What is the role of liberals and progressives in the Democratic Party?

[pampango]

21. Same as conservatives and 'regressives' in the republican party?

Keep the party 'true to its principles' and keep the moderates from compromising too much. I think that is how political parties everywhere function. While members should agree on the broad outlines of the government's role in society, I doubt that any parties have universal agreement in their ranks about every specific policy.

Of course the 'principles', as espoused by progressive and 'regressives', are diametrically opposed, but the criticism from progressives and from 'regressives' is similar to the extent that in both cases the believe that the party is compromising too much with the 'evil' on the other side.

As far as winning elections is concerned, the republican party proved in 2012 that it is difficult to win a national election with the 'un-moderate' wing of the party running things. 'Regressives' held a lot of sway over the republican party from 2010 to 2012. Witness the spectacle of the republican debates. After their resulting electoral debacle of 2012 that is less true (though certain republican politicians continue to play to the 'regressive' wing of the party).

Of course, the 'regressives' in their party undoubtedly now assess the lost election as the fault of their moderates who compromised the message too much (a version of "romney was not a true conservative&quot . In their view the party needs an even more conservative candidate and message in 2016.