, you would think that all Americans want clean water etc...but they don't. We have some asshats here and elsewhere who actually have smoke stacks on their pickups who deliberately leave a cloud of pollution. And who pooh pooh...caring for the environment and of course global warming.

[marylandblue]

4. The only way we will defeat Trump is a coalition of left and center

We have broad areas of agreement, and the possibility of compromise where we disagree. But we can't have any of that until the Republicans are out.

[sprinkleeninow]

62. Someone posted 'Dems, cobbling together....'

I replied I liked that descriptive.
Dems as 'cobblers'

Get as many Dems in, then tweak/fine-tune lsubsequently.

[Demsrule86]

73. Yes, it is the only way. We won't get everything we want, but we will get some good stuff.

Great post...and so true.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. complicated. there have to be some lines - equality in all respects, women's rights, more.

if our party stands for everything, it ends up standing for nothing.

[marylandblue]

10. He ran on economic issues

He didn't talk much about identity politics, but maybe the people in that district just don't care about it either way?

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. I'm talking about in general - as far as PA, agreed.

[MountCleaners]

86. Interesting, that...

He is defended by the same Dems who criticize left Dems who "only focus on economic issues". Then a social conservative focuses on them and he's okay.

Hmmmm.... some people's class biases are showing.

[Demsrule86]

31. It doesn't matter what our party 'stands for' if we don't have a majority.

[Iahotdog]

51. +1

[Ferrets are Cool]

98. It also doesn't matter if we have a majority if they don't vote

with the Democrats.

[Demsrule86]

110. If they vote with the Democrats most of the time...it sure beat a GOP type who never votes with us.

If we want to advance our more progressive ideas and who doesn't? We have to convince people...and how will we know this has happened? When the red blue divide changes...until then, we do what we can. Lamb is pro-choice and pro single payer...he is with us on many issues...he is a good candidate. He will vote with us most of the time. Saccone is Trumping asshat whfo would never vote with us...and again without a majority we can have the best platform ever (which we do) and it is meaningless.

[Ferrets are Cool]

114. I would have voted for Lamb, just as I voted and campaigned for Doug Jones here

in Alabama. I just hope they both vote like Democrats. Senator Jones disappointed me greatly on his Dodd-Frank vote.

[Demsrule86]

119. Me too...and they will most of the time I think...but they won't all of the time...they are from

red district after all.

[Demsrule86]

125. Me too...but he had a reason as he hails from a red state...some on our side in safe states and

districts who voted for this need to be primaryed when we get back in power. They should go...if they hail from a safe district and voted for this.

[ehrnst]

105. The party platform states clearly what we stand for, and our goals.

https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

Diverge from those goals, and you have stopped being a Dem.

As long as a candidate is committed to the goals of the Democratic Platform, the strategies they use are up to them, and strategy is what we vote on in primaries.

[elleng]

7. The word 'conservative' has been misused for years,

and should not be used any longer.

'holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.'

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I don't really think what kind of Democrat he is as long as he votes with fellow Democrats.

I mean, if he didn't agree with most of the positions of the Democratic Party, then he wouldn't really be a Democrat at all.

I looked at Conor Lamb's viewpoints and I found that he and I agreed on the vast majority of them. No matter where he falls on the spectrum from conservative to moderate Democrat, he IS still a Democrat.

I would have no trouble voting for people like him. Purity be damned. Remember, there is no perfect candidate.

[Upthevibe]

59. Thank you! CaliforniaPeggy...n/t

[democratisphere]

61. Agreed. There is also no such thing as a perfect political party.

We need the 18% of Republicans that don't support drumpf to vote on the Democratic line.

[Demsrule86]

74. You cut to the Chase...indeed that is what we need...the truth is we need warm bodies to

take the majority. But Lamb's views are no different than Tim Ryan's views in Ohio...probably the same as Sherrod Brown's as well. He is a rust belt Democrat.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I hate guns, gunners, and positions that enable any of that. I am thrilled Conor Lamb won even as

he said he would not support an assault rifle ban.

[still_one]

11. It is what it is

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. I don't know if you've seen this thread, but it will enlighten you as to Conor Lamb's positions:

Definitely worth a read.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210359474

[Proud liberal 80]

13. Both

Good when the Republicans hold the Presidency and both houses of Congress.

Bad when Democrats hold the Presidency and both houses of Congress

[Demsrule86]

32. Which we will never do without moderate Democrats like Lamb...hold either branch of Congress

that is.

[herding cats]

42. All politics is local.

If we want a chair at the table we need understand that simple fact.

[Demsrule86]

46. Oh please...we won PA because Trump is disliked and Democrats were energized. They

didn't even run candidates the last two times. This kind of ruins a few folks narrative...about running left...it is a bad idea if we want a majority. Get a candidate that fits the district...every person voting in a primary should consider electability to be more important than ideology. We need to win...or we are so screwed...the house is on fire.

[herding cats]

50. Im not disagreeing with you.

Quite the opposite, actually. I’m an advocate for selecting candidates that can actually win in specific Republican districts.

I’m also an advocate for Howard Dean’s former strategy. Which I suspect you are also?

[Demsrule86]

52. Sorry... I misunderstood...yes I advocate for Howard Dean's strategy. I was a Deaniac too...love

the guy to this day.Dean was the most successful person ever to hold the job...it went downhill when he left.

[herding cats]

54. I thought so!

We’re on the same page on this.

How we win back these red districts is by tailoring our message to the specific people who live there. Which means people like Lamb. At least for the first few election cycles.

[Demsrule86]

68. I agree...get the most liberal people you can in district where they can win...but we absolutely

need moderates in red districts. I have asked many here who advocate running candidates with some sort of universal Dem message...OK-tell me how we win the Senate doing that? Show me how it can be done.

[dansolo]

64. The 50 state strategy

We made a lot of gains in 2008, which were promptly lost when we decided to abandon Howard Dean's strategy.

[Demsrule86]

67. That is true...I will never understand why that was done.

[Demsrule86]

69. I get what you are saying now...yes not nationalizing elections helps tremendously.

[Proud liberal 80]

58. Dont get me wrong

I would rather have a conservative Democrat in Congress than a Republican. It just sucks that when we do have the majority they seem to not support Democratic policies or we get watered down legislation.

[Demsrule86]

76. We are limited in the majority...no doubt, but I think there are broad areas of agreement. And the

truth is if we can't elect enough folks who agree on those policies...then the country won't accept them anyway. You have to create the demand for progressive policies...make people understand the benefit. And often that starts at the grass roots level. I will say President Obama and Nancy Pelosi jammed through the ACA knowing it would cost us politically...and sometimes you have to do that...the ACA has saved thousands of lives already.

[mvd]

15. IMO not good, but sometimes needed

That's why I am glad Bernie goes into enemy territory trying to change minds. If we adopt this as a national strategy, however, I would be very disappointed. Many good progressives want to run.

[Demsrule86]

33. They should run in district that fit their ideology ...not in red districts.

[herding cats]

47. They should run. I fully support this!

Except with the caveat that they run where they can win. Not all districts are the same, and not all messsages work with every districts demographic.

I know politics in RW leaning and RW majority districts we need to take back. We need to tailor candidates to those types of districts that fit the current population there. In time, and I’m speaking in terms of election cycles, we can and will sway these populations to more Progressive ideological thinking. It takes time, tolerance and a lot of hard work. I’m not thrilled about any of this either... I’m just locally involved enough to understand.

Howard Dean was right and so was Tip O’Neill. They both understood the locality of people and their politics.

[mvd]

53. That's pretty much what I think

We need to try to win hearts in those areas. Until then, there will be some Lambs.

[herding cats]

56. I agree.

It’s not ideal, but it’s the way we chip away at the RW control on these peoples minds.

We can bring them back, but we have to teach them first we’re not the things they’ve been taught to believe we are.

I know that sounds a bit nuts to some people and I get that, but that’s what we folks in red districts really are up against.

I think we all want the same ultimate goal, but it’s harder (sometimes much harder) for some of us to bring people in to achieve that.

Thank you so much for listening to me. I really appreciate it, and I want you to know that.

[mvd]

132. No problem! Really enjoyed the posts

Hopefully nationally we have many of the progressives win. Lipinski's district is a good example of one the progressives could pick up.

[Demsrule86]

77. In moderate states like Virginia...some true progressives ran in districts that it appeared they

couldn't win but did by keeping the issues local. Danica Roem became the first Transgender candidate to win there and beat a true Homophobe...she ran on fixing the roads mostly...so keep it local as you have already said. We had candidates of all types (ideologically speaking) win there...they all fit their districts somehow and kept it local. I think Virginia offers us some lessons in how to win.

[mythology]

16. The fact that even the furthest right Democratic in the House or Senate votes with us about 75%

The the furthest left Republicans vote with us about 25% of the time, I maintain that there really aren't any conservative Democrats or liberal Republicans.

As the parties and voters have been come more accurately sorted, there just aren't any politicians who are actually far enough in the middle that they would be considered a conservative Democrat or a liberal Republican. It used to be that there were some Republicans who were more liberal then the most conservative Democrats, but that hasn't happened in a while.

[PDittie]

122. Don't think this is accurate

Henry Cuellar (D-TX) votes with Trump 75% of the time.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-qa-with-the-house-democrat-whos-voted-with-trump-75-percent-of-the-time/

[tirebiter]

17. Lala Labeling

Lamb ran as a prochoice, prounion, proSocial Security, proMedicare, antiracist, anti Trumptax Democrat who invoked the name of FDR in his victory speech.

[kentuck]

19. He seems like a moderate Democrat to me.

...that understands where his district is on the issues. If he wants to win, he has to represent his District.

By the way, he has to run again in November.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

18. My belief is that:

The absolute worst Dem is miles better than the "best" rethug. As if there is such a thing as a best pug, to begin with.

[Nevernose]

21. Id prefer a radical leftist

But I’m not stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth. If Connor Lamb needs a ride to DC, I’ll warm up my car and even spring for the gas.

[mvd]

39. Right. But that stuff must stay local and the I hope the Party..

Supports the progressive whenever possible.

[Demsrule86]

79. I think Virginia offers us an example of how true progressives can win in moderate states.

[Binkie The Clown]

22. The narrower range of people we "allow" the smaller share of the population we appeal to.

We need more Dems, not fewer.

Single-issue thinking would destroy the party. As an atheist, and being quite dedicated to that cause, how would the rest of you feel if I started insisting that to be a true Democrat you had to be an atheist. I can think of a lot of arguments in favor of that, but I'm not going to press the issue because, to be brutally honest about it, I'm not an idiot.

Anyone who wants to exclude Christian Dems is an idiot. Anyone who wants to exclude Muslim Dems is an idiot. Anyone who wants to exclude progressive Dems is an idiot. Anyone who wants to exclude conservative Dems is an idiot.

[kentuck]

26. Well said, Binkie!

We shouldn't want to be idiots.

[Demsrule86]

35. Excellent post.

[GulfCoast66]

43. Best post of the night.

[Demsrule86]

80. +10000

[X_Digger]

23. Any "conservative democrat" is better than any republican.

I'd rather have someone that votes with us 75% of the time than someone who votes with us NEVER.

[Zambero]

24. In a two-party dominated political system

The party that is most inclusive of the middle will in most circumstances be the majority party. Right now the middle has very little in representation relative to their numbers. I will accept the possibility of (in relative terms) a so-called conservative Democrat to a Trumpist. Progressives and moderates are capable of forming a coalition. Progressives and Trumpists cannot and will not.

[Demsrule86]

81. so true...we have gotten some of the best most important legislation this way...going back to

Medicaid and Medicare...and of course civil rights.

[shanny]

103. What "middle" are the Republicans "inclusive" of

and why are they running everything?

[Zambero]

117. They encompass no middle

Which is why they will suffer the consequnces. What worked for them in the short term will not in the long run. The fact that they are in control with little to show for it other than chaos and bluster will be their imminent downfall. Trump and Trumpism can be seen as an anomaly. While the Trumpist GOP does not encourage moderation in any form, the party was successful in forging a large voting bloc by posturing far right and far left at the same time in their "economic nationalism" messsaging. So the far right champions a war on immigrants at the same time that a faction of Bernie and Obama voters broke toward Trump on the basis of (anti) fair trade policy. Strange bedfellows indeed but not sustainable as a functional majority in the long run. The heretofore untapped middle is in fact sustainable as a political force, and the emergence of Connar Lamb and Doug Jones as winners against all odds are a couple of examples.

[shanny]

124. The Republicans have been kicking our butts for decades

not just since tRump, the census in 2010 or even the stolen election in 2000. They feed red meat to their base, we don't: they promise the sky, even if they can't deliver; we humbly ask for crumbs and settle for less. We could do with some more intensity on this side of the aisle.

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity."
--W.B. Yeats

[Docreed2003]

25. Lamb runs as a young Joe Biden &

All of a sudden everyone is losing there minds over “conservative Dems”. Newsflash...that narrative is being spun by fucking right wingers!!! Don’t play their game and don’t fall for the narrative. Conner Lamb ran as a rust belt Democrat....he won. He won because he spoke directly to the people and he won because of an amazing ground game. Does he sound like Bernie Sanders? No...Does he fit the mould of what some on the far left want to see in a candidate? No. What he does do is mirror his community and that is what will win elections. We need people from all backgrounds and walks of life that know and represent the people in their communities to run for office, local and national. We do that, and stop focusing on litmus tests, then we will win.

[kentuck]

27. +100

[Docreed2003]

28. TY

[Demsrule86]

36. Yep...he is like Sherrod Brown and Tim Ryan.

They are my guys and I like them very much.

[sprinkleeninow]

63. You rocked it! 👊

[kcr]

120. He doesn't sound like Bernie. But they really aren't much different if you look at their platforms

If you go down the list of issues there is very little difference. Yet one is hailed as the second coming of Liberal Christ while the other is barely a Republican. Sometimes these labels are nothing more than marketing bullshit.

[Docreed2003]

121. Oh I agree a thousand percent...

[apcalc]

30. I will accept all Democrats.

No big deal they don’t agree on every issue...

[Demsrule86]

37. +100

[NotASurfer]

38. If it comes to pass, Will my Rep vote to impeach

And will my Senator vote to convict? That's the big one. The rest I can work on

[Demsrule86]

40. Maybe not...but we can get Trump out in 20 if we work at it.

It is not possible for us to win enough seats to convict Trump in the Senate in 18. I see no purpose in impeaching him unless he has betrayed the country or engaged in criminal actions and Muller has put out a report ...perhaps even indicted The GOP won't help us and we could lose 20 if we impeach without conviction which would be pointless.

[kentuck]

41. That would be like a Sheriff that declined to go after the bank robbers because...

...they had more guns than he?

But the law is the law and he has no choice but to try and bring them to justice.

Is it really that different??

[GulfCoast66]

44. Yes it is.

Law enforcement is law based. The have to enforce the laws as written by the representatives of the people.

And no matter how we try to spin it, congress is nothing but political. There are no laws that compel them.

So if trying to impeach would damage us politically then it will not and should not happen.

[Demsrule86]

82. I agree. There is no point in impeachment without conviction.

[Demsrule86]

48. If you don't have the votes to convict than what?

You want to sacrifice the presidential race maybe even help Trump win another four years with impeachment? What is the point of that? I am against impeachment without conviction except if he has done something so bad...there is no choice. Remember what happened to the GOP after they impeached Clinton and also consider Scott in Wisconsin after the effort to remove him failed.

[Still In Wisconsin]

45. Well, I am represented by a conservative Democrat and I am damned thankful for him.

I disagree with him often, but he's held a seat in a swing district for twenty years now that was Republican 24 years before that. Give me my "conservative Democrat" Representative every time if the alternative is a Republican. He's won narrowly a few times when, I am quite certain, a more liberal Dem would have lost. By the way, my district went for Trump in 2016 (VERY narrowly) but my Rep still won by six points. This is an economically depressed area of the state that holds a mix of blue collar and rural voters, with a few wealthy folks sprinkled in, probably not unlike much of Western Pennsylvania.

[lkinwi]

85. 100 percent agree!

I’d take a conservative Democrat over Sean Duffy any day!

[FakeNoose]

94. Winner!

You're lucky and your district is smart to back a consistent winner. To me the label "Conservative Democrat" doesn't mean that much. The important thing is, he's a Democrat.

I'm in western PA and I believe we have similar issues & politics as your area in Wisconsin.

[redstateblues]

57. In TN our only hope to defeat Marsha Blackburn is moderate Democrat

Former Phil Bredesen, successful businessman who was elected by getting Rs and Indies to vote for him.

[Demsrule86]

126. I hate that woman...every time she opens her mouth... I turn off the TV.

[Upthevibe]

60. See CaliforniaPeggy Post #8....

Those are my sentiments exactly....

[RandiFan1290]

65. Like Lieberman

Little brats that take their ball and run to the republicons when they don't get their way?

[Demsrule86]

84. You ever consider that if we had not primaryed Lieberman...we might

have single payer today? He supported it before and in my opinion merely blocked it to get back at us as a party.

[RandiFan1290]

92. How childish. nt

[Demsrule86]

112. Childish? Ok whatever. What did primarying Lieberman give us in terms of policy?

It made him an enemy and he stayed in the Senate...I didn't like the guy, but I never thought this made sense. And had he remained a Democrat, I think he would have at least voted for medicare for those over 55.

[Trumpocalypse]

66. If you want to win elections

you can't demand ideological purity.

[Vinca]

75. We have to have candidates who fit the district/state.

I'm a far leftie and I live in a far leftie area, so Lamb wouldn't fly quite as well here. Likewise, a candidate I might love would bomb in Lamb's district. The best example is Lamb on abortion. He's opposed to it, but pro-choice. That's fine with me. All I want is a politician to mind his or her own business when it comes to personal medical decisions. On the other hand, he owns an assault rifle, but supports making it harder for someone to buy one. I disagree on the gun issue - we don't need assault rifles at all. But, then again, he supports universal health care. If we demand purity, we'll be looking at the ugly pusses of Trump, Ryan and McConnell for years to come.

[Funtatlaguy]

78. Location, location, location.

If the Dem is in a blue or purple district, they should be mod to progressive.
If the Dem is in a red district, they have to be somewhat conservative to win.
It’s a numbers game for us.
218 in the House
51 in the Senate
I don’t care so much how we get there, just get us back in power.

[Hav]

83. Even leaving aside the already mentioned arguments

like that a "conservative" Democrat still votes almost always with the Dems, I'm a bit surprised that the narrative some (not here on DU) use that this district was won by a Democrat running as a Republican or a supporter of Trump's policies. I know Lamb isn't the main issue for the thoughts behind this thread, but going through his issues, someone who recognizes the environmental issues facing us, speaks out for gender equality or who sees Obama Care as a stepping stone towards universal healthcare is hardly a Republican nor is he someone running on republican issues.
There may be an overlap on certain issues (economical, trade) though which I don't see as belonging only to Republicans.

[Demsrule86]

87. I am a Democrat and quite liberal...but I hate so called free trade... I live in Ohio

and my hubs worked in autos for years. This should not be a Democratic purity test unless we want to lose the entire MidWest. I would always vote Democratic,but the last election showed some won't.

[Hav]

90. You replied just as I wanted to self-delete so I'll leave it

I mixed up Lamb's issues with those of another promising Dem candidate I read yesterday.
Regardless, Lamb's opinionis seem fine and don't scream too conservative at all.

[Demsrule86]

111. Ok...glad you like him. I am so pleased he won.

Hey I disagree with his gun positions...but you can't get everything. At least he is for background checks.

[beachbum bob]

88. ALL F*CKING democrats are good for the party ESPECIALLY conservatives ones where they are needed

we should have ZERO purity tests, leave that to republicans, nazis and racists


how easy it for some to ignore the fact that the democratic party is a BIG TENT party..

[zipplewrath]

93. They're bad for America

The reason we have Blue Dogs/DLC/Third Way democrats is because the GOP has gone so bat shit crazy that they switched from being "Rockefeller" republicans to democrats just to be able to participate in national politics without having to be associated with the crazy. We need them to go back to the GOP, throw out the Tea Party Whack jobs, and allow our nation to have an adult conversation about national needs, priorities, and the direction we all need to take. When we do that, progressives ideas, and the democratic party, not to mention our nation, will do just fine.

[GulfCoast66]

130. You think if we take back congress the moderates will meekly go away?

There is a potential to elect a large number of moderates. And I reject the term Conservative Democrats became almost none exist. If they make up 20-30 percent of our caucus then they will expect to have their views respected. DU does not, in my opinion reflect the average Democratic Party member. At least not in the part of the nation I live in.

It may be a situation many here dislike. But without them we will never be in the majority.

[mcar]

95. If it gets us back in the majority, hell yes!

These "conservative Democrats" vote with the party nearly all the time. They are representing their districts.

I welcome them back to the party!

[DinahMoeHum]

96. Political purity is bullshit.

Right now, the only thing that counts is WINNING. . .and decimating the GOP every which way possible.

[Ferrets are Cool]

97. "Does it really make a difference so long as he votes with his fellow Democrats 80%-90% of the time?

I don't really know the correct answer to your question, however, what I DO know is that I am not happy with my "new" Democratic Senator from Alabama. In the first substantial vote since being voted into office in Alabama, he voted to gut the Dodd-Frank Admendment.

[Hortensis]

99. They're integral to being the big tent party of America.

Don't forget, large numbers of our minority blocs are conservative; they are monolithic blocs united despite differing personalities by their minority identities and special issues. Would we be better off if the two largest, blacks and Hispanics, formed their own third parties? Or voted as independents with no feeling of alliance with Democrats to achieve their goals?

And even our blue dog Democrats vote Democrat against the Repubs about half the time, while Repubs vote Repub almost all the time. No, we do NOT want them to be Republicans.

This really isn't a hard question to answer.

[TheSmarterDog]

102. +1000

[vi5]

100. I've been saying this for years....

...I'm fine with Conservadems being a part of the Democratic party.

I understand that those Democrats may be to the right on some issues because that is what it takes for them to win in their districts or states.


I am not fine with those conservative Dems being given what is essentially veto power or control over Democratic legislation. And too often that is what happens.

And if that person's only power over legislation is to vote for it or not....then that is fine. But no conservative Dem should be placed in charge of any committees or subcommittees or any group whose task it is to craft Democratic legislation that a majority of the party supports.

And I also don't want to hear that our national candidate needs to be a conservative Democrat or has to pander to them.

[NewJeffCT]

101. Back when I was growing up in the 70s

there were things like true conservative Democrats and true liberal Republicans. Young Connecticut Republican congressman Lowell Weicker of Connecticut made a name for himself with his tough questioning of the White House during Watergate hearings, and then he ran for Senate and served two terms there and had a very liberal voting record before Democrat Joe Lieberman defeated him by running to his right.

[ehrnst]

104. As long as their goals align with the platform they are better than the most liberal of Rs.

I believe that many get bogged down in the strategies by where we achieve our goals being even more important than the goal itself, and that becomes dogma.

Voting for a specific caucus leader, the method by which we achieve universal health care coverage, and voting or not voting on specific amendments is not part of the party platform, and is therefore dogma.

If dogma is what constitutes whether a Dem is "conservative" or "liberal" then I don't think that a conservative Democrat is a bad thing.

Their efficacy in getting to those goals, and their legislative accomplishments is more important to me.

A "moderate" or even "conservative" politician who is effective in getting elected AND getting things done towards the Democratic platform goals will get my vote over the most vocal liberal, feminist and progressive of politicians who talks about goals but doesn't get things accomplished, or have a detailed plan to do so.

To them I would say, go be a full time activist. We can use talkative people there.

[mn9driver]

108. A more operative question:

Is a Democratic majority in at least one branch of government better or worse for the country?

Because that is what this year is about. Nothing else.

[Orsino]

109. If they aren't bought by the same money the Republicans are, they're good for the party.

For the party. If they're still willing to sell off our rights, prosperity, health, incomes and dignity, they are bad for us.

[H2O Man]

113. Yes.

There are districts where conservative Democrats are the best choice to win seats in the House, and states where conservative Democrats are the best choice to win a seat in the Senate. Likewise, there are districts and states where moderates, liberals, and progressives are the best options.

There is also another dynamic playing out before our eyes. Republicans who have "left their party" due to the rabid-right's rise in power are often seen on television, and while their attacks on Trump are a good thing, they should not represent the future of our party. If "Morning Joe" were to call himself a Democrat, he is still Morning Joe, for example. His values are still republican. We need to be fully aware that if his ilk "joins" the party, it is due to the economic issues they share with some of the current Democratic "leaders." And this will widen the fracture between the leadership and those they say they represent.

So yes, conservative candidates can be good or bad for our party.

[stonecutter357]

115. who is the "Conservative Democrats" ?

[ehrnst]

116. Joe Biden seems to think some are worth endorsing

Link to tweet

I was in southwestern Pennsylvania with @ConorLambPA last week. Something's changing out there. You can feel the grassroots energy. And that'll beat big money every time. Let's bring this one home. Get out and vote, Pennsylvania.

[cemaphonic]

123. Good, both in the short and long term.

The more seats we hold, the more we drive the legislative agenda. And while it can be frustrating when centrist or conservative Dems hold up progressive legislation, the alternative in most cases would be a Repub that would be a guaranteed obstacle. And study after study (plus actual legislation like the ACA) has shown that our policies are more popular. With a big enough majority, we could put policies into place that actually help the struggling rural parts of America. I think a lot of the culture war stuff would dissipate pretty fast
if conservative areas saw the Democrats investing in their futures.

On a longer timeframe, there are whole swaths of America that the modern Democratic Party has just written off. Not only does this hurt in the tactical sense of losing those seats, but it also leads to politics being driven entirely by the primaries, which tends to reward the most extreme candidates. It also feeds into the us vs. them mentality that rw media has been pushing for decades, that Dems are not just political opponents, but dangerous foreign traitors that must be stopped at all cost. Dems making inroads into conservative areas would force the Republicans to moderate their politics and start campaigning and governing in good faith again, and make it easier for more to be elected.

[Tarc]

129. I really don't buy the narrative of "conservative Conor Lamb"

Personally opposes abortion but supports its legalization, supports Obamacare, supports stronger gun control, opposes Trumpy's Tax Cuts for the rich, supports unions. He supports the steel tariffs, but nobody's perfect.

Certainly there are Democratic members who are more liberal, but to write off Lamb as an out-and-out conservative.This narrative needs to be be debunked.

[demosincebirth]

131. I am conservative on many issues but not enough to make me vote for any republican.The Democratic

Partly has the core values that I value as a retired union member.