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Well and good, but our Democratic Party has the same problem.
Our dependence on a coalition of affluent, highly educated, socially liberal "professionals" on the one hand, and socially conservative working-class blacks and Latinos on the other, may be secure so long as blacks and Latinos continue to see themselves as embattled minorities. (Not exactly the kind of conditions you want to be necessary to ensure your party's continued success.)
But the fuss over whether the registration of new black voters this year helped carry Proposition 8 in California this year is telling. Eventually, the Democratic Party may be forced to choose: Continue to support such socially progressive policies as recognizing the right of gays to marry? (Thus alienating working-class voters, but perhaps picking up some libertarian voters - if, of course, the party throws out its economically progressive policies.) Or abandon such socially progressive policies? (Thus alienating professional voters, but perhaps picking up some working-class white voters.)
