Salon: Hillary Clinton’s Bernie Sanders problem isn’t going away

[portlander23]

Salon: Hillary Clinton’s Bernie Sanders problem isn’t going away: She still won’t acknowledge that he’s no flash in the pan

So far Clinton’s approach to Sanders and the other candidates mostly hands-off, choosing not to attack her Democratic rivals by name. But while it’s too soon to panic in Hillaryland, her aides are growing increasingly nervous about her unwillingness to engage Sanders more directly.

The problem with Clinton’s cautious strategy is that it presupposes that Sanders can’t win the nomination. That’s a mistake. It will be very hard for Sanders to win, but it’s not at all impossible. This idea that Clinton can just sit back and wait for Sanders to implode is foolhardy at best. Sanders is talking about issues that matter deeply to liberals and progressives, and the more Clinton cedes that ground to Sanders, the more popular he gets.

Clinton’s benign neglect for Sanders has helped him surge in the polls so far – it’s not clear why that should change anytime soon. But it’s also true that there’s no easy way for Clinton to engage Sanders. To attack him too sharply is to risk alienating his supporters, who rightly regard him as the only authentic progressive in the race. There are several issues (especially on the economic front) on which Clinton could draw a contrast between herself and Sanders, but that’s unlikely to improve her image amongst the Democratic base, who already find Bernie a more credible voice on these topics.

If Clinton is going to win over liberals, she’ll have to do it on the basis of her experience and electability – and this argument isn’t as convincing as it was, say, a year ago. But there’s no way for her to avoid the Sanders problem. Bernie is closing the gap with Hillary because of his stances on the relevant issues. If Clinton waits until the debates or longer to engage him more directly, it may well be too late.

[restorefreedom]

1. this is the problem right here

"The problem with Clinton’s cautious strategy is that it presupposes that Sanders can’t win the nomination."

arrogance and entitlement. it has plagued the clintons and is clearly not going away. and it is one of the primary reasons why she will lose.

[ieoeja]

28. I do not believe it is arrogance and entitlement.

Neo-liberalism is predicated on two things: what they want -and- what they believe will win. Sanders winning runs counter to that second predicate. I do not think he "can't win the nomination" because he can't beat Hillary. I think they believe he "can't win the nomination" because he is too far left, a self declared Democratic Socialist, etc.

They clearly believe other neo-libs could beat Hillary which is why they worked so hard to keep others from running.

So I suppose there is arrogance and entitlement on the part of neo-liberalism. They believe neo-liberalism can not lose to liberals.

[restorefreedom]

29. true. i also wonder how much

being in a beltway bubble distorts one's thinking.

because clearly some folks are not plugged in

[AtomicKitten]

2. The delay in debates was designed for Hillary to declare victory before a single vote is cast.

Bernie has moved the polls, particularly nationally, like Candidate Obama was unable to do until months later in the process. If past is prologue, the more Team Clinton frets about Bernie moving up in her rear view mirror, the more ugly her campaign's response will get. And we all know how nicely that worked out for her before.

[KoKo]

4. ....!

[Art_from_Ark]

24. The "Harrow" is pointing backwards

Nice touch

[hifiguy]

3. Bernie's laser focus on issues and policies

has painted HRH into a very small corner. And it will keep getting smaller.

She can't really co-opt Bernie's positions because she has zero credibility to make any claim to being a real progressive/liberal.

[pinebox]

5. Yup and this

[6chars]

6. mean

[trof]

11. MAD mag was never PC.

[bvf]

12. Congratulations

on your introduction to political satire.

[HubertHeaver]

13. No, MAD

[deutsey]

27. Right

They should dig up some old National Lampoons from its heyday in the '70s if they want to see examples of mean (and I say that as a fan of the old NatLamp).

For example: google "Ted Kennedy National Lampoon VW ad"

[JackInGreen]

22. Alfred E Newman

Has registered your complaint and promptly decided it had better use checking erosion.

[senz]

17. Funny and timely

with Bill stepping in. I love Bernie dressed all casual and thrown together with a perfectly confident smile.

Thanks!

[99th_Monkey]

7. The article omits any mention of Hillary's super-PAC hit-man David Brock's "socialist" misfire

and the fact that Brock is reportedly tailing Bernie 24/7 trying to catch him in some awkward
moment. I wouldn't be too surprised if Brock even tries to engineer some kind of set-up or
trap for Bernie.

I think the attacks will come, given Brock's reputation, and the growing desperation of Team
Hillary. After all, he's got to earn his keep.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. Oh, the attacks are coming! That's why she hired dirtbag Brock.

If he can't get dirt or a gaff by tailing Bernie, he WILL manufacture something - guaranteed. It's what he does.

We've gotten a taste if how unethical he is with the first attack on Bernie's Healthcare Plan. He won't be so careless next time when he leaks to some journalist. The next "journalist" will be as unethical as Brock and will have no qualms releasing Brock's fabrications.

Hopefully, the Interwebs is locked and loaded - ready to correct the lies. Fast.

[senz]

18. +1

[AgingAmerican]

25. It will miserably backfire

nt

[trof]

8. I don't think it's just 'liberals and progressives' that are listening to Bernie.

What he's preaching resonates with a larger part of the population.

[cyberpj]

9. Agreed. And as primaries and elections come closer, that larger part of the population

will need to see through false and malicious attacks, jokes and winks about Sanders' age, and the usual Foxtalk that may label them socialist pinkos if they agree with him.

I need to go look up Reagan's age at election.

Oh dear. I'm falling in hope again.

[trof]

10. At one time Obama was a long shot.

[xynthee]

15. I'm falling in hope, too!

When will I learn??!!

[cyberpj]

21. Never.

Never give up.
Never surrender!

[cyberpj]

20. Reagan's age at taking office was pretty much 70 (69 years, 349 days).

Well I said I was going to look it up!

From some wiki...
"69 years, 349 days
The oldest president to assume office was Ronald Reagan (age 69 years, 349 days), who was also the oldest in office (age 77 years, 349 days), ending at the inauguration of George H. W. Bush. The oldest living president is George H. W. Bush, born June 12, 1924 (aged 91 years, 107 days)."


And if we thought the first Catholic prez was a fight, well, even if Sen Sanders makes it through the age gauntlet, then there's this:

5 Faith Facts About Unabashedly Irreligious Bernie Sanders

link:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/30/bernie-sanders-faith_n_7174514.html

In our country, at this point in time, would it be possible to elect an Irreligious?

Dear God/Universe/Force/Energy, I'd love to see that too.

[bvf]

16. Very true, that.

I'm confident there are even lots of Republican moderates (and they exist) who scratch their heads at the xenophobic, war-mongering message that seems to be more or less uniform among their party's candidates.

Sanders's message should speak to everyone seeking a voice that is historically and consistently in favor of the average voter, and that message is still gaining traction.

[RiverLover]

19. Her problem is the USA's solution for a better future. Back to our populist past.

Government for the People, By the People.

[McCamy Taylor]

23. Sanders and Clinton know exactly what they are doing. They do not need help from Salon.

[Major Hogwash]

26. Why should she attack Bernie?

They're both struggling trying to get out their message, attacking the other one isn't going to help.