Wedge issues divide politicians from independents
During a slow news seasons and ideological lulls both sides allow wingnuts and moonbats to drive the political debate but is that healthy?
Washington (CNN) — The current ruckus over building an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero, calls to change the 14th Amendment and other so-called “wedge” issues are roiling up each party’s base, but they’re turning off independents, analysts say.
“This is party politics as usual with respect to all of these wedge issues,” said Jacqueline Salit, president of independentvoting.org, a national strategy and organizing center for independents. “I think there’s more and more of a steady recognition that these kind of wedge issues and political manipulation, sensationalism and opportunism is exactly what is degrading the American political process and our democracy.”
Salit, who is also the executive editor of The Neo-Independent magazine, said that people are having a hard time understanding what’s happening with the economy because of partisanship.