Pie fights the last year make it feel like we are coming apart at the seams. But are we really? Looking at the Democratic party throughout the last 50 to 60 years tells us a different story. From the fights during segregation to the centrist arguments of the 1990’s. As this article illustrates
If you look at the premise of Democratic disarray through a long lens, you'll see that the divides within the party are the smallest they’ve ever been. After the 1964 election, many party elites sought to make parties more ideologically divided (though the seeds of this “realignment” existed as early as FDR’s time). Republicans believed they could use racism to divide the Democratic coalition and win over Southern whites. Progressive Democrats, frustrated that their coalition relied on segregationists, sought to run racial liberals, who were pro-civil rights, in primaries and tie antiracism liberalism to economic liberalism.
Jimmy Carter was opposed to school busing. Senators Hollings from S.C. voted against the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Hell the 1968 Democratic convention had to literally have the cops break up the factions. Most of us progressives think more alike on the big issues of the day, then we have in most of our history. So when you get frustrated with the pie fights you read here on Kos, just step back and remember where we have been and where we actually are now. And keep up the RESISTANCE…….
No credible pundit would argue that the future of the party is bloodless centrism, and the primaries across the country reflect that. The Democrats have work to do, and have scars left over from the 2016 primary. But the party is increasingly united on the values of racial justice, immigration, gender equity, non-discrimination, universal health care and antitrust policy. It is the most united American party in modern political history.
![Jan 27, 2009 - Washington, DC, United States - Sen. KAY R. HAGAN (Newscom TagID: zumawirewestphotos815374) [Photo via Newscom]](http://images.dailykos.com/images/57277/large/haganzumawires.jpg?1384276386)
