Comparing Positions of the Democratic Candidates, from the Washington Post

[Koinos]

A Simple Guide to the Real Differences Between the Democratic Candidates for President

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/05/04/these-are-the-real-differences-between-the-democratic-candidates/

What interests me here is Bernie's alleged position against gun control. Otherwise, his positions and those of O'Malley seem identical.

It seems odd to me that the Washington Post considers O'Malley to be a candidate, even before he has announced.

[FSogol]

1. One candidate has already had successes in two of those areas:

As Maryland's governor, O'Malley signed one of the country's most restrictive gun laws.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/maryland-gun-control-law_n_3287475.html

and

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) signed legislation Monday that will increase the state’s minimum wage for most workers to $10.10 by 2018, the last major legislative priority of his tenure.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-gov-omalley-signs-minimum-wage-increase-hundreds-of-other-bills-into-law/2014/05/05/98df84de-d46a-11e3-8a78-8fe50322a72c_story.html

and from 2007:

Maryland became the first state in the nation yesterday to require government contractors to pay their employees significantly more than the minimum wage under legislation signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

The "living wage" measure, which the General Assembly passed last month, will require contractors working in the Washington-Baltimore corridor to pay $11.30 an hour. For those in more rural counties, the minimum will be $8.50. The state's minimum wage is $6.15.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050801798.html

[cali]

3. A couple of points: One, O'Malley (who I like, btw) was a Governor

and two, what makes sense for MD regarding gun control is different from what makes sense in VT. VT has a very low rate of gun violence.

In any case, Vermont's minimum wage (and every county is a rural county in Vermont, is $9.15. Maryland's is $8.00. That's a substantial difference.

As for the positions that O'Malley shares with Sanders, Sanders has been much more consistent on them for a much longer period.

[FSogol]

4. So, you are telling me that Sanders is older? I knew that. n/t

[Koinos]

5. Guns and Such

Bernie is not a state senator in Vermont. He is a US senator. As such, he should consider (and should have considered) gun control as an issue affecting all fifty states. I believe gun control laws should be federal and should not differ from state to state. We have problems when one state has gun restrictions and nearby states have few or no restrictions. I personally believe that guns are as dangerous or more dangerous than automobiles and should be properly licensed and regulated on a nationwide basis. I do not believe that sensible gun control laws are in violation of the second amendment. Given its importance to many people who appreciate the dangers of open carry and have experienced harm, this is not an issue Bernie can ignore.

In Maryland, the minimum wage is going up incrementally until it reaches $10.10 by July 1, 2018. From the Baltimore Sun:

"Maryland will join 21 states that, along with the District of Columbia, have set a rate above the federal minimum wage. Only Connecticut has adopted a rate as high as $10.10, effective in 2017.

"The Maryland law will phase in the increase, raising the minimum wage from its current $7.25 to $8 Jan. 1 and $8.25 on July 1, 2015. Subsequent increases will bring it to $8.75 on July 1, 2016, $9.25 on July 1, 2017, and $10.10 on the same date in 2018."

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-05-05/news/bs-md-minimum-signing-20140505_1_minimum-wage-increase-minimum-wage-bill-minimum-wage

You write: "As for the positions that O'Malley shares with Sanders, Sanders has been much more consistent on them for a much longer period." You would have to provide some specific examples of what you mean, other than the age difference between the two candidates. But I don't think consistency is necessarily a good thing. We should learn from our mistakes and change our minds when it is appropriate to do so. For example, I hope Bernie changes his position on gun control. The issue of guns and gun culture in this country has to be addressed, in my opinion.

[cali]

14. I completely and utterly disagree with you.

I'm all for waiting periods and background checks being federal law along with machine gun bans. I do not think gun laws that are appropriate for NY or CA are appropriate for VT or Maine or WY or other rural states with strong hunting traditions.

Why should VT have gun control akin to that of NJ when it has one of the lowest incidences PER CAPITA of gun violence and the lowest rate of murder from guns, despite having the laxest gun laws in the country? Quite simply, Vermont doesn't have a gun violence problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States_by_state

As for minimum wage, Bernie has been an activist on this for 30 years- for a LIVING WAGE. And in VT, btw, the mw is scheduled to rise to 10.50 in 2018 and to indexed to inflation beginning in 2019. MD will catch up with VT's current minimum wage in two years, by which time VT's will be over $10.00.

As for providing evidence that Bernie was a progressive when O'Malley was a centrist, are you kidding? He's been working for the same things for over 30 years. I've provided lots of links and so have others- just go to the Bernie group.

[Koinos]

17. On all points?

cali, I really enjoy your posts and the wealth of information you have provided to DU. I didn't mean to provoke, only to state some points.

I hope not to completely and utterly disagree with anyone. That would make dialogue impossible.

Let us agree to disagree about gun control, which is a very important issue for me. In my opinion, strict gun control laws don't keep law-abiding and sane citizens from owning them. I do not "hunt" either humans or animals.

As I recall, Vermont is not running against Maryland in the primary. Both states are doing their best to raise the minimum wage, while folks in red states are still struggling with $7.25. In fact, all fifty states need a minimum wage of $15.

You write: "As for providing evidence that Bernie was a progressive when O'Malley was a centrist, are you kidding? He's been working for the same things for over 30 years. I've provided lots of links and so have others- just go to the Bernie group."

That's not the topic of consistency about specific issues as you raised it. Elizabeth Warren was a republican before she was a democrat. What matters is who she is now and what she fights for. Is Bernie more of a progressive than Elizabeth Warren, just because he has been one for a longer time?

I like Bernie a lot. I like Martin O'Malley. I see no point in Bernie people tearing O'Malley apart or O'Malley people tearing Bernie apart. I am not a "fan" at this point. This is not a horse race. Bernie and "Martin" are on the same side. Both will run positive and progressive campaigns. We who are trying to sort this out should behave the same.

I'm not going to join any group at this point, since I wish to keep my mind open. I have, indeed, read most of the DU threads on Bernie, as I have tried to keep up with information about O'Malley. I am not uninformed.

But O'Malley is not a conservative wolf in progressive sheep's clothing. Whether he has been more or less progressive for more years than his elder Bernie is not the point. What is the point is the whole package, with lots of intangibles. Whichever candidate I choose to support will not imply the downgrading of the other.

[deaniac21]

6. Hillary was a governor.....

[Koinos]

8. Hillary was a lawyer, a first lady, a senator, and a secretary of state.

I can't find governor in her resume.

[FSogol]

2. Truthfully, only HRC is officially running. Sanders announced he is officially in on May 26 & O'Malley

will officially start his campaign by the end of May.

Webb and Chafee are still in considering mode and have not made a commitment to run.

[Koinos]

7. Start of the Campaign

I'm not sure I understand the difference between official and unofficial start in Bernie's campaign, but he seems to be already running.

On the other hand, there is a possibility that O'Malley will not run. He may foresee endorsements and money drying up, especially with the explosion of enthusiasm for Bernie.

I am on and off the fence about these two and look forward to fuller clarification if both are enrolled in the primary. I see certain liabilities for Bernie in the general election that I do not see for O'Malley, but I also believe that the democratic party needs the kind of earthquake that Bernie is likely to provoke.

I want everyone to run, even Webb and Chafee. Why not?

[FSogol]

9. I think the distinction is notifying the FEC. Saunder has notified them at he will be a candidate

as of 5/26/15. Not sure how the money he brings in before this date is accounted. HRC notified the FEC before her announcement and it was reported that she had a 14 day window to make it official. The system seems needlessly complex.

Like yourself, I have no problem with others getting in the race.

[brooklynite]

10. No, Bernie Sanders IS officially running

The clock doesn't start when you hold a big rally with balloons; it starts when you notify the FEC (technically, it starts when your Presidential Committee takes ANY action, but you have two weeks to notify the FEC).

[FSogol]

11. Then, what is the significance of his 5/26/15 start date? n/t

[brooklynite]

12. It's a big rally with balloons...

...boisterous crowd, long pithy speech, etc.

[FSogol]

13. Ok, thanks. Is there anyway to tell when O'Malley (or anyone else) notifies the FEC besides

official announcement?

[brooklynite]

15. Probably it'll get leaked out on his email list or the twitter-verse

[Koinos]

16. I started to read the FEC requirements, but I got a headache:

Here's the link:

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/candregis.shtml

It hasn't been updated since 2013 (FEC short of money, I think).