Mexican Election 2018: 'Mexico's Bernie Sanders' Set to Win

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

We already know who is going to be the president of Mexico for the next six years. It’s ‘AMLO’, short for Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The last opinion poll, with only a week to go, put him at 37% of the vote, and his nearest rival at only 20%. He has little to say about the drug war, apart from vague talk about giving some criminals an amnesty. What he concentrates on is inequality.

Traditionally a far poorer place than the other big economies in Latin America, Brazil and Argentina, Mexico is now level-pegging with Brazil in per capita income, though still trailing Argentina. Indeed, if you calculate it in PPP (purchasing power parity), Mexico is now even with Argentina and well ahead of Brazil. The problem is that the income (in all three countries) is so unevenly shared.

At least a third of Mexico’s people live in poverty, and if anything the inequality has become worse as the economy grew. Some of the slums around the big cities are such deprived and violent places that even ambulances will not go there at night. That is López Obrador’s priority: he will be Mexico’s first left-wing president.

His rivals paint him as a Chávez-style radical who will ruin the economy, but his record as mayor of Mexico City from 2000 to 2005 suggests a much more pragmatic politician: ‘Mexico’s Bernie Sanders’, as some have called him. “No expropriations, no nationalisations”, he pledges – but he does promise to address income disparity as no previous Mexican government has done.

(snip)

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/01/mexican-election-2018-mexicos-bernie-sanders-set-win

[Iliyah]

1. Yay! The RWers have a sad.

He is considered liberal, we shall see tho.

[Hortensis]

39. No, NOT liberal -- left wing. VERY different.

I'm liberal.

Left wing ideology tends to be egalitarian and to promote an expanded role for government. Left wing governments CAN be liberal democracies like ours or repressive, even murderous authoritarian states. But right wing conservative dictators can run left-wing governmental structures.

Right wing tends to support inequality and hierarchical society and to be both against government constraints on economic rights and for some (or many) government control on social behaviors.

"AMLO" ran as a populist nationalist and as a strong man, all 3 possible danger signs. He campaigned to clean up corruption, which Mexico desperately needs, but his populist campaign also appealed to Mexico's counterparts of the U.S.'s trumpsters and others with barn-burner tendencies.

The word "populist" is thrown around a lot, but so many populist voters are both SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES and ECONOMIC LIBERALS that some political scientists consider that a defining characteristic of populism. Like the typical trumpster, who is both white nationalist AND wanting to keep Social Security and other programs intact.

And social conservatives are the planet's huge troublemakers, so when a candidate they like wins... This one may turn out to be the good leader they need, but that he chose to appeal to populist negatives is a warning sign, and that remains to be seen.

[Voltaire2]

2. There is hope.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Lovin it.

So is Donnie going to invade Mexico once again?

[nycbos]

4. I'm sorry since when is he "Mexico's Bernie Sanders"

Mexico presidential race roiled as leftist front-runner embraces right wing party

Earlier this week, two-time presidential runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador entered into a coalition with the Social Encounter Party (PES), a tiny party with religious roots that pushes an anti-gay and anti-abortion agenda.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-election-amlo/mexico-presidential-race-roiled-as-leftist-front-runner-embraces-right-wing-party-idUSKBN1EA00L

Given the threat to gay rights and women's rights in our country we should not celebrate a so called "progressive" teaming up with the far right. The left has it's own problems with tribalism to be sure.

[Uncle Joe]

5. The OP is explicit as to why some refer to him as that

(snip)

At least a third of Mexico’s people live in poverty, and if anything the inequality has become worse as the economy grew. Some of the slums around the big cities are such deprived and violent places that even ambulances will not go there at night. That is López Obrador’s priority: he will be Mexico’s first left-wing president.

His rivals paint him as a Chávez-style radical who will ruin the economy, but his record as mayor of Mexico City from 2000 to 2005 suggests a much more pragmatic politician: ‘Mexico’s Bernie Sanders’, as some have called him. “No expropriations, no nationalisations”, he pledges – but he does promise to address income disparity as no previous Mexican government has done.

(snip)

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/01/mexican-election-2018-mexicos-bernie-sanders-set-win

[nycbos]

6. A key difference is Bernie doesn't openly pal around with bigots.

And this is coming from a person who USED to a fan of Sanders.

[Uncle Joe]

7. The OP never said nor implied that they were clones, it clearly stated that both of them

placed their primary political emphasis on the critical issue of economic injustice.

Here is some additional information on Obrador

(snip)

He spared his harshest words, however, for Mexico’s own president, Enrique Peña Nieto, who he accused of failing stand up to his US counterpart.

“He didn’t have the guts to tell Trump, ‘You will respect the Mexican people,’” López Obrador said. “’You will respect our migrants.’”

(snip)

Commonly referred to as AMLO, López Obrador draws comparisons to leftwing leaders such as Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn: politicians who have endured ridicule for sticking to a set of ideals which eventually resonate with voters.

(snip)

Unlike those he’s compared to, López Obrador has governing experience, in Mexico City from 2000 to 2005. He ran a populist and popular administration which kept subway fares low, built elevated freeways and partnered with the billionaire Carlos Slim to restore the city’s historic centre. He also provided stipends to seniors and single mothers, initiatives initially denounced as populism but replicated by others including Peña Nieto.

(snip)


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/13/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-mexico-donald-trump

[nycbos]

8. You are missing my point

If he pals around with anti gay bigots he is not a good guy.

Jeremy Corbyn is also an antisemite while were on the subject. Called Hamas and Hezbollah his "friends" and invited an Islamist to parliament who in the past stated "The Jews were absent from the twin towers."

[Uncle Joe]

9. So your primary objection to him being referred to as the "Mexico's Bernie Sanders" is

that Obrador being a bad guy because of this political alliance with PES damages Bernie?

[nycbos]

10. No my point is that being left wing doesn't mean we should support them.

The left has its share of unsavory characters.

[Wwcd]

12. True. Why would Commondreams align bernie with such a sordid character

Unless...???

[nycbos]

17. It is highly possible they are unaware.

[Wwcd]

19. Highly possible indeed. They should have done some simple research.

But..

[lapucelle]

31. "Mexico presidential race roiled as leftist front-runner embraces right wing party"

“It looks like our rights will have to keep waiting,” said Lol Kin Castaneda, a leading gay rights activist who helped push Mexico City’s approval of marriage equality in 2010.

Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is lawful. Still, fewer than half of the country’s 32 states have laws on the books that permit civil marriage for gays and lesbians, and individual same-sex couples in most states must fight to be recognized, often at great cost.

snip======================================

Lopez Obrador, like many Latin American leftists, has traditionally focused on fighting poverty and graft, not divisive social issues like gay rights or a woman’s right to an abortion.

In the past, he has said such issues are not “so important” compared to the fight against corruption.

He has also proposed putting same-sex marriage and abortion to a popular vote, which rankles activists like Castaneda. Asked if she might still support Lopez Obrador, Castaneda was quick to answer.

“Right now, I haven’t made a decision.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-election-amlo/mexico-presidential-race-roiled-as-leftist-front-runner-embraces-right-wing-party-idUSKBN1EA00L

[ehrnst]

34. But....

yep.

[Uncle Joe]

13. Every political faction has its' share

of unsavory characters but I believe everything is relevant as well.

History is literally loaded with great and good individuals that for political expediency, personal bigotry, or simple error in judgement either associated with the unsavory lot or promoted and/or passed unsavory laws because of a perceived or real greater national threat to the public interests.

Were they good, bad, great, at times tyrannical or a mixture of all?

I believe it all comes down to what Mexico deems as their greatest national, public concerns or needs and whether they correctly answer those issues.

[Uncle Joe]

20. You believe this is a joke?

https://borgenproject.org/causes-of-poverty-in-mexico/


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Mexico


http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english/mexico-and-wealth-inequality



https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Mexicos-Extreme-Inequality-1-Owns-Half-of-Countrys-Wealth-20150625-0034.html


Just one of a few pics

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4029410/Mexico-s-wealth-gap-laid-bare-Extraordinary-photos-rich-live-destitute-unequal-society.html

[Wwcd]

21. Trash Thread. Stop stalking me. Thanks

[Uncle Joe]

22. You never answered my question and you're on my thread not the other way around. Thanks

[Wwcd]

23. I don't care. Its an open thread on DU. Stop stalking me.

[Uncle Joe]

24. Are you serious!?

[George II]

26. I don't believe anyone "owns" a thread. You posted an OP, presumably others are free to respond.

[Uncle Joe]

28. My thread as being the original poster of the thread, surely you read up thread to get the context

of the discussion or at least what hasn't been deleted yet?

[ehrnst]

36. No politician in the U.S. would be called "progressive" supporting huge tax breaks

Last edited Mon Jul 2, 2018, 08:01 AM - Edit history (1)

for construction construction firms and changing zoning regulations to make construction of upscale condominiums and office buildings more financially attractive, proposed putting same-sex marriage and abortion to a popular vote, forged an electoral alliance with a socially conservative party founded by evangelical Christians.... if any Democrat did any of those things, they would be filleted with a dull knife here on DU as "status quo" "corporate" and "a neocon in bed with evangelicals."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016209641#post32

Yes, it all comes down to what the people of Mexico, like our own Democratic party, deems as their greatest national, public concerns or needs and whether they correctly answer those issues.

[OilemFirchen]

35. So did Donald Trump.

And George Wallace, our last serious "populist" Presidential contender.

[Uncle Joe]

15. How about the Guardian going back to February of 2017?

(snip)

He spared his harshest words, however, for Mexico’s own president, Enrique Peña Nieto, who he accused of failing stand up to his US counterpart.

“He didn’t have the guts to tell Trump, ‘You will respect the Mexican people,’” López Obrador said. “’You will respect our migrants.’”

(snip)

Commonly referred to as AMLO, López Obrador draws comparisons to leftwing leaders such as Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn: politicians who have endured ridicule for sticking to a set of ideals which eventually resonate with voters.

(snip)

Unlike those he’s compared to, López Obrador has governing experience, in Mexico City from 2000 to 2005. He ran a populist and popular administration which kept subway fares low, built elevated freeways and partnered with the billionaire Carlos Slim to restore the city’s historic centre. He also provided stipends to seniors and single mothers, initiatives initially denounced as populism but replicated by others including Peña Nieto.

(snip)


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/13/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-mexico-donald-trump

[Wwcd]

16. Trash Thread

This is such a fking stretch..typical Commondreams
Gaaad.

[George II]

38. How about the Guardian in June 2018 (this week)?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/27/mexico-election-candidates-avoid-stances-on-same-sex-marriage-and-abortion

See my post #32.

[Wwcd]

11. Omfg. Of course CommonDreams

Wow.

[NurseJackie]

29. I know.

Ugh.

[George II]

25. CNN a little while ago was calling him Mexico's donald trump.

[Uncle Joe]

27. Then I guess time will tell which he turns out to be.

Obrador's track record leaves me hopeful that he will be good for the people of Mexico.

[sheshe2]

30. Hmmm.

Time will tell.

[George II]

32. What I see of his track record, it doesn't appear to be all that progressive:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Manuel_L%C3%B3pez_Obrador

López Obrador used fiscal policy to encourage private-sector investment in housing. He granted construction firms large tax breaks and changed zoning regulations to make construction projects more financially attractive, leading to the construction of more condominiums and office buildings during his tenure than during any other period in Mexico City history. New high-density condos have emerged in the upscale neighborhoods of Polanco and Lomas.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/27/mexico-election-candidates-avoid-stances-on-same-sex-marriage-and-abortion

He has also forged an electoral alliance with a socially conservative party founded by evangelical Christians, which could end up claiming 10% of the seats in Congress.

“I don’t think rights will be rolled back [with an Amlo administration and conservatives in his congressional coalition]” Brambila said. “But progress is going to be more difficult.”

This year’s election comes after a well-funded “pro-family” lobby made an aggressive push into Mexico politics with a high-profile campaign against marriage equality.
____________

Amlo’s positions on marriage equality and abortion have stirred disquiet among the LGBT community and women’s groups.

As mayor of Mexico City from 2000-2005, Amlo held off on promoting same-sex marriage and the decriminalisation of abortion – both of which were eventually introduced in the city by his successor, Marcelo Ebrard.
____________

Amlo’s electoral coalition includes the Social Encounter Party (PES), which was founded by evangelical Christians and in 2016 voted against a presidential proposal to enshrine same-sex marriage in the constitution.

[ehrnst]

33. Researching the facts. Imagine that......

Let the flamethrowing about you being a "hater" begin...

[Wwcd]

37. Haaaahaa..wonder wich of the 4 will win!