The Democratic Party is experiencing an internal earthquake over socialism, with new polling data painting a stark picture of where rank-and-file members stand on fundamental economic questions — and it’s not where the party was a generation ago.
According to a recent CBS poll, nearly 62% of Democratic Party members now express support for socialism, compared to just 18% who view it negatively. Perhaps more striking: only 32% favor capitalism, while 50% see it in a negative light. The numbers represent a complete reversal from the party’s traditional economic positioning and mark a sharp departure from President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural call to “ask what you can do for your country” rather than what it can do for you.
The internal tension has become so pronounced that longtime Democratic strategist James Carville recently unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against what he termed the “bowel movement” — his sardonic label for the progressive wing. In a podcast episode highlighted on Fox’s Gutfeld show, Carville savaged the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) faction’s approach to politics.
“It was your great idea that we are going to change all of human behavior by changing dictionaries. How did that work out?” Carville asked rhetorically, before running through a litany of progressive positions. “How is defund the police doing? How is communities of color doing? How is nongender pronouns doing? Let me tell you how it is doing. It ain’t doing worth a [bleep].”
The Numbers Tell a Complicated Story
The polling landscape on socialism reveals deep divisions not just between parties, but within the Democratic coalition itself. A CNN poll found that 34% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults now identify as democratic socialists, while 15% of all U.S. adults share that label. Notably, 66% of registered voters identifying as democratic socialists say they are “extremely motivated” to vote in 2026, compared to 57% of non-DSA Democrats.
A Quinnipiac University poll from September showed an even higher figure: 59% of Democrats consider themselves DSA supporters, while only 30% do not. Among all voters, however, just 26% self-identify as supportive of the DSA, while 66% do not.
The electoral implications are significant. When told a candidate identifies as a DSA supporter, only 17% of respondents say it makes them more likely to vote for that candidate, but 43% say it makes them less likely. A Fox News poll found that 55% of registered voters hold an unfavorable view of the DSA, with only 30% viewing it positively.
Interestingly, while Democrats show skepticism toward capitalism as a system, they haven’t entirely abandoned free-market principles. When asked specifically about the free market, 66% of all respondents said it was good, while 34% called it bad. Yet on price controls — which economists across the spectrum warn can lead to shortages — approval came from 75% of Democrats, 62% of independents, and even 54% of Republicans.
The Policy Debate Heats Up
The philosophical divide has real-world policy implications. Progressive figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have championed proposals such as “free healthcare for all,” but critics argue the fundamental question of who pays for such programs remains inadequately addressed. The Communist Manifesto’s advocacy for “heavy progressive tax” suggests working taxpayers would shoulder the burden of expanded government programs.
Conservative commentators have escalated their warnings about the socialist direction within the Democratic Party. Fox News host Laura Ingraham recently characterized the party as “post-American,” arguing it represents “a cram down of socialism, Islamo Marxism, communism.” She claimed the result would be “submit or die for the country.”
Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt, a Republican, connected the issue to immigration policy, suggesting Democrats “allowed 15–20 million unvetted illegal aliens to enter this country” because “they want to remake this country, they want upheaval.” Schmidt argued that “if you believe in this country, if you are proud to be an American, there’s no room for you at the end for the Democrat Party.”
Candidates Struggle with Basic Questions
The ideological confusion has produced some awkward moments on the campaign trail. Democratic Senate candidate for Florida Angie Nixon drew widespread criticism when asked whether Cuba is a dictatorship. “You know that is what people have told me,” Nixon responded. “I have never been to Cuba and so I will have to take their word for it.”
The answer stood in stark contrast even to President Biden, who twice called Chinese Communist leader Xi Jinping a dictator. Fellow Democrat candidate Eliott Rodriguez felt compelled to respond, stating bluntly: “Cuba being a dictatorship is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact…the suffering of the Cuban people should never be a matter of debate.”
Nixon’s statement was compared unfavorably to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s response when asked about allegations she married a relative: “Not to my knowledge.”
Historical Context and Future Stakes
The tension between capitalism and socialism within the Democratic coalition isn’t new, but the current polling suggests it has reached unprecedented levels. Winston Churchill’s oft-quoted observation provides context for the debate: “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessing. The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
What remains unclear is whether this represents a permanent realignment of the Democratic Party or a temporary swing that will moderate over time. Carville’s frustration suggests establishment Democrats recognize the political risks of moving too far left, particularly when DSA-aligned candidates have begun targeting moderate incumbent Democrats with primary challenges.
The DSA faction’s warning to moderates — “You’re next” — signals that the internal battle is far from over. With DSA supporters showing higher motivation to vote in 2026 than traditional Democrats, the coming election cycle may determine whether the party’s socialist wing can translate polling support into actual political power, or whether the broader electorate’s skepticism toward the DSA label will prove decisive.
For now, the numbers tell a story of a party deeply divided over fundamental questions of economic organization — a division that shows no signs of resolving itself quietly or quickly.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/10/the-dsa-is-deceiving-sinister-and-abominable/