DU rules: Democratic Candidates and the Democratic Party

[DeepModem Mom]

Democratic Candidates and the Democratic Party

Constructive criticism of Democrats or the Democratic Party is permitted. When doing so, please keep in mind that most of our members come to this website in order to get a break from the constant attacks in the media against our candidates and our values. Highly inflammatory or divisive attacks that echo the tone or substance of our political opponents are not welcome here.

You are not permitted to use this message board to work for the defeat of the Democratic Party nominee for any political office. If you wish to work for the defeat of any Democratic candidate in any General Election, then you are welcome to use someone else's bandwidth on some other website.

Democratic Underground may not be used for political, partisan, or advocacy activity by supporters of any political party or candidate other than the Democratic Party or Democratic candidates. Supporters of certain other political parties may use Democratic Underground for limited partisan activities in political races where there is no Democratic Party candidate.

Do not post broad-brush smears against Democrats or the Democratic Party.

[arendt]

1. Please clarify: is Joe Lieberman a Dem (Dems give him seniority)? n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

2. It's my impression he is no longer a Democrat. Can anyone provide...

further information?

[MethuenProgressive]

6. He ran against, and w/mostly Rep aid, defeated the Democratic candidate

He'd have been kicked off DU, imo.

[Orangepeel]

9. He's on this week's Top Ten Conservative Idiots list (again)

so I guess the admins are okay with critizing the bastard. :-)

[The Magistrate]

13. He Is Not A Democrat, Sir

And so comments on him do not come under this body of rules.

Rules concerning bigotry, however, apply to all, and there is an unfortunate tendency for criticism of this person to edge over into statements where those rules must be enforced.

[blm]

3. People come to the Democratic Party believing they will work to stop the corruption

of the Republicans who have committed crimes of office that have come back to hurt this nation in serious ways, like 9-11 and this Iraq war.

So, I expect that those Democrats concerned about that corruption, and especially the decades of corruption shown by the Bush family and their cronies, would be welcome at Democratic Underground.

[The Magistrate]

14. They Certainly Are, Ma'am

However, smearing Democrats is no part of that. Comments that constitute smears, or cannot be regarded reasonably as constructive criticism, are liable to be removed.

[blm]

15. I think you're wrong about that Mag. Even posts written generally are still pulled

when the subject is corruption and the Bushes and what Democrats should hope for come Jan 2009.

[MethuenProgressive]

4. "Do not post broad-brush smears against Democrats..."

:kick:

Constructive criticism of Democrats or the Democratic Party is permitted.

[Bitwit1234]

5. You are correct

I have said over and over why would the republicans need to slur the democrats when the democrats are doing a good job of that themselves.

[NMDemDist2]

7. I got trashed for saying the same thing, good on you!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3322047&mesg_id=3322470

[ShortnFiery]

8. But this is The Primary Season - It's a brutal time? However, point taken. n/t

[Warpy]

10. Thanks for the reminder.

My job is to top responding to Ron Paul trolls.

I will grit my teeth, gird my loins, sit on my hands, pour glue on my keyboard. I will do whatever it takes to hit "alert" instead of posting a counterblast.

Well, I'll certainly try. Nothing is more useless than trying to talk to a true believer libertarian. It's like trying to convince a toaster to be a bicycle.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Warpy, you have a way with words! nt

[Capn Sunshine]

11. Re: Lieberman: no he's NOT a Democrat

he ran under the "Joe Lieberman for Congress" Party as an independent.

He. like Bernie Sanders, is an independent who caucuses with the Democratic majority

[Jillian]

12. I'm fairly new around this place and I have been amazed

It seems like the Obama people are trying to "Macaca" Hillary.
The Hillary people are doing it to Obama.


And my guy keeps getting words put into his mouth.
No thanks, he does a fine job of saying the wrong thing on his own.

I joined DU to trash Rudy, McCain and Mitt. And Fred.
And to learn more about the candidates from my party.

I was beginning to think that this was not a site for Democrats:shrug:

[IndyOp]

17. No thanks, he does a fine job of saying the wrong thing on his own.

Jillian - Welcome to DU! :hi:

I appreciate your willingness to admit the human nature of your favorite candidate! They all have faults.

Right now - in primary season - the macaca is flying freely. Once the candidate is chosen, DU closes ranks around the Dems.

Until then I recommend using the "hide thread" function and even blocking particular DU members whose comments you find less than admirable.

[MaineDem]

18. Kick n/t

[LWolf]

19. Thanks for posting this.

Is there a link to this set of rules? I know I've seen it before, but the rules become harder and harder to find when the site is updated. This section is not even in the rules that I can still find linked to the "old" lobby.

It is a good reminder that criticism of the party, and calls for change within the party, are allowed. Not only allowed, but necessary for a healthy, vibrant party. Silence of dissent can only lead to corruption.

It's also a good reminder that members of DU do not have to declare a loyalty oath to the party or to any candidate, as long as they are not campaigning FOR the opposition or AGAINST the Democrat at DU in a general election. That means that, when a DLC candidate is nominated, I cannot pop into campaign threads to remind people that I won't be voting for that candidate. That would be redundant anyway.

What I can do, as a long-time DUer, is continue to post in forums and discussions about progressive issues. I may not, once the Convention has been held, post anything that is not supportive of the Democratic Candidate for president. Here is that rule:

<snip>

2. Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

I am a registered Democrat, and a progressive. I am firmly supportive of progressive ideals. That's how my vote is earned; record and platform on those progressive ideals. Meanwhile, I consider it the responsible thing to do to warn my party that my vote is at risk. That way, the nomination is made with a clear understanding of the consequences. I don't expect the Democratic Party to be overly concerned with my point of view or my vote; neither am I willing to be an election scapegoat.

If there is no place left at DU to discuss actual issues, rather than to perpetually campaign, then I'll spend time elsewhere, where issues are still part of the picture. If issues are still important at DU, I'll be here.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. kick

[mckeown1128]

21. kick

[DeepModem Mom]

22. kick