Party Politics And The American Disconnect

A new study shows America’s political parties don’t line up with Americans’ politics. So, what do we do?

We are the polarized nation, we’re told, and the temperature may be about to rise on that front.

Fiscal debate coming back on the debt ceiling. Presidential politics gearing up. Newt Gingrich getting in the 2012 race today.

Before we go whole hog on polarization, a pause. Maybe it’s not entirely true.

A new poll finds a lot of Americans’ views a lot more complicated than the party line. Republicans, Democrats, independents who don’t entirely fit the mold. Let’s look at that.

This hour On Point: American politics beyond strict Red and Blue.
- Tom Ashbrook
Guests:

Karen Tumulty, national political reporter for the Washington Post.

Andrew Kohut, president, Pew Research Center. Their latest study is Beyond Red vs. Blue:The Political Typology.

William Gallston, founding member of "No Labels," a bipartisan group whose stated mission is to address the politics of problem solving. He is chair and senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution.

Alan Abramowitz, professor of political science at Emory University. He is author of "The Disappearing Center: Engaged Citizens, Polarization, and American Democracy."