NYT: Donald Trump Borrows From Bernie Sanders’s Playbook to Woo Democrats

[Renew Deal]

Donald J. Trump recently coined a dismissive nickname for Senator Bernie Sanders: “Crazy Bernie.”

But that has not stopped Mr. Trump from borrowing lessons from Mr. Sanders — the Vermont senator whom he also frequently praises from the stump — on how to run against Hillary Clinton, his likely opponent in the general election.

On a range of issues, Mr. Trump seems to be taking a page from the Sanders playbook, expressing a willingness to increase the minimum wage, suggesting that the wealthy may pay higher taxes than under his original proposal, attacking Mrs. Clinton from the left on national security and Wall Street, and making clear that his opposition to free trade will be a centerpiece of his general election campaign.

As Mr. Trump lays the groundwork for his likely showdown with Mrs. Clinton, he is staking out a series of populist positions that could help him woo working-class Democrats in November. But in doing so, he is exacerbating the trepidation some Republicans already feel about his candidacy at a moment when the party typically rallies to its nominee.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/18/us/politics/donald-trump-bernie-sanders-campaign.html

[NorthCarolina]

1. He knows what issues resonate with the people. He has eyes and can see

that the rally turnout Bernie generates exceeds even his own. He can put 2+2 together, and as much as I hate to say it, he can probably win...if Hillary is the nominee by hook or by crook.

[Renew Deal]

2. What does it say about Bernie's campaign if they fall for Trump?

[NorthCarolina]

3. Probably that they're

sick and tired of being railroaded by the Democratic Party establishment. They're tired of the only choices at the voting booth being between bad and worse.

[Renew Deal]

5. Where does Trump fall into the "bad and worse" equation?

[NorthCarolina]

11. Who truly knows. Perhaps if Hillary releases her speech transcripts we'll have a better idea,

but as of right now it's probably a coin toss.

[Renew Deal]

12. Do you support a border wall?

Do you support a ban on muslims? Do you think Mexicans are rapists?

[NorthCarolina]

14. No, but neither do I support

Last edited Tue May 17, 2016, 12:18 PM - Edit history (1)

a fight for $12/hr minimum wage (in some areas)-I support the fight for $15/hr-, or a continuation of having a for-profit insurance middleman between me and my doctor, or privatization of Social Security, or raising the retirement age of SS recipients, or chained CPI, or regime change, or tax breaks for the 1% at the expense of the middle class, or trade agreements that benefit nobody other than those corporate entities that fund the DNC, a group think mentality that places party above principle, and a melange of other things that are near and dear to the Corporate Wing of the Democratic party.

[libdem4life]

4. Not much. False equivalency. Probably offset the Republicans voting for Bernie.

[Armstead]

6. It says that Bernie has a winning message, and Trump is a good salesman

The fact that Trump will scarf up whatever he thinks will get votes does not detract from the value and merits of the true progressive populism of Sanders

[Renew Deal]

7. Good salesman, winning message, and....

Do they support a border wall, torture, and the most glorious right wing judges ever? Because you don't get one without the other.

[Armstead]

9. I didn't say Trump is the best candidate or choice

I am saying he's an excellent salesman who will pick up whatever he thinks will help him to win.

The fact that among that is adopting the appearance of a populist has nothing to do with the merits of Sander's appeal and message and proposals -- except that Trump recognizes that it resonates with a huge swath of the population, who feel oppressed by the Oligarchy.

[Iliyah]

8. A wolf in lamb's clothing.

[Agnosticsherbet]

10. NYT: What an amazing case of intellectual dishonesty.

This article is a con job.
As reported in the Forbs, Donald Trump's Excellent Economic Idea: Abolish The Federal Minimum Wage, contraindicates any notion of increasing the minimum wage.
If you don't like Forbs, Don’t believe what Donald Trump says: He won’t raise minimum wage.

And as for lowering taxes on the wealthy, "How Trump clarified his position on taxing the wealthy." No such thing will happen on a Trump watch.

[pampango]

13. Trump is not 'borrowing' anything. His campaign has been about walls and tariffs since day one.

He is smart enough to read. He knows that polls have shown the republican base has been opposed to trade and immigration for years. He knows you win the republican presidential nomination by appealing to the RW base. He knows that the GOP establishment has ignored the base - except for the occasional episodes of pandering - for years.

He knows the the recent electoral success of the far-right in Europe has been based on their opposition to trade and immigration.

If Bernie did not exist, Trump's campaign would be exactly the same as it is. He does not 'borrow' from Democrats or liberals.

[KingFlorez]

15. Borrowing from someone that Clinton defeated. How smart.