There. It's Said. An earlier diary written by the Host of this site used a completely unnecessary, insensitive and frankly insulting word to describe a good number of people in the Dem party throughout this country. I wouldn't doubt that Dems with a more moderate outlook are fairly represented on this site, as well.
This party has traditionally been a Big Tent, made up of Democrats with views that range from moderate to green all the way over to socialist. The size of our constituency (and it is growing) is what puts us in good shape, assuming we can hang together during the good times and bad times, to win election after election after election in the foreseeable future.
But, you know what? The use of the word "idiot" in describing Centrist Dems feels to me just like what the Wingers in the Republican Party are doing, as they seek to "cleanse" their party of anyone with more moderate views. If we are going to do the same thing and if they feel like they are no longer welcome in the Dem party, they'll either not vote, or will more likely vote Republican. Neither option is helpful to the goals of this party.
In fact, many of the States that went Democrat in 2008 are traditionally moderate states that can go either way. Their representatives are going to be moderate as well and better that they are on our side than the other side. We get majorities which means we get to set agendas and we make progress on important progressive ideals.
So, please, can't we knock off the insults and talk with each other like serious adults with a serious purpose. If I'm guessing right, we have a whole range of Dem views on this site, as well, and I seriously doubt that I was the only one who is upset at Kos's insensitivity.
By the way, I assume that anyone recc'ing Kos's diary will not HR mine for using the very same word he used in his.
2:45 PM PT: Update: The diary was not meant to be a factual or statistical challenge to Kos's diary. I haven't researched so I really don't know what most Americans want other than jobs, economic security, friendship and family. I selected "Far Left" as the target because that's on the opposite spectrum of the Dem party and I thought it would make a better comparison to the Centrist that Kos used.
The diary was meant to make a point about the name calling and the insults hurled at each other everyday simply because we all have a point of view that differs, some slightly and some quite a bit. Folks, this isn't going to help us win elections - it's not going to help us move our platform in a progressive direction. Can the rhetoric be toned down with opinions offered in a respectfull responsible way. That's really all I was trying to accomplish with this.