tobacco, etc.) supports the Republican Party, along with conservatives, right-wingers, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the religious right, and a majority of the rural population. The Democratic Party, in contrast, is supporting by minority groups, liberals, environmentalist organizations like the Sierra Club, and labor (unions). As one political analyst notes “The political parties no longer exist as authentic connecting strands with ordinary people on the governing issues or anything else. They are letterheads and mail drops for the political money” (Greider, 2000, 3).
We see the rich versus poor distinction and we see the business versus labor distinction between the two parties in the above listing of affiliates. Furthermore, social institutions such as religion, minority groups, labor unions, activist groups, big business lobbies, and others impact party formation, economic support, and affiliation. Activity, too, is also impacted by these organizations. When the election indecision cast suspicion upon the election process in Florida, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a respected Democratic stalwart, immediately flew to Florida and began raising support in the black community with a call for fairness and constitutional rights. The Republicans, on the other hand, tried to build support among the black community by having General Colin Powell visit Texan Governor George Bush’s ranch while informing the media that Powell is the frontrunner for Secretary of State in a Bush cabinet. In the media age, parties often use the media to compete more than issues “The consolidated big media, more homogenized and distant from their audiences, have a stake in making politics seem lifelike, but savvy political reporters essentially cover politics as a story of marketing competition” (Greider, 2000, 3).
While the Democratic and Republican parties seldom face a third-party challenge, many feel that Ralph Nader, the presidenti...