Inside Story Americas: What Defines the Democrats?

September 06, 2012 from Al Jazeera English

Republicans say the Democrats are the party of big government, working to divide the US through class warfare. Critics on the left say that, aside from a few social issues, both the Democrats and the Republicans are barely distinguishable. So what exactly defines the Democrats? Inside Story Americas discusses with guests Gary Younge, Rocky Anderson, and Michael Kazin.

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Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States along with the Republican Party. Since the 1930s, the party has promoted a socially liberal and progressive platform, and its Congressional caucus is composed of progressives, libe... Explore this topic

Politics of the United States

The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States, Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments. The executive branch is head... Explore this topic

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II (/bəˈrɑːk huːˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə/; born August 4, 1961) is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama served as a U.S. Senator representing the state of Illinois from January 2005 to Novemb... Explore this topic

2012 Democratic National Convention

The 2012 Democratic National Convention was a gathering, held from September 4 to 6, 2012, in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which delegates of the Democratic Party chose the party's nominees for President and Vice President in the 2012 United States national election. On April... Explore this topic

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby bo... Explore this topic

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party, also commonly called the GOP, is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, the other being the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery activists in 1854, it dominated politics nationally for most of the period from 1860 t... Explore this topic

Michael Kazin

Michael Kazin is a professor of history at Georgetown University. He is co-editor of Dissent magazine. Explore this topic

Rocky Anderson

Ross Carl "Rocky" Anderson is an American politician and lawyer who served two terms as the 33rd mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, between 2000 and 2008. He is the Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights. Prior to serving as Mayor, he practiced law for 21 years in Salt L... Explore this topic

Gary Younge

Gary Younge is a British journalist, author and broadcaster. Explore this topic

Cory Booker

Cory Anthony Booker is an American politician and the current Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He was first elected in 2006, and had previously served as a Newark City Councilor from 1998 to 2002. He ran for Mayor in 2002, but lost to incumbent Sharpe James; he ran again in 2006 a... Explore this topic

Also See

Democratic Party (United States)

Politics of the United States

Barack Obama