In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, American voters were forced to choose between a liberal Democrat and weak establishment Republicans. Democrats won both times.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I think Democrats made a mistake running away from liberalism. Liberalism, uh, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John and Robert Kennedy - that's what the Democratic party ought to reach for.
I said after 2006 that Republicans didn't just lose our majority, we lost our way. I mean, our party walked away from the principles that men in our national governing majority first in 1980 and again in 1994, and the American people walked away from us.
We tried two moderate Republican candidates, McCain and Romney, and we lost both times.
When the Republicans controlled the House from 1994 -2006, Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Henry Waxman Charlie Rangel, John Conyers and Rahm Emanuel weren't saying we need to move right to win. They stuck to their philosophy. And they fought against Reagan and they fought against the Bushes. And eventually they did win.
Well the truth is, Republicans didn't just lose a few elections, we lost our way.
Because liberalism typically doesn't sell in American presidential politics, liberal candidates tend to run as culturally conservative centrists.
Democrat leaders are not only out of the American mainstream, but are also out of the Democratic mainstream.
In the United States, commentators recognize that, generally speaking, most people who hold liberal positions over a range of issues will likely vote Democratic, while most people, again generally speaking, who hold conservative positions will vote Republican.
I may not be the favourite candidate of some people within the Republican establishment, but the voters made a decision.
One thing Republicans understand: In American elections, you have to choose from among only two people - not between the perfect and the good.