NY Times Crossword
October 7, 2007
Nancy Salomon and Harvey Estes
(Title shown below)

The words and phrases below are arranged in a certain pattern that has nothing to do with their meanings. Can you figure out what's going on?

DEMARCATED                          TUPPERWARE PARTY
READ 'EM AND WEEP             CARE PACKAGES
                            DON'T MIND IF I DO
ACADEMY AWARD                  INSTANT REPLAY
I DEMAND A RECOUNT          SPARE PARTS

HINT:
The pattern involves hidden words.

Answer:

Each word on the left conceals the consecutive letters DEM. Each word on the right conceals REP, with IND hidden at dead center.

Puzzle title: POLITICAL POSITIONS