They are not closeted Republicans, these NIMBY/centrist liberals are liberals in the original definition of the word. Socially progressive but economically conservative. If you put the Democrats and these centrists in Europe, they are a lot more closer to the German conservative CDU and neoliberal French president Macron. Their policies are not friendly to the broader working and middle class.

So with all that said, why would people vote for Democrats who only give breadcrumbs, instead of doubling down on building affordable housing; raising minimum wage; and implementing Medicare-for-all? In the midst of growing wealth inequality, all the Democrats could say is: "I am not my opponent".

The American people are going right, only because there is no actual effective left wing progressives in power, because they are being sidelined by centrist/NIMBY liberals and the Democratic Party itself, who are beholden to the all mighty dollar.