Salon on Sanders: This is what a political earthquake feels like

[portlander23]

This is what a political earthquake feels like: Why Bernie Sanders’s speech at Liberty University matters

Bernie’s brand of populism was on full display at Liberty. If you can cut through the rhetoric and the partisan bullshit, there are common causes to be found – and this is what Sanders tried to do yesterday. Most politicians are chameleonic by nature; they adapt in order to blend in with their audience. But Sanders refused to put on airs at Liberty, saying in no uncertain terms: “I believe in a woman’s right to control her own body. I believe in gay rights and gay marriage. Those are my views, and it is no secret. But I came here today, because I believe from the bottom of my heart that it is vitally important for those of us who hold different views to be able to engage in a civil discourse.”

Having acknowledged this divide, Sanders did what Democrats ought to do constantly: He challenged the largely Christian crowd to think differently about ethics, politics, and religion.

Many on the left have waited in vain for a Democrat to forcefully make the case to Christians that we have a moral (and religious) imperative to alleviate poverty and human suffering. One of the great travesties of contemporary American politics is the unholy alliance between economic libertarians and the religious right. Christian conservatives have managed, thanks to the propaganda efforts of monied interests, to reconcile their love of Ayn Rand with their Christianity, which are entirely contradictory worldviews. Sanders makes the crucial point that capitalism is a morality, too. And the profit motive is the supreme good. “We are living in a nation,” Sanders said, “which worships not love of brothers and sisters, not love of the poor and the sick, but worships the acquisition of money.”

[retrowire]

1. datz my future president right there.

go bernie!!!

[merrily]

2. Bernie always seeks common ground, while others try to divide us by race, religion

gender, ethnicity, etc. Apparently, the big tent is no threat, as long as we're all fighting the others under it.

"Divide and conquer: is an ancient and still effective way of fragmenting us so that we spend time fighting each other and not the oppressors. By the same token, "United we stand; divided we fall." I'd rather not fall or have anyone else fall.

All that said, Sanders spoke out at Liberty U. very clearly about a woman's choice, the bête noire of the evangelical. He did not soft pedal it in the slightest.

[Old Crow]

3. A couple thoughts...

1. Huge Mistake?
Sean Illing writes that that Bernie is making a "huge mistake" when he self-identifies as a "democratic socialist." Not at all. What I'm finding is that people over 40 are completely out-of-touch when it comes to the word socialist. It's not the boogie man it was even 20 years ago. In fact, poll after poll has shown that Americans 30 and under prefer the ideals of socialism to capitalism. The people who freak out over the word socialist are on the far right--and Bernie isn't getting their votes anyway. Sanders' use of the term democratic socialist is consistent with his plain-speaking, honest demeanor. Running from it, by contrast, would be dishonest and the Republicans would destroy him for the misstep. It surprises me that Illing doesn't get this and it is, to my mind, a little tone-deaf. On this issue, Illing is operating with a 1970s mindset.

2. Why Enter the Lion's Den?
What Illing never mentions in his piece--and no one anywhere has, so far as I can tell--is Sanders' motivation for appearing at Liberty University. It was not to get votes. Sanders knew his reception wasn't going to be welcoming and knew that there was a very real chance he'd be heckled and booed (as he was a couple times when he mentioned abortion). Many campaign advisers would argue it wasn't worth the risk. So why did Sanders bother?

Because it was the right thing to do. After listening to Bernie Sanders, some Liberty students may be less easily persuaded that liberals are immoral, stupid, and disrespectful others. That vastly increases the possibility of intelligent dialogue. And that's a very good thing for democracy. Bottom line: Sanders went to Liberty not for votes or good optics, but because he believed he owed it to this nation's democratic ideals. It was an admirably moral choice, consistent with his overall conduct. And that, I'd submit to you, is one of the reasons he was able to enter the lion's den and prevail.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, portlander.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. I get sick of people acting like someone must be right because they're rich.

[Skwmom]

6. It's become a system of corrupt capitalism. n/t

[Vincardog]

7. Bernie went to LU to explain his positions and why the students who agreed with his

Positions should vote for HIM. I bet he won some votes too.