San Francisco Democrats

The San Francisco Chronicle is taking umbrage at those who describe House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as a "San Francisco Democrat". But what does this label mean? The Chronicle points out that some, including Joe Conason and Pelosi herself, believe that it is a none-too-subtle form of gay baiting. Some people probably do use it as such, but I don't. San Francisco liberalism is about a lot more than gay rights (which I generally support). While the Chronicle believes that

The defining quality of a San Francisco Democrat -- an elected one, anyway -- is an ability to bring together people who celebrate their differences, relish their political feuds and demand their leaders' constant attention.

I beg to differ, and I'm speaking as a former San Francisco Democrat -- I've been a San Francisco resident and voter since 1990, and at the outset my official voter registration was as a Democrat.

I've found that the San Francisco Democratic party is about a uniquely lunatic vision of America and the world. It's activists are hostile to free enterprise, they believe that private property should be all but criminalized, that corporations are inherently evil and that normal people only work for the government or non-profits. They believe the government was created to take care of poor people, women, minorities and AIDS patients, and that able-bodied heterosexual white guys exist only to "pay their fair share"; They can state with conviction and without irony that the city shouldn't allow high-rise apartment buildings and that rent-control is sacred, but that government should also do something about the "afforable housing crisis". The San Francisco Democratic city government is run solely for the convenience of the public employee labor unions, whose members are routinely granted ever-increasing benefits and paid time off, and are never held accountable for actual performance. The Board of Supervisors has its own foreign policy, which starts with three fundamental assumptions: It's wrong for the US to have a military; the US must promote and defend democracy around the world without ever using its military; and Cuba is a showcase society of social justice.

That, in a nutshell, is what the San Francisco Democrats are all about. If you don't believe me, you can start by visiting Nancy Pelosi's official website and reading through her press releases. Also be sure to take a look at the endorsements page of the San Francisco Democratic party. And read the letters to the editor page of the San Francisco Chronicle from time to time. Needless to say, I mentally checked myself out of the party years ago.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at December 01, 2002 06:43 PM