In writing this diary, I was trying to come to terms with why I am not finding myself in the Bernie Sanders’ camp. I should be a natural supporter based on my politics and my political history. I was in early on the Dean movement and was one of the central organizers of the Philly4Dean group in Philadelphia in 2003. I was a big supporter in Connecticut of Ned Lamont’s run against Joe Lieberman. I found myself engaged in the primary wars of 2008 as a supporter of then Senator Obama. In fact, I often made many of the same comments about Hillary Clinton then that I see Bernie Sanders’ supporters making now. So, why in 2015 do I find myself defending Hillary Clinton more often than not and just not feelin’ the Bern??
I think there are a number of reasons and its not because I am getting more politically conservative as I get older. I think Hillary Clinton is actually not as bad of a candidate or potential President as I made myself believe in the heat of ‘07-’08. I think I am also tempered by the experience of seeing our dream candidate win in 2008, but still get beaten down by Washington and, in particular, a Republican opposition that will go to great lengths to stop any progress. But, I think the main answer is that America is not ready for Bernie Sanders... and its not entirely his fault. Its actually all of our fault as well.
(Hmmm…. no more orange squiggly)
In my opinion, Bernie Sanders has the right policies wrapped in the wrong package. Now, package may not be the right word choice here as many will jump to the conclusion that I am talking about physical appearance and other superficial aspects like that. And while there is no denying, those superficial things aren’t helping him, it is a very minor concern and not what I’m talking about at all. No, what I mean is that the Democratic party, the progressive movement and even Bernie himself have failed to prepare the American electorate for the kind of policy changes that Bernie is proposing. When I hear Bernie Sanders speak and think about the main message of many progressives here, I believe it boils down to this:
We can have a government that works to help the vast majority of Americans instead of a wealthy few if we just ask for it — i.e., vote for it!
But this is not the what Bernie is actually saying — or at least not saying it enough. Nor are progressives and nor have Democrats in general. They imply it. They say things that you would think would lead you to that conclusion. And maybe some have even said something very similar in a speech somewhere before, but they haven’t said it over and over and over in every soundbite on every platform to where its lodged into the consciousness of the American voter.
Now, let’s think about the Republicans for a second (sorry…. but its for a good cause). Is there any doubt what their message is?
Government is ineffective and, in fact, too powerful and needs to be reined in for all of us to succeed. The best way to do that is to cut taxes.
It doesn’t matter if this is good policy. It doesn’t matter if we’ve tried it several times and it keeps failing. They keep saying it. On every platform, in every soundbite, for many years. And they’ve convinced a lot of people that they make sense. As for progressives, what do we talk about? What does Bernie talk about? Inequality is hurting us. Look at how Northern Europe does it. Healthcare is a right. Everyone should be treated equally. And those of us in the progressive movement all nod our heads because we agree. We get what he’s saying and it makes sense. And we assume everyone else should get this too. But just as we often accuse FoxNews viewers of being in a bubble, I think many of us on Daily Kos (myself included) live in a bubble sometimes. Not a bubble that prevents us from seeing the wisdom in conservative policy ideas, because fuck that…. but rather a bubble that prevents us from seeing how most Americans receive the message from the two political parties.
We have not made it a point clearly enough that its ok to ask government to provide health care for its citizens. We have not made it a point clearly enough that its ok to ask government to regulate large corporations such that the workers receive good benefits, good wages and reasonable work schedule policies. We have not made it a point clearly enough that its ok to ask government to do things that make our lives better as a community and a nation. And we haven’t done it, I think, because we all assume these things are obvious and don’t need to be explained.
But they do!
Because the Republicans have an explanation. They label all that stuff as hand-outs. They are out there telling folks this is big government. And it will invade your world and turn your children into gay Muslims — which, by the way, they’ve convinced a large percentage of Americans is a bad thing.
Let me give one more example of something that I think most Democrats assume everyone knows and thinks about, but I don’t think they do. We’ve all seen the job creation graph that compares the end of the Bush presidency to Obama’s. We show it here on DK all the time. But why isn’t this a tool the Democrats use everywhere! All the time!
If I were Hillary Clinton, or the Democratic Party or anyone who cares about keeping a Republican from winning in 2016, I’d be running that chart all over tv and the internet. I’d include the Bill Clinton years and both of the Bush years as well with the simple message.
Republicans ruin the economy and Democrats fix it!
That’s it. Very simple. Now, the Republicans will try to argue. The one they love is to give credit or blame to Congress (it was Newt Gingrich’s Republican Revolution that led to the boon in the 90’s. It was Nancy Pelosi’s fault that things sucked in the ‘00s). Or blame Clinton for the Bush recession (those damn Democrats conspiring with Fanny and Freddie). Or call on St. Reagen. Who cares?!!!! Let them. But don’t argue back. Just keep showing the graph. You don’t see Republicans explaining why tax cuts for the wealthy really work. They just keep saying it needs to be done over and over. The explaining side always loses.
Back to Bernie…. I like Bernie Sanders and I like what he stands for. But, in my opinion — and I know many here disagree — I don’t think he can win the general election with his message. Not yet. America is not ready for it. But, I’m happy as hell that he is out there delivering it, because he is right. Now, we all have a job to prepare America for the next Bernie Sanders so that when he or she comes along, America is ready to hear that its ok to want a government that makes their lives better. Government is us. Its a way we come together as a community, as a nation to do things that serve the common good. Republicans have very effectively made America forget that. Our job is to remind them — in very, very simple, yet consistent terms.
