Just for clarity: progressives and hardcore liberals are not the base of the Democratic Party.

[WilliamPitt]

Women voters, African American voters, Hispanic and Latino voters, teachers and other union voters are the base of the Democratic Party. Have been for decades.

We are what you'd call the "activist base," but we ain't the base. The true base of the Democratic Party outnumbers us 10-1, but even if they didn't, the party wouldn't cater to us. Why? Because we are very nearly impossible to hold together as a coalition. We are, for the most part, the purists, and we bolt when we get disappointed. The aforementioned groups are far easier to hold together, they are far more dependable as Democratic voters, and thus are the base of the party.

This probably won't be a popular statement here, but so be it. I've seen ten dozen posts warning the Democratic Party about "pissing off the base," mneaning progressives and serious liberals, but that ain't the base of the party.

I'm not saying we're wrong - on Afghanistan, bank bailouts, health care "reform" and many other issues, we're exactly goddam right - but we are not the base of the party.

My 2 cents.

[fishnfla]

1. So when progressives say 'we put Obama in the WH he should only

do everything we want' (loose paraphrase of Ed Schultz) Thats not exactly true

If you had to pick one group most responsible for the election of BO ( I know thats a false choice because its a broad coalition) But just for arguments sake pick one group who would it be?

In my opinion it was Independents who swayed the election

[WilliamPitt]

2. Women

If women were not allowed to vote, the GOP would be the left-wing party in America and the Democrats wouldn't ever win an election again.

[fishnfla]

4. is that why you stare at their boobs?

:P:

[WilliamPitt]

11. Long life, good health.

Mmmm. ;)

[berni_mccoy]

26. We didn't elect a President to be a puppet to a mob.

We elected him for what he would do, in his own way of doing it. But many here aren't satisfied unless Obama speaks and acts exactly as they would want him to.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Two-thirds of Americans in favor of Medicare for All

It's not the provenance of just the "looney left".

Most Americans are in favor of most other Liberal causes if presented correctly.

[Barack_America]

6. It's not about who wants what, it's about who will actually bolt if they don't get it.

[Echo In Light]

7. +1 - disinformation is the key

[JamesA1102]

12. In what poll? nt

[Echo In Light]

Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7193764

[dmallind]

24. And the follow up of "how do we pay for it" turns many of them away.

Such surveys are borderline useless. They do not poll on a specific policy along with details on what else it will mean to GET Medicare for all. They only ask about some positive or positive-sounding ideal and say "do you want this?". Only political junkies on the other side of the aisle will ever say no.

To pre-empt the predictable personal assault, I not only favor Medicare for all, but Medicare-without-the-gaps for all. I know it can be paid for in savings from insurance industry overhead, medical facility duplication, fraud, and the economic retardant effects of not having guaranteed health care for would be entrepreneurs and for new hires to companies deciding whether they can afford them, combined with actually a quite slight net tax increase on wealthy folks (all workers above low incomes would get a tax increase, but this would be balanced against not paying premiums etc. Most would win). I'm not the problem - definitely not on this issue. But to pretend that these surveys would hold true once the political fight begins is silly.

[Echo In Light]

27. Only 'turns them away' b/c it forces them to actually think about something other than the usual

Couple that w/the M$M instructing them on which views are acceptable or not, and there ya go, mission accomplished.

[MannyGoldstein]

34. It Simply Needs To Be Addressed Properly

Here's Al Franken getting through to a bunch of teabaggers: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6463427

If you ask people if they want to "send your children to be murdered", they'd be against war, too. But somehow Obama explained himself pretty well the other night.

I don't think Obama has a problem with explaining things well and forcefully. When he wants to. If Franken can do it, Obama could have too.

[Warren Stupidity]

72. not in any discussion I've ever had

the question is answered with the straight forward: increase the medicare portion of FICA split 50/50 employer/employee to cover the costs. Usually that is met with: 'oh'.

[shadesofgray]

5. I'm a woman. And I"m a hardcore liberal. Most of the women I know are hardcore liberals.

So how can we both the "base" and NOT the "base"?

[fishnfla]

9. welcome to DU

can you clarify your question it seeems to be missing a word

:hi:

edit and i was missing a letter

[JamesA1102]

10. Which means you're in a bubble.

You're assume just because you and you're friends think one way that all women must think that way too. Not unusual since like minded people will always gravitate together. However, the average woman in this country is probably far less liberal than you and your friends. And they probably outnumber you as well.

[KittyWampus]

21. I think many women and Americans might actually agree with Progressive policies

but are wary of change especially considering the misinformation constantly being spread by the Corporate Media and Republicans.

And because of that, I myself advocate for gradual change despite being aligned with Social Democrats (in European sense).

[JamesA1102]

59. Very good point nt

[Peace Patriot]

25. Yeah, that was my thought, too. Also re the other groups mentioned.

Most labor union members, African-Americans, Latino/Latina-Americans and I would also say most middle-class professionals (teachers, nurses, government workers, computer programmers, etc), as well as most poor and very poor people are progressives ranging to "hard liberal". "Hard liberal " is not a great term, but I think it means belief in collective, government-organized solutions, such as Social Security and Medicare, strong government regulation of corporate sharks, environment and safety, are by and large socially very tolerant and want world peace. This is the group of 55% to 60% in polls leading up to the Iraq War (Feb 03) who opposed that war. On the whole, they are not anti-military, and not necessarily anti-war; they are for judicious, last resort use of the military. Half of that 55% to 60% majority in the Feb 03 polls were against the Iraq War outright; the other half would agree if it were a UN peacekeeping mission (didn't trust Bush/Cheney; wanted international consensus).

So I don't understand Will's distinction here, between "progressives and hard liberals" and the Democratic base (women, African-Americans, etc.). They are the same people!

[laughingliberal]

64. Good analysis. My hot button issues tend to be those that affect working class people

Not sure I know of policies friendly to the working class which would not also appeal to most of the coalition mentioned in the OP.

[pipi_k]

53. I guess this is the thing I have trouble with...

People who identify themselves as being all or nothing on a whole slew of issues.


I'm a female...57 years old.

I'm Liberal on some issues...less Liberal on others. Smack dab in the middle on some issues, and even a bit right of center on still other issues.

I don't know if that's good or bad...it's just how I feel.


I do vote for the (D) except for one instance in a local election where the Democrat sounded more RW than the Republican did.


"Progressives" and "Hardcore Liberals" might be the base, but you guys aren't going to get anyone elected all by your lonesomes.

[onenote]

58. the fact that most of the women you know are "hardcore liberals" doesn't make most women hardcore

liberals.

I would hope you realized that.

[Warren Stupidity]

80. yes that is true and it illustrates just what is bullshitty about the OP

The OP, without bothering with actual data, merely implies that progressives and liberals are a disjoint set from women, african americans, hispanics, and union members. It is thumb-in-the-eye-get-a-pony Pitt mode.

[BeFree]

8. yep

Not the base, more like the point, The leading point.

It will take years, but the party always gets to stand where we are today.
All the good things we have now were first championed by our liberal, purists, progressive forebearers.

[WilliamPitt]

14. No doubt

Even in the GOP, that's true. Remember that the abolitionists within the Republican party were called "radicals" in their day. How'd that all work out again?

:toast:

[BeFree]

37. It is politics

we didn't invent it, we just insert ourselves into it. we're just people, like other people except that we are more liberal and progressive minded.

[spanone]

13. i have to constantly remind myself that here on du

[elocs]

15. Just because Americans believe in some progressive principles

does not mean that they identify themselves overall as progressives or hardcore liberals. We make a mistake in wondering how the majority of Americans could not agree with all of our beliefs and not want to be included in our group.

I think the truth is that the majority of Americans are really in the middle of the political spectrum, agreeing with one side or the other depending upon the issue and they vote accordingly. Both Democrats and Republicans make the mistake of wanting to place a brand on those people and put them into their corral. We would do well to find the issue which makes that number swing Democratic and try and hold on to them long enough until they may start to actually identify themselves as being Democrats.

[KittyWampus]

16. That's All I'm Saying. And I AGREE With the "Far Left" Progressives here on goals most of the time

But I understand political reality and disagree with strategy.

[fishnfla]

17. I am in a paraphrasing mood

" Democratic underground is a fringe, left wing, hardcore liberal progressive site"

Lets purge the (fill in the blank).

Think we will ever see the day? NOT!

[5X]

18. I wonder about the liberal use of 'we' in your post. n/t

[nevergiveup]

19. The Big Picture

You speak the truth and when it gets down to the nitty gritty Barack Obama's success will ride on the economy/jobs. If he can turn the jobs numbers and restore the economy to some resemblance of sanity he will hold and expand the base and be re-elected comfortably regardless of how unhappy we purists are. Afghanistan, although a festering sore, has never been nor will it ever be another Vietnam. The dynamics are not there.

[fishnfla]

20. correct

its the economy, stupid

but progressives are upset with BO on a number if issues, not just Afghanistan

[MrScorpio]

22. Preach it! nt

[NightWatcher]

23. would you agree that the "activist base" did a lot of the heavy lifting that put Obama in office?

Sure, most of the women, African Americans, and others you call the base voted for Obama, but who got him to that point?

Who got him through the Primaries?

I'm tired of doing the heavylifting while getting nothing in return.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. If I remember correctly,

there was quite a lot of complaining among progressives that both Obama and Clinton were too middle-of-the-road, and that neither was very satisfactory. Progressives were mainly behind Kucinich and Edwards, at least at the beginning. I'm not sure it's accurate to say that it was progressives that got Obama the nomination; more that it was party activists, not all of whom could be labeled "progressive." Obama never campaigned as a progressive; he was always clearly a center-left candidate, not much different from Hillary.

[WilliamPitt]

30. Not more than the actual base

Everyone did a lot, but I wouldn't say that the real base was out-worked by the activist base. Everyone pitched in, along with groups like younger voters who haven't played a large role for a long time.

[onenote]

60. i would say that a lot african americans, women, and others did heavy lifting

I would say that a lot of non-activist types who previously hadn't been that interested in politics did a lot of heavy lifting. I would say that its a long line of people of which the "activist base" was only one part and not dominant over the others.

[treestar]

83. If you want something in return

Your motives are just a little strange. And you'd need to focus on local and congressional elections even more than the Presidency.

If you want something specific in return, how are you better than the corporations you most likely decry?

[WillyT]

29. You Are Correct, They Are Not The "Base"... But Historically They've Been The Leaders...

After all, the Union Movement, Women's Movement, Civil Rights Movement and all the rest are essentially Progressive/Liberal Movements which came to be represented politically by the Democratic Party.

And folks who agreed with those revolutionary (at the time) movements tended to join, or at least vote for, the Democratic candidates.

No???

:shrug:

[WilliamPitt]

31. See post 14

:toast:

[Umbral]

32. So the people the Democrats have been shitting on, for decades, are the base of party?

Well at least I don't feel so alone now.

[seeinfweggos]

82. you mean republicans, right?

are did you get lost on your way to fr?

[AllentownJake]

33. You would think if that was true

That Stupak would have never made it to the house floor and the Employee free choice act would have been past in March. Arne Duncan would be fired and there would be more relief for American cities.

Name a "base group" and Obama has slapped them in the face.

[freddie mertz]

73. You got THAT right! It doesn't even matter to me WHO is the base is...

What matters is doing the right thing, and that means standing for at least some of the core principles of the party.

I never expected a Messiah, indeed, during the campaign, I came to the conclusion that in strictly policy terms, Obama was a Centrist Democrat at best.

But I did put some hope in the possibility that he might bring in a new generation of socially responsible and creative advisors, and use his gifts as an orator to lead and push forward on the most important issues of the day.

It is in those very terms that I think he has proven most disappointing, and I would not be surprised to see him lose a significant portion of his younger, new voter face to the :business as usual" reality he has been delivering so far.

[Kitty Herder]

105. You're so right.

[UTUSN]

35. Wow. Sounds like what some of us said in this other thread:

**********QUOTE********

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7204330

14. Without VOTING, there is no base. I was going to say: Minorities, low income, and Edited on
unions, and those needing social justice, and civil liberties advocates, etc., etc.

But the bottom line is that if somebody fits in any of those categories and does not VOTE to get the party that is BETTER in those issues into power, how can they be part of the base?!1

It is KNOWN that if everybody in those categories voted, there would not EXIST any Rethug officeholder anywhere.

And it is KNOWN that, for example, the large majority of Hispanics and probably the large majority of Gays don't vote at all.

And, if I'm not deep enough in trouble yet, I will add that those who are "cafeteria supporters"--yes, purists---who are always threatening to leave for a third party or to sit out elections or even vote for Rethugs------are also not "the base."

********UNQUOTE********

[Sapphocrat]

61. In case you miss it...

...here's my reply to you in that thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7204330#7211354

You are so wildly off the mark on gay voters... you have no idea.

[DireStrike]

36. So then why are women, teachers, and union voters being ignored?

It can be argued as to whether women as a bloc support freedom as opposed to anti-abortion. However, union voters are surely being pissed off by the Democratic Party's policy stances, and many teachers as well.

[Warren Stupidity]

90. 'cause they ain't 'da base' either

obviously.

[messiah]

38. The base of the Democratic Party are mostly

misinformed people who get their news (if any) from corporate sources.
Obama could go to the right of George W. Bush and Democrats would still have a favorable rating of Obama.

[Tippy]

39. K&R...This says it all....

"we bolt when we get disappointed"

The need to blame others for our misery makes many feel they are doing their part to "change" things.

[branders seine]

40. even if you were right, which you are not--entirely--

no activists = no turnout = no election wins.

Obama and his corporate democrat buddies have screwed the pooch.

[WilliamPitt]

42. Union volunteers do a lot of the turnout work

Especially in the big eastern cities where we need to win.

[JVS]

44. Union volunteers are liberal activists. Union members are not the same as union volunteers.

[branders seine]

46. My other union buddies and I are done with our "activism."

Slave labor is one thing, but slave labor in the service of those who aggressively pursue an agenda against your interests is idiocy.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

41. It's ironical that the RW of the party simultaneously hold us to be both irrelevant and a danger.

[WillyT]

45. Exactly !!!

"Where else are they gonna go?" vs. "If you stay home the Repulicans win!!!"

Wish I could rec your reply!

:applause:

[kentuck]

43. I think it was 20% of Americans in the latest poll called themselves "liberal"?

And something like 35% called themselves "independents". I think 20% would be a conservative number, considering how the word "liberal" has been demonized over the last 40 years. Also, many in the groups that you mention would categorize themselves as "progressives" before they would label themselves by their race or profession. Also, many folks are afraid to admit they are "liberals". Especially a large percentage of those that call themselves "independent".

[kenny blankenship]

47. Like there aren't liberal-progressives among your list of Democratic constituencies

How paternalistic of you.

[WilliamPitt]

50. (facepalm)

[kenny blankenship]

51. You're busted. L Wolf told you off exactly right in #49

[spoony]

54. Exactly, he's drawing lines where they don't exist

and assuming that those groups aren't progressive!

[oldlib]

48. I'll stay with the Democrats

Although I am disappointed with the lack of support for liberal issues, the alternative is unthinkable.

[LWolf]

49. To clarify:

I am left of most of the party. I vote.

Yet I am also the base.

I am a woman. I vote.

I am a teacher. I vote.

And I am pissed off on all three counts.

As a left-of-center voter, I'm furious at the right-of-center policies coming from the WH and from Democrats in Congress.

As a woman, I am appalled at the current direction health care is taking.

As a teacher, I consider the Obama/Duncan escalation of privatization and union-busting to be a blatant attack against public education and against my profession.

Pissed?

What I feel about the current activities of the DEMOCRATS I voted for make my anger at the 2000 selection, at GWB, seem mild in comparison.

And it wasn't mild.

[Kitty Herder]

104. Hear, hear!!

[mmonk]

52. My 2 cents. I've never bolted.

We've been the ones that write the party platforms. We've been the ones attending precinct, district, and state conventions. We've been the ones going door to door. We've been the ones manning the precincts. We've been the ones cutting personal checks. African American support, Union support, Hispanic support, and other wider groupings you've mentioned have fluctuated in by gone years. However, in recent years, I've been lectured plenty on how marginal our worth has been. Do people really want to find how much?

[Iggo]

55. I've seen a couple of threads like this one this morning.

It ain't indies. It ain't libs. It ain't progressives.

Am I to understand that there IS no base?

[Warren Stupidity]

69. base=kleptocorp leadership says "do this".

Pitt should ashamed for jumping on this bandwagon with his not-new or original theory that women/blacks/latinos/unions are separate from progressives. Divide and marginalize! Yeah!

edit: sp. kelptocorp? the seaweed mafia is to be feared!

[laughingliberal]

74. That's what Rahm thinks

He contends there is no base and the focus should be on campaign contributions. That is the philosophy behind some of the very confusing lack of attention to some issues from this administration.

[cliffordu]

56. I believe you are correct, WilliamPitt.

[onenote]

57. +a really big number

[quiller4]

62. I don't bolt. I'm a female senior who is a dependable Democratic voter

I've never voted for a third party candidate. I've never suported a challenger to a Democratic incumbent. I've held party office at the district and county office. I'm a Labor Democrat who never shops at WallMart. I try to give all my business to union shops. Throughout most of my work life I was a union member. My husband retired early on a Teamster pension. For years we were union political coordinators. I've missed only one special election since I first registered to vote in 1971. I'm not pissed off. I support the 50 state strategy and I have no problem with Blue Dogs since I see the alternative to working with Blue Dogs in the Democratic Caucus as being in a permanent minority. That may put me at odds with many on this board but I think it establishes my base creds.

[Davis_X_Machina]

63. Not what I would expect to hear from correctly-oriented party cadres.

Re-education is in order.

[ecstatic]

65. I am a hardcore liberal AND part of the base

for the reasons you mentioned. I am not a purist.

[rucky]

66. I'd say we have what you describe pretty well represented, here.

Women, African Americans, Hispanics, teachers, union members.

:shrug:

[Retired AF Dem]

119. I was just wondering

as a white male am I represented by the party? I'm not picking on you, other posts don't mention us either.

[rucky]

120. I'm one, too.

I think where Pitt misses the mark is that the Progressive wing of the party tends to look out for the underrepresented. Even us white males align our interests with helping those with larger struggles for equality. I think we all share a "rising tide lifts all boats" philosophy.

[madfloridian]

67. I am a woman, retired teacher, union member...and I am dubious now.

About whether any of my 3 identities matter to the Democrats.

[upi402]

95. Thank you

I know my concerns are off the table, still.

[Warren Stupidity]

68. The vast majority of self identified Democrats want single payer universal healthcare

so I guess they aren't the base either, huh?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

70. are these groups seperate? are there no women progressives, AA progresives

etc

[Warren Stupidity]

71. the bullshit is strong with this one, lioness

I think our OP just likes to poke eyes every now and then. Something about ponies.

[Hannah Bell]

75. "women" vote for dems on issues, not because they're women.

Reasons Women Supported Obama

According to Dr. Vicky Lowell, IPR's Acting Director, their research has shown that women feel more anxiety over financial burdens and their overall economic well-being than men. In women's perceptions, Obama was:

Better equipped to deal with the nation's economic ills;
Projected empathy for women's financial struggles;
Understood how hard it can be to keep a job today while caring for families;
Understood that women are more economically vulnerable than men;
Offered hope while acknowledging women's struggles.
Aware of the need for pay equity and work/life balanced policies.
In touch with the need for expanded health insurance for children.

It appeared to women that Obama was proposing concrete policy solutions to the issues that they felt were most important.

http://us-elections.suite101.com/article.cfm/obama_and_the_gender_gap.

[shadowknows69]

76. So, they don't need my vote. Got it.

[Warren Stupidity]

78. +1

and they can keep their mangy pony too.

[freddie mertz]

85. We should perhaps "test" the theory...

Then it will be "wah, they took away my pony"....

:sarcasm: :nuke: :nopity: :puke:

[Heidi]

77. We're NOT the center of the universe? Is that what you're sayin', Will?????

Good reminder that anyone at any point on the progressive spectrum would do well to remember. :thumbsup:

[shadowknows69]

79. No we're perpetually at the back of the bus or under it.

Be nice to get to drive just once.

[Swamp Rat]

81. Yes we are 'the base'...

And we are also "Women voters, African American voters, Hispanic and Latino voters, teachers and other union voters," (and a lot of other ethnicities and professions) all at the same time in one large pot of gumbo.

Obama and the Democrats need us because We feed them.

We are the rue of the gumbo, the base. :9













If I am it purist, then I'd have to say make sure the rue is dark brown. :9

[freddie mertz]

84. As I posted on another thread, re the issue of the relative "value" or progressives

"Maybe we should TEST the formula (that is, the claim that we are not the "base" and by implication, not numerically significant) and sit out the next two cycles.

No voting, no donations, no phone-banking, no rides to the polls, nothing.

I've voted Dem in every election since 1972.

We have a raving RW lunatic running for Senate in PA next time against Specter or Sestak. It may well be a close election.

But since I'm "not the base" and have shown myself to be a "back-stabber" and "wanting a pony" for speaking up on some issues, maybe I'll just sit this one out then.

Sheesh."

[Warren Stupidity]

88. pony stabber!

[freddie mertz]

91. LOL! That's a great one! nt.

[EFerrari]

86. Who is this "we", kimosabe?

[Warren Stupidity]

89. .

[leftstreet]

87. Teh Message Discipline IT BURNS !!!11!!!! n/t

[depakid]

92. When progressive positions on the issues poll at substantial majorities

which sometimes run in the 65% + range- I'd say those positions (rather than groups) define the base... and bucking those positions in search of some ephemeral "center" or in return for bribes campaign contributions is what alienates the base, and causes the party to lose.

Simple lesson- apparently hard to learn.

[David Zephyr]

93. Painful, but every word is true.

It's almost always been like this except in 1972.

Psst: You are not supposed to empower the bigger base with the knowledge that they are the base, and you shouldn't tell the activist base that we are not the base, William.

I mean when my Jerry Brown fellow troops were outgunned by Bill Clinton and the DLC in the New York primary by the their apparatchiks in 1992, and then nearly gagged and tied at the DNC at Madison Square Garden that summer in the convention hall, it was a truly painful experience. We were right on all the issues, and smug as we hovered at the get together sponsored by The Nation in the Village, but Bill had the numbers.

That said, 1972 was glorious to me even though we were creamed in November.

Now, stop telling tales out of school.:hippie:

[Kitty Herder]

103. It's only true if the people he calls the base don't count as progressives or the activist base.

The majority of the population--women, people of color and union workers--aren't a special interest. And your "activist base" is made up of that majority.

[Mithreal]

94. insipid

[HughMoran]

96. I think you're just about right

No point in arguing over minor details as you're close enough for horseshoes (and hand-grenades :) ).

I do think that the hardcore people on the left generate the bulk of the good ideas though. Based on the reporting of the MSM, it also seems like we get more attention per capita than any other faction of the Democratic party. It takes a real master to be able to merge the idealism of the more pure on the left with the bread-and-butter reality of the real "base" & combine that with the reality that we have limited resources in this country and you have a Democratic President. It's too bad that the majority here on DU can't see how masterful Barack Obama is at extracting the most from what he has been given to work with.

[EFerrari]

99. My good brother William forgets that DU has a majority of women members

iirc from the last poll, and that many of us fit into one or more of these categories. I'm in three:

"Women voters, African American voters, Hispanic and Latino voters, teachers and other union voters are the base of the Democratic Party. Have been for decades."

We are the base. :)

/oops

[HughMoran]

116. Thinking that his list was an exclusive list (i.e., exclusive of any DU members), is ridiculous

/oops on you for being self-centered and missing the point.

I hope you're just being silly. :silly:

[EFerrari]

117. The /oops is always on me.

It's shorthand for "missed a typo" and not directed at Will.

[HughMoran]

118. Well, I liked it

So I used it in a sentence :P

[omega minimo]

97. That's not clarity

There's a lot more to it than that.

[MilesColtrane]

98. "we are very nearly impossible to hold together as a coalition"

And, it's always been that way.

See my sig line.

[Union Yes]

100. We're the spine, ovaries, and "the pair" of the Dem Party. nt

[Kitty Herder]

101. Your "we" doesn't include me.

It doesn't include the majority of progressives and "hardcore liberals."

If we assume that the demographics of progressives as a group mirrors that of the general population, then at least half of it is women. Add men of color and male union members and it becomes obvious that majority of progressives are not included in your "we." My guess is that the demographics do not mirror the general population and that those groups are overrepresented among progressives.

Perhaps you spend your time with other non-union, white men and that is why you don't see "women voters, African American voters, Hispanic and Latino voters, teachers and other union voters" as progressives and hardcore liberals. They're the only progressives you spend time with. Perhaps when you read posts here at DU, you imagine the posters to be white men like yourself. That's not the case.

[TexasObserver]

102. Recommend

[Juche]

106. Actually, we are the base

Liberals, as defined by PEW, make up about 19% of the electorate.

The other 2 aspects of the democratic party consist of non-white voters (blacks, latinos, asians, etc) and union voters.

But liberals and unions are the true activists. They/we donate and raise much of the money, do much of the volunteer work, write most of the letters, etc.

By liberals I'm not just talking about us, I'm talking about wealthy liberals too.

[tkmorris]

107. This govt aint serving those people either

They are just gonna be a little slower figuring that out. They should REALLY start getting it right around Sept-Oct 2010 I figure.

[yurbud]

108. you think unions aren't progressive? or women? Are you dishonest or willfully ignorant?

[Major Hogwash]

109. And to think, all along for the last 3½ decades, I thought I was a part of the base

Well, it's good to find out now that I'm not responsible for any of the shit that is going on in Washington these days because every fucking time I voted for the last 35 years, one would have thought it would have added up to more than a fucking meaningless campaign slogan!!!!

Yes, we can.

Yeah, right.

[yurbud]

110. have you read any African American columnists lately? I can think of a half dozen who have said

Obama has veered too far to the right.

[yurbud]

111. how do you know that the people here don't belong to those groups? Do you think only

upper middle class limousine liberals come here? My wife is a Latino elementary school teacher and I'm a part time community college instructor who didn't get health insurance through my job until I was over 40. We are progressive as a matter of our family's survival more than ideology.

If the free market bullshit worked, I would not even be interested it politics. But the wealthy have have knocked us down, stole our lunch, and rubbed our face in dogshit to the point that we have to fight back. That's why I'm progressive, not because I had some beret wearing Maoist professor in college.

[cornermouse]

112. Watching, I've come to the conclusion recently that the only

people who qualify as the "base of the party" are a core group on Capitol Hill in D.C. and a bunch of major corporate entities who are considering donating big bucks to political parties. I've voted democratic every election for the last 25 years. I'm tired of seeing the recent legislation that is basically, at best, dedicated towards looking good rather than doing good. I'm tired of seeing the major corporations getting bailed out while we get what for healthcare? I'm tired of spending money in the mideast rather than here where it is needed so badly. I'm tired of being ignored at best or more normally slapped down by those in power. I'm tired of being attacked on DU for not being part of the adoring "in-group" because I choose to take a reality based look at the effects of legislation that is being cobbled together. I'm tired.

[Mithreal]

113. Bush knew his base and Obama knows his.

I worry they may be one in the same when DU'ers try to tell me we are not part of the base.

Get some rest so you can stay healthy in mind and body. We'll be here.

[gleaner]

114. We are not the ...

entire base. As you point out the Democrats are a party of diversity with many different points of views inclusive of numerous demographic bases. Progressives are however, a part of the base. And we are entitled to refer to ourselves in that way. One thing you didn't point out is that Progressives or Liberals or however we are labeled are more likely to volunteer, to campaign on our own dimes, make phone calls to persuade others to participate in elections, write letters and circulate petitions and do all of the scut work that candidates need done but don't want to pay to have done.

We are in that way an asset, and if we don't put out then the more the larger majority has to, and as you say, they are more complacent and less likely to take action if they are displeased. So who is going to volunteer if we don't? Who is going to help those candidates we don't like get elected? Sure, they can hire people but I thought the point was to use as much volunteer labor as they could and save the money for advertising, stumping and other necessaries.

The disaffection I feel for this administration is more than being "pissed off." They catered to my values and then sold me out. I'm not with them anymore. I'm shopping the Democratic primaries in 2010 and 2012 and I'm going to put my efforts time and any pittances I can contribute someplace else. If I had wanted a Republican dominated slant to the government I would have voted for McCain. I won't vote for a conservative, ever, but I'm not going for any more of this crap either.

[FlaGranny]

115. I have to agree with you -

I usually do. Not many have worked harder than you for progressive causes.

Some folks in this thread have mentioned that when most people are asked questions about actual policies, they fall on the liberal side, and I totally agree, but one thing that must be remembered is the WAY Republicans run for office. Their main issue is always scaring people that Democrats will raise their taxes and the rest of their platform always SOUNDS progressive. They know that the majority of Americans fall on the progressive side of issues and they know they are afraid their taxes will be raised so high that they'll not be able to keep up. That's the winning formula for Republicans. I just can't understand why more people can't see that they NEVER deliver on either.

[H2O Man]

121. True.

I agree. I think that many of those groups that you correctly mention as "the base" are liberal, and some are progressives. Still, the liberal and progressive wing of the Democratic Party is not "the base." However, when we study the history of politics in recent decades, we see that the liberal and progressive wing can determine which candidate goes to the White House, or the dog house. The same dynamics come into play in Senate and House races.

[Cleita]

122. Back in my day, the women voters, the AA, Hispanos and unions, especially

the unions were the base and they were very liberal. So I have to disagree with you and our platform, which you are now calling purists was the platform of the Democratic Party. Whom do you think got social democrats like Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and even Eisenhower, who would be regarding a left wing loonie today, get elected? Eisenhower only won because he promised to end the Korean War and as soon as he served his terms, he was replaced by another liberal Democrat.

[Marr]

123. Well, who do you think "we" are here, anyway?

As a union member with several teachers in the family, I can tell you that just about everyone I know from those groups feels completely betrayed and/or ignored by the Democratic Party.

[WT Fuheck]

124. Good.

Then those backstabbing bastards won't miss my vote in 2010 and 2012.