How accurate is this statement: "Republicans fear their base, Democrats despise theirs"

[Very_Boring_Name]

Poll question: How accurate is this statement: "Republicans fear their base, Democrats despise theirs"

Said by former GWB speech writer David Frum, just curious to know how many of you agree with it.

[Ed Suspicious]

1. It seems to me, the last 30 years, dems have been

consistently pushing right away from their base trying to maintain a negotiating position with an ever righter right wing who begs for it's base's approval. I think there is truth to the statement. For sure.

[AndyTiedye]

2. The Repigs Don't Fear Their Base. Their Base are Faux Noise Viewers and They Will Believe ANYTHING

[Union Scribe]

3. Other

I think Republicans despise everyone, including their base. Democrats roll their eyes at their base and tell them if they just reach out to the people who despise them enough, a magic called bipartisanship, then everyone will prosper.

[rzemanfl]

4. "Despise" is too strong. "Ignore" is about right. n/t

[Raine]

5. Partly agree but I think both parties dispise their bases

and have nothing but contempt for them.

[bluestate10]

6. What is the democratic base?

Is the base progressives?
Or moderates?
Or conservatives?
Or democratic leaning independents.

One democratic governor won re-election when democratically leaning independents joined with moderates to provide his unexpectedly comfortable margin of victory. Enough progressives sat out or voted third party to deny re-election if independents had not stepped into the breach. Without those independents, that state would be facing a Scott Walker problem today. The republican was adamant about drastic cuts in state workers and had deep apathy toward unions.

Again, I ask you, what is the democratic base? Is the base those that see danger and act to prevent it like the independents did in the mentioned election? Or is the base the selection of people that share your view?

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. If Independents are your base, you are not a Democrat.

If this (unnamed) candidate had played to the Democratic left, he would not have needed the out-of-party independents to defeat a fascist nut job.

You know who most 'democratically leaning independents' are? Democrats who left the party because of the growing corporatism of it. IOW, the Democratic left, better known as the Democratic base.

[MineralMan]

8. Neither party actually knows what their base is.

[quakerboy]

9. Change fear to mock and despise to ignore,

and you would be getting in the ballpark.

[opihimoimoi]

10. not at all

[Logical]

11. Which part? n-t

[opihimoimoi]

12. all of it

[Logical]

13. If you don't think the GOP fears their base you are not paying attention. n-t

[opihimoimoi]

14. GOP uses Fear to manipulate their Base

[Stinky The Clown]

15. "Sayings" have a basis in reality

This proves the statement.