Is a 'Real Democrat' one who votes for the party's standard bearer? Or is it one so beholden to corporate interests that he or she can't articulate a message to the electorate, has alienated almost every community civic organizations and who is so inept that an alteration to a flyer exposed her candidacy as one devoid of any substance? If you believe Clara Virginia Fields in the Gay City News, the only qualification to be a "Real Democrat" is that you presumably voted for the party's candidate and showed up at the election night party.

Unfortunately for Fernando Ferrer (who had his own communication problems), Fields' candidacy showed that 'Real Democrats' in New York City are usually nothing but hacks, and deserve the political oblivian we're all cheering C. Virginia Fields will enjoy.