2016 Postmortem

Uncle Joe

(58,405 posts) Wed Dec 30, 2015, 07:39 PM Dec 2015

Why Bernie Sanders Holds Potential Appeal for Trump Voters

For years, conservatives have accused Democrats of being socialists. And for years, liberals have accused Republicans of being fascists. It's never been true — until maybe now, when there is an actual democratic socialist in the 2016 presidential race, along with a Republican whom many, including some in his own party, say borders on fascistic.

While Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders could not be farther apart ideologically, both have built nontraditional movements around their presidential candidacies by appealing to some of the same disaffected voters, those who appreciate blunt talk and an anti-establishment message.

Now, Sanders and his aides are making a direct attempt to woo at least some would-be Trump fans away from the dark side of populism, especially in New Hampshire, which has an open primary system that allows even a small number of independent voters to make a big impact.

"Bernie's ability to appeal to a broad swath of voters, and not solely triple-prime Democrats, can make a crucial difference in the Live Free or Die state, where unaffiliated and independent voters play an enormous role," said Sanders' New Hampshire communications director Karthik Ganapathy. "Bernie's message speaks to people who feel that frustration, but instead of channeling it towards hatred and xenophobia, offers voters a forward-looking and hopeful vision for the future."

(snip)

He's pulled no punches on Trump, whom he's called racist sexist xenophobe. But he separates Trump from his supporters, whom Sanders says are primarily driven by economic anxiety.

(snip)

And he's done it in Vermont, where Sanders is the most popular senator in the country with an 83% approval rating, according to a recent Morning Consult poll. That's 12 points higher than Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy's rating, presumably thanks to support from non-Democrats — no small feat in a polarized era where it's typically impossible for a politician of one party to win voters on the other side.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/why-bernie-sanders-holds-potential-appeal-trump-voters-n488051

7 replies

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Highlight:

Why Bernie Sanders Holds Potential Appeal for Trump Voters (Original Post) Uncle Joe Dec 2015 OP

K&R nt Live and Learn Dec 2015 #1

K&R CharlotteVale Dec 2015 #2

Thanks for this thread Uncle Joe RobertEarl Dec 2015 #3

Thank you, RobertEarl, perhaps as we get closer Uncle Joe Dec 2015 #4

Coming back from the Dark Side. Uncle Joe Dec 2015 #5

LBJ was right loyalsister Dec 2015 #6

Thanks for your input, loyalsister. Uncle Joe Dec 2015 #7

Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)

1. K&R nt

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 07:45 PM

Dec 2015

CharlotteVale

(2,717 posts)

2. K&R

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 07:50 PM

Dec 2015

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)

3. Thanks for this thread Uncle Joe

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 07:54 PM

Dec 2015

Bernie is so much wiser and so much more a statesman than Don will ever be, the more people get to know Bernie the more they will support Bernie.

It's really quite simple and is why the M$M is avoiding reporting about Bernie.

Uncle Joe

(58,405 posts)

4. Thank you, RobertEarl, perhaps as we get closer

Reply to RobertEarl (Reply #3)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 08:06 PM

Dec 2015

to election day, the corporate media will wake up to the danger of Trump and present more balanced coverage of Bernie.

One can only hope, peace to you.

Uncle Joe

(58,405 posts)

5. Coming back from the Dark Side.

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 08:36 PM

Dec 2015

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)

6. LBJ was right

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 09:27 PM

Dec 2015

"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you." LYNDON B. JOHNSON, 1960, remark to Bill Moyers

Howard Dean had it right when he said:

"I intend to talk about race during this election in the South. The Republicans have been talking about it since 1968 in order to divide us, and I'm going to bring us together. Because you know what? White folks in the South who drive pickup trucks with Confederate flag decals on the back ought to be voting with us because their kids don't have health insurance either, and their kids need better schools too."

And... MLK said
"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood."

Howard Dean was talking about finally realizing that dream, and LBJ was talking about ways white republicans were trying to thwart it.

Now that a conversation is beginning, letting people know that lowest white man and the best black man are both treated with disdain by the same people could lead them to finally join forces rather than to buy into the republican "let's you and him fight" strategy that has allowed them to stab their own voters in the back.

The people who are supporting Trump against their interests are not a monolithic group... and neither are bigots. The outward hateful klan members are different from the people who aren't troubled by racism and welcome having someone to blame. Both enable white supremacy and enjoy the advantages it brings, but I think there are some who can be educated.

Uncle Joe

(58,405 posts)

7. Thanks for your input, loyalsister.

Reply to loyalsister (Reply #6)

Wed Dec 30, 2015, 09:37 PM

Dec 2015

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Sun Tzu

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/suntzu384922.html#mUzj3PEgVybfZkzy.99

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