FINALLY - After years in the wilderness, the social liberals are at the forefront.

[kpete]

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/09/05/thoughts-on-day-1-at-the-dnc-the-rise-of-the-social-liberals/
Thoughts on Day 1 at the DNC – The Rise of the Social Liberals
By: David Dayen Wednesday September 5, 2012 6:26 am

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So where does that leave the party in trying to fire up its base? The same way Republicans fire up their base, by appealing to identity and socio-cultural policy. Where the convention’s first night truly and unabashedly veered to the left is on issues like the right to choose the legal medical procedure of abortion, or comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, or marriage equality. With nothing left to truly differentiate from the other party – with no allowable third rails to touch on the economic front that won’t raise the ire of big money donors

– Democrats have become a liberal social policy party, and they wear that on their sleeve, appealing very directly to women, Hispanics, the LGBT community and African-Americans, often entirely through the identity of the speakers and the connection between the speakers and the audience.

The most incredible speech in this regard came from Nancy Keenan of NARAL, which sounded most like the speech Ted Kennedy gave about Robert Bork credited with stopping him from ascending to the Supreme Court. Heck, Teddy himself made an appearance in a tribute video, destroying Mitt Romney in a debate.

For all the head-shaking and tut-tutting at the dynamic of “What’s the Matter With Kansas,” and the lack of understanding for how “emotional” issues can stand in above economic ones, we’re seeing the exact same dynamic play out on the Democratic side. After years in the wilderness, the social liberals are at the forefront. And the difference is that the activists behind those policies – LGBT activists, DREAMers, to use a couple examples – made sustained arguments with the public, and Democrats finally recognized the value of getting on their side. Plus, these are the tribal issues that differentiate the parties, the fault lines in American politics. Democrats are the melting pot party, and they need to respect and lift up those issues critical to the disparate elements of their base.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/09/05/thoughts-on-day-1-at-the-dnc-the-rise-of-the-social-liberals/

[russspeakeasy]

1. OH YEAH !!!