The Democrats have a problem, and the top leaders are only now starting to come to grips with it. Today, on “Meet the Press,” California Governor Jerry Brown talked to Chuck Todd about not having a litmus test on abortion for Democratic candidates.

EXCLUSIVE: @jerrybrowngov argues that the "litmus test' for Democrats should not be abortion, but looking out for the "common man." #MTP pic.twitter.com/FFVYq6qLDE

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 6, 2017

EXCLUSIVE: @JerryBrownGov on @MeetThePress with @ChuckTodd this morning on a litmus test on abortion

WATCH: https://t.co/ooiEPCeJyV pic.twitter.com/PyVWeW5Sqi

— NBC News PR (@NBCNewsPR) August 6, 2017

We can pass over the very large irony of Brown calling for “what’s best for the common man” after jacking up taxes in California…

Jerry Brown f_cks the common "person". He just signed two tax bills that raise gas and Diesel prices by huge amounts. Flaming As_hole.

— Dan DeBusschere (@DanDeBusschere) August 6, 2017

… and go straight to obvious cracks that have developed between the hard left progressives and the Democratic leadership.

We have talked about how the DNC leadership has come to the realization that their tent needs to be bigger in order to win elections, because the evidence is overwhelming that abortion still matters, even to Democrats. The progressive wing of the party, backed by pro-abortion money and groups, are demanding that Democrats only support abortion-on-demand.

Women’s health & rights are non-negotiable – incl. access to safe, legal abortion. We’ll hold any politician who says otherwise accountable.

— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) August 1, 2017

And those voices are a lot louder than the comments by Democrat leadership, who are trying to appeal to both sides and win elections – to the point where they are literally talking out of both sides of their mouth.

Where does this end? Logically, it should end with the Democrats splitting in two, with the hard left creating their own Progressive Party. But when did politics ever follow the rules of logic? If the Democrats do break up over abortion, the fallout will be huge and messy, and involve lots of special interest money. Will the GOP be smart enough to seize the advantage if such a break up happens? Given the current state of the Republican Party, that’s up for debate as well.