Could Bernie re-label himself without seeming dishonest?

[OliverQ]

Obviously the biggest concern about Bernie for people here is his Democratic Socialist label. He's not actually a socialist if you look at his policies. He supports Social Democracy like Norway and Denmark. But none the less, people cling to labels more than policies and actions.

Could Bernie potentially relabel himself as someone in favor of heavily regulated capitalism with a strong social safety net like the Nordic model, or would people think he's being disingenuous?

I wonder which would hurt him more - standing by the label, or modifying it.

[jalan48]

1. I think his pointing out the corporate socialism in this country is very effective. American's get

that the system is rigged toward the rich and powerful.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

2. I hope not!

I think it's about time the billionaires in this country had a little "stress" in their lives.

[Claritie Pixie]

3. Nope, Bernie is who he is.

He would never do that.

[brush]

4. Too late for that with all his just plain "socialist" baggage the repugs can't wait to release.

[highplainsdem]

5. +1,000,000. Sanders has a very large socialist albatross around his neck, and it will sink him.

[Lordquinton]

10. Bloomberg will be labeled a socialist

It's not the 50's anymore.

[highplainsdem]

13. No one will believe that label fits Bloomberg or any other Democratic candidate except for Sanders.

Sanders wrapped himself up in that label.

[Azathoth]

6. No, because it's not just the label, he's got classic socialist positions to go with it

Including his enthusiastic support of authoritarian regimes like Castro and the Sandinistas.

He's a geniune socialist and there ain't no way Republicans will allow him to disown that moniker.

[OliverQ]

7. He's not a genuine socialist.

He says he supports the Nordic model which is not Socialist.

[Azathoth]

12. Progressives nowadays seem fuzzy on exactly what "socialism" is

When it suits them, they like to claim that fire departments and the VA are "socialist". They also like to claim that the Nordic countries are proof that socialism can work.

But regardless of whether Bernie is a true socialist in the sense that he wants to abolish private ownership of the means of production, he's definitely a "socialist" in the sense that in the past he actively supported revolutionary socialist regimes, railed against capitalism, and never met an idea for a massive redistributive government program he didn't like. So really, let's not split hairs. Ain't no way he could walk away from the socialist label.

[highplainsdem]

14. He belonged to the Young People's Socialist League in college. He was a presidential elector

for the Socialist Workers Party in the 1980s. He's repeatedly called himself a socialist, and he's spent very little time talking about the Nordic model.

As far as I know, he never tried to suggest he's an FDR Democrat, either, till be gave that speech defending democratic socialism last year.

He's trying to rebrand himself.

But there's entirely too much out there from before the rebranding for it to be successful.

[Cal Carpenter]

8. He doesnt need to

He has support from almost every single demographic of Democratic and independent voters either because of, or in spite of, his 'label'.

[OliverQ]

9. True, I just hope it holds up in swing states

in a General election. Winning the primary is one thing. The General is much harder with that label.

[Lordquinton]

11. It's about time someone stops running scared the first time they bring up socialism

When we stop flinching, it will lose it's effectiveness and they will have to find another scare word.

[Cal Carpenter]

17. The voters in Nevada didn't flinch

[Eko]

15. What if he wins the presidency

and then runs for a second term as an independent? Hows that for a re-label?

[David__77]

16. I hope he doesn't.

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