# Who are the true liberal politicians and what defines liberal? {Please Dems only} **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 16, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922 "2006-04-16T23:37:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922/41 "2006-04-19T20:08:53Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > FWIW, I’ve maintained that _liberalism_ is the freedom to disregard established political or cultural dogma or mores. By definition that would seem to preclude liberalism from ever being an established dogma in its own right – and I think liberals and conservatives alike would question that conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![David\_God\_of\_Frogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@David\_God\_of\_Frogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_God_of_Frogs)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922/42 "2006-04-20T02:04:26Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Well, I got to learn a lot about British Politics, unfortunately no one cares to venture a list of Liberal US Senators. 😉 > \*\*BrainGlutton \*\* thinks Clinton is something he doesn’t appear to be. > I don’t feel any closer to the understanding why some board members are claiming Kerry is not a Liberal. > I guess I am pleading for more help and hoping our British friends can go start there own debate in another thread. I am interested, but I was also hoping to learn something more specific. > > Sorry, > Jim I’m still going to agree with what **BrainGlutton** said a while ago. The [Democratic Leadership Council](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Leadership_Council) is more conservative-lite than really liberal - it’s in their rhetoric and their policies. They go to greater length to distance themselves from other Democrats than from Republicans. I’m not sure I’ve seen an authoritative list of DLC politicians, although the wikipedia link mentions some prominent names. Clinton (both), Lieberman, and a lot of the congressional leadership are pro-DLC, while Dean and Wellstone are (were) anti-DLC. Kerry is certainly to the left of Clinton, but he is still DLC. To be fair, I think he tries hard to appear that way, but you get what you get. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922/43 "2006-04-20T09:36:38Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > (although President-elect Matt Santos embraced the label on _The West Wing!_). DO you know how much trouble I have gone to to avoid knowing who won the Santos/Vinick fight- we are still some twenty episodes from the series end in the UK\> ☹ :mad: :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922/44 "2006-04-20T13:06:31Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > DO you know how much trouble I have gone to to avoid knowing who won the Santos/Vinick fight- we are still some twenty episodes from the series end in the UK\> > > ☹ :mad: :dubious: My apologies. I (wrongly) assumed everyone knew by now. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922/45 "2006-04-20T15:27:56Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > My apologies. I (wrongly) assumed everyone knew by now. Apology warmly accepted. Now I know and my Wife doesn’t- one more thing to keep secret. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922/46 "2006-04-20T18:50:21Z")
> [@Lamar Mundane](#): > > The Americans With Disabilities Act was passed and signed by George H.W. Bush in 1990. Wow, my recollection on that was really wrong. Thanks **Lamar Mundane**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-true-liberal-politicians-and-what-defines-liberal-please-dems-only/352922.md?page=2)