Is Bernie Sanders really a socialist? Or just redefining socialism for America?

[DonViejo]

DAN ROBERTS, THE GUARDIAN
08 JUL 2015 AT 10:05 ET

The Democratic candidate describes himself as one, but it can be hard to detect the traditional hallmarks of socialism at his increasingly popular rallies

Since the days of Joe McCarthy’s communist witch-hunts, American politics has rarely seen a “red scare” to match that greeting the surging popularity of Bernie Sanders.

The self-declared socialist senator from Vermont, who is now challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, is not even hiding under the bed; he would sooner jump up and down on the mattress than disown his leftwing past .

He remains a long-shot to win the Democratic party’s nomination, let alone the White House, but moderate colleagues in the Senate warn nonetheless that the media is failing to expose his extreme liberal agenda .

Republican opponents argue that the sight of an “honest-to-goodness socialist” even gaining on Clinton in the polls proves just how dangerously radical the Democratic party has become.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/is-bernie-sanders-really-a-socialist-or-just-redefining-socialism-for-america/

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. I don't think it is extreme

What is extreme about raising the minimum wage? What is extreme about about having a single payer healthcare system. I would hardly call Canada an extreme country. What do people think is extreme about helping struggling people? What is extreme?

[JaneyVee]

2. He's not a real socialist, he's more of a capitalist reformer.

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Thank you JaneyVee. You are correct...........

The means of production would remain in private hands if Bernie won the Presidency, ergo he's NOT running on a socialist platform. He's running as an FDR Democrat.

[JaneyVee]

9. Exactly.

[lovemydog]

3. Republican opponents are wrong.

Democratic socialism isn't dangerously radical. It's as American as apple pie. It would retain the electoral process, retain our first amendment freedoms, and expand democracy. It's about breaking up big banks, raising taxes on the rich (or, restoring them to Clinton-era levels), and making billionaires pay more of their fair share for the benefits they enjoy, while significantly protecting and wherever possible assisting the working poor and those who can't work. To strengthen and expand the middle class. I think what freaks the establishment out is that Bernie is in favor of reducing spending on the military. But don't forget that Eisenhower also viewed a 'peacetime dividend' as something that could be used to stimulate job growth and prosperity here at home.

[bigtree]

4. why?

...what's the point?

Who's clamoring for a redefinition of socialism? Even more importantly, who's asking for Democratic politics and policy to be defined as socialism?

[AgingAmerican]

5. His ideas are solidly mainstream

His policies have broad appeal across the political spectrum. Our political system has been so far out in cuckoo for cocoa puffs land for so long now, that normal is considered radical.

[LWolf]

6. "He would sooner jump up and down on the mattress

than disown his leftwing past."

Just one of the reasons people are flocking to him.

[Mnpaul]

7. 1950 is calling

they want their commie mass hysteria back

They used this silly crap to go after the Antiwar Committee. The FBI informant claimed that the Antiwar Committee and a Freedom Road socialist had secret red cells all across the country plotting to violently overthrow the US government.

I am so glad they told the FBI to go 'eff themselves.