[BroJoeK]

ek_hornbeck: "The fact that J.C. Calhoun or Jefferson Davis were Democrats in the 19th century doesn't mean that their policies had anything in common with Obama's, because what defined Democrats (Democratic Republicans early in their history) and Republicans (Federalists and Whigs earlier in their history) weren't the issues the define the parties today."

Oh, my goodness, but Democrats then were exactly alike today in everything important:

1. First & foremost, they were & are opposed to the US Constitution.
   Before they called themselves "Democrats" they first went by the name "anti-Federalists", meaning those who opposed ratification of our 1787 Constitution.
   That's why in 1861 they called themselves the "Confederacy" to honor our old Articles of Confederation.
   Having lost the ratification battle in 1788, they became the "anti-Administration" party against President Washington's government.

   But Democrats never did like our Constitution and try at every possible moment to bend or corrupt it more to suit their own purposes.

2. They don't accept results of elections which go against them.
   We saw this in November 1860 and again this past election.

3. Democrats from Day One have been all about using government coercion to force you to pay for their well-being.
   Only the definitions of "you" & "they" change over time.
   In the Old Days, "you" meant African slaves while today it means... well, just about anybody who doesn't feel like a slave or otherwise "oppressed".

4. Democrats then & now harshly enforced laws they favor -- i.e., fugitive slave laws then, international "refugee" immigrants today -- and Democrats ignore laws they oppose, i.e., Jefferson's nullification & interposition theory then, and in "sanctuary cities" today.

I could go on, but that's a good start.
Anyone else want to add to it?

[ek_hornbeck]

1.First & foremost, they were & are opposed to the US Constitution. Before they called themselves "Democrats" they first went by the name "anti-Federalists", meaning those who opposed ratification of our 1787 Constitution. That's why in 1861 they called themselves the "Confederacy" to honor our old Articles of Confederation.

The Democrats opposed the US Constitution because they believed it gave the Federal Government excessive power and the States too little. In other words, they did so for exactly the opposite reasons. You can agree or disagree with Federalism, but isn't it completely dishonest of you to say that today's Democrats are "the same" as those of the 19th Century when today's oppose the Constitution because it gives the Federal Government insufficient power while those of 200 years ago thought it gave the Federal GOvernment excessive power?

I'm guessing that you understand this, but are just engaging in dishonest rhetoric to support your own position.