Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders’s Gift to His Party
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD - New York Times
MAY 3, 2016
The Democratic Party and Mrs. Clinton are better off for Mr. Sanderss presence in this race. His criticism, as Winston Churchill might say, was not agreeable. But it called necessary attention to unhealthy developments in the Democratic Party, including its at-times obliviousness to the lingering economic pain of the middle class and the young, and its drift toward political caution over aspiration.
I like the idea of saying, We can do much more, because we can, Vice President Joseph Biden Jr., who deferred his own presidential hopes this year, said about Mr. Sanders recently. I dont think any Democrats ever won saying, We cant think that big.
To this day, Mr. Sanderss rallies are lit up by people who say he is the candidate most focused on their struggle for jobs, better health care and debt relief, and most interested in taking action against those who profited while wages for the working class stagnated and their hopes diminished.
As President Obama said, Mr. Sanders had the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose. Unrealistic, short on details, the populist Mr. Sanders is a wildly gesticulating reminder of how far the Democratic Party, once champion of the underdog, has strayed. He points out the degree to which the party has become captive to economic elites whose agendas dont necessarily represent the rest of Americas. Mr. Sanders, who raised more than $200 million through small donations, even cast doubt on Democrats claims that they need big-money backers to succeed.
Mr. Sanders has exposed a broad vein of discontent that Democrats cannot ignore. Predictions that Mr. Sanderss supporters could migrate to Donald Trump in the fall are overstated, despite Mr. Trumps cynical efforts to woo them. Its more likely that some simply wont vote. Mrs. Clinton is betting that many Democrats will be motivated to get to the polls if Mr. Trump is the Republican nominee. But to truly unify the party, Mrs. Clinton and party leaders must work to incorporate Mr. Sanders and what he stands for in the partys approach to the general election. It would also help to acknowledge that the party has strayed at times from its more aspirational path.
Unlike the voices on the Republican side, Mr. Sanderss has elevated this campaign. The Democratic Party should listen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/03/opinion/bernie-sanderss-gift-to-his-party.html
djean111
(14,255 posts)would love to have his grassroots organization.
The Democratic Party has not been elevated at all - they have sunk even lower. And now we can see that.
Condescending twaddle, more designed to make us think Bernie already lost. And Hillary has no fucking intention of working to unify the party. Not all of us will unite behind a Third Way warmonger. Impossible for me, that's for sure.
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)The NYT just can't fucking help themselves. It's gotta be painful for them to write anything positive about Bernie Sanders. It's such a yuuuuuge effort.
JudyM
(29,233 posts)"He points out the degree to which the party has become captive to economic elites whose agendas dont necessarily represent the rest of Americas."
Don't necessarily represent. Ya think?!
Still, nice to have even lukewarm-positive assessments in MSM - glad it was posted here.
EdwardBernays
(3,343 posts)I love how the media is like:
"People that don't TRUST Hillary will support her if she makes them promises."
Why would I trust the word of someone I don't trust? Because she's pandering to me? How stupid does the media think Sander's supporters are?
greymouse
(872 posts)I am way past the lesser of two evils stage, and into burn the barn down stage.
The Clintons or DWS haven't the slightest interest in listening to anything but money.,
appalachiablue
(41,129 posts)Mr. Trump. The latter two don't have government position titles. Sen. Sanders would seem the correct way to refer to him like Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mrs. Nancy Pelosi or Congressman Paul Ryan. I can't recall them being addressed as Mr. Ted Cruz, Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Mr. Cuomo or Mr. Ryan. There's a protocol but I'll look into it later.
Rebkeh
(2,450 posts)But the gist is correct, Bernie has elevated the Democratic Party and put them on notice.
greymouse
(872 posts)NJCher
(35,658 posts)Condescending to the nth degree.
Cher