| − | The '''Democratic Party''' ('''D''') is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. It has favored [[liberalism]] since its foundation in 1828 (although Democrat supporters have [[deceit]]fully claimed that the Democrats prior to 1964, the year the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] was enacted, were "conservative" and, in a case of [[Liberal Amnesia]], willfully misled the public into believing that the Democrats and the Republicans "switched philosophies" practically overnight around that time, although actual conservative Democrats have always formed a minority within the party). In general it is [[pro-abortion]] and anti-[[free enterprise]], supporting higher taxes, anti-gun policies, and a much larger, more invasive government, while the [[Republican Party]] is generally [[pro-life]] and pro-free enterprise, supporting lower taxes and small, responsible government.<ref>http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican#Role_of_Government</ref> 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''' ('''D''') is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. It is [[pro-abortion]] and anti-[[free enterprise]], supporting higher taxes, anti-gun policies, and a much larger, more invasive government, while the [[Republican Party]] is generally [[pro-life]] and pro-free enterprise, supporting lower taxes and small, responsible government.<ref>http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican#Role_of_Government</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are [[liberal]] / [[Progressive]] leftists. |
| − | Members of the Democratic Party are known as Democrats. In the 19th century a portion of the party 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. Founded in 1828, a majority of this Party supported slavery through the [[Civil War]]. In the 19th century this Party was sometimes called "The Democracy." Today, there are Democrats who claim to be more [[conservative]] than typical [[liberal]]s, called the "[[Blue Dogs]]" in [[Congress]], but more often they behave like "lapdogs" for the [[liberal]] party leadership when there is a controversial vote.<ref>[[Conservative]] Democrats have been a shrinking minority within the party.</ref> |
| | 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. |