Democratic socialist. It is a rare label in American politics these days. For many voters especially on the right of the electorate the label “socialist“ will tell them all they need to know about any given candidate to dismiss him out of hand. In the case of Bernie Sanders, however, it is their loss. They are missing the most exciting and possibly transformative candidate in a generation.
Bernie Sanders. – by Peter Stevens
That Sanders continues to declare himself a socialist in today’s America says a lot about the kind of character he is: unapologetic, straightforward, honest, independent. He is the opposite of today’s career politicians. He doesn’t care about a neat look, he seems to be uncomfortable in a suit and his speech is passionate but intelligible. In a time when Washington and the media echo chamber like to dwell in fake outrage and dishonest debate and politicians sell out their policy positions to the highest bidder, the Vermont senator’s message has been consistent for more than a generation. 30+ years, as mayor, congressman, and senator, Sanders has talked about the big issues the United States is facing – may it be campaign finance reform, income and wealth inequality, the faltering middle class or global warming – and he has been on the right side of every single one.
But more than just talk about the issues, Bernie Sanders puts his money where his mouth is. His voting record clearly reflects his fight for the poor, the elderly, veterans, middle class and workers and against the elite and vested interests that so poorly run the United States. He opposed the Iraq War, he opposed the Wall Street bailout, backs reintroducing the Glass-Steagall Act, breaking up the largest banks and prosecuting the crimes of the financial industry, he voted against the Patriot Act and mass surveillance and consistently fought for a fairer tax code culminating in his 8.5hr Filibuster against continuation of the Bush tax cuts in 2010. He is an outspoken champion of Social Security, affordable education, unionization and a single-payer healthcare system. Introducing campaign finance reform to diminish the influence of money in American politics – the most pressing issue of our time – is one of his top priorities. For this pragmatic center left agenda he has been called an “extremist” and a “fool”. He is neither and the American public in fact stands with him on most of these issues by a large margin.
Hillary Clinton. – by Marc Nozell
A Sanders presidency is a long shot, however. Apart from wearing the poorly understood and therefore highly disadvantageous label “socialist” on his sleeve, the Vermont senator suffers from inferior media coverage, a lack of name recognition and funding. This fact is made particularly obvious when contrasted against the current front-runner in the Democratic primary: Hillary Clinton. The former New York Senator, Secretary of State and wife of former President Bill Clinton is a household name in the United States. She has been part of public life for over 20 years, she is enjoying ample media coverage and she is expected to raise up to $2 billion for her second presidential campaign. The mainstream media‘s bias in favor of Hillary Clinton is best exemplified by the condescending portrayal of Sanders as a potential influence on, not a legitimate challenger of, the Clinton campaign.
For the disengaged observer the Democratic primary is a non-contest in which Sanders is destined to lose. The Clinton brand is too strong, her war chest too big and the nation feels it is ready for its first female president. It basically is a celebrity facing an unknown contestant. For the well informed, on the other hand, it is apparent that the roles should be exactly reversed. The United States of today is a cancer patient, a country with systemic problems of massive inequality, social injustice and a thoroughly corrupted government. While Bernie Sanders not only identified but prioritized these topics and has been fighting for a fairer distribution of the nation’s wealth and income and against corruption for more than three decades, Hillary Clinton has hardly acknowledged any of the issues that are at the heart of the American condition. She herself embodies the very elite that runs the nation and has caused misery for the vast majority of her countrymen and women.
Top Campaign Contributors for Bernie Sanders, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Please click to enlarge. Source: OpenSecrets
Whoever wants to raise $2 billion as she is hoping to do will not raise it from small donations. The money will come from Wall Street, major law firms and major corporations and she will be beholden to those special interests if elected – much like Barack Obama has been ever since 2008. 40% of the top contributors backing Hillary Clinton’s last run for president 7 years ago were top contributors to George W. Bush as well (see graphic). In contrast, Bernie Sanders’ top donors are almost without exception unions. Workers, teachers, electricians or carpenters, the disappearing middle class, those suffering the most under the current system and who are worth fighting for. A vote for Hillary Clinton will be a vote for the status quo and the status quo is not acceptable.
Yet, currently Hillary Clinton still is the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination as well as the presidential election. It might be for that reason that she can allow herself the hubris of running on her name only with two campaign sites that don’t have any stated policy platform and instead are solely dedicated to volunteering and fundraising. The issue most frequently raised on her Facebook page is voter discrimination. An important issue but also one that is inconsequential and therefore uncontroversial to her big business donors. A theme that is likely to continue throughout her campaign. Ultimately, granting greater access to voters won’t matter if the candidates keep on being put up from the ranks of the oligarchy. The nation won’t achieve meaningful progress if the country’s power balance stays unadjusted. Corporate America and Wall Street need to be taken on and Hillary Clinton just won’t be the candidate to do it.
It remains to be seen if Bernie Sanders’ campaign can take off like Barack Obama’s did in 2007 and if he can beat his well-funded opposition. It is in the best interest of the American people that it does and that he overcomes Hillary Clinton as well as the sad ensemble of unelectables on the Republican side. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who will take on the American oligarchy, fight inequality and social injustice. He is the only one who will not be fawning over but cutting out proven failures like Robert Rubin or Larry Summers whose neo liberal ideas have long enough metastasized through the body of American politics. Bernie Sanders is the only valid option for meaningful, systemic change and change – like in 2008 – is badly needed. In the end, the Democratic primary might well decide the election and if popularity on Social Media is any indication, Bernie Sanders might have a fighting chance.