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In reply to the discussion: Sanders stumps for Mello in Omaha, stirs national debate about definition of a progressive [View all]karynnj
(59,504 posts)Not to mention, there is some context to whether that label is popular in Georgia - and whether Ossoff himself has claimed it. You may know the answer to the last two - I don't and it may be possible that Sanders doesn't know either. With a brief look at his about page on his web site, https://electjon.com/about-jon/ , I do not see the word "progressive". I see a focus on good government, anti corruption and serious national security/foreign policy interest and accomplishments. (Actually, I like that better. It is honest and matches his history. This is NOT to say that he is not progressive, but that is not his emphasis - from a cursory look at his web site. I would note that the anti corruption/good government emphasis of Senator Kerry was one of the things I most admired in him.) Looking at his priorities page, I think he would be a great addition to Congress, even if he would represent a very blue area. However, he is closer to liberal Democrats who others have argued are not particularly progressive, especially as he is not against trade deals -- he wrote his thesis on one.
The first one is complicated as I do not think there is a clear, agreed upon definition. While I think everyone has near the same definition of what liberal is, there were always arguments of which Democrats were "progressive". Looking at some ratings of Senators posted in the past showed that the lists were all over the map. Some almost seemed to equate progressive with libertarian. Others contrast it with "DLC". Others make the determination is how trade is viewed. In addition, "progressive" was taken up by many to mean "liberal" -- because it polled better.
A quick, "I don't know" might have been an answer that does the least damage. As to clumsy, there are many possible clumsier responses -- including if Bernie would have said that Ossoff's views are extremely progressive.