Bob, the democratic party has always (and still is even under the Clinton) a
coffee table, two legs on the left and two on the right. Like I said if Sanders
didn't run against her but ran with her in the primaries, his supporters would
be right there with him and that would force the dems to recognize them. Even
with his 11th hour grandstanding for Clinton he has effectively moved the
progressives away from the democratic party. The only possible response to this
is to make up for it by courting more right leaning voters to fill the lost
numbers in the ranks; and that I exactally what is happening. Sanders wanted to
run against Hillary and support her at the same time. You can't face your
troops in two directions at once and that will be a mistake that will have
lasting effects.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 12:36 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Video of Michelle Obama's speech about Trump
Hi Frank,
OK, I won't argue with you regarding the green Party and Stein because you've
made your position very clear and we'll just agree to disagree on that one.
My bone to pick here though is about Sanders. You said he kicked the
progressive leg out from under the Democratic Party. Please explain how he did
that. Yes, he probably should have spent a bit more time here in Mass during
the primary season.
But the Clintons never have been and probably never will be progressives.
The Clintons are politically to the right of Obama and I'd say they put
corporate interests above working people. How else do you explain Nafta,
welfare reform, the Crime bill, etc.
Now Clinton says she'll oppose TPP and work to make life better for the poor,
but do you really believe her?
On the other hand, Sanders is now doing all he can to help Clinton win the
White House. The reason that more Sanders supporters are not following his lead
is that they don't trust her to do the right thing in the face of her history
of support of neo-liberal policies. IF Sanders hadn't run, Clinton would still
be on record in favor of TPP.
Remember what Obama once said about lipstick. IF you put lipstick on a pig,
it's still a pig. In this case, it should be something like Clinton can say
all she wants about supporting more progressive policies, but, unless she's
made a major transition, it's very hard to trust her on that one.
Bob Hachey
