Does anyone know any "independents" who are really liberals?

[vi5]

I don't mean people unaffiliated with a political party. That's a whole other animal. I mean people who consider themselves neither conservative nor liberal but who almost ALWAYS lean democratic.

It seems like every self proclaimed independent I know of goes about things the same way. They love to spout off about how they aren't affilliated with either party and how they have some conservative and some liberal views. But without a single f'ng doubt, when a democrat does something they find reprehensible or bad or annoying, they will use that as an example to tar and paint all democrats. Yet when a republican does the same thing or much worse they dismiss it with a "well all politicans are sleazy, but the democrats do the same things!". My father in law, and the guy who sit next to me at work fall into this mode and I have to say I find it much more infuriating than even hard core repugs. Because at least they are easy pickings in an argument because they make no bones about their own loyalties. But the people I'm talking about love to wave their "independent" flag but it never fails that they always fall for the conservative chum and bait, hook line and sinker. They'll cite some absurd, widely debunked e-mail forward they received as proof that a democrat did something bad, but yet when handed full, specific, irrefutable documentation that a republican did something wrong or bad they will say "Well, I've never seen that anywhere else so I'm not sure I believe it."

My roundabout, babbling point is does anyone know anyone who fits this mold but in reverse? Who considers themselves independent but err on the side of liberalism or democratic viewpoints even though they would never admit it?

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Nader's ideology, is more liberal than conservative

[vi5]

3. Yes, but he attacks dems just as much as he does republicans..

..he denounces both parties. The guys I'm talking about will almost never admit when the republican party is wrong, even when it directly contradicts something they have said about the democratic party that they hate, and even though they consider themselves not a part of the republican party.

[barb162]

20. These guys at work...I bet they vote GOP every time.

[Native]

2. me

[uppityperson]

4. I consider myself a liberal independent.

Does that count?

[DIKB]

5. I fall under the same category

I'm not registered with any party, but my views are staunchly liberal. As far as I'm concerned I will ONLY vote for Dems, Greens, and Independents. No Repukes get my support.

[vi5]

7. No, because you admit that you are liberal......

Like I said in the original post, I'm not talking simple party affiliations. I'm not a registered dem either. But I'll admit that I'm a liberal.

The phenomenon I'm talking about is guys who would never admit that they were conservative and like to fancy themselves independent ideologically as well as party-affilliation wise.

[longship]

6. Not many.

If somebody says that they are independent, I pretty much presume that they vote Repug. Unless they say otherwise, it's as good a guess as any.

[vi5]

8. That's what I'm talking about...

....I presume the same thing. Even if someone isn't a democrat per se, usually a liberal will admit to being a liberal.

[orpupilofnature57]

12. McCain will be one in 2008 , when Shrub passes the baton to Jeb

[uppityperson]

15. So an independent is their leaning, not just the party?

I think of people as dem, repub, green, independent, constitution in 1 category and liberal, conservative in another category.

[OhioBlue]

9. I can think of a couple

that really pissed me off about a year or so ago. Totally against * on the tax cuts, on the war, etc. Then they start forwarding that chain mail BS. Kerry's a flip-flopper, he voted against armour for the troops, Teresa supports terrorists and outsources, etc. I tried to debunk, but NOT ONE debunked e-mail was responded to. My cousin still does try to paint herself as an independent all the while singing the praises of * and CATO type ideology. On the other side, I considered myself an independent until * went into Iraq, then I started reading more, etc. I always leaned Liberal, but would usually vote based on name recognition except for POTUS - in that case, always voted for the Dem. My Dad is also on my side of the spectrum. Devout Independent that hates *, hates Taft, and probably every other Repuke that we have representing us. Might vote for McCain, but no other Repuke that I know of State or Federal seat.

[Native]

10. have you considered this?

that perhaps the only independents you've had the displeasure of knowing are just plain stupid? There's a lot of that going around!

[vi5]

17. I've definitely considered that...

That's why I'm asking. I wasn't sure if this was a stupidity phenomenon only I have had the pleasure of having to deal with.

[JI7]

11. they don't want to admit to being Republican or Conservative

because they aren't able to defend where they really stand.

they want to bash Democrats all they want and when you say something about a Republican they respond with "i'm an independent". some even claim to be libertarian but you figure out where they really stand when you discuss things like abortion rights, gay rights etc.

most liberals who are independent would still admit to being left or liberal leaning.

[Independent_Liberal]

13. I consider myself to be an independent liberal.

I think my user name says it all.

:)

[OneTwentyoNine]

14. No..but I know a load of Repukes hiding behind the Independant label...

Call it what you want,they support Bush in 99% of all he does,that makes them full blown neo-con Republican in my book.

[JohnnyBoots]

16. Jeffords?

[tulsakatz]

18. do you mean famous people or people in our personal lives?

If you're talking about famous people, Bill Maher seems to fit that description. He is an Independent but he usually favors liberal more than conservative.

There is a guy I work with who, I'm not really sure if he's an Independent, but he is a moderate........although he and I seem to agree on a lot of political stuff.

[MissMarple]

19. I'm an Independent because I don't like to join things,generally speaking

I usually vote Democratic, though. And, yes, I am a Liberal, most unabashedly so. I'm an American and I support the Constitution, so of course I'm a liberal. Our government is not evil, the people running it, however, .... I really have doubts about. Our government is suppposed to protect the rights of the people and insure our prosperity, not the prosperity of just some of us.

And right now, I'm really ticked off.

[seabeyond]

21. i am a registered independent as is my husband

he tends to vote repug, i vote dem. i am a registered independent that has now vowed, NEVER will i EVER vote repug, since clinton impeachment because of the dishonesty and corruption and abuse of religion and stomping on the constitution by the republican party. my husband has vowed to not vote repug, since he voted kerry in 2004.

so two independents that wont vote repug, kinda just leaves dems huh.

and i have dedicated a couple years spending massive amounts of my day for the democratic fight to take these reprehensible repugs down. staying informed, spreading the word

[Kickin_Donkey]

22. Yeah, I know exactly the type ...

Most so-called independents and libertarians that I've ever met lean right. They HATE Democrats and liberals, but Republicans seem to get a free pass, even though these people claim to be independents.

There are at least three of them in my immeidate surroundings at work. They're very cynical about society and government. They claim to dislike all parties. But when a Republican gets caught effing up, then it's "ALL politicians do it." However when the transgression is by a Dem, it's "those effing Dems."

Back during the presidential debates and the conventions last year, the TV was on showing those events (I work in a business where we have to know what's happening). When the DNC convention was on, these three "independents" were literally snarling and talking back at the TV; when the RNC convention was on, they didn't take notice. When Kerry was making his points in the debates, they would mock him; they probably didn't take Bush seriously, but they didn't seem to have a problem with it.

These three are definitely not rabid right-wingers, but as "independents" they go right. I can't quite figure out what's going on in the phenomenon.

So I guess the answer to your question is that I can't recall a so-called independent who ultimately is liberal. Maybe it's that "independent" is code for libertarian -- and libertarians in my experience are essentially Republicans.