2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Bernie Sanders Has Centrist Democrats Freaking Out
Here's that dirty "Third Way" name again lol
It's kind of funny because I think we've seen some of this rhetoric right here on DU. There's more of the story at the link.
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/why-bernie-sanders-has-centrist-democrats-freaking-out
Centrist Democrats are panicking about the popularity of Bernie Sanders and his impact on the more moderate frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, warning that the Democratic Partys shift towards a more progressive tone will spell electoral doom.
Sanders rhetoric on income inequality and Wall Street capitalism may be great to fill college stadiums, members of the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way argue, but it isnt enough to defeat Republicans in 2016. Earlier this week, Third Way issued 70-plus policy recommendations meant to push Democrats away from Sanders populism to a more centrist tone ahead of next years election.
We propose that Democrats be Democrats, Third Ways president Jonathan Cowan declared, not socialists.
President Obamas former chief of staff, Bill Daley, warned that with Sanders as the nominee, Democrats would suffer a blowout loss in the general election. You would be back to 1972, Daley, now a Third Way board member, explained.
The guy has been a socialist his whole life and now decides he is a Democrat and therefore the Democratic Party has got to move to that extreme? I think it is a recipe for disaster, he said, slamming Sanders with a familiar attack.
While Daley was in the White House, Third Way warned Democrats to prioritize so-called moderate voters over liberals in the 2012 election. Now out of the White House, Daley has picked again up the Third Way mantle, warning Hillary Clinton to reject a leftward drift during the Democratic primary.
They are really going to beat her up to move further and further and further [to the left] because they assume she is going to get it and they want their piece of flesh, Daley said, referring to the Democratic base.
Fundamentally, Third Way disagrees with Sanders message of economic populism. The struggle of the middle class is not because the economy is unfair or because the deck was stacked, said Jim Kessler, Third Ways senior vice president for policy. Its because the economy has fundamentally changed, he argued, pointing to a globalizing economy.
For their part, Sanders campaign shrugs off critiques from centrist Democrats like Daley and the Third Way bunch. I think the Third Way message was great in 92 but out of date for a 2016 electorate I have no doubt that if we can get through the nominating process against such a formidable opponent he will be very strong in the general, Sanders top strategist Tad Devine told the Huffington Post. Bernie has the potential to change the composition of the electorate, and getting young people and lower income voters back into it on the side of the Democrats because his message is so powerful and believable coming from him.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)3rd way = republican-ish = good?
I thought Sanders was an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. I also thought his policies were democratic socialist?
I see what they're trying to do there....and here I am thinking the Republicans were the feces flinging experts.
pinebox
(5,761 posts)I've witnessed some of that rhetoric from Hillary supporters. "He's a socialist, I won't some socialist! I'd rather have a corporatist!"
Sad really. I wonder of these people know that we have many socialist programs in the United States? Doubtful.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)If that don't make ya feel the Bern nothing will!!!!
Matariki
(18,775 posts)Oh, do tell Bill Daley. I'm sure it's all so very fair and if we just keep cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy, and make trade aggreements that allow for cheaper labor, the middle class will do jolly well.
sorechasm
(631 posts)Jim Kessler, Third Ways senior vice president for policy. Its because the economy has fundamentally changed, he argued, pointing to a globalizing economy.
He's wrong. The economy was 'Globalized' two decades ago. The 21st Century economy is hyper connected with ubiquitous technology, and customized production capacity. We no longer need the 1%.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)And globalization is not an inevitability like weather patterns. It is a result of deliberate policy choices.
This is what they are panicking about: first, that the usual "conventional wisdom" weapon about electability doesn't fit, doesn't work, this time around. Second, that Bernie's revolution, whether or not he wins the nomination, changes the electorate away from dlc/new dem/3rd way/centrism/corporatism/neoliberalism.
DianeK
(975 posts)MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Every time I pick up to read or turn on to see/listen, the media owned term keeps popping up...
Corporate frontrunner.... Let's get that straight.