Once upon a time in the 'sixties, there was a singer/songwriter named Phil Ochs who described himself as a "singing journalist".  Among his many great songs -- some serious, some humorous -- about the social problems of the day was one from his 1966 Carnegie Hall concert called "Love Me, I'm A Liberal," sung to the tune of "Rosin the Bow".  (I remembered it when I saw the John Kerry photo caption contest at a blog called Captain's Quarters.)  The song was supposed to be a parody, poking a little fun at the skin-deep Liberals who were all in favor of social change... except when it came close to home.  He described them as being "ten degrees to the left of center in good times... ten degrees to the right of center when it affects them personally."  I have a feeling, though, that Mr. Ochs would be horrified to find that the hypocritical skin-deep Liberals are now the leaders of the Democratic party.  A prime example is the Democrats' continuing calls for clean, renewable energy sources, including wind power... and Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry refusing to allow a wind farm within sight of the Kennedy compound at Martha's Vinyard.  "People want to look out and see the same sight the Pilgrims saw," said lawyer Robert Kennedy.  Not In My Backyard!  Many Democrats in Congress are against school choice, which would make public schools more competitive by allowing parents to choose which schools their children attend... but how many children of Senators and Congressmen attend public schools?  (Hint: not too many.)  Not In My Backyard!  They decry the evils of corporations yet own and invest in them; they favor gun control for everyone except their bodyguards; they complain about the waste of irreplaceable fossil fuels and dependence on foreign oil as they drive their SUVs and fly in their private jets.  The hypocritical NIMBY attitude of many leading Democrats today is perfectly captured in the lyrics of "Love Me, I'm A Liberal".

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
And I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
And I'm glad that the Commies were thrown out
From the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
And I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
Now, I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crane?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Yes, I read New Republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the Democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I attend all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
And I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Sure, once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
Ahh, but I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in...
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal