Analysis: Democrats turn left on social issues, widening chasm with GOP (media get it right)

Kansas City Star ^ | September 5, 2012 | DAVID LIGHTMAN AND WILLIAM DOUGLAS

[NYer]

Democrats staked out unmistakably liberal positions on some of the nation's most volatile social issues Tuesday, notably abortion and gay marriage, planting the party as firmly on the political left as Republicans are on the political right.

The differences are vividly reflected in the two parties' platforms. For years, platforms strived to be lofty and gentle, brushing aside any hint of extremes while couching controversial positions in language carefully crafted not to offend swing voters.

Not anymore. The Democratic platform lights a fire from the start, fans the flames and urges votes to pick sides.

"This election is not simply a choice between two candidates or two political parties," it says, "but between two fundamentally different paths for our country and our families." Republicans at least agree on that much.

The firefight reflects two significant trends: Both parties see 2012 as a "turnout election," where getting out the faithful could mean the difference, and both parties' ideological wings are now firmly in control.

"The platform is most important to Democratic Party activists more, and feminists," said John Green, a senior fellow with the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. "For the Democratic activists, these issues are a plus. If you look at the Democratic Party voter, there are some constituencies that care about these issues, particularly women."

So, too, with Republicans, whose strong opposition to abortion and gay marriage is a surefire base-motivator.

Neither stance is particularly new or surprising, but some of the details and tough language are. Since the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which permitted abortion in most cases, the Democratic Party has supported the ruling.

[Cyber Liberty]

... both parties' ideological wings are now firmly in control.

Oh Really?

[GeorgeWashingtonsGhost]

And people wonder why there’s so much ‘divisiveness’ in Congress.. It’s because Democrats have ceased to be AMERICANS. They are SOCIALISTS at a minimum and under our Constitution are enemies of the State. Why is this allowed? Because a black man is their front man and he’s immune from prosecution, let alone criticism. The hardcore socialist, communist, Fascist and Marxist RATS didn’t come out of the woodwork until the a black man SHIELDED BY A RACE CARD became their front man. They’re all protected by his giant umbrella.

[Yashcheritsiy]

Well, since the GOP nominee is to the Left on abortion, the Dems can move out that much further.

[EQAndyBuzz]

” They are SOCIALISTS at a minimum and under our Constitution are enemies of the State. Why is this allowed?”

Because Bush senior didn’t finish the job Reagan started.

[Antoninus]

This is so predictable. The Republicans go "moderate" so the Democrats go even harder left. The result? The entire political spectrum gets pulled farther left. Notice it never works in the opposite direction.

I'm beginning to think that our entire national electoral process is not so much about choosing our leaders anymore but about brainwashing people into accepting socialism.

[sickoflibs]

That way if Obama loses the clueless liberal masses who believe MSNBC will really believe that Hitler took the WH and we are forced back to the dark ages, which would be just before Obama took office in their view.

“We wont go back”

Expect massive protests...and Romney caving.

[VRW Conspirator]

The entire political spectrum gets pulled farther left. Notice it never works in the opposite direction.

Thus, the ratchet effect, as coined by Margaret Thatcher

[Antoninus]

Expect massive protests...and Romney caving.

Exactly. That's how he rolled in MA.