I, like many others, became aware of Daily Kos through references in the MSM. My first visit was prompted by one such reference. After reading a news article I popped in to Daily Kos to see what the far-left was saying about a certain political hot topic.
Imagine my surprise when I not only discovered what the far-left was saying, but also the left and those right smack in the middle of the political spectrum.
"Wait a sec." I thought. "What's all this reasonable discourse doing on a radical left-wing site?" Sure, there were comments by people who I would not be surprised to see place a "GOP KILLS!!!" bumper sticker on the back of their autos, but there were also people participating in interesting exchanges of ideas, with thoughtful and well cited foundations, many of which I, as a moderate, could embrace and encourage.
Daily Kos truly is a site where both moderates and liberals can feel welcome and at home. I pass on many discussions that are too far left in opinion for me to be able to make a contribution that would not interfere with the lively exchange. At times that is simply the respectful thing to do. However, I find much to enjoy and have never been attacked because of my status as a moderate..not once.
Perhaps that is why I feel so dismayed when I see consistent media references like this:
"Leftists take on the media." The title of a Scripps News Service Article by J. Patrick Coolican and Michael J. Mishak dated March 15, 2007
This article was in reference to the recent cancellation of what I will simply term the "Fox Debate". I took action regarding that issue. I agreed it was appropriate and participated...and now I'm labeled.
Has my perception been that off? Has my dismay over many of the actions recently taken by our government clouded my judgement to the point that I'm now a "Leftist" and don't even realize it? I think not.
These references by the main stream media to Daily Kos as "radical" or "far-left", etc. are used to marginalize the site and diminish the effect when many here decide to give a united message on a specific subject. Much easier to dismiss actions as being put forth by "radicals" (read "small") than to truly examine the posters here and have to face the fact that the e-mails and/or phone calls represent concern by a broad slice of the political pie.
Sooooo....I'll proudly claim my status as a reasonable moderate and pointedly declare in my conversations with politicians and others that, yes, I read Daily Kos, as all moderates should. Perhaps, with a little work, I can change a few minds and prevent a few labels from being placed, because I'm just not a bumper-sticker kind of girl.
Now it gets interesting for me. I wrote the above diary and then, out of curiosity, started grazing through the net looking for issues involving moderates and Daily Kos. Much of it seems a tad negative towards moderates though admittedly I was just grazing. Perhaps I'm looking through rose-colored glasses because my personal experience here has been so pleasant.