What will happen to the Democratic Party?

[manu1959]

nobody likes rich guys pretending to understand them and claiming they know what is best for them.....

 

[Mr. P]

nobody likes rich guys pretending to understand them and claiming they know what is best for them.....

Hey, I don't like anyone "pretending"
to understand and claiming they know what is best for me. Do you?

 

[KarlMarx]

The reasons that so many people embraced Bush:

1. Security
2. Values
3. Economics

I've talked about security and economics, but let me say something about values.....

1. In 11 states, amendments to ban gay marriage were proposed and accepted by the electorate by huge margins, often in excess of 70-80% in favor of the ban even in blue states e.g. Oregon.
2. While many people may accept "a woman's right to choose" most do not think partial birth abortion is acceptable, in fact many think of it as infanticide or murder. (In fact the only thing protecting a doctor performing a partial birth abortion from a first degree murder charge is about 3 or 4 inches of the mother's birth canal).

The problem with the Democrats is that they identified with these two issues and, while trying to come across as being against them in order to appeal to voters, they tried at the same time to appeal to their gay and feminist constituencies (which were funding their campaigns). They couldn't have it both ways and the voters were not fooled.

Furthermore, the gays and feminists are trying to pass off these two issues on the rest of us in the guise of "civil rights" and it isn't working. Why?

Civil Rights in the 1960s addressed the problem of people being denied economic opportunities (e.g. the ability to make a decent living and taking part in the prosperity offered by a free market economy) and being denied access to the political process and equal rights under the law simply because of their race.

The women's movement also addressed these same issues (at least at first).

Americans are sympathetic with these causes, after all America was founded on liberty, equal justice and equal opportunity for all. Civil rights for minorities and opening the doors of opportunity then, was just extending the principles that this nation was founded on to minorities and women. However, society was not being altered in any fundamental way.

Gay marriage and partial birth abortion have nothing to do with people being denied equal opportunity, equal protection under the law or equal access to the political process. They are about issues that involve morality, which transcend political and economic considerations.

The gays and radical feminists are trying to re-invent society and most voters sense that. They are not swayed by the arguments that are being presented by these group that their issues have anything to do with rights (at least not in the sense that the Civil Rights movement did), access to the political process or economic opportunity.

Furthermore, voters saw through the facade of candidates that didn't have firm positions against these two issues. They assumed (and rightfully so) that the wishy-washy candidates were actually in favor of them and refused to elect them into office.

Bottom line: As Abe Lincoln once said "you can't fool all the people all the time", the Democratic Party has to be honest with the American voter as to what it stands for. No more wishy washy flip flops, trying to be one thing to the radical branch of its party and the exact opposite to the rest of us. In addition, the Democratic Party must embrace the values of main stream Americans and abandon radical socialist dogma in order for it to remain viable. Otherwise, it will become more marginalized in the American political system.

 

[manu1959]

Hey, I don't like anyone "pretending"
to understand and claiming they know what is best for me. Do you?

nope but rich dudes that claim to understand but have never been "poor" are the worst

 

[Eightball]

Just tune into an Air America station and you'll get a taste of the liberal mental state at this time. They're somber, but they're still in denial. You wouldn't believe the things they're say..........such as Al Franken..........."four more years in the dark ages". "Voter disenfranchisement by the Repubs. caused Kerry's loss."

They are strong ideologues........They won't go away quietly. The minute the conservatives relax, they/Libs will grab the slack and be a thorn in the flesh.

Regards, Eightballsidepocket

 

[Zhukov]

Some people on DU are actually complaining Kerry wasn't liberal enough.....

 

[MtnBiker]

nobody likes rich guys pretending to understand them and claiming they know what is best for them.....

No kidding, any bets that we will not see Kerry in that brown canvas coat again?

 

[musicman]

No kidding, any bets that we will not see Kerry in that brown canvas coat again?

Sure we will - the next time he comes to Ohio to "get him a huntin' license"!

 

[Jimmyeatworld]

Some people on DU are actually complaining Kerry wasn't liberal enough.....

Holy God! Was he not horse faced enough either? Maybe they'll want to nominate Phil Donahue in '08. Can't get much more Liberal than that.