“Democrat Elected Official” Just a Title or Backed By a Real Philosophy

Over the last few years in New Mexico the Democratic Party has attracted more than a few middle of the road democrats. Some of its elected officials are now leaning more than a little to the right rather than to the left of issues. They are all registered democrats but are they living up to the real democratic philosophy which our party is based on? Do they support our core values and beliefs or are they using the party name in order to get elected to office? Where is the line between being in the center left and just using the title to get elected?

The Democratic Party is the “Big Tent Party.” The Party welcomes people from every group and is open to ideas from every area. We have our own far right (Mayor Marty Chavez) as well as our far left members (State Senator Cisco McSorley). We support many different views and welcome debate about what is good for both our state and our country. We value options from every member of the party. To ignore even one individual option is a disservice to every member of our party.

The problems start only when candidates and elected officials of our own party refuse to spend time with the voting public and turn a blind eye to what our voters care most about in this state. The power of an elected position can often lead individuals to a false feeling of being above the very people who got them elected in the first place. As a party our elected officials must value the issues and the stands that our voting public takes on things that matter in their everyday life. They must value the same core values that our State Party platform values in order to represent the people that elected them to office not just in their own area or district but throughout the state and the nation. Public office is not a private privilege but a duty that must be kept close to the heart and treated as a trust as members like Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Tom Udall does with humility and quiet thoughtful respect.