2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Bernie Lost the Democratic Debate (his singular focus on anti-corporate economic populism)
By Suzy Khimm
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Though he had some memorable moments that lit up Twitter on Tuesday, the debate revealed why the political instincts that have fired the progressive base could ultimately keep him from breaking through to the rest of the party. Clearly, Bernie's gonna be Bernie.
The debate showed why his fans are so passionate about him: Sanders is at his best when hes going on the offensiveagainst the big banks, Wall Street, and the millionaires and billionaires who are funding elections. But the debate also forced him to go on the defensive, pushing him out of his comfort zone, and on those occasions, Sanders simply muddled through. Those responses spoke to his limitations as a candidate whose greatest strength and greatest weakness is his singular focus on anti-corporate economic populism.
Even before the most recent mass shooting in Oregon, it was clear that gun control would be Sanderss biggest vulnerability, as its one of the few issues where hes consistently been more conservative than Clinton. But his response to CNN moderator Anderson Cooperwho pointed out his vote against the Brady bill to mandate background checksshowed none of the ideological clarity that undergirds his economic vision. He started off with an awkward reference to himself in the third person, citing his D-minus rating from the NRA. But his main fallback was his parochialism, repeatedly citing the fact that he comes from a rural state with different views on gun control rather than providing any ideological explanation or argument for his pro-gun votes. When Martin OMalley tried to push him on the issue, saying it was not about rural and urban, Sanders stubbornly repeated the same talking points: Its exactly about rural, he said, then trotted out the line about his D minus record from the NRA again.
Sanders repeated the same pattern on other issues, providing patchy answers to questions outside of his purview. Perhaps his most underwhelming moment during the debate was the discussion on foreign policy, which rarely features in his big speeches. When he was asked to weigh in on former Senator Jim Webbs vendetta against China, he seemed to be caught unawares. Pardon me? he said. After CNN moderator Anderson Cooper repeated the question, he launched into an argument that Putin, somehow, would end up regretting his decision to send Russian troops into Syria.
Cooper nearly laughed, it seemed, responding: He doesnt seem to be the type of guy to regret anything, he said. But Sanders continued pursuing the same logic, arguing that Putin was already regretting his decision to intervene in Ukraine and Crimea. That would ultimately lead Putin to come around, he said, because the Russian people are going to give him a message, without explaining how a leader whos been so intractable would end up changing his tune and suddenly be willing to collaborate on a non-military solution with the U.S.
Read more:
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/123115/why-bernie-sanders-lost-debate
rsmith6621
(6,942 posts)....Bernie was mostly on offense. Note Hillary on Social Security never talked about SCRAP THE CAP...Bernie did... thus Hillary wants to protect the 1%
Hillary talked tough about Wall Street but never offered anything about how she would govern this matter. Thus Hillary ids protecting herself from her base, the 1%
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)Sanders' inability to explain how he simultaneously supports and opposes something will hurt him. Even worse, he doesn't seem to be interested in supporting and opposing something to play both sides against the middle. These traits would serve him well in the general election, but he'll have a difficult time making it past the pundits and party regulars.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)It isn't about the fact that he does or doesn't hold contradictory positions.
It's about the fact that he has a singular focus on anti-corporate economic populism.
When asked about foreign policy or gun control, he looked like a lost puppy.
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)I simply drew a different conclusion. That's the tricky thing about offering an opinion. Not everybody will agree with it. I hope this is not too shocking a revelation.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)Metric System
(6,048 posts)Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)That's what his supporters like about him, his single focus on that issue.
But it's also what will cost him the nomination.
His focus is on the working class
Damn him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)They all brushed up on equally crucial topics such as foreign policy and gun control.
TheBlackAdder
(28,225 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)was adamant that Bernie was the bomb. That he would fix everything. That he know HOW to fix all that ails society.
I've told her before, he has some great ideas. But mostly he has the same complaints tht have been heard in politics for 80 years, and what he has personally been touting for 20 years...income inequality an the rich getting richer and the dying middle class. unfortunatley he never really has a solution.
She listened to the debates and the light went on......Hillary will be the recipient of this first time voter
lunamagica
(9,967 posts)demographic.
But for those of us who have been around the block...we know better.
I'm glad that your daughter opened her eyes. Shows she's smart and open-minded.
I hope that many in her age group saw the light too.
On another note, it will be great for your daughter that she helped to elect the first woman POTUS
mmonk
(52,589 posts)The people are tired of getting beat up and ignored.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)But even on Wall Street and corporations he seemed muddled. I chalk it up to not preparing.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)and it showed last night.
SunSeeker
(51,734 posts)Yup. A President needs to be able to multi-task.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)The writer is full of crap in my opinion.
For all of Clinton's supposed experience and asserted knowledge she is generally both wrong on the issues and wrong-headed in her worldview.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)this is how it is being spun
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)Lemme see: did he continuously point out he'd be the first Jewish president? Nope. But, boy howdy, did Hillary pull out the gender card at every turn.
I wanted to throw something at her when she said it like the fifth or sixth time and I'm a woman!