Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumFive things people should stop saying about Bernie Sanders
[font color= "navy" size = "3"]Establishment Democrats want him to stop criticizing Clinton, they want him to lay off the party, they want him to drop out. Heres why theyre utterly wrong[/font]
[font color ="navy" size = "2"]It seems to be open season on Bernie Sanders in the Democratic party now that his chances of winning the nomination are dwindling. But the criticism of him is misguided and hypocritical, and he is doing the right thing by largely ignoring it.[/font]
[font color ="navy" size = "2"]Heres a breakdown of what the partys establishment is saying and why it makes little sense.[/font]
[font color ="navy" size = "2"]1 Bernie should stop criticizing Clinton!
The idea that Sanders, and to a certain extent others on the left, should stop criticizing Clinton because it gives Trump a better chance to win is ridiculous. Do people think that Clinton should get a free pass for the next six months and potentially incentive to move to the right on issues like Wall Street, trade, war, foreign policy and others? Just because Trump would be a disaster does not mean Clinton should be immune from criticism, nor does it mean holding her accountable will prevent her from ultimately defeating Trump.
Around this time in 2008, Clinton was still heavily criticizing the inevitable nominee Barack Obama and making divisive statements that make this primary campaign look like a walk in the park. How quickly everyone forgets (or pretends not to remember.) In fact, some of the issues Clinton once criticized Obama for are now the same issues that Sanders hits Clinton on. Clinton supporters had no problem with it then, but are now feigning being offended now.
Its quite possible to both continue pushing Clinton on important issues and condemn Trump. The American people are smarter than the Clinton crowd is giving them credit for.
2 Bernie should criticize Trump more!
Another common refrain. In reality, Sanders criticizes Trump all the time. In fact, he has continually used as strong or stronger language in doing so than Clinton has. He was one of the first prominent figures to dispense with the pleasantries about Trump and accused him of making racist comments months ago.
The idea that Sanders wont heavily campaign against Trump is preposterous. Hes already made it clear he will endorse Clinton if and when he officially loses and will do everything in his power to stop the Republican nominee.
3 Stop criticizing the party!
Gee, I cant believe Sanders isnt enthused about the Democratic party! Lets see: the DNC chair is a vocal Clinton supporter who tried to hide Democratic debates on the worst nights possible for exposure, the committee cut Sanders off from its important voter database, various state party representatives have unfairly given Clinton an advantage in delegate selection processes, the party has a sweetheart fundraising deal with Clinton and they recently changed their rules to accept more money from corporate lobbyists a practice that Sanders deplores.
Why should running in the Democratic primary stop Sanders from criticizing the party leadership and apparatus? Some prominent Democrats have even insinuated that he never should have ran as a Democrat if he doesnt like the way the party is run.
You can believe in a lot of the issues that the Democratic party stands for, believe that Clinton is the best candidate to beat Trump, while also still believing that the Democratic party is corrupt institution that caters to corporate interests over the people and needs to be overhauled.
Its one thing to say that Sanders should lay off Clinton and focus on Trump. But saying dont criticize your party sounds like something out of Soviet Russia. If anything, progressives should be criticizing it more.
4 Bernie should drop out!
There is nothing worse than Democratic establishment politicians decreeing that Sanders must drop out or feigning horror that his supporters sometimes dont unquestionably support other Democratic politicians on 100% of the issues.
Again, lets look back at the 2008 race: the Clinton camp said she had every right to stay in the race for as long as she wants, even though it was clear that Obama would win. She even said one of her reasons was we all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California before the Democratic convention in 1968. If Sanders said something like that he would be raked over the coals (and rightly, I might add).
Its not politicians who should be dictating when Sanders drops out, thats the voters job. And Sanders, despite finding his mathematical chance increasingly dwindling, continues to win primaries. Last night he won Oregon, for example. So it seems that voters dont want him to drop out, only the politicians who are tied to the system he is constantly criticizing do.
5 Sanders supporters are out of control!
Certainly the behavior of a few Sanders supporters crossed the line in Nevada last week, which Sanders himself has acknowledged. But the lengths the Clinton camp and the media has gone to turn this election into a referendum on who has the better behaving supporters really has taken away from the important issues the candidates were debating.
Whats worse is Clinton surrogates outrage over a very small minority of Sanders supporters claiming they dont want to support Clinton in the general election. As many commentators have pointed out in response to the countless Bernie bro think pieces that are churned out on a regular basis, every candidate has awful supporters.
The Clinton camp also seems to have conveniently forgotten that the phenomenon known as Pumas, hardcore Clinton supporters who were so intent on not supporting Obama after the 2008 Democratic primaries that they literally named their contingent Party Unity My Ass. And surprise, surprise, after a few months that controversy was largely ancient history and Clinton supporters overwhelmingly voted for Obama, because the other general election candidate was much worse.
Bernie Sanders has certainly been a shot in the arm for the Democratic party. But that is only a good thing, and I, for one, hope he continues.[/font]
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/19/bernie-sanders-establishment-democrats-stop-arguments-primaries
pacalo
(24,721 posts)they would appreciate the "shot in the arm" that Bernie has given the Democratic party. Instead, Bernie has been treated with undeserved contempt because he dared to spoil their plan for an easy, uncontested coronation.
Bernin4U
(812 posts)Yes, Bernie is bringing a lot of energy. But is it in the direction the party wants?
They'll never openly admit it of course. Listen to a lot of them speak, and wow don't they sound progressive?
But then when given the chance to do something about it, it seems quite clear that they have little interest in getting off the gravy train.
Tulsi Gabbard, Jeff Merkley, Tim Canova, Alan Grayson, Lucy Flores, Liz Warren, a handful of others...
Much easier to count those who are showing themselves to be part of the solution, and not part of the problem. Don't limit it to DWS.
pacalo
(24,721 posts)That could be the big clue right there.
There's a hidden agenda when the DNC disregards the hundreds of thousands of new voters being attracted by Bernie. They should be giving him the red carpet treatment just for the good fortune of young voters he is bringing to the party.