Who is the Democratic base?

[seaglass]

I see repeated over and over that certain candidates ignore the Democratic base or that the Democratic base wants this or that or that so-and-so is the candidate of the Democratic base.

Who is the Democratic base?

I've voted for a Democract in every presidential election since 1976. Am I included in the base?

What is the criteria?

[CTLawGuy]

1. the base

opposed the war in Iraq,
opposed the patriot act,
wants universal health care,
wants jobs in this country,
wants equality for gays and lesbians,
opposes tax cuts when SS and medicare need funding,
wants to preserve and strengthen public education,
wants a cooperative foreign policy,
wants to stand up to George bush, not in rhetoric, but in action.

[seaglass]

2. So the base can change from election to election

depending on current events?

[goodhue]

6. no the base always there, but is sometimes ignored

This year IMHO DK supporters represent base issues and they are being ingored.

The 10 key issues of the progressive vision are:
<1> Universal Health Care with a Single Payer Plan
<2> Full Social Security Benefits at Age 65
<3> Withdrawal from NAFTA and WTO
<4> Repeal of the "Patriot Act"
<5> Right-to-Choose, Privacy, and Civil Rights
<6> Balance Between Workers and Corporations
<7> Guaranteed Quality Education, Pre-K through College
<8> A Renewed Commitment to Peace and Diplomacy
<9> Restored Rural Communities and Family Farms
<10> Environmental Renewal and Clean Energy

[seaglass]

7. Would someone that is part of the Democratic base

be loyal to the Democratic party, or does that not matter?

[JVS]

10. That begs the question of whether a base exists.

It is quite possible that it has been triangulated to oblivion.

[sangh0]

8. DK supporters are the base of the party?

You mean only 1% of Dems are the base, and the other 99% are superflous?

PS - I saw nothing about Iraq in those ten

[Bombtrack]

3. the base isn't whatever you want the base to be

It's extremely doubtful that a poll of democrats would result in a majority being for a middle class income tax increase or otherthings you'd like to imagine they would. I also think the base is for gun laws that don't pander to the NRA, like trigger locks, like mandatory waiting periods.

The base is, basically; Labor, educators, womens groups, minorities, jewish Americans, trial lawyers, and the working and lower class in general.

[quinnox]

4. If you are a Dean supporter

then you are the base. If you support any other candidate, (except for perhaps Clark) then you are a corporate lackey or blood thirsty war monger or Skull and Bones operative.

Edit: for needed <sarcasm tag>

[Kolesar]

5. speak for yourself

there is really no basis for that comment

[dolstein]

9. Anyone who has voted straight ticket Dem in each of the last 4 elections

NT

[IrateCitizen]

11. It's a second cousin of Peter the Rabbit

IOW, it's a figment of our imagination.

The Democratic Party is a coalition. Within that coalition, you have a wide range of interests. It's goal should be to represent all interests of that coalition to the best of its ability.

It is in this area that I believe it has failed. How has it failed? Because it has pandered too much to the corporate supporters of that coalition at the expense of some bigger elements. This has led to a lot of disenchantment on the part of the larger (but less wealthy) elements of the coalition.

A true progressive vision lies in recapturing the energy of the core parts of that coalition, and helping them to grow. I would count among those core constituencies: labor unions, public education, environmental groups, human rights campaigns, peace groups, and so on. In fact, I would consider corporate interests to really be a fringe element of the Democratic coalition whose concerns have gotten undue attention from the Party leadership. The key to long-term victory, IMHO, lies in reversing that trend.

[nancyharris]

12. If you plan to vote for the Democratic candidate

No matter who that is, then you are part of the Democratic base. That's what "base" means. It is the support you can count on to vote Democtatic.