Clinton's Tack to the Center? It's Just Talk

[Purveyor]

MARCH 29, 2016 2:42 PM EST
By Paula Dwyer

One bit of conventional 2016 campaign wisdom is that Bernie Sanders has pushed Hillary Clinton far to the left. It seems so obvious that even the socialists are celebrating.

Like a lot of conventional wisdom, it's partly true. Clinton's words on taxes, trade, minimum wages, immigration and Wall Street do sound a lot like those of the socialist Sanders. But look past the stump speeches and something more significant becomes clear: Clinton's rhetoric may have changed, but her policy positions haven't. That means her anticipated pivot toward the center for the general election is also likely to be more oratorical than substantive.

So far, Clinton has pulled off a neat trick. She has gone toe-to-toe with Sanders by calling for higher taxes on the rich, more generous health-care subsidies and criminal-justice reforms. She positions herself to his left on gun control, equal pay for women and immigration.

Even his most steadfast supporters are convinced. "Thanks to Bernie Sanders," says Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a liberal grassroots group, "Hillary Clinton was made a better candidate." He cites her support for debt-free college, more generous Social Security benefits and jailing Wall Street bankers who break the law as examples of how she moved in Sanders's direction and "remolded the Democratic Party."

But an analysis of her speeches, debates and white papers shows that she's been a careful tactician. On issue after issue, she has left an escape hatch and declined to say things that might cause voter whiplash later. Once she clinches the nomination, Clinton may not need to tack back to the center much at all.

more...

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-03-29/clinton-s-tack-to-the-center-it-s-just-talk

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

1. Nope, see through the lies of Camp Weathervane.

[DebbieCDC]

2. This happens every single election cycle

To get the Dems' vote, the candidate tacks left in the primaries

Once nominated, they tack center to win the general

Once elected they run right back to the right.

Every.single.fucking.time.

When are we, the 99%, gonna get wise to this shell game and put these DINOs out of business for good?

Maybe THIS will be the election where that happens.

[hedda_foil]

3. Actually, they tack to the center to lose the general election.

Has a winning Democratic presidential candidate ever tacked to the so-called center before the election? After their election, you betcha, but beforehand, I can't think of one.

[global1]

4. That's One Thing That Bernie Won't Do.....

He won't tack to the center when he wins the nomination. He'll make the Repug nominee tack to the center or left - but Bernie won't budge on his principles. That's why I like the guy.

Go Bernie!!!

Feel The Bern!!!!

[Motown_Johnny]

5. "On issue after issue, she has left an escape hatch"

That pretty much sums up Hillary Clinton right there.

[Broward]

6. It's a shame that some are still fooled by the rhetoric.

She's a right-wing corporatist warhawk.