2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: The Democratic Party is for social AND economic justice. It isn't an "either/or" situation! [View all]radius777
(3,635 posts)to civil rights, and put the focus of the white working class at the center of the party's identity, that stood in opposition to the party of Lincoln who freed the slaves.
When Dems turned left on social justice in the 60's white working class abandoned the party in droves, finally in the arms of the union-busting/free trading Reagan.
The Dem part then suffered landslide losses in the 80's, and was left in shambles, and so had to move on assemble a new coalition who would vote for social justice - women, PoC, gays, metro areas, young people, urban liberals, suburban soccer moms, pro-business moderates, etc.
The white working class abandoned Dems, not the other way around.
The Clinton/Obama coalition, which is city/metro centric, is the modern Democratic party, which has won 4 of the past 7 national elections, and 6 of 7 popular votes.