Do Republicans – or Democrats – still have “a big tent”?

QUOTE: “Our party is a big tent. We can house many views on many issues.”        Lee Atwater (1951-1991)        Republican political strategist and “wedge issue” mastermind           Famous comment to reporters, Nov. 14, 1989

COUNTERQUOTE: “The Democratic Party is a big tent. We are widely diversified.”        Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill (1912-1994)        Democratic House Majority Leader        Comment to a reporter in June 1975

UPDATED QUOTE ABOUT THE GOP: “As you know, if you're a minority or an interest group, the Democrats will hold a debate at your house. Whereas, Republicans take a slightly different approach. They have a big tent – you're just not allowed in it.”        Jon Stewart (b. 1962)        Host of The Daily Show        Quip made on his show, Oct. 1, 2007

UPDATED QUOTE ABOUT THE DEMS: “The ultra left-wing group MoveOn.org has announced that it will begin targeting Democrats who oppose health care reform...[and] plans to help bankroll primary challenges against senators who side with the GOP on the issue of health care. Now wait a minute, I thought the mainstream media said it was Republicans who no longer had the big tent party? I guess the media is wrong.”        Sean Hannity (b. 1961)        Conservative media pundit         Comment on his Fox News show, Nov. 12, 2009

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