While the rift between religious conservatives and Ron Paul "libertarian" types within the Republican party is being well-documented, a rift within the Democratic party is just beginning to emerge into public view. It's the rift between economically populist liberals and pro-business moderates.
Former President Bill Clinton is the latest Democrat to praise Mitt Romney's work at Bain Capital. What gives?
Remember that Clinton emerged from a group founded in 1985 called the Democratic Leadership Council. The group felt that the Democratic party would continue to be trounced in elections if it didn't fashion a pro-business message.
And while Clinton is certainly willing to be a campaign surrogate for President Obama, he's not above giving him some campaign advice--tack toward the middle. Obama, on the other hand, has specifically rejected the support of the "New Democrats" that were part of the now-defunct DLC.
Clinton believes that a Democrat can't win re-election while bashing business during a campaign that is centered on job creation and economic growth. Expect that discussion to continue (hello, Hillary!) after an Obama loss in 2012.
