There’s no big tent approach with Bernie and the Democratic Party, at least as far as pro-life voters go.

This is a news article by the editor.

When asked about his vision of the party at a recent town hall, and specifically about whether pro-life Democrats fit into that vision, Bernie Sanders replied, “I think being pro-choice is an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat.”

This continued demand for purity on the abortion issue is a big reason why the “coalition of the ascendant” has not panned out the way Democrats thought it would (and why the “coalition of the decent” seems unlikely to effectively develop). As an observer, I have often wondered why the Democrats seem so aloof as they demand progressive purity while relying on a considerable mix of concerns to craft a winning coalition.

They have African American support because they’ve convinced that demographic that Republicans are rich, white, and out to keep them down. They maintain near-exclusive support from the LGBT community, largely for championing the legalization of gay marriage. They have traditionally had reliable support from unions and union members for their willingness to interfere in the market on their behalf. They have considerable support among immigrants and other ethnic minorities for pushing back against the xenophobic and nativist tendencies of the far right.

But, I ask, is there anything inherent to being an ethnic minority, a union member, or gay that leads to being pro-choice as the only possible position? Can there really be no place in the Democratic Party for those who take the pro-life position but who feel most at home within the Democratic coalition?

This demand for purity on the abortion position from Democrats comes at a strange time, given their rhetoric on Donald Trump. If they take their denouncements of Trump as a dictator, a racist, and an existential threat to American democracy seriously, why are they taking such great pains to chase the “insufficiently woke” out of their party?

It would seem the Democrats have learned very few lessons in the past several years. They remain unwilling to moderate their tone or their rhetoric and continue to be confused over how a man like Donald Trump could beat them. One can’t help but wonder if the results this fall may attempt to teach them that lesson once again.

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Justin Stapley is the owner and editor of The Liberty Hawk and the voice of The New Centrist Podcast. You can follow him on Facebook and on Twitter, or you can subscribe to his newsletter.

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