Why Bernie Sanders won the debate

[David__77]

That’s why, for all the pokes he got and didn’t always deflect smoothly, Bernie Sanders won last night’s South Carolina Democratic debate. He might have flinched on his gun control record, and bewildered some with his defense of what he thinks Fidel Castro’s Cuba did well, but his overall message of social equity — that is, equality in the delivery of social services, and his mantra of support for the middle class — was clear and of the moment. All the other candidates somehow seemed anachronistic, like talking heads from the 1990s, discussing their competence, but none had a message.

...

If being a centrist means, quite literally, being at the center of what the public is thinking — which we can only measure through political participation such as voting behavior — then Sanders retained his place at the heart of the American public conversation right now, if only because he did not swerve from his mantras. The more he was attacked for being a radical last night, the more those attacking him seemed out of date. Remember when establishment Republicans counted on presumed presidential heir Jeb Bush? Déjà vu.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/484672-why-bernie-sanders-won-the-debate

[LawnKorn]

1. M4A

Bernie has the policy proposal the rest of the candidates wish they had.

[onetexan]

2. SPIN!

[jimfields33]

5. The thing I admire about Bernie is

That he never flip flops. What he believes thirty years ago, he believes today. The rest have to change their beliefs every time they turn around. Bernie is refreshing for his honesty.

[pazzyanne]

6. When someone does not change their beliefs in 30 years,

that is not necessarily a good thing. It can mean they are unwilling to change and grow. We have had such a person in the White House for the past 3 years. I'm not sure that we can survive when our leader is not willing to look at new presentations and chooses to ignore all ideas presented. The current guy in the White House is destroying our country because he cannot/ will not change when new ideas are presented.

[TwilightZone]

8. "That he never flip flops."

He changed his position on superdelegates twice in the past five years. First, he wanted them to have nothing to do with the process. Then, when he lost in the primaries, he tried to get them to switch and override the will of the voters.

Now, he's back to the prior position. That is, of course, until it's advantageous for him to switch again.

The "he never changes" assertion is a myth. Always has been. He doesn't seem to have any problem changing positions when it's favorable for him to do so.

Besides, being wrong about something for 30 years is only complicated by doubling down on it the whole time. Most people learn and grow as they age. If he really is as incapable of change as many of his supporters insist (which, as noted, isn't really true), that wouldn't be a good thing.

[jimfields33]

9. I can care less about the superdelegates thing

I’d get rid of them. Very anti-democratic. As far as not changing after 30 years, when you are right on issues even 30 years, no need to change or grow up. He’s been right and mature on issues from the beginning of his career.

[LanternWaste]

17. And that's how one moves the goalposts...

[betsuni]

14. +1

[brooklynite]

10. Just like Jeremy Corbyn...

[jimfields33]

11. England? Good grief.

They are not part of the United States. And they have a million candidate in their general election.

[HarlanPepper]

18. LOL

“ A million candidate” you obviously don’t know how UK politics work.

[jimfields33]

19. I don't have a clue. Caught me. Haha!

[onetexan]

12. "never flip flops" & "refreshing honesty"?? ROTFL you don't know his record apparently

All throughout his political career BS has for the most part taken positions for political expediency - those which will benefit him personally. Sounds like the Orange One doesn't it?

And re: refreshing honesty? More like gag-inducing absurdity.

[W_HAMILTON]

13. That's a damn lie.

Case in point:

Link to tweet

Now, contrast that with what he said at the debate just a couple of nights ago.

[betsuni]

15. +1

[TexasTowelie]

3. .

[betsuni]

4. "centrist"

[denem]

7. "Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel spin"

[quickesst]

16. Bernie did not win the debate....

.... therefore a reason why he won cannot exist. Simple logic