Lincoln better represented the values that 'Democrats' would espouse later.

Okay. This is a good illustration of why I'm having trouble with the label making.

Lincoln was no saint. Especially on racial issues.

In his debate with Steven Douglas in 1858 he said, "I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."

Lincoln was also a proponent of resettlement--returning American blacks to Africa. In 1860 he said, "In the language of Mr. Jefferson, uttered many years ago, 'It is still in our power to direct the process of emancipation, and deportation, peaceably..."

And then there's the Corwin Amendment. It was on track to become the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and it said, "No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State." In other words, states that wanted to could keep slavery. Lincoln mentioned the proposed amendment in his first inaugural address in 1861. He said that he had "no objection to its being made express and irrevocable." So Lincoln would have allowed slavery to continue, if that would have averted the Civil War.

And then later, when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, it didn't free all slaves. Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Delaware, and parts of other slave states were exempted--he allowed slavery to continue there.

Finally, in 1865, shortly before his death, Lincoln met with Gen. Benjamin F Butler, who said that Lincoln talked to him about "exporting" blacks, using the U.S. navy, to export them to some "fertile" place.

Lincoln was a Republican, but now the Democrats want to claim him as one of their own. I don't see where having Lincoln on your side isn't a plus.