Radical chic drives Sanders’ movement
Not so long ago, the buzzword on the Democratic presidential campaign trail was “electability.” Who was most likely to beat Donald Trump, winning key demographics with an appealing message and personable demeanor?
And not so long ago, that candidate was deemed to be Joe Biden, aka “Uncle Joe,” claiming experience and electability.
A December CNN Poll found 40% of Democrats nationwide said they believed Biden had the best chance of winning a general election, well ahead of his rivals. Other surveys showed similar results.
But as Tuesday’s primary in New Hampshire demonstrated, voters no longer believe that. Bernie Sanders squeaked out a victory over the more moderate Pete Buttigieg, but the slim margin didn’t quell his enthusiasm. For Sanders supporters, the concept of electability has been replaced by “movement.”
“We have a grassroots movement from coast to coast with millions of people. … We are putting together an unprecedented multigenerational, multiracial political movement,” primary winner Bernie Sanders told reporters.
A movement that calls for free college, the elimination of the Electoral College, the ability of felons to vote while in prison, a ban on oil and gas fracking everywhere, Medicare for All, eliminating criminal penalties for entering the country illegally, slashing the defense budget, few, if any, limits on abortion, the closing of existing nuclear power reactors, canceling all student debt, raising taxes on the wealthy and creating new social programs — to name a few.
Political independent and Sanders supporter Genara Clay summed up the candidate’s New Hampshire win and momentum: “This is the revolution, and people will feel that.”
Emily Norton, also at the Granite State primary, said, “People will stop fearing the ‘democratic socialist’ label,” referring to how Sanders identifies his lefty politics.
We don’t think voters will fear the democratic socialist label — they just won’t like it. Sanders has a tough row to hoe if he’s putting up his everything-free-for-everyone-and-come-cross-our-borders policies against the 7 million jobs created under Trump, rise in hourly earnings and record low unemployment. Sanders touts himself as being for the working class — good luck in dissing an administration that has gotten people actually working.
Trump also signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that’s estimated to create over 166,000 jobs and add $68.2 billion to the U.S. economy. Sanders is against it.
At the December Democratic debate in Los Angeles, Biden said “We all have big progressive plans. The question is … who has the best chance, the most likely chance, of defeating Donald Trump?”
As New Hampshire showed, radical chic is on the rise.
Sanders told NPR, “The key to defeating Trump, in my view, is to create a campaign of energy and excitement.”
A democratic socialist revolution is exciting, no question. Good for the country? Hardly. Electable? No. Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar tailgated Sanders and split the moderate vote in New Hampshire, and once voters get a taste of the “revolution” up close, there will likely be a consensus around a middle-of-the-road candidate.
Rejecting far-left radicalism — that’s revolutionary.