2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Mustn't we reevaluate our party since it is is going through a right wing realignment? [View all]whatthehey
(3,660 posts)They are far more socially liberal than any of those you listed in their presidencies or campaigns. Carter didn't extend same sex domestic partner insurance for federal employees for a start. Humphrey didn't campaign on ending racial profiling and reducing mandatory sentences for drug crimes. None of them pushed to increase the minimum wage by a huge margin.
That's the real crux. Democrats are always a mixed bag, always prioritizing some issues over others. We are not doctrinaire absolutists like the GOP. Clinton will be just the same. She would do some things you like and some you don't. Me too. As you said, there was no Golden Age, so the nast evil Clintons obviously didn't destroy it. It's just easy to look back and remember the solar panels but not the work-for-benefits, the CRA but not the carpet bombing. No doubt Democrats a generation hence will be blaming the Castros for souring the glorious liberalism of Obama, because they will remember the gay marriage victory and not Libya.