Will the real 'progressives' please stand up?

Progressivism, loosely described as using government to solve social problems, has supporters in both parties. And both parties can justify a claim to it and its heritage. It may be best associated with "Fighting" Bob LaFollette, the turn-of-the-century liberal senator from Wisconsin who founded The Progressive magazine, but it is also linked to GOP President Theodore Roosevelt, on whose memorial is the quote: "A great Democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a Democracy."

Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona is a champion of campaign-finance reform, a pillar of most progressive agendas, and he has striven to be linked to Teddy Roosevelt. Other Republicans, particularly Northeasterners, have expressed interest in some pro-environment, pro-regulation ideas often associated with progressives. (Some even describe themselves with the "p" word.) And the leading think tank for the conservative wing of the Democratic Party, which Beatty criticized in his remarks, is called the Progressive Policy Institute.

"The word progressive is beginning to get a promiscuous reputation," says Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive. "I'm happy the word is in such currency again, but I want the real progressives to stand up and be counted."

Trouble is, who actually qualifies as a progressive is open to speculation. Even within the Progressive Majority, disagreement on that point may emerge. Liberals from Hollywood often have different political ideas than, say, your average Detroit auto worker. Without a compelling personality to organize them - and Beatty avers he isn't using the group to launch his own candidacy - little holds them together.

The public, meanwhile, seems to be somewhat interested in government involvement in key areas, particularly education and health. But is that really a movement toward "progressivism"?

"It depends on how you define it," says Andy Kohut of the Pew Research Center. "The public is interested in seeing the government do things, but I'm not sure I'd buy into the idea of a broad change in public attitude."

Overall, Mr. Kohut says, people are more centrist and less angry with government than they have been, and they "have a bee in their bonnet" about seeing the government address prescription drugs and protecting Social Security. "But you also see that campaign-finance reform, which I would assume is high on [the Progressive Majority's] list, is pretty low in our latest poll."

Some other goals Beatty mentioned, such as the idea that healthcare reform should be "Medicare for everyone," may draw more-limited support.

Still, the star quality behind this particular brand of progressivism will likely lend it a megaphone. Before Beatty's speech, an organizer asked Corzine his thoughts. "As long as you keep bringing in people like Warren Beatty," said the senator from New Jersey, "you're going to get a good crowd."

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