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In reply to the discussion: Sanders brushes off Clinton criticism: 'Look forward and not backward' [View all]Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Not only does it betray a fundamental failure of long-term memory, it also betrays pathological obsession with political celebrity.
This was not the first Democratic primary. This was not even Hillary Clinton's first Democratic primary. It was not a uniquely acrimonious affair, nor were Bernie Sanders' talking points particularly novel. Many of the points raised against her in 2016 were raised by Barack Obama in 2008. Political centrism in establishment Democrats has also been a recurring talking point in every primary in recent history. Yet, no one blames Jesse Jackson for ruining Mondale's campaign, or costing Dukakis the presidency. No one blames Lyndon LaRouche for Al Gore's loss. No one blames Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean for Kerry's failure to unseat Bush.
But we're blaming a guy who vocally and enthusiastically campaigned against Donald Trump for convincing people to vote for Donald Trump, and the only realistic explanation for this unfathomable stupidity is that we're now treating political figures like they're Mick fucking Jagger.