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How Influential Are Conservatives in the Democratics Party?

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Submitted By debino1
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How influential are conservatives in Democratic part?
A way that the conservatives are still influential in the Democratic Party is through foreign affairs. Through foreign policy they take a conservative approach in which they intervene in other countries. For example Obama initiated a military surge in Afghanistan, showing that conservative ideologies are still influential in the Democratic Party. However this may be because through foreign policy the president can express more of his powers and position in the party. So actions in foreign policy may not show an influence of conservatism but rather a way in which the president can take more leadership in.
Another example of how the Democratic Party holds some conservative values is that some pro-life democrats influence Obama not to allow Federal money to be used to support abortion. Demonstrating that the Democratic Party can be traditional in their views i.e. being pro-life – believing that all life is sacred. Also some democratic supporters hold some traditional conservative views. For example Latinos, who supported Obama in 2008, are not generally pro-choice. Showing that those that support the Democratic Party may not necessarily support some of their policies as they may contradict with their conservative views. Thus conservatism is still influenced in the Democratic Party.
However the Democratic Party still hold their liberal values. This is illustrated in the history of Obama’s presidency and Clinton’s presidency. For example the healthcare reform, stimulus package and increased regulation of the finance industry. This shows that the party has moved away from being conservative, because the president is often seen to define party policy. So since the president’s policies are a form of government intervention which is a liberal approach, therefore the party remains liberal.
Lastly a way that the party is no longer influenced by their conservative base is through the breakdown of the solid south. From the 1960’s onwards the Democratic Party progressively lost their southern conservative supporters, even their politicians. For example Strom Thurmond switched from democrats to the Republican Party. Suggesting the party’s supporters conservative values was not in line with theirs. Resulting to them switching to republican making them more conservative and democratics less influenced by conservatives.

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