Op-Ed from Austin-Statesman: Jensen: Can Bernie Sanders be labelled?

[LiberalElite]

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/opinion/jensen-can-bernie-sanders-be-labelled/nnnHL/

-snip-
By Robert Jensen - Special to the American-Statesman


Whatever the fate of Bernie Sanders’ presidential bid, his current popularity provides an opportunity to clarify the various political labels attached to him: liberal, progressive, socialist, democratic socialist, social democratic, leftist, radical.

Each term means something quite different, and each one can mean different things to different people at different times in different places. If it’s this complicated, should we fuss about labels? Should Sanders — and all of us — reject being pinned down by a word or phrase? Aren’t our positions on specific issues more important?

-snip-

[cantbeserious]

1. And The Conclusion - Bernie Is A Traditional Democrat - Must Mean - HRC Is A Good Something ...

eom

[LiberalElite]

2. I didn't take it that way eom

[cantbeserious]

3. The Author Was Quite Clear

eom

[LiberalElite]

4. Yes, the author is also more to the left

than Sanders but I did not take it as an implied endorsement of Hillary.

The last paragraph:

Unlike some leftists, I’m not rejecting Sanders’ candidacy because he is insufficiently radical — we need any and all critical voices available. Electoral politics is about achieving what can be achieved in that moment, and the Sanders surge gives leftists an opening to applaud his efforts at countering the centrist/right instincts of so many Democrats while also talking forthrightly about the value of a more radical analysis, which is desperately neede

[cantbeserious]

5. Neither Did This One - The Question Is What Is HRC Within The Authors Frame

eom

[LWolf]

11. HRC is a good neo-liberal. nt

[cantbeserious]

12. Yes - We Have A Winner - HRC Suppports Ever More War And Ever More Wall Street Bail Outs

em

[hootinholler]

6. A certain element is certainly trying to label him n/t

[dae]

7. IMO, a very good article defining Bernie by

a self-defined "radical leftist".

[Enthusiast]

8. I agree.

[Enthusiast]

9. I think Bernie can best be described as an FDR Democrat.

As such Bernie is someone that could appeal to a huge majority of the American people.

[dae]

10. #1

No doubt about it.