I think its important to note that both parties are trying to win elections. If the left/Dems can win simply by ignoring their fringe elements, with or without media support, they’re lucky. However, if polling trends show that the GOP almost-but-not-quiet supporting Birhters or Palin or what have you is going to cost them an election, well, that needs to addressed. Note that im not suggesting moving away from core beliefs. Simply looking at fringe elements. You can yell at the public till you’re blue in the face that the democratic fringe is at least as bad or worse then the GOP fringe, but at the end of the day I highly suspect that this will not win votes. Just my 2 cents.