Does anyone know where the term "bleeding heart liberal" first came from? And what it means?

Probably from the phrase "My heart bleeds for you." In other words, "I'm totally sympathetic to your plight." It was applied to liberals by conservatives who have no sympathy for those less fortunate than themselves. They firmly believe that a person who was raised by a drug-addicted mother and had to quit school to support himself has exactly the same chance in life as a person raised by a loving upper-class family and therefore deserves no help from government agencies. Liberals, however, believe that if government assistance can raise a person's chances to make a good life for himself and be a productive member of society, then let's help out.

Does anyone know where the term "bleeding heart liberal" first came from? And what it means?
the term gives off the wrong idea it assumes they care and all they really care about is power over the people. look at our neighbors to the north or Europe. higher un employment lousy health care. much higher taxes lower % own their own home.





but the govt. has complete control of every thing and every one.


people need to remember in this country poverty is a choice. bleeding heart is termed because liberals want to provide housing and food and health care to every one with out an out of pocket expense. think people some one has to pay it would raise the taxes so high that there would be no middle class just rich and poor. also if someone provides you a home you live where they tell you if some one provides you food you eat what they tell you


and if someone provides you health care well you get the point.


to all you young folks open your minds really take a look





freedom is being free of govt. interference
Reply:"...remember in this country poverty is a choice"





I have never read anything so dumb in my entire life. I could write several pages explaining why you are wrong, but since you have this insane opinion anyway, I wouldn't change your mind. I will glady debunk this claim if anyone wishes me to do so...
Reply:Bleeding Heart:





A term, usually critical, for someone who is held to be overly sympathetic to another person's (or group of people's) plight. Wikipedia definition....








American Liberalism:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_li...
Reply:it means democrat
Reply:It means they think with their emotions and they are way to soft on criminals and other things they shouldn't be soft on (border security, national security etc;)