Can we agree that the change in the Democratic base was more complicated than just Clinton brought in a bunch of corporatist DLC hacks?
Agreed “But that coalition did not serve everyone, and subsequent movements and events served to challenge it.” is when the damage started. And that’s where the Democratic Party lost its way, having gotten tired of $20 contributions and having to deal with people who made a living working with their hands (think Rust Belt). Wall Street and Corporate America looked good in the ‘New Democrat’ view with Clinton/Gore leading the way. Yes, they ran up against serious social obstacles that weakened the Party but that comes with the territory. And the Vietnam war, along with Humphrey being unable to uncouple from LBJ’s warmongering did serious damage as well.
We can go on about the 'why’s of what happened to the DP, as we have lost that ‘liberal/labor coalition’, but it’s the only way back. Look around, the 1% own everything and the middle-class has been decimated, and incrementalism ain’t gonna get us anywhere.