Clinton does not own "Compromise." Sanders and his supporters believe in that too.
Compromise is Apple Pie.
It's part of life. I totally agree with President Obama's words about the necessity of compromise.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT. Let's stop pretending that this is all about compromise versus rigidity or ideological purity.
The devil is always in the details. The real questions are how much should you compromise? Where do you start the negotiations -- at what you want or at the mid-point of what you might settle for?
A bigger question is the difference between compromising with your opposition and collaborating with them. What areas do you actually sorta agree with the GOP? What areas are you more a believer in GOP Conservatism than progressive Liberalism?
And what issues are you talking about?
Despite the handy stereotype, Sanders is a master of compromise in ter,ms of performance. He has strong principles and is outspoken in defending them. But he also knows how to negotiate and compromise. He did that very successfully in Burlington, and he has done that in Congress.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernies-burlington-what-k_b_7510704.html
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/10/31/socialist-even-conservative-could-love-burlington-mayor-sanders-was-able-out-republican-republicans/SCmh2TLifXxXRPFKC8NMjO/story.html
It would be helpful if this tired meme that Obama, Clinton and the DLC faction of Democrats have a monopoly on willingness to compromise was put to bed -- both regarding Sanders, and the larger goals, values and issues involved.
Since around 1980, the dominant approach to the economy and how policies and business behavior affects society has been GOP TRickle Down Supply Side Economics. It has been giving Big Corporations and Wall St. unrestrained power to siphon money from the lower and middle classes and put it in the pockets of the upper class.
The GOP has relentlessly and openly pushed that since 1980.
Unfortunately too often the Democrats have gone along with it too, either from cowardice, or their desire to grab a slice of the booty. They have contributed to that problem, rather than actively opposing it and fighting for the people.
The issue is whether the Democratic Party will continue to ignore and sweep the real problems under the carpet, or will actively change enough to truly fight for the majority in terms of distribution of wealth and power ---that fight includes COMPROMISING as needed, as long as it is compromise in the proper direction.
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