A recent Pew poll shows how party idenfication has shifted away from the Republicans, with 50 percent of respondents self-identifying as Democrats versus 35 percent self-identified Republicans, when the two parties were dead even just five years ago. 
Addressing the issue, Andrew Sullivan just described it as "cultural death" to be a young Republican now, because he says, the party is identified as the "mean party," the "nasty party," the party that divides people, etc (he says he was a young conservative back when it was cool...) And then the other panelists on the "Chris Matthews Show" added, they're also seen as the incompetent party. Not a good look. More on the Pew poll here. The poll also shows Americans becoming less religious, less culturally conservative, and less certain that "peace through military strength" is a viable proposition. In other words, the culture wars, broadly defined, have in some was blown over, after tremendous heat. Ironically, it was a Republican presidency that appears to have broken the dam, in favor of Democrats, and a more liberal, "European" view of the world on the part of a growing number of Americans.
Labels: Democrats, Pew poll, political parties, polls, public opinion, Republicans |
