Which Makes John McCain What, Exactly?

Jonah Goldberg observes:

The Democrats' coalitions are usually about bringing together different groups who want the same thing but look different. They are a transactional party, a popular front party. They tell union workers "we'll give you what you want if you agree to support giving feminists what they want and black groups what they want." Historically, Democrats win by promising to slice the pie generously for constituencies like teachers unions, racial party bosses etc. The Republicans historically say, "if you believe 7 of these 10 things, you're a Republican." Now obviously a political party, even a conservative one, plays its own patronage games but the differences are nonetheless remarkable.