Eleanor Clift: Bernie Sanders: The Next Jessie Jackson

[portlander23]

Eleanor Clift: Bernie Sanders: The Next Jessie Jackson

He represents a robust and growing Democratic left that has fallen in love with his anti-Wall Street truth telling, although they may not know that early in his political career Sanders favored abolishing compulsory education, saying public schools “crush the spirits of our children.” He wanted to legalize all drugs, not just marijuana, and widen the entrance ramps on interstate highways so drivers could more easily pick up hitchhikers.

In ordinary times, would be a mother lode of material to stall or stop Sanders’ momentum. But as Clinton is finding out, Democratic voters eager for vengeance against Wall Street banks and hedge fund managers don’t give a cat’s whiskers what Sanders did in the 1970’s as the Liberty Union’s lefty candidate in a series of losing campaigns in Vermont, two for the U.S. senate and two for governor.

Sanders endorsed Jackson when he ran for president in ’84 and ’88, and to find out what Jackson thinks of Sanders as potential kingmaker in the current race, I reached him in New York, where he was attending Bill Clinton’s annual global summit.

“Who said Bernie couldn’t win? Who’s the ‘they’?” he said, challenging the assumption behind my questions and saying, “Whoever gets the most votes wins.” He likes the way Sanders “takes positions that expand the conversation,” like he did when he ran in the 80’s calling for the recognition of Cuba and of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, positions that were not mainstream at the time.

“I communicate with Hillary and Bernie,” Jackson said. “Many of their positions overlap, you know. They’re both very progressive Democrats.”

“I have real affection for both of them – and Bernie endorsed me,” he said, by way of explanation that he’s not choosing sides.

“Bernie may make your liberal heart go pitter-patter, but he won’t be your next president,” says a Democratic Party official, citing a recent Gallup poll that shows Americans are open to electing a president who is Catholic, a woman, black, Hispanic, Jewish, Mormon, gay or lesbian, an Evangelical Christian, or Muslim (60 percent), even an Atheist (58 percent). The lowest category of support (47 percent) is for a socialist.

Given those numbers, Sanders should be easy to defeat. But not now, and not by Clinton.

[Hortensis]

1. Bernie wanted to widen highway onramps so we could safely pick up hitchhikers?

That's really cute. In those days, late '60s anyway, I picked up hitchhikers now and then (what teenage girl wouldn't pick up strangers needing a ride--!!, but they all turned out nice), and, yes, it would have been helpful.

Jesse Jackson is among many who believe Bernie Sanders' big contribution is "expanding the conversation" -- which is so very badly needed. One analyst described him as the perfect second-choice candidate because he is turning out to have great success at that and opening the electorate up to new possibilities.

[Armstead]

5. Unfortunely, Jackson didn't make a bit of difference afterwards

The Corporate Wing of the Democratic Party threw out all traces of Jackson's progressive positions in the following decades.

It's sad -- no tragic -- that we have to reinvent the wheel all over again now, and try to REopen possibilities.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. The last guy who was called the next Jesse Jackson is now called Mr President

[Ron Green]

3. It's always the same tone, ain't it?

Inside-the-bullshit Beltway.

[whatchamacallit]

4. Getting tired of the lazy conflation of Socialist and Social Democrat

used to toss Bernie in the most undesirable category. I hope he can draw a line bright enough for Americans to see.