Left wing eclipsing moderates

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By Donald Lambro

ANALYSIS:

DENVER | There is no doubt that the liberals are now in full control of the Democratic Party and that Sen. Barack Obama is commander in chief of their bid to "take back America."

The Democratic Leadership Council's centrist-leaning agenda of free trade, a strong defense and welfare-to-work reform that helped propel Bill Clinton's rise to power in 1992 is hardly visible here.

Instead, it is the far-left grass-roots organizations who are out in full force and fury here at the Democratic National Convention, raising questions about whether the Obama campaign, by embracing them, risks alienating the moderate swing voters who made Mr. Clinton the first two-term Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Democrats, who have come to favor the term "progressive" to the pejorative "liberal," took to the floor yesterday to give full-throated voice to what they consider the Bush administration's assault on society.

"Under Barack Obama's leadership, we will renew the frayed connection between opportunity for all, and responsibility from all, for our American community," said Judith McHale, co-chairman of the party platform committee. "We will make it possible for all Americans to serve. We will turn our values into action, standing up for families, supporting our seniors, defending our civil rights and strongly denouncing sexism, which sadly continues to be so prevalent throughout our society."

Liberals took full credit Monday for their party's comeback, with the group Take Back America, which seeks to unite progressive leaders, bloggers and activists, issuing a statement saying Mr. Obama's "success [was] propelled by the progressive base of the party" and that "thousands of progressive leaders and activists will celebrate their victories and chart their course to 'take back America' at the Democratic National Convention."

As if to underscore the shift, Monday night's tributes and speakers included old-guard figures Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, former President Jimmy Carter and leaders from pro-choice groups and teachers unions.

Mr. Kennedy, the liberal lion who is battling brain cancer, made a surprise appearance to once again embrace Mr. Obama's candidacy and make another impassioned plea for his longtime dream of universal health care for all Americans.

He was followed by veteran Senate liberal Tom Harkin of Iowa, who has backed Mr. Kennedy's legislative efforts. But the closest Congress ever came to considering a national health care system was in the early 1990s, when President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed legislation to provide universal health care for all uninsured Americans. Democrats held majorities in both houses of Congress, but their plan was never brought up for a vote.