The Democrats in Opposition: They can become the party of working Americans and win. Or...

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Small problem with your construct ...

They can become the party of working Americans and win. Or ... they can appease Wall Street and lose.

Where should the Democrats go now? Losing both houses of Congress frees them to function as an opposition party, not just to the Republicans, but to a political economy that serves fewer and fewer Americans.

Whether they will seize that opportunity remains an open question. To many within the party establishment, the Democrats face a choice between moving to the center to win over white electors who have either stopped voting or strayed into the Republicans’ ranks, or moving left to re-energize the Rising American Electorate, the young and minority voters who powered Barack Obama into the White House.

The "Rising American Electorate, the young and (particularly) minority voters who powered Barack Obama into the White House" largely don't rate "appeasement of wall street" (whatever that means... "re-create broadly shared prosperity&quot ?) ... "arrest the declining economic fortunes of all but the wealthiest 10 percent(?) ... both from the article, ... "income equity&quot ?), as from the DU responses above), as a priority, unless one uses a really broad description of "appeasing wall street."

YOUNG VOTERS
Size: There are 44 million 18-29 year old citizens in the U.S., (10) one-fifth of the electorate. today’s 18-29 year olds are part of the Millennial Generation, the biggest generation since the Baby Boomers.

Issues: According to Rock the Vote polling, young voters’ top issues are jobs and the economy, followed by Iraq, education and the cost of college, and health care. (11)

Voting: In 2004, young voter turnout jumped by nine percentage points – or 4.3 million votes – over 2000 levels. Again in 2006, turnout was up – this time by 1.9 million over 2002 levels. (12) And in the 2008 primaries, 18-29 year olds’ turnout doubled and tripled in nearly ever contest. (13)

Party ID: 47% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 16% Independent. (14)

YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS
Size: there are 6.3 million African-American citizens between the ages of 18 and 29. (U.S. census)

Issues: According to Rock the Vote polling, this group’s top issues are jobs and the economy, Iraq, education and the cost of college, and health care and prescription drugs.

Voting: In 2004, under-25 African-Americans increased their turnout by 11 points and voted at rates as high as the overall age group for the first time in decades. turnout went up again in 2006. (RTV-CIRCLE)

Party ID: 73% Democrat, 6% Republican, and 15% Independent. (RTV poll)

YOUNG LATINOS
Size: There are 5.6 million Latino citizens between 18 and 29 in the U.S. Young Latinos are the largest and fastest-growing racial or ethnic subset of young adults; 50,000 turn 18 each month. (U.S. census)

Issues: According to Rock the Vote polling, young Latinos’ top issues are immigration, jobs and the economy, the environment and global warming, and Iraq.

Voting: In 2004, turnout among 18-29 year old Latinos jumped six percentage points. In other words, 1.1 million more Latinos under 30 voted than had in 2000. (RTV-CIRCLE)

Party ID: 51% Democrat, 21% Republican, and 19% as Independent. (RTV poll)

YOUNG WOMEN
Size: there are 22 million women between the ages of 18 and 29 eligible to vote in the U.S. (U.S. census)

Issues: According to Rock the Vote polling, this group’s top issues are jobs and the economy, followed by health care, education and the cost of college, and Iraq.

Voting: Young women vote at higher rates than their male peers. In fact, in 2004 young women led the overall young voter turnout increase, jumping 10 percentage points over 2000 levels. (RTV-Circle)

Party ID: 55% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 19% Independent. When marital status is considered, the gap in identification decreases. Forty-eight percent of young married women identify as Democrats, 40% as Republicans, and 5% as Independents. (RTV poll)

YOUNG MEN
Size: There are 22 million men between the ages of 18 and 29 eligible to vote in the U.S. (U.S. census)

Issues: According to Rock the Vote polling, young men’s top issues are jobs and the economy, followed by Iraq, health care, gas prices, and immigration.

Voting: Young men’s voter turnout lags behind young women’s, but men have also increased their turnout in the past two elections. In 2004, participation among men under 30 jumped by almost 8 points over 2000 levels; in 2006, their turnout grew by 3 points over 2002 levels. (RTV-CIRCLE)

Party ID: 38% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 22% Independent. (RTV poll)

http://www.completecampaigns.com/article.asp?articleid=116