According the popular web site and book, “Stuff White People Like”, one of the long listed items is “Irony”.

So here is my irony observation on this political contest. By picking a candidate, Obama, that is so far left, the Democratic Party has widened the range of topics that strongly differentiates the two parties. Because they are so different on so many issues no single issue carries dominating force.

As a result one of the issues that is most central to the left, abortion rights, has lost its weight. Most Americans are pro choice but it is both less of a litmus test issue, and less important than the economy and national security where there is a strong perceived difference in the candidates.

If the two candidates were both closer to the center, abortion rights would be more central to this campaign.

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