--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact is that the Democratic Party in…" description: "\"The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has always had a conservative wing, one frequently as strong or stronger than its liberal wing, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png" --- # The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has… ![“The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has always had a conservative wing, one frequently as strong or stronger than its liberal wing, and as such, when progressives speak of the party as a vehicle that naturally belongs to them, as if by right - until conservatives stole it from…” quote by Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png) > “The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has always had a conservative wing, one frequently as strong or stronger than its liberal wing, and as such, when progressives speak of the party as a vehicle that naturally belongs to them, as if by right - until conservatives stole it from them - they weaken progressivism.” [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Democratic Party has long contained a strong conservative faction, which undermines progressive claims of exclusive ownership. **In simple terms:** The party includes both conservative and liberal forces, weakening progressive exclusivity. Key Takeaway Recognize internal diversity and build broader coalitions. Themes politics party dynamics progressivism conservatism Mood reflective strategic Type analytical political When to use this quote - campaign planning - policy advocacy - grassroots organizing Key Concepts ideological balance party identity political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can progressives engage conservatives within the party? - What strategies foster inclusive party narratives? A Different Perspective Progressives may overstate unity, ignoring internal dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Belongs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belongs/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Wing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-wing-3731641/) [Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frequently/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-times/) [Naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturally/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Progressives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressives/) [Progressivism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressivism/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Stole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stole/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/) [Vehicle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vehicle/) [Weaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaken/) [Weaken Progressivism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaken-progressivism-5601435/) [Wing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wing/) [Wing Progressives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wing-progressives-5601434/) ## Related quotes > [Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich represent the big government frugal socialist wing of the party. And I represent the true constitutional conservative wing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/mitt-romney-and-newt-gingrich-represent-the-big-government-frugal/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [“Yet an ugliness often lurked beneath the reformist zeal of Progressivism. Many Progressives—who tended to be middle-class white Protestants—held deep prejudices against immigrants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grann/yet-an-ugliness-often-lurked-beneath-the-reformist-zeal-of-2/) [David Grann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grann/) > [“Forever seeking Archimedean levers for prying the world in directions they prefer, progressives say they embrace high-speed rail for many reasons—to improve the climate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/forever-seeking-archimedean-levers-for-prying-the-world-in-directions/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“...progressives start small. They introduce 'commonsense' regulations and restrictions that will supposedly save lives. Then, each time the public's attention is captured, they push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/progressives-start-small-they-introduce-commonsense-regulations-and/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [It is fair to say, Bernie Sanders, that in your definition, as you being the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism, I don't know anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-is-fair-to-say-bernie-sanders-that-in-your-definition-as-you-being/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“People, imperfect and corruptible are society's building blocks. Political theories evading this reality are a catastrophe in waiting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-samaan/people-imperfect-and-corruptible-are-society-s-building-blocks/) [A.E. Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [“Yet an ugliness often lurked beneath the reformist zeal of Progressivism. Many Progressives—who tended to be middle-class white Protestants—held deep prejudices against immigrants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-an-ugliness-often-lurked-beneath-the-reformist-zeal-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Progressivism is a spectrum; it’s not an ideology following one leader saying one thing. It’s many people who have very wildly diverging opinions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urvashi-vaid/progressivism-is-a-spectrum-it-s-not-an-ideology-following-one-leader/) [Urvashi Vaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urvashi-vaid/) > [“Socialists and Progressives confuse compassion and compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-samaan/socialists-and-progressives-confuse-compassion-and-compulsion/) [A.E. Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [It's a tough life if you don't weaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-s-a-tough-life-if-you-don-t-weaken/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Parties weaken themselves by their fear of capable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/parties-weaken-themselves-by-their-fear-of-capable-men/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [We weaken what we exaggerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/we-weaken-what-we-exaggerate/) [Jean-Francois de La Harpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/) > [If you rely only on your eyes, your other senses weaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/if-you-rely-only-on-your-eyes-your-other-senses-weaken/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Your emotions will wander like a vagabond when you're indebted. Those happy moments with friends will soon be interrupted with a frowning creditor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/your-emotions-will-wander-like-a-vagabond-when-you-re-indebted-those/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/useless-laws-weaken-the-necessary-laws/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rick Perlstein > [I love trade magazines - any trade's magazine: by entering into what is taken for granted in a world not your own, you better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/i-love-trade-magazines-any-trade-s-magazine-by-entering-into-what-is/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Watergate got us to think of leaders as mere mortals. America began to think of itself in a very different way - I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/watergate-got-us-to-think-of-leaders-as-mere-mortals-america-began-to/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Part of the fantasy certain pro-reform Republicans like to broadcast about Hispanics, family-oriented, churchgoing traditionalists, is that they are somehow natural conservatives, just waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/part-of-the-fantasy-certain-pro-reform-republicans-like-to-broadcast/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [I'm just a Bolshevik with a laptop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/i-m-just-a-bolshevik-with-a-laptop/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [The history of American higher education over the twentieth century is an extraordinary one, the story of the creation of a powerhouse set of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/the-history-of-american-higher-education-over-the-twentieth-century/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [The only times during my religious instruction I remember hearing God's name invoked with any sincere conviction at all was in the oft-repeated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/the-only-times-during-my-religious-instruction-i-remember-hearing-god/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [As a general rule of thumb, Democrats do better in national elections when the year's defining issue is economic fairness, and Republicans do better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/as-a-general-rule-of-thumb-democrats-do-better-in-national-elections/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Computers have cut-and-paste functions. So does right-wing historical memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/computers-have-cut-and-paste-functions-so-does-right-wing-historical/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Empirical debunking cannot reach the deepest fear of the reactionary mind, which is that the state - that devouring leviathan - will soon swallow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/empirical-debunking-cannot-reach-the-deepest-fear-of-the-reactionary/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [I think that all politicians who aspire to the presidency are a little nuts, but for different reasons. What kind of person aspires to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/i-think-that-all-politicians-who-aspire-to-the-presidency-are-a/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Chicago's privatization mania began during Mayor Richard M. Daley's administration, which ran from 1989 to 2011. Under his successor, Rahm Emanuel, the trend has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/chicago-s-privatization-mania-began-during-mayor-richard-m-daley-s/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [One thing Republicans understand: In American elections, you have to choose from among only two people - not between the perfect and the good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/one-thing-republicans-understand-in-american-elections-you-have-to/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Social conservatism, business conservatism: the one side constitutes the other, like some infernal Mobius strip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/social-conservatism-business-conservatism-the-one-side-constitutes/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Sometimes I like to think that the responsibility of every new generation of Democrats is to devise a program that mints new Democrats for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/sometimes-i-like-to-think-that-the-responsibility-of-every-new/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) [Explore all 125 Rick Perlstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has always had a conservative wing, one frequently as strong or stronger than its liberal wing, and as such, when progressives speak of the party as a vehicle that naturally belongs to them, as if by right - until conservatives stole it from them - they weaken progressivism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Perlstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in-modern-times-has-always-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in-modern-times-has-always-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/rick-perlstein-3637_always_the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in_1517591.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has always had a conservative wing, one frequently as…” — Rick Perlstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rick Perlstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fact is that the Democratic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in-modern-times-has-always-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/the-fact-is-that-the-democratic-party-in-modern-times-has-always-had/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```