Bernie Sanders says Democrats are failing: 'The party has turned its back on the working class'
(snip)
We have tried a strategy over the last several months, which has been mostly backdoor negotiations with a handful of senators, Sanders said. It hasnt succeeded on Build Back Better or on voting rights. It has demoralized millions of Americans.
He called for reviving a robust version of Build Back Better and also called for holding votes on individual parts of that legislation that would help working-class Americans. We have to bring these things to the floor, Sanders said. The vast majority of people in the [Democratic] caucus are willing to fight for good policy.
Sanders added: If I were Senator Sinema and a vote came up to lower the outrageously high cost of prescription drugs, Id think twice if I want to get re-elected in Arizona to vote against that. If I were Mr Manchin and I know that tens of thousands of struggling families in West Virginia benefited from the expansion of the child tax credit, Id think long and hard before I voted against it.
Sanders also called for legislation on another issue he has championed: having Medicare provide dental, vision and hearing benefits. All these issues, they are just not Bernie Sanders standing up and saying this would be a great thing, he said. They are issues that are enormously popular, and on every one of them, the Republicans are in opposition. But a lot of people dont know that because the Republicans havent been forced to vote on them.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/bernie-sanders-democrats-failing-working-class-interview
OhZone
(3,212 posts)Am I wrong seeing this as "magical thinking" - that just bring these up for a vote will FORCE Sinema or Manchin to cooperate??
Oh well.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)(snip)
Such votes would be good policy and good politics, the Vermont senator insisted, saying they would show the Democrats battling for the working class while highlighting Republican opposition to hugely popular policies.
It is no great secret that the Republican party is winning more and more support from working people, Sanders said. Its not because the Republican party has anything to say to them. Its because in too many ways the Democratic party has turned its back on the working class.
(snip)
The individual bills that Sanders favors might not attract the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster, and a defeat on them could embarrass the Democrats. But Sanders, chairman of the Senate budget committee and one of the nations most prominent progressive voices, said, People can understand that you sometimes dont have the votes. But they cant understand why we havent brought up important legislation that 70 or 80% of the American people support.
Sanders spoke to the Guardian on 6 January, the same day he issued a statement that the best way to safeguard our democracy is not just to enact legislation that protects voting rights, but to address the concerns of the vast majority of Americans for whom there is a disconnect between the realities of their lives and what goes on in Washington.
(snip)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/bernie-sanders-democrats-failing-working-class-interview
OhZone
(3,212 posts)So he just wants a show vote - and doesn't care if it passes?
Oh-k.
So he just wants propaganda and not actual success.
That explains everything.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)but politics and policy are inextricably tied together.
The American People lose track if you don't at the very least have "show" votes on highly popular and relevant issues of the day affecting their lives.
It's all about accountability for the American People because propaganda does affect policy and vice versa.
Once you lose the ability to effectively hold politicians accountable, the people become disenfranchised with government and the Republicans win.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)and when they are held, and fail, I expect Sanders to NOT blame "the Democratic Party."
Deal?
good luck with that.
Moebym
(989 posts)They are aware of Manchin and Sinema's treachery, and don't need a show vote to hold them accountable.
In fact, I can guarantee you that this show vote, should it fail, will reduce the people's trust in Congress even further.
brush
(53,845 posts)roadblocks to BBB passingManching and Sinema?
Is Bernie going back to his old strategy of "fighting against the Democratic Party establishment?"
PortTack
(32,793 posts)JohnSJ
(92,394 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 02:49 PM - Edit history (1)
Me.
(35,454 posts)HOw would he get attention without his grandstanding?
comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)contempt for the Democratic Party.
Cha
(297,655 posts)up.
we can do it
(12,193 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)followers to keep them reassured he's really one of them.
He's walking a tightrope between helping Democrats stop a RW authoritarian putsch, which his Democratic followers point to proudly, and holding onto his anti-Democratic, anti-establishment populist followers, who emphatically do not.
We should remember that tRump is who he'd lose a critical number of them to, just as in 2016. Probably will at election anyway, those who came back to him. No doubt some stayed with the RW populist leader.
JohnSJ
(92,394 posts)Bernie.
You are from Vermont, not Arizonia or West Virginia, and you are NOT Sinema or Manchin. If you were there wouldn't be this issue.
What makes him think that reviving a robust BBB will change the views of Sinema or Manchin? A year ago when there was a robust version, they rejected it outright, and there is no evidence that their views have changed, but instead have become even more entrenched in their positions.
The headline that "Democrats are failing", is misleading, divisive and unhelpful. The problem is two Senators in a 50-50 Senate
As for bringing up individual votes on these issues, we have three chances to do that, because Congress can pass up to three reconcilliation bills per year.
Response to JohnSJ (Reply #6)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)not real success.
Kinda follows his whole persona and history.
Oh well.
Moebym
(989 posts)We dodged a bullet each time he lost the Democratic presidential primary.
Scrivener7
(51,004 posts)comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)He's simply not capable of being a team player. He rejects incremental progress in favor of empty gestures.
childfreebychoice
(476 posts)liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)Unfortunately saying all the right things does absolutely nothing to solve this country's major issues. I wish he were as relentless in the Senate as he is on Twitter.
Budi
(15,325 posts)I guess now that he's no longer a D, these 'failures' don't apply to him.
Jfc
samsingh
(17,601 posts)Budi
(15,325 posts)What's his record on writing & introducing legislation?
He should be able to easily do it with his 30+ yrs in our legislature.
Demanding & doing the work to make it happen is the key to credibility.
Otherwise its just talk.
Moebym
(989 posts)Than in the Senate actually working on getting the bill passed.
childfreebychoice
(476 posts)Failing the party, not dems. An aside, would love to know what a pres sanders would do about those two obstructionists
George II
(67,782 posts)....on another issue he has championed"
Where does legislation originate?
BlueTsunami2018
(3,503 posts)Perhaps hes right though, get everyone on record. Let the people see who is in favor of helping them and who is opposed to it. Maybe with a stark look that cannot be denied, people might vote in favor of themselves. Were never going to get the hardcore righties but maybe some of the soft support and indies will figure it out.
As it is, it looks like were not even trying.
Cha
(297,655 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 06:30 PM - Edit history (1)
the Democratic Party is ok with him broad brushing our Democratic Party.. I know I'm not.
sheshe2
(83,898 posts)CentralMass
(15,265 posts)Moebym
(989 posts)You ran as a Democrat for president, twice.
You caucus with the Democrats in the Senate.
But when two conservative Dems are holding up the BBB - 4% of the Democratic caucus, meaning 96% of them are in support - you conveniently invoke your Independent party affiliation to criticize the party as a whole.
You don't think that, with your grandstanding, you aren't also letting the working class down?
Spare us this performance, Bernie. We've known from at least 2016 that you are all hat and no cattle.
Budi
(15,325 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 07:13 PM - Edit history (1)
"Working class"
"Millionares & Billionares" was a populist campaign slogn too, until he became a millionare. Now its just billionares.
Wonder where he's got his millions invested?
Cha
(297,655 posts)Moebym
(989 posts)30+ years in the Senate, but he paints himself as "anti-establishment", which his supporters gleefully parrot without thinking.
In his 80s, but his supporters jeer at Biden and Pelosi for being octogenarian politicians.
Few notable achievements to his name over his lengthy career, yet he is on TV several times a week to complain about how Democrats are doing this or that the wrong way.
Independent party affiliation, but caucuses with Democrats and ran for president as a Democrat, twice. Americans rejected him twice, yet his supporters insist he was the rightful winner both times (sound familiar?).
But the media loves him for giving them endless fodder for pushing the "Democrats are weak and ineffective" narrative.
He is not an ally. True allies do not backstab as he has, many times.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)have loyally supported President Biden and hus agenda a. Bernie supporters like myself voted for President Biden in the general and support him. However like any other elect the party should be held accountable to try and pass legislation for the agenda that the President ran on.
Including pressuring the one or two Senators that are blocking his agenda.
Budi
(15,325 posts)We have 6-9 who have consistantly voted lock step against Biden & House Democratic policies.
Just last week one of the progressive influencers appeared on a podcast declaring again, the "There's no difference between Republicans & Democrats."
So tell us how this is supporting Biden, again?
They are Not.
Budi
(15,325 posts)The big lie didn't start with #45.
Cha
(297,655 posts)Budi
(15,325 posts)Eric Boehlert's article really says what Bernie seems to totally have missed.
Thanks for posting this, because 'someone sure seems intent on countering the truth of Biden's success.
A counter to the truth is then a lie, correct?