'Running as Democrats While Sounding Republican' — Hey, What Could Go Wrong?

[unhappycamper]

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/richard-eskow/57593/running-as-democrats-while-sounding-republican-hey-what-could-go-wrong

'Running as Democrats While Sounding Republican' — Hey, What Could Go Wrong?
2014 Elections | Democrats | Elections
by Richard Eskow | August 13, 2014 - 8:50am

They say that one swallow doesn't make a summer, and one Politico story certainly doesn't make a campaign season. But if a recent article there is correct -- if the Democratic Party's strategy this year really is "Running as a Dem (while) sounding like a Republican" -- then the party may be headed for a disaster of epic but eminently predictable proportions.

"It's one thing for Democrats running in red parts of the country to sound like Republicans on the campaign trail," writes Alex Isenstadt. "It's another when Democrats running in purple or even blue territory try to do so. Yet that's what's happening in race after race this season."

Red Dems

Certainly this isn't true of every race. Populist Elizabeth Warren has been brought in to help with Senate contests in several red states, for example. And a recent commentary (in Politico, come to think of it) argued that "an ascendant progressive and populist movement ... is on the verge of taking over the party."

So which is it? Are Dems tacking left or veering right? The answer isn't clear yet. But Isenstadt offers some worrisome anecdotes. He points to several Democratic candidates who are recycling Republican rhetoric, even in districts which went for Barack Obama in the 2012 election.

[obxhead]

1. For moderates, given the choice between a Democrat

That speaks and acts as a republican or a republican, the will choose the rebuplican every time.

However, these red Dems are just being honest about where they really think we need to go as a country. They just can't beat their republican opponents in a primary.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Or its sibling, 'Running as Democrats

while governing as Republicans'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014336360