Reply #143: you could draw a parallel argument about the GOP

[DrDan]

It is also a very disparate party - with the evangelical Christian right on one side vs the moderates ala Specter and Snowe on the other. That loud evangelical right is but one part of the party - albeit a vocal one. There is also the NASCAR crowd, the military/authoritarian bunch, the elite wealthy, and the wealthy wannabe's. It is as different as the Dems. There are those there that would never consider voting for a vocal peace-lover - even though the majority in the U.S. favor an end to this debacle in Iraq.

The difference - as I see it - is that the GOP is an organized party. They are focused. They are willing to support the party's candidate - even though they have little to work with. They will hold their noses and vote R. The Dems are divided. Dean has not been effective in bringing the party together. He has allowed some party members to be disenfranchised (no I do not want to get back to the Fl/Mich argument - but I hold Dean as much at fault as I find the state leaders).

I think Obama's nomination came from young voters - and from the liberal side of the party. He has been working against that particular base since winning nomination. The party's division has allowed this to happen.

Just my view.