Josh Kraushaar writes for
National Journal. In this
column he observes that
Pew Center survey data convinced its director Andy Kohut to
write for
The Washington Post the following description of Democrats:
They are much more socially liberal than they were even a decade ago, more supportive of an activist government, more in favor of increased regulation of business.
While agreeing that Democrats and Republicans are much purer parties of the left and right respectively than they once were, Kraushaar disagrees with Kohut's description of the Obama administration as "centrist." Instead, Kraushaar demonstrates that:
On all five major issues that divide the Democratic Party's liberals and moderates—the budget deficit, income inequality, the environment, social issues, and America's role in the world—Obama is on the leftward side.
The President's positions may be undermining Democrats seeking reelection in 2014:
Obama's 2014 campaign strategy to energize the base could help turn out African-American voters in a couple of Senate battlegrounds (North Carolina, Louisiana), but it's a sign he's already given up on persuading white moderates in Republican-friendly states.
Are we headed in the direction of "tribal" parties where the GOP is the party of whites, and the Dems are the party of everybody else? Such parties are highly disruptive in third world countries.
