Liberalism is not the foppish, sentimental cultural elitism mocked by the right. It is popularist politics of opposition to economic inequality.
>30% of Americans call thmselves conservatives
18% call themselves liberals
>60% take liberal positions on most issues
e.g. 65% favor health insurance for all even if it means raising taxes
86% favor raising the minimum wage
77% say the country "should do whatever it takes to protect the environment"
-- Pew Research, 2005