Here is the Simple Thing that Bernie Sanders and His Supporters Don't Understand

[Vidal]

I have lots of Bernie fans as friends. And they all take the same approach. They all seem to think that Bernie has the best ideas and the best proposals for what he would do as president.

But here is what they don't understand: Most Democrats don't agree with Bernie's ideas.

* Most Democrats aren't socialists
* Most Democrats don't want the federal government (with Bernie in charge) to take over everything
* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to take over the entire healthcare system
* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to impose rules like a national minimum wage
* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to tell them they have to give up fossil fuels
* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to rule their lives.

What I'm saying is that Bernie seems to say that the federal government should pass a whole bunch of new laws that tell Americans what to do.

But most Democrats -- and certainly most Americans -- don't want the government taking over things and passing a bunch of new restrictive laws.

I am a liberal Democrat and I wouldn't trust Bernie Sanders to be in charge of anything, let alone the entire federal government and the U.S. economy.

By carving out a huge new role for the federal government Bernie Sanders is out of touch with what most people really want.

Most Democrats don't want a revolution.

[ret5hd]

1. You're stirring that ladle so fast you bent the handle!

[aikoaiko]

20. LOL. We see it for what it is.

[backtoblue]

45. LMAO

[brewens]

2. Da comrade!

[H2O Man]

3. gosh

[Kurt V.]

4. the federal government is taking over sounds like a republican talking point. imo.

[pandr32]

29. Yup

[Hassin Bin Sober]

36. And god forbid we had a national minimum wage!1!1!

[Honeycombe8]

42. Struck me as odd, too.nt

[JudyM]

44. This.

[mtnsnake]

5. Very few liberal Democrats would ever make Bernie Sanders out to be Donald Trump Junior

which is pretty much what it sounds like you're implying in your post, considering how your "Most Democrats...." lines make it sound like you think Bernie would become some sort of a dictator if he were president.

[Nitram]

6. You definitely don't speak for "most Democrats."

[murielm99]

8. You don't know that.

He speaks for me.

[Nitram]

9. Do you speak for "most Democrats?"

[murielm99]

10. Did I say that?

[Nitram]

11. If not, what is your point?

My post referred to "most Democrats", not to you personally.

[murielm99]

12. Then why did you bother to respond...

personally?

You expressed an opinion. I disagreed.

[Nitram]

14. Apparently you didn't disagree. Only if you believe that you represent the opinion of the majority

of Democrats could you be disagreeing that the majority of Democrats don't support the list of issues in the post.

[murielm99]

16. Oh, go away.

[Nitram]

17. LOL!

[mtnsnake]

13. Very true. On the contrary, the OP speaks for most Republicans by the sounds of his or her post.

Just read the OP's lines and you'd swear it was line after line of republican talking points that the repukes would be aiming at the Democratic nominee no matter who it ends up being.

[Nitram]

18. Exactly. A good list of GOP taking points.

All straw men.

[melman]

35. GOP talking points is right

Absolutely unreal to see this crap here.

[Autumn]

41. These people must have freaked out when the ACA was passed

[Honeycombe8]

43. Yep yep yep. nt

[George II]

23. Nor does Sanders, and we're seeing more and more each day.

[DownriverDem]

7. This Proud Democrat

only supports members of the Democratic Party.

[Act_of_Reparation]

15. I'm a member of the Democratic party?

Do you support me?

[jayschool2013]

22. As do I

However, I would vote for Sen. Sanders (I-Vermont) if he were the only choice versus Twitler.

[mtnsnake]

28. So if Sanders wins the nomination you won't support him?

because he isn't a member of the Democratic Party?

[Amimnoch]

48. well that's a trick question.

Any answer in the affirmative is against ToS.

I'll also vote for any Democratic Party Candidate that wins the nomination.

I will not say that I won't vote for him out of respect for the rules that I've agreed to follow.

[mtnsnake]

53. Not a trick. If Sanders wins the nomination would you vote for him in the General? Yes or no?

[Amimnoch]

58. yes it is. Any "no" is against the rules, and rightfully hidden.

The only acceptable answers are "yes", which I will not commit to, and not to answer at all.

[left-of-center2012]

19. As a life long Democrat (I'm 73) ...

I tend to agree with the OP.

I no more want a socialist form of BIG BROTHER than I want a Trump dictatorship.

[G_j]

21. Must be nice

To be the smartest person in the room

[bonkers221]

24. Most Democrats?

I want healthcare run by gov't I don't care if it's Bernie, Joe, Kamala or Pete or Amy. Healthcare for profit is unsustainable. Many of the rest of those "Most Democrats" are on my list too and I'm not the only one. I guess I don't know "Most Democrats" but I don't think you do either.

[sheshe2]

33. Wait, What?

You just witnessed what the State Gov sanctioned by the Federal Gov is doing. They are taking away women's right to chose about her health and her child's health. They are taking away her right over her body after rape or incest and TELLING HER SHE MUST CARRY THE BABY OR GO TO JAIL.

I am with most women and Democrats. The government can stay the hell away from me and mine. They aren't going to make it cheaper, they are going to make it less healthy for all women and children.

Welcome to DU.

[Doitnow]

25. Just another anti-Bernie column. Trash.

[Gothmog]

26. Washington Post-Analysis: How the Democrats' shift to the left indirectly aids Joe Biden

Link to tweet

Former vice president Joe Biden is embracing his role as the leading moderate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary field. He has at times adopted an almost curmudgeonly tone about his opponents’ embrace of more progressive policies, preferring a nostalgia for the way things were back in the good old days of, say, 2015.

It’s an approach that, at first, seems at odds with where the party is going. We’ve noted previously that Democrats are increasingly likely to identify themselves as liberals, a trend that probably helps explain why so many of the 2020 candidates have embraced progressive positions — and why more progressive candidates have entered the race.

Polling, though, suggests that this may not be a foolproof strategy. For one thing, a crowd of more progressive candidates (an admittedly nebulous designation) will compete for the same voters, freeing Biden to vacuum up support from moderates. But polling also shows that Democrats overall aren’t necessarily prioritizing a candidate who espouses progressive policies. The data below are from a recent CNN-SSRS poll: More Democrats think it’s important for a nominee to work with Republicans than to support liberal policies.


.....

[guillaumeb]

27. First, how many people voted for Sanders in 2016?

Second, actual polling shows strong support for Sanders' positions.

[earthshine]

30. You don't speak for me or anyone I know. You aren't even close.

> Most Democrats aren't socialists

They just like socialist policies like Universal healthcare and social security.

* Most Democrats don't want the federal government (with Bernie in charge) to take over everything

Strawman: Bernie does not advocate for this. He has specifically said that the gov't should not be running peoples' businesses.

* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to take over the entire healthcare system

I do. I do not want insurance companies between the Dr and me.

* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to impose rules like a national minimum wage

I do. $15 min wage.

* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to tell them they have to give up fossil fuels

Most Democrats realize that the planet is burning and fossil fuels are the cause.

* Most Democrats don't want Bernie and the federal government to rule their lives.

Strawman: Presidents don't rule people's lives.

[Grendam]

31. Let's draw this out further...

to make a Sanders win even more unlikely. If Bernie were to win the nomination, I would be quite surprised if he didn't choose Tulsi Gabbard as his running mate. I think we all know how well that will go over in a GE.

Also, very likely to happen... someone like Michael Bloomberg will survey the field, realize Sanders has no chance, and run as an independent moderate giving the MANY, MANY people appalled at having to choose between Sanders or Trump an out. I'm willing to bet a huge chunk of those people will go for Bloomberg too.

Trump could not wish for anything more than running against an opponent he can label a 'socialist' while also drawing in a credible third party candidate. All he has to do is hold onto enough of his hardcore base and hope Sanders/Bloomberg split the rest, and presto, four more years of Trump!

[Autumn]

32. Most Democrats? Your list reads more like a republicans wet dream.

These are all things Republicans want and some that they accuse ALL democrats of wanting to do.

* no healthcare system... A Republicans wet dream
* no minimum wage ...Another Republicans wet dream
* more fossil fuels ...Drill Baby Drill... A Republican double fantasy
* no federal government to rule their lives... (the most Republican thing I've ever seen on a site for Democrats)
* Democrats want to pass a whole bunch of new laws that tell Americans what to do... A Republican lie. Now yours
* passing a bunch of new restrictive laws...Another Republican lie. Now yours

You hit them all!

[jalan48]

34. Yep. Everyone just luvs their insurance industry health care. You bet.

[Autumn]

38. I'm so pissed about Obama care, my medicare, my Husbands VA. I don't want

the government touching any of them!!!! Don't even get me started on those rules and regulations that damn FDA makes that rule my life!!! The damn government needs to be shrunk down small to be drowned in a bathtub!!

[jalan48]

39. Yeah. If the government just got out out of the way and let the corporations run things problems

would get solved!!

[Autumn]

40. When Obama got the ACA passed with all it's rules and regulations that must have pissed off some

of these new anti-government people in this thread .

[John Fante]

37. The OP makes "most Democrats" sound like Republicans.

According to polls, most Democrats want Medicare-for-all (or something similar), most Democrats want the wage gap closed, most Democrats strongly favor free college tuition, and most Democrats dramatically favor clean energy sources over fossil fuels.

Bernie's popularity may be tanking, but many of his key policies are most certainly not. It's just that we have better candidates now to vouch for them, like Elizabeth Warren.

[kcr]

46. I didn't realize most Dems are secretly Republicans

I learn something new every day on DU.

[Ace Rothstein]

47. OP is why a good chunk of Bernie supporters consider our party to be Republican lite.

[Amimnoch]

49. I am absolutely opposed to BS being our candidate. This reasoning is not mine.

*I don't care about the entire "socialist" meme. Unfettered capitalism sucks for the people. pure socialism likewise sucks. A highly regulated capitalism that also ties into socialist control of targeted sectors where it benefits the most people is by and far the best system. Our system actually already follows that model, but does need tweaking. Even though I oppose his candidacy, I like most of what Bernie proposes, some go too far. Most are typical Bernie BS that will never actually fly. My biggest problem in this area are his purity tests and using policy to attack real Democratic Party candidates.

* Neither Bernie nor his supporters have ever stated they want the federal government to take over everything. I don't support him, but bullshit is still bullshit, and I'm not going with it just because I like attacking the target of it.

* Polls would disagree with you on the healthcare point. More than just a few of them. A more socialized healthcare (or at least a system that makes it more affordable and accessible) is very popular. So popular that despite destroying the ACA being their biggest platform talking point in 2016, even with majorities in both chambers and the Presidency, they were unable to do a damn thing about it. THAT's how popular it is. I really wish our politicians would start framing government healthcare like government support for police, fire departments, and our military.. Government provided care for the public well being. We would never want corporations running our police departments, forcing people to PAY for a police investigation of a rape, murder, or robbery? Why are so many opposed to healthcare to help the very lives and wellbeing of everyone? Most people will have few or no actual use for law enforcement over the course of their lives, but almost everyone who lives to adulthood or senior status will have at least a couple of major medical care needs throughout those periods.

* I think you are incorrect about the popularity of increasing the minimum wage. I see it as a bandaid. Minimum wage never outpaces inflation. What we really need is higher taxes on mega corporations that already pay little to nothing, and use those funds to shore up healthcare, housing, education, and food programs. People focus on the money too much, and not enough on the purchasing power of the money.

* Given the number of natural disasters that have hit tRumpublicon areas, I think more are realizing that they can't ignore global climate change. I think you are incorrect about most Democratic Party voters not supporting green policies. I do think delivery needs to be carefully incorporated to avoid dissuading swing voters, especially in battleground states. For most of them it is about the economy, and if we deliver our Green policies in a way that tRumpublicons can frame it as something that will hurt their pocket books, we will suffer at the polls in critical locations.

* you confuse government ruling our lives with a government that rules for the benefit of all people. Every law period is government ruling our lives.

[Vidal]

50. My Original Thought Has Been Validated

They don't "get it"

[vsrazdem]

51. Your original thoughts seem to be a little out of touch with "most Democrats."

[Vidal]

54. Nope

i don't think so

[Autumn]

52. As a Sanders supporters one thing I do know is

bullshit Republican talking points when they are posted on a Democratic site.

[Vidal]

55. Nope

not GOP talking points at all. it's just that you don't like them.

[Autumn]

56. Did Obama's government health care with all it regulations and rules sent you into a spiral of

depression? I'm sorry that upset you so much. Maybe the Republicans will give you the option to turn down Medicare since you hate government getting all up in your business. So obvious.

[vsrazdem]

57. And by the way, he should be sure to not take that Social Security that comes along.

[m-lekktor]

59. "Most democrats" I know don't spew right wing talking points

[Vidal]

60. Most Democrats Are Not Radical Left-Wing Socialists

Most Democrats are capitalists and believe in free enterprise.

Most Democrats want a government that is not corrupt and obeys the constitution, but do not want a revolution.

Most Democrats want a social safety net but not too much government intrusion into our lives. Most Democrats do not want higher taxes. Most love Medicare and Social Security and Obamacare.

Most Democrats are moderate. Look it up.

The radical left-wing of the Democratic Party are not "most Democrats." In fact, most of them are not even Democrats.