The policy positions advocated by the Democratic Party (in this book a virtual synonym for “liberals”) are not in fact the pet projects of a condescending elite; those policies actually represent the intentions and interests of a “supermajority” of the American electorate. [...]

This substantive political connection is rarely articulated, however, due to the fact that “political pundits have treated as a truism” that liberalism is a credo of, among many other things, nasty, God-hating, baby-killing, smut-loving, elitist anti-American wimps. After providing a quick summary of the historical roots of liberalism, Mr. Alterman shifts into rebuttal mode, launching a series of responses to the typical assumptions about liberals. For instance, Mr. Alterman devotes a chapter to responding to such questions as: “Why Do Liberals Hate Patriotism?”; “Why Are Liberals So Damn Elitist?”; “Why Do Liberals Always Blame America First?”; and “But Why Are Liberals So Nasty?"

In good “I’m rubber and you’re glue” polemical fashion, Mr. Alterman’s strategy in these chapters is less to respond to these questions as to show how these accusations are more legitimately levied at the conservative accusers. ... (Read the full review.)