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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 the [[pro-abortion]]/pro-choice, higher taxes, anti-gun and big government party, while the [[Republican Party]] is the [[pro-life]], lower taxes, small government party. President [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are [[liberal]] / [[Progressive]] leftists.

The '''Democratic Party''', more properly known as the [[Democrat Party]], is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. In general it is the [[pro-abortion]]/pro-choice, higher taxes, anti-gun and big government party, while the [[Republican Party]] is the [[pro-life]], lower taxes, small government party. President [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are [[liberal]] / [[Progressive]] leftists.

Members of the Democratic Party are known as Democrats. In the 19th century the party was sometimes called "The Democracy." Today Republicans sometimes call it the "[[Democrat Party]]" as a term of ridicule.  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 -- when it supported [[slavery]] -- the party was sometimes called "The Democracy." 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 contentions Democratic policies, especially as 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 contentions Democratic policies, especially as stimulus spending and health care reform. Polls show Obama's popularity began to sink in the summer of 2009.