One popular right-wing radio host here is advancing the notion that American Democrat politicians are behaving cowardly, in political terms, because they are not advancing their "real" beliefs or trying to further their core supporters real agenda. Ted Kennedy scores well whilie many others do not, so this host asserts that moveon.org and other such groups are, increasingly, the heart and soul of the democrat party and will demand/create true liberal candidates to represent them.

Is this accurate?

Should a political party's elected representatives steadfastly advocate the views of their party constituents - even when those views run counter to the "mainstream?"

Can a party be effective when its platform becomes dominated by relatively extreme views relative to the mainstream of a given polity?

Seamus