The Incredible Shrinking Democratic Party.

[Skwmom]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-a-palermo/the-incredible-shrinking-_7_b_6228744.html

I don't agree with the end about the Democratic Party moving to the center. Center, far left, etc are just misleading labels.

A "center" Democrat is nothing more than a "Corporate" Democrat.

If the goal is to destroy the Democratic Party, they are doing a bang up job of it.

Note: This is a 2014 article but definitely worth a read.

[djean111]

1. I see that, just reading DU this morning, anyone who does not support Hillary is not really a

Democrat.
Anyone who does not support Hillary is a fringe leftist, a tea-bagger, a RW troll, whatever.
Yes, the Democratic Party is shrinking, and that is the DNC's fault.

[Skwmom]

2. A fringe leftist is anyone who is for the 99%. n/t

[cascadiance]

3. The Democratic Party base now may actually be growing, but that shouldn't be misinterpreted...

... in to believing that the party is turning the corner yet in terms of its power structure being accepted and wanted by a large chunk of American voters with the growing Democratic base. It is more of a factor of independent Bernie Sanders entering the race, and many states people needing to be registered Democrats to vote for him in the primaries where their vote is critical.

Now what would be a very interesting study to analyze whether the party itself is what draws voters to it, or someone like Bernie running in the primaries is drawing people to it (along with the two party system minus something like instant runoff voting) would be to study the rates of people becoming registered Democrats or leaving the party state by state and comparing the open primary states (like Washington, California, and Louisiana) statistics with those that aren't.

If it is shown that the open primary states are staying stagnant or losing party members, and the closed primary states are growing party membership, then clearly people are becoming Democrats more now to vote for Bernie in my book, rather than endorsing what the current party leadership as exemplified by the actions of the DNC, etc. is doing. My bet is that this would be the case, since I do believe so many of us who are staying or becoming Democrats now are doing so to get Bernie in to revolutionize our system, not because we swallow what the DNC and other party leadership is throwing at us.

[SonderWoman]

4. This Democratic party is the most liberal in history.

Especially after the purge of dixiecrats. The "moving to the right" meme is a myth.

[cali]

5. that may be true regarding social issues but it isn't true on economic issues

When both parties are as deeply in thrall to corporate and big money interests as both parties are, we are edging uncomfortably close to fascism.

[EEO]

6. Hear, Hear.

We need a president who will fight for economic justice. That is not Hillary Clinton.

[cali]

8. it actually isn't entirely that the democratic party is more liberal

on all social issues, and it sure isn't on military/defence issues.

[SonderWoman]

9. Been saying that for 70 years. Still doesn't make it true.

[cali]

10. the facts support it. period.

[Armstead]

14. We're edging uncomfortably close to institutional facism

Fusion of corporate power and state power, with democracy and individual freedom tossed into the dumpster

[Romulox]

7. "Liberal" in the sense of "gives multinational corporations free reign". nt

[whatchamacallit]

13. You're apparently living in an alternate reality

[Skwmom]

15. So liberal = corporate then? /t

[AgingAmerican]

11. "Centrists" take up positions previously held by Republicans

Right wing Democrats is a more fitting term. Corporate Democrats works too.

[Armstead]

12. THis should be required reading

Gu read my mind.

(And the end was not calling for a return to that corporate center. Just the opposite.)

[Skwmom]

16. Let me clarify. The article refers to moving to the center. I disagree with the use of the word

center. It is a misleading term. Clinton is a "Corporate Democrat" not a centrist.

[Armstead]

19. Frankly I think most people define the center as where they are

The problem is when it's misused as a label to sell something that isn't

[MaggieD]

17. Only 25% of Dems consider themselves both socially and economically liberal

http://www.gallup.com/poll/183686/democrats-shift-left.aspx

That's actually progress. But it is wrong to assume socially and economically liberal Democrats are even close to a majority. Should the party cease representing the other 75%?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. It's a label. One with many interpretations.

You have to read the ingredients before you decide to buy what's inside.