Quote:
Originally Posted by dobbles
You are right on. It is all about strategy and appealing to the groups of people that will give you the best return with votes.
To me, the reason I think the outreach is not towards progressives is that many are unreachable. There is always so much backlash that all of Bernies policies don't instantly become the party platform. There are so many progressives that thumb their nose at democrats for not cowering to them and they don't vote or vote 3rd party. These people are not members of the democratic party and only see the party as a means to an end. Why cater to them? They advocate for policies that are just not palatable to most of the population and then take their ball and go home if they don't get their way.
The example I always use is Obamacare. While a step forward, it was far from being progressive policy. Yet the republican party still spent a decade dismantling as much as they could. So if watered down reforms struggle to get enough support to be permanent, how in the world do they expect their agenda to get through?
So instead of trying to win the unwinnable, it looks like the strategy will be play to the middle. Play to the moderates. We will see in a few months whether the strategy worked. I just personally, don't see going left as viable. You alienate as many as you gain that way.
|
It’s ideologues vs realists. The realist takes the wins, builds up leverage and takes some more wins down the road to effect true change. The ideologues gets mad when they don’t get everything and pack up their toys.
To me that is the perceived sin of Harris. She hasn’t been perfect but she’s taken little wins along the way to make an impact. Hell even Bernie knows this. He is always compromising and negotiating to take his wins. Like he has done with Biden (and Warren the same). It’s something hot hat AOC is learning I think. Ideals are good to have. Those ideals preventing you from making tangible change in your direction is not.
Biden is right to reach out to the middle and middle-right. He’s also in a unique position compared to Clinton. He has the Obamas on board. Even though they were with Clinton it was never really believed that much. Everyone knows the obamas fully support Biden And they will be active. He has Bernie and Warren on board and they will be active. This is a different campaign base and one that has a legitimate broader appeal than Clinton’s campaign. That’s the key to A democratic victory...somehow pulling in all aspects of a very diverse party.