Progressive is a dirty word. It's the real dirty word. But we as Liberals have been led to believe identifying ourselves as such is bad form. That to be a Liberal is to be a Communist, Socialist, un-American, subversive, dangerous, or all of the above.
Well. I'm a Liberal. I'm proud of it. I support universal health care, social justice, equiality in the workplace, unions, strong national defense, and a vibrant middle class. I believe the rich can afford to pay a little more in taxes. I grew up in that tax bracket. My parents brought home the turkey bacon, I say turkey because I'm kashrut. My parents drove expensive German cars, but at the same time, they donated time and money to those in need. They taught me that war is wrong, America is a great land, and that I should only keep as much as I need to live. Excess is meant to be shared with those less fortunate.
When did it become so uncouth to call oneself a Liberal? People shy away from the word as if it conjures images of communist parades through Red Square. When did it become fashionable, nay acceptable, to hide who you are behind a veil? Deception is a hallmark of the opposition, so why have we resorted to it as a means of gaining acceptance?
Some of the greatest men and women in the proud (and not-so-proud) history of the Republic have been Liberals. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He couldn't walk. He led this country from a fledling democracy to the brink of superpower status. He faced down the greatest evil man had known in the face of wildly popular isolationist sentiment to ensure freedom, peace, and democracy would persist. Or Harry Truman. He dared to propose universal health care. He airlifted supplies into a blockaded Berlin. He developed the comprehensive policy for dealing with the liberal Soviet Union. The policy that stood the test of time to the very last brick tumbling out of the Wall. John Kennedy. A war hero, a philanderer, but a charismatic Liberal. Strong on defense, pushing for civil rights in the face of tremendous opposition. Lyndon Johnson. He made mistakes with the escalation in Vietnam, certainly, but he gave us Medicare. He ensured our grandparents and our parents, no matter their income level, would have access to health care into their twilight years as a tribute to their hard work and ingenuity as Americans. And William Jefferson Clinton. Another philanderer. Sure, he couldn't keep it in his pants, but he balanced the budget. He generated an $800 billion surplus. Imagine the possibilities if that surplus had remained stable. If two ill-conceived wars had not been undertaken. Or if the "necessary war" had been undertaken intelligently, with a firm endgame in mind.
These are the leaders who have been called Liberals. These are the leaders who embraced the moniker. The leaders who were proud to stand and say "yes, I care about those less fortunate, I believe a state working on behalf of the people and their dreams can be an effective advocate, and I am not ashamed". These men weren't afraid to be labeled what they were. They embraced it, reveled in it, and showed that their way of thinking was more powerful and effective than the alternatives. So why now are we hiding from it? Take it back. Remind America what Liberals are about. Remind them of the Ted Kennedys and Harry Trumans. Remind them of everything accomplished under the label of Liberal, and stop running from it. Take it back.