General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bernie urges respect for Trump supporters [View all]Hekate
(90,202 posts)NOTE AFTER THE FACT: THIS IS MY ATTEMPT AT AN ANALYSIS OF WHERE BERNIE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIVERGE, AND THE FACT THAT IT TAKES ME BACK TO THE PRIMARY SEASON DOES NOT MEAN I AM REFIGHTING ANYTHING; HE JUST CAME TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE THEN.
Bernie took advantage of our (Democrats') historical inability to tell friend from -- well, I wouldn't say "foe," but certainly our inability to recognize that not all Leftists are on board with core ideals of the Democratic Party. In his historically-based political philosophy, economic class distinctions trump absolutely all other concerns, which is why he lumps agitation about racism (Black Lives Matter) and women's full range of health (abortion rights) care etc etc etc into "identity politics." If economic justice is achieved, all else will automatically fall into place. (The record of political history shows this is probably not so, but then as a woman my analysis runs differently than his.)
Bernie was never a Democrat, until it suited him to run against one. Then he was. When he lost the primary election by millions of votes, he was dissatisfied with our choice, and took his own sweet time about either endorsing her or robustly campaigning for her. She was not only not his choice (he was), but she was imperfect in his eyes in so many other ways. She even won the popular vote in the general election by 3 million more votes than the orange "winner" got -- but she (and we) still lack that certain je ne sais quois.
Then he was not a Democrat any more. He will never be one again. His choice. And, true to form, in his eyes the Democratic Party and its adherents STILL lack that certain something, so he is going to spend the rest of his life telling us how to achieve perfection.
And that, JCanete, even includes telling us how to reach out to a tribe of racists and theocrats.
Personally, as a DUer who was here when discussions and info about Diebold waged white-hot, and as someone who understands the impact of the many voter-suppression techniques old and new, I have given these issues a LOT of thought. Those who agree with our core values are actually in the majority. I dearly wish that Bernie Sanders, while trying to bring about economic justice for all (including the racists and theocrats) would expend some of his abundant energy and rhetorical skills on fighting gerrymandering, vapor-trail electronic voting machines, suppressive voter ID laws, and all the other means by which the oligarchs and their helpers keep non-white non-GOP people from voting.
And that is how we can improve the lot of all Americans.