Political mainstream...who defines it and what is it? Is it the way the majority of Americans think? Then I would argue that the media and the liberals are way out of the political mainstream. Most Americans love conservative American family and Christian values supported by FR.
Those that have the megaphones (liberal media and much of public "education") think they're defining the political mainstream. I think right now they're just louder than the rest of us.
I don't think George Washington, John Adams or Thomas Jefferson were worried about the "political Mainstream" when they went through all they did to found our country. They did what they believed in - that's what a statesmen (v. politician) does and I think that's what FR stands for.
Of course not, they WERE the main stream...not the fringe.