This just in: Sanders is a Socialist!

[cui bono]

35. I don't know where you get that I'm afraid of the word socialism.

I'm not. But you said Obama came across like a socialist and that just isn't correct. That was a right wing slur used against him for the very reason you cite, to make people afraid of him. If it didn't have that effect the right wing wouldn't use it. Reagan used it. Obama though, was and is nothing close to a socialist nor did he spout socialist ideas. He was pushing for a health care program that still involved the for profit insurance companies. He even made backroom deals with said insurance companies. That's no where near socialist. And even in the campaign he didn't call for single-payer, just the public option.

Bernie also has not gone so far as to spout full on socialist ideas. He calls himself a Democratic Socialist and I think that's a more apt description. He hasn't called for a complete system of the workers owning the means of production. He is not an enemy of capitalism but he does understand that it needs to be reigned in. He also understands that we need socialist type programs and education to make sure the people are taken care of, and also believes that the socialist type subsidies extended to big corporations are ridiculous.

I simply disagree with how you are throwing about the term socialism and think that you are watering it down when you attribute it to Obama especially, and also even Sanders.