Changes

party", implying the party is not democratic. The term is said to grate on Democrats' ears.</ref> ('''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> [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are left-wing on the political spectrum.  Voters in 2010, 2014, and 2016 rejected Democratic Party candidates at the local, state and national levels in record-setting proportions.

party", implying the party is not democratic. The term is said to grate on Democrats' ears.</ref> ('''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> [[Barack Obama]] and other Democrats are left-wing on the political spectrum.  Voters in 2010, 2014, and 2016 rejected Democratic Party candidates at the local, state and national levels in record-setting proportions.

Members of the Democratic Party are known as Democrats. Founded in 1828, slavery and segregation were cornerstones of the party's ideology. Both were exclusively Democratic issues which the GOP was founded to oppose.<ref>The rights and dignity of the individual remains the core principal of the Republican party, be it opposition to slavery, abortion, big government, or high taxes.</ref> A Congressional faction known as [[Blue Dogs]] made up of [[conservative]] Democrats, was largely "shellacked" after it was offered up on the altar of Obamacare by  [[Progressive]]s and defied their constituents. In 2009 Bluedogs boasted 44 [[centrist]]s; by 2011 only 8 members. A [[bi-partisan]] core in the House was destroyed.

Members of the Democratic Party are known as Democrats. Founded in 1828, slavery and segregation were cornerstones of the party's ideology. Both were exclusively Democratic issues which the GOP was founded to oppose.<ref>The rights and dignity of the individual remain the core principal of the Republican party, be it opposition to slavery, abortion, big government, or high taxes.</ref> A Congressional faction known as [[Blue Dogs]] made up of [[conservative]] Democrats, was largely "shellacked" after it was offered up on the altar of Obamacare by  [[Progressive]]s and defied their constituents. In 2009 Bluedogs boasted 44 [[centrist]]s; by 2011 only 8 members. A [[bi-partisan]] core in the House was destroyed.

In the doldrums after 2000, the party led by [[anti-war]] radicals 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 Obamacare. Polls show Obama's popularity began to erode after his anti-police stance became apparent in the summer of 2009.

In the doldrums after 2000, the party led by [[anti-war]] radicals 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 Obamacare. Polls show Obama's popularity began to erode after his anti-police stance became apparent in the summer of 2009.