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The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. In general it is [[pro-choice]] and anti-[[free enterprise]], supporting higher taxes, anti-gun policies, and a larger government, while the [[Republican Party]] is generally [[pro-life]] and pro-free enterprise, supporting lower taxes and small government. President [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are [[liberal]] / [[Progressive]] leftists. Many [[conservative]]s consider him to be the worst president to date.

The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. In general it is [[pro-choice]] and anti-[[free enterprise]], supporting higher taxes, anti-gun policies, and a larger government, while the [[Republican Party]] is generally [[pro-life]] and pro-free enterprise, supporting lower taxes and small government. President [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are [[liberal]] / [[Progressive]] leftists. Many [[conservative]]s consider him to be the worst president to date.

Members of the Democratic Party are known as Democrats. In the 19th century — when it supported [[slavery]] — the party was sometimes called "The Democracy." Today, there are Democrats who claim to be more [[conservative]] than typical liberals, called the "[[Blue Dogs]]" in [[Congress]], but they often behave like "lapdogs" for the [[liberal]] party leadership when there is a controversial vote.

Members of the Democratic Party are known as Democrats. In the 19th century &mdash the party was sometimes called "The Democracy." Today, there are Democrats who claim to be more [[conservative]] than typical liberals, called the "[[Blue Dogs]]" in [[Congress]], but they often behave like "lapdogs" for the [[liberal]] party leadership when there is a controversial vote.

In the doldrums after 2000, the party roared back with major gains in 2006, which it expanded in 2008 to sweep control of the national government, and leave the GOP in a state of confusion and decline. The GOP bounced back in 2009, with near-unanimous opposition to contentious Democratic policies, especially stimulus spending and health care reform. Polls show Obama's popularity began to sink in the summer of 2009.

In the doldrums after 2000, the party roared back with major gains in 2006, which it expanded in 2008 to sweep control of the national government, and leave the GOP in a state of confusion and decline. The GOP bounced back in 2009, with near-unanimous opposition to contentious Democratic policies, especially stimulus spending and health care reform. Polls show Obama's popularity began to sink in the summer of 2009.