Why hadn’t any of the other Democrats done it before? Because they lacked the verve and ideological self-confidence of Sanders, as well as the independent streak to buck the Democratic party’s attempt to hold the line against Fox. As a message candidate, Sanders is willing to take his anywhere.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, miraculously transformed into a relatively moderate Democratic elder stateswoman, has understandably been pushing back against the notion that she leads a socialist party defined by a few radicals in the House.
On 60 Minutes, she stalwartly declared: “I do reject socialism as an economic system. If people have that view, that’s their view. That is not the view of the Democratic party.” She dismissed the left wing in her caucus as “like, five people.”
In sheer numbers this is true, but it’s the wrong way to count.
The fact is that the most compelling stars of the party are self-declared socialists with a knack for generating controversy and media attention, and with committed mass followings. Pelosi might wish it weren’t true, but poll numbers, fundraising, and follower counts don’t lie.
Sanders is reliably second — sometimes first — in national and state presidential polling. He’s outraised everyone else in the field and, with his massive small-donor base, probably can continue to do so for the duration. More than anyone else, he has defined the Democratic party’s current agenda.
It’ll be much harder to maintain that the Democratic party isn’t socialist if it nominates one as its presidential candidate, which everyone paying attention realizes is a real possibility.
If this happens, it won’t be the work of conservatives hoping to negatively brand the Democrats, but of the party’s faithful. The same goes for the prominence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It is often said that conservatives are “obsessed” with her; maybe so, but the same is true — and probably more so — of everyone else.
AOC has been on the cover of Time magazine, Rolling Stone (with Nancy Pelosi, as it happens), Hollywood Reporter, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Annie Leibovitz photographed her for Vogue. She’s been interviewed by 60 Minutes.
She has nearly 4 million Twitter followers and more than 3 million followers on Instagram, where she feeds the insatiable obsession of her fans — not her critics — with videos from her apartment.
She was among the top 10 House Democrats in fundraising the first quarter and had the highest percentage of small donors (her ally, Ilhan Omar, also excelled).
It’s obviously vexing to Pelosi to see a House majority built by the careful avoidance of ideological extravagance and won in marginal districts hijacked, at least in terms of public attention, by a few freshmen and a 77-year-old Vermont socialist.
They might not define the center of gravity of the party at the moment, and the radical freshmen have lost most of their tussles with Pelosi. But there is a reason that they are so famous, with such fundraising prowess. The crusading purity of Bernie Sanders has an inherent appeal, and the outrageousness of the freshmen attracts attention, which always begets more attention.
Yes, there are vast numbers of Democrats out there who aren’t on Twitter or Instagram. Maybe there are enough of them to nominate Joe Biden, or a Pete Buttigieg can win on a progressive platform clothed in a moderate demeanor.
But the party’s stars will have something to say about it. The great Zionist Theodor Herzl maintained, “It is the simple and fantastic which leads men.” As Bernie Sanders showed, it’s also willing to go on Fox News.
There was Bernie Sanders at a Fox News Channel town hall, not giving an inch in a forum every Democratic presidential candidate has shunned.
Of course democrats are socialists! They have been for a great many years. The difference now is that they are no longer making any attempt to hide it. As a matter of fact, they are all struggling to out ‘Socialist’ their competitors!
The bigger shame is that a good number of so called ‘Republicans’ are just as socialist as many of these democrats. However, they are still doing their best to hide this from the voters.
FOX is starting to smell like CNN, you know that septic tank smell. If I wanted to hear the “Bern’s” BS, I would tune into CNN/MSNBC. Maybe if enough of start boycotting any FOX show with a Democrat on it, they will stop putting this scum on FOX.
The democratic party is NO MORE!! It has become the socialist party.
The United States has become a place where entertainers and professional athletes are mistaken for people of importance……
I’ve needed a doctor…I’ve needed a teacher……I NEED farmers every day. I have needed an auto mechanic, a plumber, an electrician, a house painter and a lot of other everyday people.
But I have NEVER, not even once, NEEDED a pro athlete, a media personality, or a Hollywood entertainer for anything ! !
Agreed dont watch FNC save The 5, Hannity & Judge J, & Greg Gutfeld Show, otherwise No FNC, try Newsmax.
& let the Dem divide begin anew
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck . . . .
Go to The Blaze. Conservative views without compromise. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
At least Fox is letting us know what the other side is up to and that is important so we can be informed to fight back. FYI try One American News or OAN. They are the ones that exposed the Clinton’s before anyone else. Russia Uranium, how they screwed relief to Haiti, Bills speech in Russia…. all payoffs. Hillary must have screwed someone to have the Russians turn on her. That doesn’t happen when they have someone on the take they can control.
FOX needs to be more aggressive in a rebuttal to the socialist ideas. Don’t let them sell socialism.
Many years ago, I would have been considered a democrat. But that party ceased to exist in the 60’s. There is little difference between the DNC now an the Russian Central Committee
In the eyes of many who may also be seeing themselves as conservatives Sean Hannity is a star. Hannity is self-serving and is a full of empty promises as the politicians. I got tired quicker of his unending replays than I did of all the parroting contributors from the left FOX employs to project being fair and balanced.
Up until fairly recently I didn’t think the socialistic progressive left had much of a chance of winning a national election. But now with such a partisan/subjective MSM and a bevy of potential voters that do not know how to apply critical thought, I’m no so sure they can’t elect a radical pol. I mean, look how they promise “free” college and health care, and maybe even guaranteed jobs for everyone…for the truly uninformed these “pie in the sky” promises sound pretty good. The Founders knew we needed a free and objective press, and an educated and informed citizenry for the American experiment to work. I haven’t given up all hope, but I am extremely concerned.
AOC and Omar are BFF since leftists and Muslims band together to cry, “Islamophobia,” while hundreds of Christians are being killed around the world and Christian churches and cathedrals are burned by Islamist terrorists.
I believe the future of our Nation depends very much on the November 2020 Federal Election. Socialism in any form fails.
It is a shame no one remembers the European gentlemen who wrote the constitution. They were so specific. We have strayed so far from their realistic ideas.
You don’t look at Biiden and what his name in the pool will do the mix…..
Margaret Thatcher said it best ,socialism is a great thing until you run out of other peoples money.
What lies! No one in there right mind believe’s these people. They are corrupt and ?
I agree – In my opinion, a great multitude of our citizens are too easily swayed by celebrities (be it sports figures, actors, et al) . We have too many who grew up being told what to think, and not how to think. Personally I don’t care how you vote, as long as there is some sound logic for your actions. Sadly , the old axiom, “Liberals vote with their hearts and Conservatives vote with their heads” is very evident today.
Too many gave up and aren’t voting and the colleges have pumped socialism into our kids minds so they do vote. How do we get people to vote who are good thinkers who just gave up on the world? Talk to your friends and family!!!
Bernie Sanders may win the primary but in the general election he will falter, When it comes time to explain how he pays for his agenda POTUS will eat him alive. As for AOC I think she’s a 1 termer!
I think her opponent was paid off to stay away and then they (Dems) stuffed the ballot box! Need to investigate!
I find it amazing that the Democrats would so willingly surrender their party to an independent socialist
senator from Vermont. You would think that Sanders would be required to register as a democrat to run
as one. But when total power is the goal, rules didn’t apply.
If you research Sanders it doesn’t take long to find out what Bernie is really about……… The Bucks and nothing more!!
So, Bernie and the gang want “Medicare for All”. And, this, according to Bernie, will put all these eeeeeeeeevil insurance companies out of business. Why oh why has no “News Person”, not even Fox News bothered to ask a simple little follow up question: “Senator, Medicare currently covers about 80% of medical bills and most Medicare recipients have a supplemental policy that covers the rest. Those that don’t have supplemental insurance are most often covered under Medicaid, because of low income. Under your “Medicare for All” program, just who or what entity would cover the 20% once all the eeeeeeeeeeevil insurance companies are gone??????????? I think the question is not asked because none of the news people are on Medicare and they just do NOT know how it works. Hell, half the people who go on Medicare are surprised that it doesn’t cover everything because they never bothered to look into it. Politicians don’t know because they are NOT under Medicare; they have their own separate coverage, as do ALL Government Employees, Local, State and Federal, including Cops, Firefighters and Teachers. Of ALL Federal Employees, only uniformed Military are covered under Medicare.
It would be interesting to see the reaction to that question.