As Sanders Surges, Moderate Dems Issue Warning To Iowans

[brooklynite]

Iowa Starting Line

Think twice about putting Sen. Bernie Sanders on the path to the Democratic nomination, a prominent Washington-based organization is urging Iowans ahead of the caucus.

Third Way, a think tank of moderate Democrats, will be distributing a memo on Sanders’ potential liabilities in a general election to hundreds of Iowa Democrats today, they told Starting Line. They’re also suggesting that Iowa caucus-goers “Google Bernie” ahead of Monday night, pointing to the number of already-public stories on Sanders’ background that President Donald Trump’s campaign could use.

“Because of media negligence and the strategic calculation of his rivals, you have not seen much real exploration of the politically toxic background and ideas of the current polling leader in Iowa and a national c0-frontrunner,” writes Third Way President Jonathan Cowan. “Before you vote, we urge you to consider at least a few of the many things in Bernie Sanders’ long record in public life that make him the Trump team’s ‘ideal Democratic opponent‘ … All you have to do is #GoogleBernie.”

The growing concern among Democrats like at Third Way comes in response to Sanders surging in early state and national polling at just the right time. Among four polls of the Iowa Caucus released over this weekend, Sanders led in three of them. Given that he may turn out many first-time caucus-goers that are difficult to poll, that puts him in a strong spot for Monday. Turnout at his events here have also swelled in recent weeks, as Sanders brings his all-star crew of progressive leaders to the state to fill in for him during impeachment or boost events he’s at.

[DanTex]

1. No way! Centrist think tanks attacking Bernie! Who'd ever have imagined that?

[brooklynite]

2. Good thing centrists don't vote in the General Election...

[DanTex]

5. Compare the audiences of "Third Way" and Joe Rogan and get back to me.

[brooklynite]

10. Let's see...

Third Way Applauds Introduction of The Equality Act

Protecting Transgender Students, and All Students, in School

Bernie Sanders Blasted for Touting Support of Transphobe Joe Rogan

LGBT Rights Group Demands Sanders Renounce Rogan Endorsement

[DanTex]

13. So have you compared the audience sizes like I asked?

I mean, your last post was about how centrists vote too, which sort of implies that we need the support of beltway-connected centrist think tank types to win. But when I asked you to look into how many such voters there actually are, you completely ignored it and switched gears.

We both know that Third Way and Joe Rogan support some horrible policies that no progressive would support. I mean, whether or not Joe Biden wants to cut social security, Third Way most definitely does. But that's not the point, is it? It's about reaching out beyond the base. I mean, either we want centrists and independents to vote for us, or we don't.

If we do, then isn't it better to look where the actual independents are? So again, who has the bigger audience, Joe Rogan, or Third Way?

[redqueen]

14. Third Way audience (and backers, more importantly) has more $$$$

And that's why so many people are so willing to subscribe to bothsideism.

[ehrnst]

24. Since when has being more specific on numbers than "a chunk" been important

to your arguments?

[KPN]

3. +1!

[MRDAWG]

4. Independents are not going to vote for a Socialist!

Get real or we lose in November.

[Quixote1818]

17. Except Joe Rogan and his 7 million followers. nt

[Demsrule86]

26. They only vote for Sanders in the primary not the general...operation chaos.

[KPN]

6. Be afraid people! Stay in the box or else!

The boo bears are out in force the last few days.

Bernie is really scaring the ... well, what’s another term for those who have been in power, in control, in the lead?

This stuff really is irking. Here we go again.

[totodeinhere]

7. The Third Way is a front for corporatists and Wall Street money barons who oppose most of Bernie's

progressive agenda. So of course they are going to say that. And if Warren were to start to surge in the polls again they would say the same thing about her.

[Devil Child]

22. This is true and they are fiercly opposed to MFA

Regardless of which candidate is supporting MFA.

[ritapria]

11. From Nation Magazine , December 3 , 2013

Article Entitled : "GOP Donors and K Street Fuel Third Way's Advice for the Democratic Party " ..Wow .. What a Shock ...

[progressoid]

12. Remember 8 seconds ago when we were told not to bad-mouth other candidates.

Good times. Good times.

[redqueen]

15. Paul Wellstone warned us about forces in this party

who were trying to turn the Dems into a kinder, gentler version of republicans.

He couldn't have been talking about the third way dems, could he?

[dflprincess]

27. He said that in 2000

and the rest of the quote is

"I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."

True then, true now.

[Devil Child]

16. Third Way makes a lot of assumptions

Namely that: voters are somehow ignorant in their support for Sen. Sanders; that Iowans need education on who they should vote for; and Iowans will really give a shit about the feedback from a Washington based think-tank.

[brooklynite]

18. So no point in all those Unions and advocacy groups announcing their opinions?

[Devil Child]

19. My apologies, I thought this thread was about Third Way issuing a warning to Idahoans wanting Bernie

Are we now moving on from Third Way to a whole new area of discussion?

[brooklynite]

20. No, I was asked why Third Way would think anyone cared about their opinion on the Primary?

No different than Our Revolution or VoteVets or Planned Parentohood Action or the UAW expressing an opinion.

[Devil Child]

21. No different at all. These endorsements mainly reinforce pre-existing support of a candidate

Depending on who the audience and/or targeted candidate is. Take for example Third Way which is a Biden-linked think tank and polling organization. I suspect Biden supporters love to hear what they say and will share with other Biden supporters. These orgs largely preach to their own respective choirs IMO.

[Kentonio]

23. Got to love a centrist Washington think tank lecturing Iowan voters

I’m sure that will make many people change their preferences..

[ehrnst]

25. Almost as much as someone who feels a need to misrepresent an opponent's words

rather than take them head to head on the issues will.



https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2020/jan/09/bernie-sanders/did-biden-laud-paul-ryan-proposal-cut-social-secur/

[The Mouth]

28. Bernie is not my top pick time, but

"Third Way" is everything wrong with the Democratic party. They aren't centrists, they are the essence of corporatism, big money, and backroom deals.