I wish Bernie would refer to himself as a "Social Democrat"

[tularetom]

and knock off the "Democratic Socialist" stuff.

The programs he advocates are almost identical to the platforms of Social Democrats in many European countries, and it might get idiots like Chris Matthews to shut the fuck up with his panicky "socialist" babbling.

Hell, I've even seen it here on DU - "a socialist can never be elected president in Amurka".

It's a small distinction and possibly meaningless in the long run, but our idiot media loves labels and this would be one way to neutralize them.

[PatrickforO]

1. Good point.

[AZ Progressive]

2. That train has already left the station

I don't like it but its too late.

[TM99]

3. I honestly don't think it will make any difference.

Very few Americans are aware of how their own country operates. I doubt they know that Europeans have "social democratic' parties.

And if you emphasize the European component, it will still trigger that response as most Americans think that Europe is a giant cesspool of socialism.

I appreciate that Sanders is a man of integrity. He is a Democratic Socialist. He is not going to tweak that for political purposes. He is not one to pander for a vote.

[Powers Hapgood]

4. The "S-Word" must be emancipated . . .

. . . or this word game will never end! I agree with Michael Harrington: even a thorough liberalism is not possible in the U.S. unless socialism is a viable alternative and a viable force.

I support Bernie because he does use the term "socialism" -- the long run benefit of the Sanders campaign is securing a foothold for socialism in the American mainstream. And the "S-Word" should not be abandoned. Without a clear alternative, simply and forth rightly stated we will never mount a viable opposition to capitalism.

[LoveIsNow]

5. He is a social democrat, but...

I think if he said that it would look like he was a crypto-socialist. I mean, President Obama gets called one, and he just calls himself a Democrat. The fact that he calls himself a socialist puts him in a stronger position, because while they can still say he's a socialist, they can't say he's being dishonest about it.

Social democrat is a term that has never been used in mainstream American politics, and I think to most people it would sound like a euphemism for socialist. Socialists have at least sat in Congress in the past, and I think the term can be reclaimed.

Also, when you look at the policies of most "Socialist" parties in the world (France and Germany for example) their policies are more social democratic than truly socialist, so I don't think it's necessarily wrong for him to use the label, given the common usage.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. I'm glad he's made his Democratic Socialist

ideology front and center in his campaign. It is why I am supporting him. I am not ashamed of Democratic Socialism. I don't think it needs to be hidden. I want the idiots to babble and to keep babbling. The more they talk about Bernie and his Socialism the more people will pay attention to his campaign. A lot of those people are going to like what he has to say. I'm done with chickenshit Democrats scared of their own shadows, scared of the strong progressive and Democratic Socialist traditions of their party, fearful always that the nut job whackadoodle republicans will say bad things about them.

[99th_Monkey]

7. I wish we'd get over making a candidate's ideological label such a big deal

and simply look at what their positions are, on issues deeply impacting everyday Americans,
and how that candidate's positions have or have not changed according to the political
winds, over time.

Personally, I see no significant difference in how the electorate will vote for Bernie, as
long as the "S-word" is in it, before or after "Democrat" makes no matter to me, and
I seriously doubt that it matters to more than a tiny minuscule of voters, if that.

With all due respect, I personally feel that the issues in this election are WAY to important
and pressing IMHO, to be side-tracked over this kind of 'concern'.