The Reverse Culture War. After years on the defensive, Dems now seem to have voters on their side

[DonViejo]

The Reverse Culture War
After years on the defensive, Democrats now seem to have voters on their side.

By Susan Milligan | Staff Writer
July 8, 2016, at 6:00 a.m.

In socially-conservative Kentucky, where a county clerk made international headlines by refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, an openly gay man has won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. For the first time, Democrats have a draft party platform that demands the reversal of the so-called Hyde Amendment banning the use of certain federal funds for abortion. And the GOP-run House of Representatives is mulling legislation that would put some limits on who can buy a gun.

The culture wars are alive and well in America, and in this year's campaigns. But what has changed is that Democrats, long playing defense on issues that alienated swing voters, are aggressively using those same issues to their advantage. Sensing a shift in public opinion driven by both news events and the emergence of a more socially-liberal and libertarian millennial generation, Democrats are casting their political opponents as out of touch with modern America.

"I think the tide has moved tremendously. The political landscape has shifted tectonically," says Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat. On gun safety, "the mood is completely different even in Connecticut, which already was on our side" after the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shootings, he says. In the 1994 elections, Blumenthal notes, Democrats lost their House majority in great part because of a powerful campaign against lawmakers who voted for the Brady Bill, which imposed background checks and a five-day waiting period for potential gun-buyers. Then, "it was a concern working against us. This time around, it's working the other way."

Republicans, who once reveled in characterizing Democrats as libidinous and anti-family, are downplaying the very social issues that once helped them at the polls. Asked whether Republicans are losing ground on those issues, Sen. Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican and a leading anti-abortion force in Congress, says they're not big issues to voters. "I think they're losing ground with millions of Americans as they see Republican majorities working towards solutions, and Democratic minorities working towards obstruction," Gardner says, accusing the other side of the aisle of holding up bills aimed at the Zika virus and opioid crises.

more
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-08/in-2016-the-culture-war-favors-the-democrats?emailed=1&src=usn_thereport

[AgingAmerican]

1. Democrats have long been timid when dealing with Republicans

Always seeking a kumbaya moment that never comes. All that has done is drive things to the right. Time for that to end.

[Cal33]

3. Yes, it's time for the Corporate people to know that their greedy power has reached

its summit, their power to take from and rob the people has finally reached its
limit, and even Republican members are finally realizing this and are leaving
the GOP by the millions.

It is time to bring the Corporatists and Republicans back and down to size.
The numbers of people they can still fool are dwindling -- soon it will be only
the dumbest of the dumb who will still remain and stick by their sociopathic
leaders.

[Chasstev365]

2. Let's hope they don't blow it!

If they have them on their side, they must start doing a better job if explaining how the GOP has fucked them over for the 36 years

[tonyt53]

4. What better way to show our resolve than to elect a person the GOP absolutely hates as President?

That lady has some paybacks for the GOP too, and it will be fun to watch.