Granted, the Democrats in Congress don’t really care much for their base either; however, unlike Republicans, they are smart enough to appreciate what their base can do for them when they’re happy — and fear what they can do to them if they’re not. That’s why Democrats pay attention to the netroots no matter how crazy they may sound. It’s why they stay out of primaries. It’s why they take great care to show the far Left that their heart is in the right place, even if they ultimately disappoint them on the issues.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Republican Party keeps saying we need to get back to our principles and talks about how important it is to attract more young voters and Hispanic Americans. Then, we get a viable young conservative Hispanic candidate like Marco Rubio running for the Senate in Florida and they arrogantly try to shove him aside to make way for a better-connected, moderate pol who’s more acceptable to the GOP establishment.

Our party leadership goes on “listening tours” where they don’t talk about hot-button issues, say the base needs to get over Reagan, and don’t seem do any real listening.