Robert Reich: Responses to Bernie SKEPTICS

[Segami]

Robert Reich has a great facebook post up addressing Bernie skeptics:

Six Responses to Bernie Skeptics:


1. “He’d never beat Trump or Cruz in a general election.”

Wrong. According to the latest polls, Bernie is the strongest Democratic candidate in the general election, defeating both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in hypothetical matchups. (The latest Real Clear Politics averages of all polls shows Bernie beating Trump by a larger margin than Hillary beats Trump, and Bernie beating Cruz while Hillary loses to Cruz.)

2. “He couldn’t get any of his ideas implemented because Congress would reject them.”

If both house of Congress remain in Republican hands, no Democrat will be able to get much legislation through Congress, and will have to rely instead on executive orders and regulations. But there’s a higher likelihood of kicking Republicans out if Bernie’s “political revolution” continues to surge around America, bringing with it millions of young people and other voters, and keeping them politically engaged.

3. “America would never elect a socialist.”

P-l-e-a-s-e. America’s most successful and beloved government programs are social insurance – Social Security and Medicare. A highway is a shared social expenditure, as is the military and public parks and schools. The problem is we now have excessive socialism for the rich (bailouts of Wall Street, subsidies for Big Ag and Big Pharma, monopolization by cable companies and giant health insurers, giant tax-deductible CEO pay packages) – all of which Bernie wants to end or prevent.

4. “His single-payer healthcare proposal would cost so much it would require raising taxes on the middle class.”

This is a duplicitous argument. Single-payer systems in other rich nations have proven cheaper than private for-profit health insurers because they don’t spend huge sums on advertising, marketing, executive pay, and billing. So even if the Sanders single-payer plan did require some higher taxes, Americans would come out way ahead because they’d save far more than that on health insurance.

5. “His plan for paying for college with a tax on Wall Street trades would mean colleges would run by government rules.”

Baloney. Three-quarters of college students today already attend public universities financed largely by state governments, and they’re not run by government rules. The real problem is too many young people still can’t afford a college education. The move toward free public higher education that began in the 1950s with the G.I. Bill and extended into the 1960s came to an abrupt stop in the 1980s. We must restart it.

6. “He’s too old.”

Untrue. He’s in great health. Have you seen how agile and forceful he is as he campaigns around the country? These days, 70s are the new 60s. (He’s younger than four of the nine Supreme Court justices.) In any event, the issue isn't age; it's having the right values. FDR was paralyzed and JFK had Crohn's disease, but they were great presidents because they stood forcefully for the right things.

What do you think?


https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/1136686319677296

[99th_Monkey]

1. As usual, Mr. Reich makes a lot of sense, and makes me smile big. n/t

[lewebley3]

24. Reich is a former disgruntle employee of Clinton's: He would not have

a career without Clinton's:

Reich bitter party of 1

[highprincipleswork]

26. As usual with such charges, there is nothing there. No bitterness in what he has to say at all.

Just truth.

[lewebley3]

29. Reich has been attacking the Clintons since they dumped him

[Segami]

30. Please post a link

showing or explaining the Clintons dumping Reich.

[JonLeibowitz]

31. It may be difficult

You've been friends with Bill Clinton for a long time. How did you get to know him?


We were both fortunate enough to be selected to be Rhodes scholars. On the trip to Oxford, England, we took a ship. I don't know why we took a ship in those days. There were jet airplanes, but we were on a ship. It was the tradition. And I had met him very briefly on the dock just before heading out to sea. After about three days in the ocean, I discovered, much to my chagrin, that I didn't have sea legs. I was a wreck. I was seasick. All I wanted to do was go down to my cabin and die, and I did go down to the cabin. I didn't die. But there was a knock on my door. There was this tall, gangly fellow with a southern accent. I had briefly met him before. He said, "Hi. Just want to remind you that I'm Bill Clinton. Heard you weren't feeling so well. Maybe this will help." In one hand he had chicken soup, and in another hand he had crackers. Now, he didn't say, "I feel your pain." That came later. But he did at least care, apparently, about whether I was going to make it. And that started a conversation, a friendship -- not my closest friendship by any stretch of the imagination -- but certainly a good relationship that lasted for the next 30 years, and still lasts.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/reich.html

[navarth]

46. feeding a troll....

a thankless task.

[BeanMusical]

59. +1

[99th_Monkey]

38. LOL - "disgruntle employee" is what corporations & NSA calls Whistle-blowers who speak truth.

True to form for a corporatist I suppose.

[libdem4life]

40. Maybe he is too ethical to put up with their Bull Crap. From what I've seem him write

he is intelligent, progressive, well-spoken and non-aggressive. Guess that would explain it. Not a bitter split. People change...relationships change. Just another booga-booga.

[lewebley3]

62. Reich is no more ethical then anyone esle in politics: Sorry he's just a Guy

[libdem4life]

65. Say what? How many times have you been published in the national media?

Judgmental and negative sound bites indicate, IMO, a lack of vocabulary and understanding of complex issues. I was raised a Republican, like Hillary, yet my first vote was for McGovern. Just a woman, I guess, right? And it's pretty obvious who I'm voting for this time.

[rpannier]

48. You do know he resigned

According to Bill and Reich, he told Clinton he was only going to stay for 4 years at the beginning
But, if it helps you sleep easier thinking they dumped him, have at it

[JDPriestly]

50. Reich is not the one who sounds bitter.

That Bernie has risen so far in the polls has made a lot of Hillary fans bitter, and it sometimes shows not just on DU, but in general.

We hold primary elections so that we can find the best candidate. This is an especially important process for the presidential nominee.

May the best person win.

Reich is not the one who sounds bitter.

[Betty Karlson]

54. Shoot the messenger!

It's all camp Clinton does these days - that and shifting to neo-conservative talking points.

[lewebley3]

61. Reich is not messenger: he is just wants lime light like Palin:

[Betty Karlson]

63. Take another shot: the messenger is still messaging! eom

[lewebley3]

64. No its just Reich ego

[Betty Karlson]

66. Let's see... What will be your next shot?

- First he was a disgruntled employee
- Then he was like Palin
- Then he had a big ego...

Maybe you will accuse him of being irrelevant? Something like: "Who cares what he says? His days were (x) years ago."? Because, as we all know, experience is only allowed to speak when it is Clinton's experience doing the talking. Experienced women and men who disagree with The Annointed One must remain silent. The power of Debbie commands them!

[highprincipleswork]

28. Seems just like common sense to me. But we live in kind of a bizarro world.

Perhaps it's the Republican rightwing fantasies that have been spinning since at least the days of Raygun. The torture drip of listening to Rush Limgaugh or just having him and others like him around and so everywhere. The idiocy of following the dictates of what thirteen year old Grover Norquist cooked up in his adolescent mind.

Break the shackles people! This shit makes sense and the other stuff doesn't! That's why people are responding to it. That's why we can clearly win.

[daleanime]

2. K&R.....

[Live and Learn]

3. Thanks, going to keep this on hand for tableing and flyering events. nt

[awake]

4. Robert Reich was Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997

So is he still a "friend of Bill" or has he been put on the Clinton's "enemies list" ?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. Clinton refused to follow his advice on income inequality.

[snort]

58. Remember what he said when he took the job?:

"I knew I was on the President's short list..."

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Got to love those GOP

talking points. These are the same ones or similiar ones used by establishment since when ever.

[Faux pas]

6. Oh Yeah!

[pangaia]

7. To quote Jesse Jackson,

"I'd rather have Roosevelt in a wheelchair than Reagan on a horse."

I will NEVER, EVER forget that or exactly where I was when he said it.

[appalachiablue]

8. That is beautiful! Thanks to you and Jesse Jackson. :)

[pangaia]

10. I am not sure if I should say---

"LOL!"

OR.. Hey WTF is that shit.. Give a warning, will ya???

[pangaia]

11. OK, I have decided.

Look at the look on that horse.

[appalachiablue]

12. You got it. Poor, unhappy horse!!

To add, I'll never forget living in DC when Dutch was elected in Nov. 1980. The shock of that seismic event- squads of loud, rude Republicans descending on Washington in long limos wearing big hair, dripping jewels, full length minks and demanding 'special treatment' every place they swarmed before the Jan. Inaugural- was semi permanent!!

[passiveporcupine]

19. That's cause he's riding with a spade bit

That is torture to a horse's mouth. Asshole.

[zentrum]

49. Is that horse suffering?

It seems to be foaming at the bit—a sign of the rider being too rough. Not to mention its eyes.

Does anyone who knows about horses and riding have any idea what we're seeing here?

Love Robert Reich. He left the Clintons because he was an economic progressive.

[underpants]

27. That's awesome

[pangaia]

34. 1984 Democratic national Convention.

I was sitting with my then girlfriend in Cincinnati watching it. That was the best political speech I have ever heard. We were both in tears. I worked on Jackson's campaign in Cincinnati. He won the county!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/jesse/speeches/jesse84speech.html

[underpants]

35. 1992 his "That's NOT America" speech turned me into a Democrat

I was in an Army barracks in Germany.

[pangaia]

37. That is so nice.

This was the 1st time I ever worked for any campaign..

Earlier that year he came to Cincinnati and gave a speech at the Convention Center (I think it was) HUGE crowd, maybe 95% AA. And little ole me the Hungarian. At one point in his speech he asked people to come to the stage and make a pledge of a contribution.. One by one, people started standing up and going to the stage. I started feeling this buzzing inside me and though .. "OMG I am about to go up there!" And damn I did. Couldn't believe I did it. Shook his hand. Made a donation.

Later, on a campaign trip, I heard, through our local campaign committee, that his airplane would land at Lunken Field to refuel, an old private field. I went there with a few other people. There was a little coffee shop as I remember. We waited there. He came in and we all had coffee and chatted. He remembered me from the convention center !! Maybe because I was probably the only white guy to come on the stage. Who knows. Yikes..

[Enthusiast]

45. Huge +1! Fantastic!

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Segami.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. Bookmarked! Reich is correct, as usual.

Thanks for posting, Segami!

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[HeartoftheMidwest]

15. And this point is more critical than you think:

"...The latest Real Clear Politics averages of all polls shows Bernie beating Trump by a larger margin than Hillary beats Trump,..."

The easiest elections to STEAL are the ones where the margin of victory are smallest, as we've seen too often. If Sen. Sanders can beat Trump ( presumed GOP candidate ) by a larger or large margin, the election is less likely to be stolen. The Oligarchy HATES Trump, as he cannot be controlled ( bribed, perhaps )....but they'd rather have a tRump than Sen. Sanders.

[sorechasm]

16. Robert Reich is always on point. Thanks Segami!

Voter enthusiasm and GOTV is everything.

But there’s a higher likelihood of kicking Republicans out if Bernie’s “political revolution” continues to surge around America, bringing with it millions of young people and other voters, and keeping them politically engaged.

[Helen Borg]

17. I think Bernie will be a great President!

[Juicy_Bellows]

18. KICK

[Left Coast2020]

20. Number 2 is probably his best point

When Bernie gets the Nomination there will be a ripple effect into statewide elections. Not sure if Dem's will get many governors chairs, but state legislatures could dramatically change across the country. That is what I want to see. And if Snot Walker (borrowed that from Norman Goldman), and Snyder are up for reelection and loses, all the better.

Politics is local. Never forget that. Dem's in control of state Houses would literately end this so-called war on women and their healthcare needs. Vote for your state rep's too. They are important.

If anyone knows if Walker is on the ballot, let us know. That scumbag needs to go yesterday. Same for Snyder.

[JudyM]

42. It's the strongest argument against the anti-socialist trope: we already have socialism, even for

corporations.

I really hope he says something to that effect tomorrow night.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

21. Excellent

[Joe Turner]

22. Great responses from Robert Reich

The establishment in both parties fear Bernie...that is a Good Thing. Gives real hope for real change.

[INdemo]

23. Hillary supporters will not read this

[Vattel]

25. Wow, very concise and incisive.

My only objection is that I worry that there is some truth in #5. There is a growing trend in academia of political interference and I am not sure Sanders or Clinton or Obama are aware of the problem.

[forest444]

32. The one I hear most often is "Bernie is too old."

Puh-lease!

[WillyT]

33. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[CharlotteVale]

36. K&R

[Fred75]

39. Bernice's Strengths

I may be completely wrong, but as President Bernie would pass lots of his dreams simply because he would probably speak face to face with opposition, making them feel like really little people. His campaign lets you see this. He tells it like it is, and makes no excuses. He claimed to be not particularly religious, yet everything he stands for says different. He is the person to lift America.

Fred75

[Enthusiast]

44. Bernie is the man that could actually make America great again.

[hedda_foil]

51. Fred, your autocorrect called Bernie Bernice in the header.

[merrily]

55. Bernice?

[Iwillnevergiveup]

41. Would love to see

Robert Reich in President Sander's cabinet. He, too, is very consistent in being right.

[Enthusiast]

43. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

Way to go, Robert!

[senz]

52. K&R Excellent OP! Bookmarking for future reference.

Thank you again, Segami. I don't know how I missed this one.

[Betty Karlson]

53. K&R for truth. eom

[merrily]

56. Nice post!

[PatrickforO]

57. I like Reich. He's made sense for many years.

Interesting that he was Clinton's Secretary of Labor and is now supporting Bernie...

Maybe that has to do with policy?

[BeanMusical]

60. Kick and R

[libdem4life]

67. I recall a time in the not too distant past, when it was common knowledge Hillary was

The One. In fact, that may have been why many others chose not to run. Bernie's run was admittedly a Dark Horse run. Well that Horse picked up a lot of speed and is now clearly in the light. Maybe even in the Headlights. From that, it seems rather obvious that a lot of people changed their minds..including me. I liked that Julian Castro might be her VP and supported that possibility. Then along came Bernie.

Anyone who does not constantly listen to other viewpoints, challenge their own views and be willing to make changes in their positions , IMO, is not a liberal but a conservative...by definition.