UPDATED: Vote Deadline Extended to Name Our Populist Movement within Democratic Party

[MannyGoldstein]

23. Roosevelt Democrats

I think the name, like a good headline, should:

1. cut through the noise (make people say "huh?" when they first see it)
2. say something about what we're up to
3. be a good way to start a conversation with people
4. fulfill 1-3 in a way that they work for all Americans, not just political junkies

"Democratic Wing" would work great for political junkies, but I think it will confuse others (i.e., doesn't meet 4 above).

"Roosevelt Democrats" is great for 1-4. The Roosevelts in question did so many great things, great Progressive/Liberal things, and the results were fantastic: those are stories that I like to tell. "Why am I a Roosevelt Democrat? Do you know that in FDR's first term, because of Liberal policies, unemployment halved and the economy grew at three or four times the rate it's growing now? Let's talk about the policies that made this happen, and why we need them again today."

"They did X and it worked. Everytime X has been tried, it worked. Doesn't it make sense to do X?" Those are the arguments that win people's hearts and minds.

Both Teddy and Franklin were flawed, as are all people, and there will be some nitwits (even on DU!) that will fling poo at 'em. But both, as they aged, improved, and also one person's poison is another person's meat. For example, some people (not me) feel that the US developing atomic weapons was an awful thing, but to others it could be seen as a sign that Roosevelt Democrats will do what's needed, when needed.

And by including Teddy, Franklin, and Eleanor, it sends a great message about inclusion: Democrats and Republicans, men and women. They were not people of color, but did work hard to advance the ball for all Americans. Whatever we call ourselves, we'll not perfect America either, but we'll fight hard for all.