Has Hillary Gone Progressive? No, She’s Just Ripping Off Bernie Sanders

[L0oniX]

If Hillary Clinton sounds like she’s gone a little more progressive since announcing her candidacy, it’s because she realized the people actually support it. What better candidate to steal from than progressive presidential candidate Bernie Sanders?

Hillary Clinton is a Wall Street-loving New Democrat. However, she recently adopted Sanders’s talking points, which he has been heralding long before Clinton decided to enter the 2016 race, reported Vox.

“Clinton’s move to the left has the effect of crowding out longtime liberal stalwarts who occupy space similar to Sanders’s on the political spectrum,” writes Vox. “Most, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), have passed on running against her, knowing they can hold her feet to the fire from the sidelines and that they stand little chance of defeating her juggernaut.”

Sanders is a true champion of the poor and middle-class. Fighting income inequality, big money in politics, and corporate lawlessness is the cornerstone of his narrative. He doesn’t have the money for extravagant campaigns or a bunch of aides, but he truly cares about the people.

more at link

http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2015/05/has-hillary-gone-progressive-no-shes-just-ripping-off-bernie-sanders/

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Clinton, triangulate?

Take that back, dammit.

[leftofcool]

2. Okie dokie.

[Nite Owl]

3. Something she can't get

decades of a progressive record.

[L0oniX]

6. Well that's it isn't it? Bernie has a long track record of being a progressive.

Hillary doesn't.

[sendero]

11. Yes but even here of all places..

... people don't really understand her history, and they'll fall for her phony-ass populist ACT in a second.

[L0oniX]

17. It's way beyond that. The idea is to vote for who can win. Of course you need the most money too.

I think we know where the bigger funds will be coming from. Basically the Dem party has to sell its soul to big money to win. Conscience not needed or required.

[sendero]

19. As I've learned ..

... from the last 7 years, winning isn't everything. I expected big changes but I didn't get them. No one is going to get them from HRC either, she's like repeating the mistakes of the 90's that got us where we are today.

Oh well, the nice thing for me is I don't give a shit any more

[frylock]

34. If money were the sole deciding factor, Governor Fiorina would be stumping..

for President Romney's re-election bid.

[-none]

107. Vote for who can win?

That is the main reason the Democratic party has gone so far to the Right. We keep believing those that tell us to vote for people that are a little to the Left of the Republican party because anyone on the Lift of them cannot possibly win.
We need to start voting for those people that come closest to reflecting our values.
And stop letting a few people with an agenda, picking who we can vote for. You know, like the DLC is doing now.

[polichick]

4. Talk is cheap. k&r

[Autumn]

5. Has she been giving campaign speeches yet?

If she is, I'm not seeing them or clips of them on the news or elsewhere.

[L0oniX]

7. Nada.

[Autumn]

16. Didn't think I had heard anything.

[Buns_of_Fire]

36. Hey, It takes time to reach consensus from all the consultants.

Which then has to be cross-tabbed to the data from the focus groups, of course. Then it has to be run by Bill, Lloyd, and Jamie. (At least no one is using astrologers that I'm aware of.)

And by the time you've done all that, everyone is asking a new question, so you're back to square one. Damned ungrateful nosy voters, anyway.

[AtomicKitten]

8. Don't sell Elizabeth Warren short.

Hillary's ripping off her message too.

[sendero]

13. LOL...

.. she certainly is.

Every time I'm tempted to allow myself to hope that a presidential candidate means what s/he says, I compare what Obama said in 2008 to what actually happened and for good measure I compare what George Shrub Bush said compared to what he actually did.

Talk is cheap and Americans fall for it over and over and over.

[BrotherIvan]

15. I agree with this

I think she's directly trying to co-opt Warren's message, not necessarily that pinko socialist.

[wyldwolf]

9. "Progressives" then and now

April: we need a progressive candidate to move Hillary left.
May: She's just ripping off Bernie Sanders!!!

😄

[leftofcool]

10. You caught that too, eh?

My irony meter seems to always be going off when I am reading DU.

[L0oniX]

12. If she moves left it's only to get votes. It's temporary. Bigger bus being towed to larger location.

[JaneyVee]

20. Yeah okay, the middle is quadruple the size of the left.

If its for votes then she's losing a whole bunch of them. Perhaps she's fighting for what she believes.

[L0oniX]

21. Yeah ...what she believes will get her a win.

[hifiguy]

35. HRC's cynicism - note I said cynicism and I herein limit my analogy to that alone -

is approaching Nixon-like levels. It really is both breathtaking and disgusting all at once.

[JaneyVee]

18. June: WAAAAH!

😢

[delrem]

81. Nobody supports a progressive candidate just to "move Hillary left".

That's your own construction.
Few progressives think any such "movement" would be anything beyond rhetoric, to be renounced if and when the Third Way candidate wins.
You know that.

[wyldwolf]

83. No one said that either

You know that.

[delrem]

91. "Progressives" then and now April: we need a progressive candidate to move Hillary left.

You could have fooled me, wyldwolf!!!!

eta: if those weren't the exact words you intended to say, you ought to have used different words.

[wyldwolf]

93. You're still not reading my post.

[delrem]

94. I quoted your post verbatim. nt

[wyldwolf]

96. But it doesn't say what you claimed it said up thread

No one, not me or anyone, has said people would support a 'progressive' just to move Hillary left. Quote me on that.

What I said, and what you're not getting, is that for months DUers have said over and over a progressive was needed to move Hillary left. This is a fact.

It's up to YOU who you vote for and why.

[PowerToThePeople]

103. True. No one has ever said that.

[delrem]

104. Progressives aren't *that* naive!

[DanTex]

14. Because, obviously, Bernie Sanders invented progressivism! Clearly!

[bvar22]

39. No, Bernie did not invent progressism,

but he IS one with a 20 year track record,
and also very clever with words.
If you are going to steal campaign sound bytes,
Bernie is your guy.

[drray23]

22. that is not a good argument

Bernie does not have the monopoly on progressive ideas. I for one would hope that any dem candidate would embrace progressive views. Your argument sounds like kids at recess arguing about "me first!"

[L0oniX]

24. What he has is a long track record. I didn't write the article but thanks for the kid insult.

[drray23]

27. oh i dont dispute that.

The way I see it whether Bernie wins the nomination or not he is already positively influencing the other dems including Hillary to talk about and promote progressive ideas. Its a win in my book.

[drray23]

31. i apologize for that snide remark. I could have made my point without it. nt.

[rhett o rick]

23. The only thng about Clinton that is moving left is her rhetoric. And even that is

avoiding touchy subjects like fracking and Free Trade Agreements.

[winter is coming]

52. But immigration! Look at the shiny!! Triangulation lives. n/t

[PBass]

98. So you don't care about immigration reform? Okay... Lots of us do care. (NT)

[winter is coming]

100. Actually, I do care about immigration reform.

I think it's convenient that Hillary has gotten religion about immigration reform right after kicking off a campaign. I hope she means it, but suspect that she and her advisors sat down and looked for an issue she could embrace for 2016 that would make her look like a forward-thinker instead of the status quo candidate she is, and immigration is it.

[totodeinhere]

111. Correct. Compare that with Bernie Sanders who has spent his entire political career

fighting for fair and just immigration reform.

[rhett o rick]

108. So you don't care about our Seniors living in poverty? Well Okay...Lots of us do. nm

[totodeinhere]

110. I do care very much about immigration reform and that's why I want to vote for a

candidate that I can trust to try to do it. And Clinton is not that candidate. But on the other hand, does anyone in their right mind not believe that Bernie would go all out for immigration reform? Just ask yourself that.

[hughee99]

66. Completely agree. If she wins they'll be a whole

Bunch of defenders claiming she never said these things, that you misunderstood the context, or that she really tried to do them but those darn republicans stopped her. The "Dry powder" excuse is always popular, too.

[Art_from_Ark]

70. I wonder what kind of powder it is that they have to keep so dry?

Talcum powder? Baking powder? Sugar powder?

[rhett o rick]

109. She will pull an Obama. He promised he would close Gitmo. Jeeze he couldn't forsee

that he might not have the power. So sad, too bad, the torture palace still operates.

[Charles de Gaudless]

25. True

But she'll still be the nominee.

[justiceischeap]

26. Wait, 2 weeks ago I thought she was ripping off Warren

And if O'Malley announces will she be ripping him off too?

It's almost as though people are implying that Clinton is incapable of having her own ideas or thoughts.

[bvar22]

42. O'Mally, Warren, and Sanders are REAL Progressives.

I'm sure we can find many places where their issues and values overlap.

Hillary is NOT a part of the Progressive Caucus, and very few of her policies overlap with those mentioned above, though her handlers and acolytes will try to make it look like they do.

EVERYBODY in the WORLD noticed when Hillary started stealing Campaign Sound bytes from the Progressives in our Party..... EVERYBODY, because the words sounded so phony coming from her lips.

I have never trusted Jail House Conversions,
and I don't trust THIS one either.

[L0oniX]

69. ^^^this^^^

[DocMac]

80. I like what you post.

You never disappoint.

[L0oniX]

68. Certainly she is capable of forming her own ideas and thoughts in order to get votes.

I'm sure she has no consultants as to what she should or should not be saying. After all ...she is not calculating what she should say to gain votes.

BTW are you interested in purchasing a slightly used bridge ...but I must warn you it may fall down for the lack of spending money on infrastructure in preference for spending money on war.

[still_one]

28. why don't you focus on pushing the candidate of your choice, instead of dissing another one.

[1StrongBlackMan]

60. The former is far less Rec-generating than the latter. n/t

[L0oniX]

65. I didn't write the article. Are you trying to control what gets posted? Good luck.

As far as I can tell posting opinions and articles on the candidates is what DU is all about during a political campaign season. If you don't like it ...I suggest you use the "trash thread" tab.

[still_one]

97. I am just giving my opinion, and of course I am sure the post was just to be cynically

observant

[Dr Hobbitstein]

29. Cool story, bro! n/t

[Thinkingabout]

30. Hillary is basically in the same positions she has been for years, seems like

Those claiming she was something else has had an opening of their minds since she has been on the campaign trail. I even think Bernie may profit from moving in Hillary's direction.

[L0oniX]

61. "Bernie may profit from moving in Hillary's direction" Bwahahah I can see the money pouring in now.

[Thinkingabout]

101. Well, its his choice, he can try to run past left or jump in the game to win.

We will see how strong he is on winning.

[L0oniX]

106. You really think that him being anti Citizens United that he will take money from its benefits?

[TM99]

64. Exactly.

Last edited Thu May 7, 2015, 08:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Her economic policies are neo-liberal inspired by the DLC & Reaganomics. Her foreign policies are neo-conservative inspired by PNAC and the hawkish position on global terror. The only thing even remotely progressive about her are her social policies. And even then, she was totally behind on LGBT issues (even compared to Warren) only coming out for support in 2013, possibly racist (certainly willing to use racist shit in her 2008 campaign against Obama), and a strong supporter of the Family (a far right religious group) to boot.

Yes, we know exactly what Hillary Clinton stands for alright.

[L0oniX]

77. +1

[Thinkingabout]

102. Sorry, missed again huh. Maybe you can still join the winning team.

[TM99]

105. I see you have no arguments

to dispute the accurate facts I presented?

I am already on the winning team. Because even if Clinton wins, we all lose.

[RBInMaine]

32. Thanks for more off-the-planet anti-Hillary crap.

[babylonsister]

33. So what? I'd rather have these two in our camp

Last edited Thu May 7, 2015, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

than a single person taking up residence on the clown bus.

[JDPriestly]

37. K&R.

[MrModerate]

38. Would I like to see Sanders win the nomination?

Probably. My hesitation has to do with the fact that he doesn't have a juggernaut of an organization around him, and good ideas and a pure heart don't win elections. So I expect Clinton to be the nominee, and I think she'll probably win.

Am I happy to see Clinton stealing ideas from Sanders? You betcha! If for no other reason than that she's a senior lecturer at the Clinton School of Triangulation, and if she triangulates closer to what I consider core Democratic ideals, everybody wins.

[MaggieD]

40. Why post this at Democratic Underground?

Reality is that HRC has a very long track record as a liberal. http://www.ontheissues.org/hillary_clinton.htm

Reality USED TO have a liberal bias. Why don't all of you who hate Democrats post in right wing forums instead? You'd find plenty of kinship there, I am sure.

[L0oniX]

59. "record as a liberal" Uhm the title says "progressive" Wrong thread?

[MaggieD]

62. Are you new to politics?

We started using progressive after we let rethugs make "liberal" a dirty word. They are the same thing.

So again, why post this crap to Democratic Underground? Maybe I missing some of your posts, but from what I have seen they are exclusively dedicated to bashing democratic politicians.

[TerrapinFlyer]

41. How many DUers understand the Game of Politics?

To cry "unfair".. she is stealing my ideas! Really?

Of course, I know Bernie won't be campaigning like that... he knows better.

[L0oniX]

58. To cry "unfair" ??? Control F search "unfair". Nope din't say that. Thanks for playing.

[TerrapinFlyer]

72. "thanks for playing"

1995 wants their blog post comment back.

And on my Mac, it's Command-F for search.

But keep whining...

[L0oniX]

75. Please do keep coming up with words that aren't there.

[TerrapinFlyer]

78. "she's just ripping off Bernie Sanders"

That is your exact quote.

Very silly statement. You don't understand the Game of Politics.

And I will repeat it again, you will NOT see Bernie Sanders make a statement as foolish as that.

[L0oniX]

79. I didn't write that but thanks for thinking I did. Try reading the link next time.

[TerrapinFlyer]

84. Maybe you are not understanding...

that when candidates agree on an issue, then you agree that it is good for the Party.

But you stated "Bernie has a long track record of being a progressive. Hillary doesn't."

So I am throwing your own words down your own throat. You are hurting the Democratic party with statements like that. You are also hurting the Progressive Movement. And Bernie would never use those kind of tactics, because he is smarter than you.

You clearly have no idea what it takes to win elections.

[YOHABLO]

43. There's a huge difference between talking 'left' and 'doing left' she may talk the talk but

then like most Presidents we have to trust they will work for the working people and those less fortunate of the country. When everybody does well, everybody does well. What other choice do we have but to support Bernie; and if Hillary gets the nomination, we'll have to support her.

[lewebley3]

45. Yes, there is a big difference between the Dem's and GOP

If you don't see the difference, then you haven't been pay any
attention!

[lewebley3]

44. Hillary has always been a liberal! Its Sanders followers that ling about Hillary!

Last edited Thu May 7, 2015, 07:50 PM - Edit history (3)

Hillary is not a new Dem. Bernie is a new Dem.(he needs Dem's money to get him on the ballot).

Hillary was liberal before it was cool to be liberal, and
before liberal decided to call them progressives.

Hillary has very long history, and GOP have seen her as a liberal icon,
she still is, because she believes in sharing with others. The Clinton
Chairty is one of the most successful foundation in the World for
the poor.
She has devoted her life mostly to public serves, she could have been
a Billionaire: she chose to help the American people.
She didn't just make the decision to serve yesterday, she made the
decision to serve when she was in her 20's. She turned down
a place as lawyer to sit on the Watergate committee, she could
have had a career, that would have been worth 100 times more
than what she has now! Hillary is the real thing, we don't
have to guess, we just have to look at her choices.

[L0oniX]

51. Liberal? Did you respond in the wrong thread? The title says "progressive".

[lewebley3]

87. Same thing, Progressive means people who want to share, for the most part!

Policy that are helpful and forward thinking for people!

Liberal is the same thing!

[Laser102]

46. Isn't that what everybody wanted?

But still complaining. You just can't please some people.

[L0oniX]

53. You have no problem with her last minute move to progressive?

Gee ...why does she have to adopt progressive speak now? I guess she was hiding it all these years.

[Cali_Democrat]

47. How dare Hillary espouse progressive ideas.

She's just ripping off Bernie Sanders!

[L0oniX]

54. Whoosh.

[Cali_Democrat]

67. Fantasy world. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

48. Another day, another attack...All i can do is:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

49. Another day, another attack.../NT

[tritsofme]

50. Is imitation not the sincerest form of flattery?

[L0oniX]

55. "imitation" You nailed it. Thanks.

[1StrongBlackMan]

56. So, should we seat you in the ...

"There is nothing she can say or do that I would believe" section? We have a couple on the floor, to the left of the stage.

[L0oniX]

71. So, should we seat you in the ...

Goldman Sachs buddies and Wall street friends money is the only way to win elections dungeon?

[1StrongBlackMan]

74. Yes. Please do. Thank you ...

and could you get me a coke and some chips?

[L0oniX]

76. Thanks for your honesty.

[1StrongBlackMan]

90. I'd rather win ...

even with all that dirty, nasty, filthy wall street money, and get some of what I want; rather, lose without it, and get NONE of what I want ... AND, a whole lot of what I absolutely don't want.

That's the honest difference between REAL LIFE and fantasy.

[leftofcool]

99. +1 because in this world, it IS the only way to win.

[treestar]

57. Bernie has no lock on any political

Position. Lol he does not own anything here.

[L0oniX]

73. He does own his years of fighting for progressive ideals. He's not some Johnny come lately...

to progressive motives and issues. No offense meant to Johnny.

[totodeinhere]

112. Of course he doesn't have a lock on political positions. Nobody is saying

that he does. The issue is trust and I trust him more to have genuine and sincere progressive positions on the issues. And that's why I'm supporting him.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

63. Triangulation? Repackaging? Coopting? "Me too"?

All the above?


"Getting into politics is like stepping into dogshit." From The Motorcycle Diaries

[nikto]

82. Warning: Incoming Metaphors

Any questions?

[L0oniX]

86. Bwahahahaha

[hootinholler]

85. Before she decided on getting in the 2008 race

Somebody might want to fix that.

Bernies job is to move her left if I'm to believe what I've been reading on the DU. The problem is I can't trust her to stay that way after gaining office.

I know Bernie will be there for us.

[L0oniX]

88. I can't and won't trust a politician that changes what they say only to win elections.

Calculating what to say just to bring in sucker votes is despicable.

[azurnoir]

89. Hilary will be the same sort of champion of the middle class and especially the poor as her husband

was during his time in office

[L0oniX]

95. Yeah and we should inform Haiti about that.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/01/19/bill-clintons-shameful-haiti-legacy.html

Bill Clinton's Shameful Haiti Legacy

He may be playing the hero now, but the ex-president’s trip to Haiti is a reminder of the mess his administration left behind. Bob Shacochis on how Clinton wasted a good invasion.
Like many Haitians and not a few Americans who know the island and its history, I had mixed feelings watching the video of former President Clinton step off a plane on to the tarmac at Toussaint Loverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince on Monday afternoon. Bill Clinton, the Second Coming of Hope. The First Coming, the U.S.-led invasion in 1994 adorned with 20,000 American troops, did not turn out so well. By 1996, when the American military decamped, you’d be hard pressed to find a Haitian on the streets of Port-au-Prince who wasn’t suffering miserably from hope. By 1996, Haitians were scratching their heads in bewilderment, asking themselves Why has America come to save us? Who will save us now? Ten years later, by almost every measure, Haiti was worse off than it was before Clinton had “rescued” it from the illegitimate regime of General Raoul Cedras and his gang of terrorist enforcers, known by the acronym FRAPH.

I had heard the Haitians saying of the U.S. after the American troops went home: “Lave men ou, siye li a te. It looks like you wash your hands and dry them in dirt.”

more at link

...and this doesn't cover Clinton's subsidizing rice farmers in the US which killed off the rice farmers in Haiti.

[LuvLoogie]

92. Headline sounds like one of those hipster bloggers

going on about cultural appropriation.

[aspirant]

113. Let's just wait patiently

until a disgruntled HRC insider reveals memos and e-mails to the criminal banksters saying relax, it's all a progressive muse for votes.