Since the eras of FDR and LBJ and the creation of the basic social safety net, the Democratic Party almost appears as if it has run out of causes to champion. But Republicans and a handful of conservative talk radio hosts want to dictate the complete extermination of the ideas the party at least once upheld, so through lies and intimidation, they have tricked half of the public into believing that Democrats always have been and always will be a bunch of uber-progressive "crazies."
This seems to be a relatively recent phenomenon, gaining in popularity alongside the Tea Party.
Ann Coulter has helped spread the propaganda. In a 2005 column, she said that "the only people liberals can find to put up a fight these days are ex-Klanners and other assorted nuts."
Later on in the column, she advised the party to move towards the right. "I think Democrats might want to drop the contract all Democrats apparently have to sign pledging to pretend to believe insane things. Also, if you could just get the base of your party to not participate anymore and maybe be a little less crazy, people might listen to you."
But in one of her books, Coulter blasted moderates on the right. "'Moderate Republican' is simply how the blabocracy flatters Republicans who vote with the Democrats."
Is that not just a teeny-tiny bit hypocritical? Does she or does she not want both parties to work together?
The quotes make it clear. This has developed far beyond caring about what the American people want and need. It has turned into absolute, winner-takes-all political war.
And by recently targeting public-sector unions, Republicans are trying to tear down the last bastion of support the Democrats have left (unions are very loyal to the party, consistently donating significant sums every election), and succeeding in key states like Wisconsin.
The truth is, the Democratic Party seems to just be sitting on center-left, rather than making shifts either way. Just look at the Blue Dog Coalition, for example. There are plenty of moderate Democrats willing to compromise.
But that does not matter. Corporations are targeting the Democrats, punishing them for daring to pass financial reform and universal health care, while also retroactively punishing them for creating a safety net and a few regulations here and there in the past.
Democrats and party-dissenting progressives need to look at their core issues and work together if they want to maintain any sort of presence in Washington. Maybe then, they could at least prove the conservative talking points true and actually start scaring the heck out of Republicans.
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