I AM A LIBERAL!!

During President Bush’s press conference earlier, one question stuck out for me. The question was whether or not Bush was still a conservative. Bush’s answer: “I'm still a conservative, proudly so, proudly so.”

“Proudly so.” Bush’s statement, unsurprising and certainly not new, highlights what anyone who follows politics has known for decades: the total and unequivocal defeat of conservatism’s counterpart, liberalism. While Bush may feel comfortable calling himself a conservative, his predecessor took no such pride in calling himself a “liberal,” preferring instead as a “centrist” or the increasingly popular “progressive." Gore and Kerry avoided the label like the plague, preferring the overused excuse of how they don’t like labels (how convenient for them).

The death of liberalism (the term, that is to say) can probably be traced back to the late 1960’s, and the subsequent association between “liberals” and the radical counter-culture of that time. Rhetorically however, the causes of its decline rest on two complementing developments:

1) The Republican’s successful campaign to discredit the label, and
2) The Democrat’s acquiescence to this onslaught

According to one Republican media firm, throwing around the term "liberal" can work to the GOP's advantage. “Labeling someone a 'liberal' can be a very effective method of positioning and pushing them out of the mainstream.”

They go on to note that “Democrats are terrified of the labeling” and so are the media. “Reporters sort of agree with Democrats that 'liberal' is a dirty word,” says Rich Noyes, research director for the Media Research Center, “so they get very defensive when the word 'liberal' is used.” He added that four years ago, reporters were quick to point out Cheney's conservative record, while the major networks now seem "disinterested" in talking about Edwards' policy stance and ideology and more concerned with talking about his "cosmetics" and "political abilities" — things that are essentially not that important for serving as vice president.

"I think if Democrats keep flinching and running away from the term 'liberal' — even when it applies — they help make it an undesirable label," Noyes continued.

This creates an obvious problem for the political party most associated with the term. While the word “conservative” connotes values, religion, family, and defense for many people, the word “liberal” connotes feminism, gay-rights, abortion, and socialism.

For Democrats then, there are only three options: Find another word to describe themselves, give up the idea of a unifying theme or phrase, or try and revive the sunken reputation of liberalism. My suggestion? Clinton’s double-victory notwithstanding, I don’t believe hiding from the term works as an effective strategy. While one could certainly argue that Gore actually got more votes than Bush without it and Kerry came damn close, I would argue that by avoiding the term, Democrats surrender a valuable rhetorical tool as well as aid in the impression that they stand for nothing.

With the advent of liberal talk radio and the rise in several young stars who are willing to redefine the label of “liberal,” I believe the time is ripe for a comeback. I know I am not alone in thinking this. George Cloony recently confessed how much it “infuriates” him that liberal has become a dirty word. “It blows my mind," he says, "because [unlike conservatives] we don't have to put the word 'compassionate' in front of it to say we actually give a s—t about people. I'm going to keep saying 'liberal' as loud as I can and as often as I can."

I’m with ya, George! That makes two… who’s with us?!?