Why I'm a Democrat
I’m a Democrat because I believe in America.
I believe unequivocally in equality under the law.
I believe in the universal merits of democratic government. After all, what person doesn’t want to have a say in how he or she is governed?
I believe that access to quality health care is a basic human right that should never depend upon a person's wealth.
I believe that government must, to the greatest extent possible, err on the side of openness and accountability.
I believe that a free, independent and vigilant press is absolutely vital to the health of our democracy.
I believe in capitalism. Capitalism is a natural extension of democracy and freedom, but it can’t go unregulated. Generally speaking, the business of entrepreneurs is the self-interested accumulation of wealth. By contrast, the business of government is to preserve and protect the interests of the people. In a capitalist economy, the government must ensure that the private pursuit of wealth never rides roughshod over the interests of society at large.
I believe in protecting the environment to the greatest extent possible. Environmental protection and economic vitality are not mutually exclusive.
I believe in a strong military because it’s sometimes necessary to defend democratic values by force. However, it’s the solemn duty of our elected officials to call upon the military only after exhausting all other options.
I believe that the Democratic Party best represents these values in our national political dialogue, and that’s why I’m proud to call myself a Democrat.