Changing the party's philosophy without the consent of the majority.

[madfloridian]

This one paragraph from 2000 at the DLC website shows that the Democratic Leadership Council knows that the majority of the party do not hold their views. In other words, IMHO, it sounds like they are very aware they are in the minority in the party. What does one say to this.

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=127&subid=171&contentid=955

"The DLC and the New Democrats are vulnerable to such a defeat, since they are attempting to change a public philosophy without the benefit of a realigning event and without a mass or activist base. From the makeup of the delegates to the nominating conventions to the main sources of campaign volunteers and funds, it is clear that the liberal faction and its constituent groups continue to predominate within the party. The liberals are still an important, if not vital, component in winning the party's nomination for office from congressman to president. And with their dominance of the congressional party, they are also critical actors in constructing a governing coalition. Lacking this base within the party itself, New Democrats -- or a faction in either party attempting to change their party's philosophy -- require a sustained period of political success in order to truly remake their party and wed new groups to their coalition. No matter how successful their philosophy may be, the party still matters. In the end, the New Democrats must embark on a "long march through the institutions."

In other words, they are saying that even though they know they are taking the party where it doesn't want to go....they will just keep on doing it.

This sentence disturbed me the most, I think. It sort of admits they need the majority of the party...but they wish they did not.

"The liberals are still an important, if not vital, component in winning the party's nomination for office from congressman to president."

On Edit: Thanks to cosmicdot for finding this. I saw it in one of his posts..