Democrat In Name Only

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DINO stands for Democrat In Name Only, a disparaging term for a member of the modern-day United States Democratic Party whose words and actions are thought to be too fiscally or socially conservative. The term "Fox News liberal", "Fox Democrat," "Fox News Democrat," or "D-Unot" has also been used in this context [1]. "D-Unot" stands for "Democrat You Not."

The term was created as an analogous opposite to the acronym RINO (Republican In Name Only), which refers to more liberal members of the United States Republican Party. The acronym is a pun on the popular English-language shortening of the word dinosaur (which is often used metaphorically to refer to a long-obsolete person).

"DINO" is used by more ideological (politically speaking) members of the Democrats to challenge fellow party members for their heterodox or relatively conservative positions. In some cases, the platform of the member in question might not be necessarily close to the opponents—but they do not necessarily follow the party line in every case. Many (but not all) of the DINOs are "conservatives" from Southern states which were predominantly Dixiecrat before they switched en masse to the Republican Party. Unlike those who switched parties, these DINOs are content to remain Democrats.

1 Fox News Liberals
2 Regional differences and issues
3 Putative DINOs
4 Conservative Democratic politicians according to National Journal
5 American Conservative Union Lifetime ratings
6 See also
- 6.1 See also

[edit] Fox News Liberals

The similar term Fox News liberal is used among Democrats and liberals in the U.S. to refer to those commentators and politicians who hold themselves out as liberals and/or Democrats, yet often agree with their conservative and/or Republican counterparts on TV talk shows or in legislative bodies on various issues and positions.

The term is similar to Democrat In Name Only (DINO). It references the strong conservative bent of the Fox News Channel, which many media watchdog groups and left-of-center activists contend is essentially a mouthpiece for right-wing talking points. Media watchers on the left often claim that the supposed "liberal commentators" on Fox News are merely straw men hired to present liberal viewpoints as ineffectively as possible. (This accusation has also been applied in reverse to supposedly conservative commentators such as Tucker Carlson and William Safire.)

The term was first applied in 2004 to Alan Colmes, the liberal co-host of conservative Sean Hannity on the Fox News show Hannity & Colmes. Progressive viewers generally find Colmes' quiet, deferential style infuriating, particularly in contrast to the outspoken Hannity; moreover, Colmes himself has sometimes taken more right-leaning positions, such as defending Mississippi Senator Trent Lott after the latter made racially inflamatory remarks at the 100th birthday party for the late Sen. Strom Thurmond. It hasn't helped Colmes with progressive critics that he has defended Fox's "fair and balanced" slogan as accurate, or that he has been praised by prominent conservatives such as Newt Gingrich and was once chosen as the favorite liberal by posters on a Free Republic forum. Liberal commentator Al Franken lambasted Colmes in his popular book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, accusing him of refusing to ask tough questions during debates, neglecting to challenge erroneous claims made by Hannity and his guests, and purposefully refraining from making arguments which could substantially damage conservative positions.

Susan Estrich, Ed Koch, Juan Williams and Pat Caddell have also been called Fox News liberals for exhibiting tendencies similar to Colmes'. Each has faced criticism that he/she cares more about continuing to appear on television than articulately defending progressive ideals. In 2004, Koch even voted to return George W. Bush to the White House, despite Bush's conservative policies.

The 2004 documentary Outfoxed contends that Fox producers purposely choose unthreatening liberal commentators; it supports its argument by interviewing former network producers as well as a former commentator who claims that he was summarily fired by Fox after challenging the case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq too forcefully.

[edit] Regional differences and issues

As with the term RINO regional variations have some factor. Many "DINOs" come from more socially or fiscally conservative states or districts where a more liberal politician would face difficulty. In particular Utah, Nebraska, and Indiana are highly Republican states with above average church-attendance.(Gallup) Likewise the "Bible Belt" tends to be more socially conservative and has for decades been a home of conservative Democrats. (see Dixiecrat)

[edit] Putative DINOs

Democrats who have been accused of being DINOs include:

Former Rep. Brad Carson of Oklahoma, who often touted his 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association, support for many of President Bush's tax cuts and support for the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Former Mayor Ed Koch of New York City who supported Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and several Republican mayors, governors, and senators of New York

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, a hawkish supporter of much of the Bush administration's foreign policy who has also sided with the Republicans on school vouchers and entertainment and video game ratings and restrictions. He lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont in his bid for re-nomination in 2006 and then won his re-election bid under the banner of his own party, Connecticut for Lieberman. [2]

Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah, a Blue Dog Democrat, who's voting record is more in line with libertarianism than liberalism.

Former Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia, keynote speaker at the 2004 Republican National Convention (called an "in name only" by Terry McAuliffe), who had a 94% voting record with the Republican leadership from 2003 to 2004.

Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Nelson has maintained a conservative voting record on foreign policy and many social issues. Considered to be the most conservative Democrat in the senate.

Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi who voted for all four articles of impeachment against Bill Clinton, and for the Federal Marriage Amendment. Rated 48% liberal by Americans for Democratic Action, Taylor is the most conservative Democrat in the chamber, although he is still more liberal than any of the Republicans.

Former Rep. James Traficant of Ohio, who voted for Republican Dennis Hastert for Speaker of the House in 2001. Afterwards, the Democrats refused to give him a committee assignment, making him the first member of the House of Representatives in over a century without any committee assignment who was not in a leadership position.

[edit] Conservative Democratic politicians according to National Journal

Gene Taylor-Composite Conservative score of 54, Social Policy Conservative score 73
Ben Nelson-Composite Conservative score of 50, Foreign Policy Conservative score 52
Robert Cramer (Alabama's 5th congressional district)-Composite Conservative score of 50 with no area standing out as more conservative.
Jim Marshall (Georgia's 3rd congressional district)-Composite Conservative score of 49, Social Policy Conservative score 55
Mike McIntyre (Represents North Carolina in the House)-Composite Conservative score of 48, Social Policy Conservative score 50
Dan Boren (Represents Oklahoma in the US House)-Composite Conservative score of 48, Social Policy Conservative score 52
Lincoln Davis (Tennessee's 4th congressional district)=Composite Conservative score of 47, Social Policy Conservative score 52
Collin Peterson (Represents Minnesota in the US House)-Composite Conservative score of 47, Social Policy Conservative score 50
Ike Skelton (Represents Missouri in the US House)-Composite Conservative score of 46, Social Policy Conservative score 48
Jim Matheson-Composite Conservative score of 46, Foreign Policy Conservative score 47
Charlie Melancon (Louisiana's 3rd congressional district)-Composite Conservative score of 45, same in all areas.
John Barrow (Represents Georgia's 12th district)-Composite Conservative score of 44, Social Policy Conservative score 48
Henry Cuellar-Composite Conservative score of 44, Economic Policy Conservative score 47