Types of Democrat

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  • Created by: Tom
  • Created on: 27-04-13 17:57

Progressive

advocate a centre-left economic and social agenda- oppose: War in Iraq, economic liberalism and social conservatism, corporate influence in government. Support: universal health care, revitalization of the national infrastructure and strong leading government to establish social and economic equality

-           Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC)- largest Democrat caucus in the H.O.R. – college educated professionals: 41% affluent homes, 49% college degree

-           Huge support for progressive Democrats candidates for public office in city outside the South, and among African-Americans nationwide. - Bobby Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton

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Liberal democrats

Liberal Democrats are to the left of centrist Democrats. Was dominant in the party for several decades- but rise of centrist forces such as President Bill Clinton has hurt them. Compared to conservatives and moderates, liberal Democrats generally have advocated fair trade and other less conservative economic policies, and a less militaristic foreign policy, - forceful in pushing for civil liberties. -  Barbara Boxer , Russ Feingold, the late Ted Kennedy , Tom Harkin, Nancy Pelosi

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Unions

 been a critical force in Democrat party since New Deal in the 1930s- supply a great deal of the money, grass roots political organization, and voting base of support for the party- but union membership has been declining: 1950s- 36%, 2006- 12%- this decline has been due to the growing difference between private and public membership- public: 36.5% , private: 7%. However, union members tend to vote more than the rest of the population: 2004 election- 1 in 4 votes came from union households- this is why they have a large influence
-           3 main labour groupings:  
-           AFL-CIO- 9 million public and private sector workers
-           Change to Win Federation- which broke away from the AFL-CIO in 2005 and currently represents 6 million public and private sector workers
-           National Education Association-  a 3.2 million member independent union unaffiliated with either the AFL-CIO or Change to Win, which primarily represents teachers and other education workers.

  AFL-CIO and Change to Win identified their top legislative priority for 2007- Employee Free Choice Act- which would make it easier for employees to join a union and would increase penalties for employer violations of the National Labour Relations Act.

      A lot of unionists identify themselves with the progressive’s- Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown,  Byron Dorgan, and Presidential candidate John Edwards

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Christian Left

shares many policy goals as the Democrats- but is smaller than the Christian Right in the Republican Party- favour the Democrats on social justice, welfare, universal health care, education and foreign aid rather than the laissez-faire economic approach of the Republicans. Social views of capital punishment, defense and militarism, civil rights and equality are also left-wing. Moral issues: abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality, the Christian left are often, although not always, more in line with Democrats- Reverend Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton

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Secular

alot of support is gained by the Secular Coalition for America- exit poll for 2008 presidential election showed that none religious people voted 75-25 in Obama’s favour, but only  12% of electorate. – 2012 election cycle Obama has moderate to high support from Secular Coalition for America- Republicans have little. – but in America there is still social stigma over atheism- polls show the American public would prefer a Muslim or a gay for a president candidate over a atheist. 

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Centrist wing/ Third way

they have mixed political views and ideas- but differing from other factions- supportive of the use of military force (Iraq war), and are more willing to reduce government welfare, as indicated by their support for welfare reform and tax cuts.- Democrat Leadership Council- non profit organisation which promotes centrist candidates (New Democrats)- founded in 1984 in response to Reagan landslide- Bill Clinton  and Joe Lieberman, Al Gore. Dominant in the party between 1993-2005. DLC had no official alliance with the DNC. 

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Conservative Wing

Yellow Dog Democrats, Dixiecrats, - mainly in the southern states in the 1980s- but declined as Republicans built solid base- Blue Dog Democrats in the House: fiscal or social conservatives, moderates and southerners and willing to make deals with Republicans if need be. – with the passage of the Civil Rights Act 1964 many turned to the Republicans- reasons why the GOP went further right wing plus why the strong holds shifted from the North and Mid West to the South-pro life is gaining momentum again with the Democrats for Life of  America- Bob Casey Jr. Won in 2006- 2006 Congressional elections saw a growth in Conservative Democrats gaining seats- Ben Nelson, Zell Miller, John Breaux, Ike Skelton, Gene Taylor, Henry Cuellar, Collin Peterson and Jim Marshall

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Libertarian Democrats

against large debt, but support Democrats for social policy- civil rights and separation of church and state,- oppose: gun control, War on Drugs, Protectionist policy, corporate welfare and government borrowing- Democratic Freedom Caucus (DFC)- Libertarian Democratic Caucus (LDC): wants to be libertarian coalitions- Mike Gravel is the most well known. 

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