The Gap as Wide as the Universe Between U.S. Democrats and Republicans

"The DSA and others are saddling the Democratic party with nominees whose wildly unpopular positions will protect Republicans from having to pay the price of Donald Trump's corruption and economic incompetence."

"In November, a continued focus on defunding, decriminalizing and decolonizing will highlight cultural issues that alienate many Democrats, not to mention a huge swath of independents [who make up a record-high 45 percent of the electorate] and disenchanted Republicans." 

Rahm Emanuel 

 

"Socialism has become increasingly popular among Democrats, but it is a much tougher sell in the rest of the electorate."

"There is a reason why Republicans nationwide are licking their chops, and why there are at leas some Democrats who are a little bit worried."

"Because what is true in New York City in a Democratic primary ain't necessarily true nationwide with the general electorate."

Harry Enten, Senior Data Reporter, CNN  

 

"The Democratic Socialists of America [DSA] is drawing new scrutiny after more than 35 DSA-backed candidates won primaries heading into the November mid-terms, forcing what analysts call an identity crisis inside the Democratic Party."

"[The DSA calls for government expropriation of  private corporations, state-owned housing, racial reparations], universal health care at no cost to individuals, [abolution of the Senate, and] a free Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital [following the end of] all military and economic aid to Israel."

NewsNation  

According to The New York Times, these are plans requiring government officials to seize a much larger portion of Americans' wealth, so they can enforce policies and target enemies. With their "influence on the rise", DSA candidates "are eager to tax the rich and enact anti-Israel policies". 

 

Radical candidates have tapped into an ideological shift among Democratic voters, and this accounts for their wins. A June YouGov/Economist poll showed that 58 percent of Democrats have a favourable opinion of socialism, and 62 percent would vote for a "Democratic Socialist" candidate. Senator Eugene McCarthy must be twisting in agony in his grave. 

 

In AP-NORC polling, 58 percent of Democrats feel the U.S. is "too supportive" of Israel and among them 52 percent feel that Israel committed genocide in its  defensive war against Hamas. "An ascendant faction of the left ... sees opposition to Israel as a Democratic litmus test", according to CNN. Also according to CNN, many Jewish Democrats grapple with loyalty to the extent they have crossed the line toward explicit antisemitism: "They point to references to Jewish or Israeli interests nefariously controlling politics with money or suggesting that Jews aren't fully loyal to America or to Democratic values." 

 

AP-NORC further found that "Republicans have shifted in the opposite direction, with a majority now claiming U.S. support for Israel is about right". Among GOP voters just 13 percent, and 31 percent of Americans overall accept the charge that Israel has engaged in genocide. For their part, mainstream moderates among Democrats view an opportunity slipping away while their party slithers toward hate and economic authoritarianism. 

 

Demonstrators hold a "Democratic Socialists of America" banner ahead of a vote by the Rent Guidelines Board at el Musseo de Barrio in New York, July 25, 2006. Adam Grey, Bloomberg/Getty 

 

Democratic-aligned Americans who identify as democratic socialists:

• Tend to be younger (59% are younger than 45, compared to 46% of non-democratic socialists aligned with the Democratic Party) and are more likely to be White (57% to 49%)
• Are less likely to have a college degree (66% to 54%) and more likely to earn less than $100,000 a year (76% to 65%)
• Are more likely to say they are extremely motivated to vote this year (66% of those who are registered voters say so, compared to 57% for non-democratic socialists), though both groups overwhelmingly support Democratic congressional candidates (99% of democratic socialists and 94% of non-democratic socialists)
• Are more positive toward the Democratic Party. They are more likely to hold favorable views of the Democratic Party (68% to 60%) and its congressional leaders, and more likely to have negative views of the Republican Party and its congressional leaders 

CNN Poll