General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: In 18 years since Naders run, what has been accomplished by attacking the Dem party from the left? [View all]Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)The base wanted emphasis on social justice issues(there was never actually a difference in policy terms between the base and what you call "the insurgent left" on those issues, simply a difference in campaign rhetoric...we'd have a strongly pro-choice, antiracist administration no matter who we nominated, had the candidate been elected). But the base is not against a greater emphasis on economic justice. Most African-American, Latino-American, female and LGBTQ voters are working-class. They are part of the economy, and they are just as much against benefit cuts,. wage cuts, downsizing and outsourcing as what you call "the insurgent left".
They rejected Bernie as a candidate and as an individual, for a variety of reasons...they can't be assumed to be against his entire agenda. And they damn sure aren't on the side of Wall Street against labor.
Hadn't heard about the low young voter turnout. That's a problem the Sanders movement has never fully been able to address, and I'm not sure why.