What is a Republican?

I just saw this comment on a web site:

"I am a fiscally conservative, socially liberal Republican...."

I'm sorry, but you don't exist. There's no such thing as a fiscally conservative, socially liberal Republican.

Republicans Aren't Fiscally Conservative

The leaders of the Republican party aren't fiscally conservative. The greatest increases in government spending, the greatest increases in the national debt, and the greatest increases in the size of our government have occurred under the Republican administrations of Reagan, Bush, and Bush. The misguided war in Iraq has already cost us over half a trillion dollars and some estimates are that the total cost will be as much as $3 trillion dollars, especially if we live up to our moral obligation to give our troops what we've promised them in benefits.

The Republican party wants to borrow more money to give tax cuts to the people who need it the least. Maybe a few of them aren't rich (remember, John McCain's defined rich as making more than $5 million a year). Under McCain's proposal, he and his wife, with their seven homes, will get a tax cut of more than $350,000. How much will you get?

The administration of Bill Clinton was the most fiscally responsible administration we've had in 30 years.

Republicans Aren't Socially Liberal

The party of Lincoln has been co-opted by the religious right -- the Christian religious right, who feel that only their religion is correct and we should all be Christian. God is on their side. The Iraq war is god's war. Only the Republican party understands god's will.

At the Republican convention, Rudy Giuliani insulted every Muslim in the world by equating Islam with a small number of terrorists who happen to be Muslim. How do you think they'd like it if we started using the phrase "Christian terrorists" all the time to refer to the terrorists who happen to be Christian?

You may think you can be socially liberal if you're a Republican, but go read the platform or listen to what standard bearers like Sarah Palin has to say, and you'll find your viewpoint isn't welcome.

You're a Democrat

Here's what Barack Obama said about the promise of America:

What is that promise?

It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves - protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us.  It should help us, not hurt us.  It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.

That's the promise we need to keep.

Our government should work for us, not against us. If you believe that, you're a Democrat.