Bernie Sanders’s flip-flop on the Democratic Party, and what it says
Bernie Sanders’s flip-flop on the Democratic Party, and what it says
Aaron Blake
Washington Post
"Essentially, it's my view that the leadership of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are tied to big-money interests and that neither of these parties will ever represent the people in this country that are demanding the real changes that have to take place," he said.
Note the use of "ever." Today, Sanders is running for the nomination of the party he said wasn't capable of ushering in real change.
Perhaps he thinks it just needed someone like him to lead it. Clearly, though, Sanders has evolved on this matter. And if nothing else, his Democratic primary candidacy is a testament to the fact that we have a two-party system that is basically impenetrable to anyone outside of it. There's a reason there are only two independents in the Senate — both of whom have the backing of the Democratic Party and caucus with that party — and none in the House.
If there was perhaps anyone who was going to break up the two-party monopoly in the 2016 election, it could have been Sanders. But even as he runs a surprisingly strong race for the Democratic nomination, the Old Bernie probably would prefer 2015 Sanders had chosen another path.
I would assume that if there weren't so many hurdles to running a third party campaign, and if we didn't have a first past the post winner take all system, then Mr. Sanders would not be running as a Democrat. In that sense i do think he's hijacking an existing party apparatus. Also, I think that's a great idea.
= new reply since forum marked as read
