Much ado has been made of the “shrinking GOP demographic” in recent months. Rather than promoting inclusive social or economic policies, the growing perception is that the Republican Party is dominated by, and focused on aiding, those who aren’t really in need of much help.

Conversely, the Democratic Party has been seeing an expansion of its voting base: minorities, the middle class, and the young and restless increasingly identify with Democrats.

According to this line of line of thought, if you were to ask the average American who’s grown disaffected with the GOP to sketch an image of the average Republican, and they’re likely to draw a bloated, tux-sporting 70s-something old man giggling as he sips scotch and burns food stamps.

Clearly, the fact that the GOP’s voting base is on its way to being solely comprised of white men is a problem for them. Given that this country’s voting population is on its way to becoming majority non-white, the oldest party in the country seems to be in serious trouble. Jefferson would be ashamed, argue some; it’s time for a third party, assert others (can’t really argue with the stats there).

The problem with these assumptions is that they ignore important dynamics that may well change exactly who supports whom, not necessarily in the next election, but a while down the road….as economic position changes, so does political stance…though the coordinated attempts by the GOP to disenfranchise huge swaths of voters will likely stick in those voters’ and their children’s minds for years to come…

Trying to fit too much in right now….we’re heading off to the National Journal conference. More later.