I have not been active on this site since 2008 ~ but I started paying attention again a few weeks back when I started receiving several emails from friends urging me to support Bernie Sanders. I spent some time looking him up, and reading up on his platforms. I then decided that I was going to support Hillary Clinton. But I do have some thoughts for supporters for Bernie Sanders. I understand that some of you are young, and passionate. Those are good things. But I would urge you to be a little careful in your discourse. Your passion can be bad for the candidate you support.
To understand this, think back to the Iowa caucus of 2008. Hillary Clinton had come in 3rd. She was also tanking in the New Hampshire polls ~ it was possible that she would come in 3rd in the New Hampshire primary, and then have to drop out of the race. And then we had that famous debate. She was asked a question about her “likability”. And Sen. Obama uttered those famous words
“You are likable enough, Hillary”
4 words...followed by a name. Dripping with condescension, coming from a young man, and directed towards an old warrior for the progressive cause.
These 4 words changed the dynamics of the race. A lot of the older folks (you know the type ~ the ones that don’t attend campaign rallies, but do show up to vote) rallied to her side. She had been the champion of the progressive cause for a long time. We may have been enticed by the crop of younger leaders, but we were not going to sit around and have her be treated like that.
[As an aside, I should add that I have the utmost respect for President Obama ~ I have read his life story, and it is nothing short of inspirational. The incident above describes a mistake on his part ~ it just makes him human. I don’t think any less of him because of that mistake].
So fast forward 8 years. I understand you think Bernie is the most honest candidate in the race, and he is the only one with a platform for revolutionary change. I respect those of you who are actually arguing for his platform with specifics on various aspects.
But the ones who are screaming about how Hillary is corrupt because she took speaking fees, or because she voted for AUMF, or because she has a Super PAC, or that she should be tried for treason for emailgate… you are not doing any good. You may not have noticed, but look at any of the polls. Her support has constantly hovered around 50% in most states. It does not drop below 40% and does not exceed 60%. And if you look at the breakdown in most polls ~ her supporters are fairly well committed to her. And such accusations have the opposite effect from what you desire on a committed supporter ~ they may sway the undecided, but that wont win the election for your candidate. You need to sway some of her committed supporters.
Which brings me to the 2016 cycle. I think future historians/journalists will pinpoint one moment when the Iowa caucuses turned from one where Bernie Sanders may have sneaked in a win to one where Hillary Clinton pulled it off.
“My friends think you are dishonest”
6 words in this case…. without any names at the end. I am sure you have heard those words. I have read diaries here that have critiqued her answer. Apparently, she told the young man who was too young to know any better that he was too young to know any better. Apparently this offended some of you. Let me assure you that the very question offended a lot of us as well. You may not have realized it, but a lot of us have watched her fight for progressive causes for a very long time. We consider her to be one of our heroes, and we simply refuse to believe that she is corrupt. Yes, we are aware of the speaking fees. I think she made a mistake on that account, and I wish her close supporters would say that to her directly. And yes, I am also aware of her AUMF vote that disappointed me. And yes, I am aware that she has a Super PAC. But all of those failings just make her human. We do not think that she is corrupt. Just like the mortgage Sen Obama took out from some shady character (whose name I forget now) did not make him corrupt ~ it was just a “boneheaded move”. Those mistakes make them human.
And may I also suggest ~ your passion is clouding the judgment of the candidate you support. He has started to say things that have no upside for him, and lots of downside. An example: “What this campaign is about, and I am seeing it every day, is an excitement and energy that does not, and will not, exist in the Clinton campaign”
I am sure it must have felt very good when he said that. But, if you have played any competitive sports, you know full well that you never want to say anything that can fire up the opposition. There is an art to insulting your opposition ~ the goal is to enrage the opposition in a manner where they do stupid stuff and lose. The goal is not to fire up the opposition so they play harder and win. He should be questioning her judgement (on account of the AUMF vote) and tiptoeing around her character. He should not be firing up her campaign.
And I suspect that some of this is due simply to your enthusiasm rubbing off on him in the worst possible manner.
Which brings me to the real issue of enthusiasm. You are making a mistake by assuming that the Sanders campaign dominates on “enthusiasm”. A lot of us (who are supporting Hillary Clinton) don’t go to campaign rallies ~ my last rally was against the Iraq war in 2002. We are too old for that stuff now. But that does not mean that we will not vote ~ if you look at the polls, you will find that Hillary Clinton supporters are very committed to her. In fact, I know several diehard Republicans who are ready to vote for Hillary Clinton. I am the founder/owner of a small business, and I have a monthly lunch with other small business owners where we mostly cry on each others shoulders (and no, none of us are millionaires ~ most of us struggle a lot more than most people understand). Sometimes we let loose on politics ~ a big chunk of those at the lunch are “Chamber of Commerce” type Republicans, but most of them are going to be voting for Hillary (and contributing to her campaign) if the Republicans nominate either Trump of Cruz. She has a lot more support that you realize…. she has a lot more support than I had thought possible.
I did want to close on a positive note. I respect the fact that you are so passionate about your candidate (although I do wish you would temper that a wee bit). I am still open to supporting your candidate, but I need to see the following
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An honest breakdown of what he is trying to do, how much it will cost, and the benefits. This plan should be realistic, and absent starry eyed assumptions. I have read most of the analysis done by the policy wonks, and I am looking/waiting for an honest response. I do not like plans that include magical asterisks and golden assumptions.
- A listing of previous accomplishments by Sen. Sanders that gives me some confidence that he can do something of this magnitude. He is proposing to redo 20% of the US GDP. This may be a good thing, but it can also be a disaster if he botches it up. I would like to be a little reassured that he knows what he is doing.
I would also like to describe arguments that have no effect on me.
- The establishment (or Goldman) has rigged the system, where the big guys always get rich at the expense of the poor, and never go to jail.
This is a demonstrably false argument, and is demeaning to those who are fighting very hard to root out corruption within the establishment. Perhaps you should look up Preet Bharara ~ the US attorney from New York, who managed to nab Rajat Gupta, who happens to be a former Chairman of Goldman Sachs. Or look up Raj Rajaratnam ~ another fat cat who was sent to jail as part of the same transaction. Some fat cats do go to jail.
It is true that it is relatively easy for the rich to get richer, and there is definitely a need for a more level playing field. But that requires a more rational discussion that checks out the anger at the door. For instance, did you realize that every time you buy insurance for your cell phone (for accidental loss/damage etc.), you are transferring money to the fat cats. Every time you buy a lottery ticket, you are transferring money to the fat cats. Every time you gamble at Vegas, you are transferring money to the fat cats.
It is also true that it can be very hard to nab corruption at those levels. It was hard to catch Al Capone as well ~ but it is not because there is a monolithic “establishment” that is out to get you.
- If the millionaires and billionaires just paid their fair share, we could have universal health care, and free college tuition.
I guess this would depend on what you mean by “fair”. The numbers just don’t add up, as best as I can tell. If you know otherwise, then please show me the details ~ it would certainly have a profound effect on my thinking.
As an aside, I am actually for universal health care, and also for subsidized college tuition ~ not because it is a fundamental right (I disagree with Sen Sanders on this) but because I believe it will spur the growth of small businesses in the US, and will thus result in an economic boom. Over time, those programs will pay for themselves. However, I also know that these programs will be very expensive, specially at first… and it appears that Sen. Sanders’ plan just does not add up.
- If you aren’t supporting Sen. Sanders’, then you are for the status quo.
Noone who bothers to vote is for the status quo ~ everyone who participates in the political process is doing so because they want to see “change”. People may differ on the vision, and on the tactics...but everyone wants to see some change somewhere.
Now, I know you likely think this is horse shit, so I should elaborate. I am supporting Secy Clinton because I believe she has a better vision for the future, and that she has a more pragmatic plan for getting us there. For instance, I was impressed by one of the leaked videos where she was being confronted by the “Black lives matter” activists. After a period of initial caution, she becomes emotional (enraged even) when she is asked to change hearts. She states “you are not going to change hearts. You can change the system, you can change the allocation of resources. But you are not going to change hearts” This is the vision I believe in ~ where the system is changed, and the playing field becomes more level, despite the worst instincts that is present in all of us.
I understand that Sen. Sanders has a different vision ~ one where the broadening of the overton window enables a grassroots movement for progressive causes, and that the hearts get changed prior to the system getting changed. I respect those of you who believe in that, but just don’t agree with it. Perhaps it is because the Clinton supporters tend to be (on average) older than you ~ we just dont think you can make progress with those assumptions. But I respect you for your beliefs ~ I just hope you will stop assuming that the other “side” is evil. If you think it is possible to change hearts the way Sen. Sanders says, then please show me how. If there is a way, then that would certainly influence my thinking.
Peace!