What Ever Happened to the Democratic Party?

What Ever Happened to the Democratic Party?

The Democratic Party used to represent normal people, not crazies and special interest groups. Many conservative champions were registered Democrats until radical ideologues chased them out. President Ronald Reagan was a registered Democrat until 1962. Vice President Mike Pence was one until 1983.

Over the last 50 years, the Democratic Party has increasingly abandoned ordinary Americans for its most radical fringe. While the mainstream media loves nothing more than painting Republicans as extremists, it is the Democratic Party that has jettisoned a broad, bipartisan consensus on the critical issues of the day.

Here is a sample of positions that Democrats held to in their past party platforms, even as they attack Republicans for believing many of the same things today. With the next party convention scheduled for August 2024, there is still time for Democrats to restore themselves as a party of moderation.

“We fully recognize the religious and ethical concerns which many Americans have about abortion.” – 1980

“Our goal is to make abortion less necessary and more rare… The abortion rate is dropping. Now we must continue to support efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, and we call on all Americans to take personal responsibility to meet this important goal.” — 1996

Stopping Illegal Immigration

“We cannot tolerate illegal immigration and we must stop it.” — 1996

“In 1992, our borders might as well not have existed. The border was under-patrolled, and what patrols there were, were under-equipped. Drugs flowed freely. Illegal immigration was rampant. Criminal immigrants, deported after committing crimes in America, returned the very next day to commit crimes again.” — 1996

Safe Neighborhoods and Streets

“Today's Democratic Party believes the first responsibility of government is law and order.” — 1996

“We believe that people who break the law should be punished, and people who commit violent crimes should be punished severely. President Clinton ensure[d] that the most dangerous criminals go to jail for life, with no chance of parole. We established the death penalty for nearly 60 violent crimes, including murder of a law enforcement officer, and we signed a law to limit appeals.” — 1996

“When an overburdened justice system lets thugs off easy, good parents have a harder time teaching their children right from wrong… [Clinton and Gore] put in place a tougher more comprehensive strate- gy than anything tried before, a strategy to fight crime on every single front: more police on the streets to thicken the thin blue line between order and disorder, tougher punishments - including the death penalty - for those that dare to terrorize the innocent, and smarter prevention to stop crime before it even starts… “ —2000

“Too often, we bend over backward to protect the right of criminals, but pay no attention to those who are hurt the most.” — 2000

“We support Israel's security, and will continue to provide generous military and economic aid to that end.” — 1980

“We oppose creation of an independent Palestinian state.” — 1980

“As stated in the 1976 platform, the Democratic Party recognizes and supports ʻthe established status of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.” — 1980

Protecting Parental Rights

“Government does not raise children, families do” — 2000

“Government should be on the side of parents - making it easier for them to raise their children and pass down their values.” — 2000

Upholding Religious Freedom

“The President fought for and signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, to reaffirm the great protection the Constitution gives to religious expression, and to recognize the historic role people of faith have played in America.” — 1996

“Americans have a right to express their love of God in public, and we applaud the President's work to ensure that children are not denied private religious expression in school. Whenever the religious rights of our children -- or any American -- are threatened, we will stand against it.” — 1996

School Choice and Success

“Failing schools that do not improve should be quickly shut down and reopened with a new principal and new teachers.” — 2000

“The Democratic Party will triple the number of charter schools in the nation… and we should… [bring] universal public school choice and competition to our lowest- performing public schools.” — 2000

Free Market Economics

“We reject… the big government theory that says we can hamstring business and tax and spend our way to prosperity.” — 1992

“With Bill Clinton and Al Gore in the White House, we changed the nation's welfare system - transforming the program into one that encourages and promotes work. “ — 2000

“The private sector, not government, is the engine of economic growth and job creation.” — 2004

“Democrats now vow to balance the budget every year, barring a national emergency… Today's Democrats believe we should pay down the debt every year until we can give our children the independence, self-sufficiency, and prosperity that will come from an America that is debt-free.” — 2000

“Our fundamental mission is to expand prosperity, not government.” — 2000

Weaponization of Government

“Collection and maintenance by federal agencies of dossiers on law-abiding citizens, because of political views and statements, must be stopped.” — 1972