Bernie Sanders should hire Lawrence O’Donnell to define democratic socialist
The Last Word Lawrence O’Donnell ridicules establishment Democrats for their fear of a Bernie Sanders win because he is a self-declared socialist. O’Donnell points out that for all practical purposes the country has been socialist for a long time. Bernie Sanders simply has the guts to define himself to reflect the policies he wants for America, policies Americans want.
When the Democratic Party decided to limit debates they did the entire party a disservice. It meant people never got a vigorous and lengthy debate on issues including what democratic socialism would mean to them. As usual, Democrats leave the door open to be defined as opposed to being the definer.
Hillary Clinton’s current about losing the Democratic Primary are justified. Democratic establishment politicians who are scared that a Bernie Sanders primary win will hurt the party in their states are justified. In times of change, in times of flux, that is to be expected.
Over the last debates, Bernie Sanders has been tepid in boldly defining democratic socialism as the programs that people want. He does not specifically make the link. Everything that Sanders stands for is what the vast majority of Americans want. From increased Social Security, to Medicare-for-all, to subsidized college education these democratic socialist policies are what Americans want.
Maybe Sanders should higher Lawrence O’Donnell to help him define what America already is. Maybe Lawrence would be able to remind America that America is a socialist state, though most of the socialist spoils go to the top.