There is a difference between a "label" and a party affiliation. A label is something like "conservative" or "liberal" or "moderate" or "dumbass." A political label is usually supposed to take a set of policy positions that often go together, make a name for that set of positions, and stick that label on politicians, voters or a party that is believed to support that set of policies.

I think it is fine to object to a label, because almost no one fits a label exactly. Almost everyone is a more complex mixture of some "liberal" policies, some "moderate" policies, and some "conservative" policies. For example, it's irritating to be labeled "liberal" because of your environmental policies if you are fiscally "conservative" and "moderate" on most social issues.

But party affiliation is not a label. Party affiliation is a fact. You either are a Republican or you are not. It is relevant, and it should be accurately stated on the ballot, not some made up name. The reason it is relevant is that the candidates are selected in a primary election of that particular party, each party only runs one candidate on the ballot, the party pays for and supports a large part of the campaign for that candidate, and once elected, that candidate will likely work with other party members toward a shared party agenda.

It is not right for a candidate to be registered as a Republican, win the Republican party primary, be the only Republican candidate on the ballot, have his campaign paid for in large part by the Republican party, support the Republican party agenda, and NOT have his Republican party affiliation on the ballot! It is especially not right to have him MAKE UP a new name for his party! That is absolutely ridiculous!

He is not being LABELED a Republican, he IS a Republican --- registered in his party, selected by his party, supported by his party, and expected to support his party in return.

The problem for Republicans this election is that the Republican party itself has been labeled --- the labels are things like "failures" and "fools" and "hypocrits" and "liars" and "thieves" and "incompetents." You can thank George Bush and all the Republicans in both houses who supported him through his failed adminsitration for those labels. Many good Republicans object to those kinds of labels, as they should, but that does not mean they should be allowed to make up a new name for their party affiliation. Voters deserve to know what party they belong to. If these politicains think their party is too tainted by "labels," they should change their party affiliation by registering in a differrent party and going through the primary process in that party, or by forming their own new party.