Letter to the Editor: Democrats have an identity. Republicans just don’t like it.

It has become fashionable—even among liberal commentators like Bill Maher—to claim that Democrats don’t have an identity. That line is mostly a talking point from the right. Democrats do have a clear identity rooted in values that go back generations.

We’re the party that stands up for working people. We push back against unchecked corporate power. We believe policy should favor everyday workers—not the billionaire class—and that opportunity (from education to health care to civil rights) shouldn’t be reserved for the privileged few.

Republicans frequently brand themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility. Yet the record tells a different story. Balanced federal budgets are rare in modern times, but the only sustained stretch of surpluses in the last half century occurred in the late 1990s — under Democratic leadership. By contrast, Republican administrations from Reagan forward have consistently overseen rising deficits driven by tax cuts for the wealthy and unfunded spending. That’s not responsibility — that’s recklessness.

So when critics say Democrats don’t stand for anything, they’re not paying attention—or they’re hoping you won’t. But our history, our policies, and our priorities tell a different story.

Democrats stand for working people, for fairness, and for a future that gives everyone a real chance—not just those at the top. That is our identity. And it’s worth fighting for. So don’t be afraid to join us. We don’t bite—and we certainly don’t eat babies.

Jennifer Lilly

Marion County Democrat