The change in the Democratic party

[knkali]

For those 56ish and older.....Has the Democrat party changed in its stance on various issues that the current concept doesn't match what the party stood for in say the Mc Govern time?

[CPO15]

Yes, the D's have changed. I wish I could cite credit for this quote: "I'm convinced that the Republicans today are really Democrats, and that the Democrats are really Communists."

[JohnR]

All I remember was McGovern was the media's choice in '72 and they portrayed Nixon as evil. No different than today.

In the 1972 election, McGovern ran on a platform that advocated withdrawal from the Vietnam War in exchange for the return of American prisoners of war[12] and amnesty for draft evaders who had left the country,[13] an anti-war platform that was presaged, in 1970, by McGovern's sponsorship of the McGovern-Hatfield amendment, seeking to end U.S. participation in the war by Congressional action. However, during a meeting with Democratic Governors conference, Nevada Governor Mike O'Callaghan asked McGovern what he would do if the North Vietnamese refused to release American POW's after a withdrawal. McGovern responded, "Under such circumstances, we'd have to take action," although he did not say what action.[14]
McGovern's platform also included an across-the-board, 37% reduction in defense spending over three years;[15] and a "demogrant" program that would replace the personal income tax exemption with a $1,000 tax credit as a minimum-income floor for every citizen in America,[16] to replace the welfare bureaucracy and complicated maze of existing public-assistance programs. Its concept (a conservative one) was similar to the negative income tax long advocated by economist Milton Friedman, and by the Nixon Administration in the form of the Family Assistance Program, which called for a minimum family grant of $1,600 per year, later raised to $2,400. The personal income tax exemption later became $1000 under President Reagan. (As Senator, McGovern had previously sponsored a bill, submitted by the National Welfare Rights Organization, for $6,500 guaranteed minimum income per year to families, based on need.)[17] In addition, McGovern supported ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...ical_positions

[TheTman]

There used to be a conservative wing, called the DixieCrats, in the southern states, but they have been driven out of the party. I know a couple people from down south, that have been registered DemocRATS all their lives, that are just as conservative as my Republican friends. They don't like Obama, or many of the Democrats in office today. But can't seem to change their party affiliation. One is very pro-union though, a typical democrat view. I guess the other one DID change his party affiliation to Republican.

[Bob T]

For those 56ish and older.....

Hey, I resemble that remark...

All parties change over time...My two favorite Republicans, Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater, would not be welcomed in today's Republican party. They would be considered far to liberal. In fact, I am pretty much a Goldwater Republican, but feel much closer to the Democratic Party than I do to the Republican party during the past many years.

So I ask ya...is the Democratic party more left, or does it just look like that standing with the much more right Republican party? Because that is what I have seen in my 58 years...the Republican party making a hard right, embracing religious fundamentalism to gain votes, while forgetting how to work in the middle to get things done...
They left me behind years ago.

[berettabone]

I don't know whether the Dems are more left, but I sure as h&ll know that the current administration Dems are about as far left as you can be/go. Dems used to be proud of their party, now it takes all of the immigrants, and minorities votes, just to get into office. They coddle them like never before.

[wyntrout]

Here's part of the reason:





Wynn

[knkali]

Here's part of the reason:





Wynn

wow what a post

[DavidS]

Hey, I resemble that remark...

All parties change over time...My two favorite Republicans, Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater, would not be welcomed in today's Republican party. They would be considered far to liberal. In fact, I am pretty much a Goldwater Republican, but feel much closer to the Democratic Party than I do to the Republican party during the past many years.

So I ask ya...is the Democratic party more left, or does it just look like that standing with the much more right Republican party? Because that is what I have seen in my 58 years...the Republican party making a hard right, embracing religious fundamentalism to gain votes, while forgetting how to work in the middle to get things done...
They left me behind years ago.

While I do not feel closer the the current Democratic party, I do have to say I agree. Especially the hard right sentence.

[xsailer]

I can't think of ONE democratic "leader" I would cross the street to listen to. I used to vote Democrat until I grew up and got a brain at 25.

Note: I am NOT a right winger.

[Longitude Zero]

Democrats are the party of the KKK...Jim Crow...Blue Laws. I could go on forever.

[John222]

Hey, I resemble that remark...

All parties change over time...My two favorite Republicans, Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater, would not be welcomed in today's Republican party. They would be considered far to liberal. In fact, I am pretty much a Goldwater Republican, but feel much closer to the Democratic Party than I do to the Republican party during the past many years.

So I ask ya...is the Democratic party more left, or does it just look like that standing with the much more right Republican party? Because that is what I have seen in my 58 years...the Republican party making a hard right, embracing religious fundamentalism to gain votes, while forgetting how to work in the middle to get things done...
They left me behind years ago.

I have to agree with you 100%. They have wandered so far to the extreme right everything looks left to them. I think it's because they missed the bus and became know as the party of the old white guys. They had to get votes somewhere, so they put together a patchwork quilt of angry single issue voters who have little in common. You got the regular right wing of the republican party plus the gun guys, the religious nuts and the racist. If they don't change their message their going to lose whats left of the republican moderates.

[Bob T]

I have to agree with you 100%. They have wandered so far to the extreme right everything looks left to them. I think it's because they missed the bus and became know as the party of the old white guys. They had to get votes somewhere, so they put together a patchwork quilt of angry single issue voters who have little in common. You got the regular right wing of the republican party plus the gun guys, the religious nuts and the racist. If they don't change their message their going to lose whats left of the republican moderates.

John..It's good to see I am not alone in my assessment...

[muggsy]

The last democrat that was even somewhat conservative was JFK. Anyone who leans democrat leans socialist. Never trust anyone who doesn't trust you to own a gun. They do not have your best interests in mind. There was a time in our lives when everything was taken care of for us and most of us couldn't wait to get out from under our parents roof. I'm my own man, thank you, and I don't need the government to tell me what's good for me.

[John222]

The last democrat that was even somewhat conservative was JFK. Anyone who leans democrat leans socialist. Never trust anyone who doesn't trust you to own a gun. They do not have your best interests in mind. There was a time in our lives when everything was taken care of for us and most of us couldn't wait to get out from under our parents roof. I'm my own man, thank you, and I don't need the government to tell me what's good for me.

If you think any politician wants us to have guns, your nuts. The repubs need your vote, or else they would be gun grabbing too. The country is politically divided and the repubs need that small minority of single issue 2A voters. Don't misinterpret pandering for allegiance and loyalty.