Democrat In Name Only (DINO) is a disparaging term for a member of the United States Democratic Party. A DINO is considered to be more conservative (fiscally and/or socially) than fellow Democrats.
The term was created as an analogous opposite to RINO (Republican In Name Only), which refers to more liberal members of the US Republican Party.
"DINO" is used by more ideological (politically speaking) members of the Democrats to counter fellow party members for their heterodox, or relatively moderate or conservative positions. Likewise, the term RINO is typically given to Republican members who espouse more "middle of the road" positions or who espouse more liberal positions.
Dixiecrats were conservative Democrats in the South during the segregation years. Some Dixiecrats switched to the Republican Party, became independents or retired from politics. Others remained Democrats, but positioned themselves to the "right" of other party members.
Read more about Democrat In Name Only: Regional Differences and Issues
Famous quotes containing the word democrat:
“The seasick passenger on an ocean liner detests the good sailor who stalks past him 265 times a day grandly smoking a large, greasy cigar. In precisely the same way the democrat hates the man who is having a better time in the world. This is the origin of democracy. It is also the origin of Puritanism.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)