2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Aren't you tired of the character assassination against Bernie? [View all]oberliner
(58,724 posts)That is an attack on her character.
"callous, cruel, deceitful, and malicious" is an attack on her character.
Regardless of whether you think those attacks are justified or not.
HRC is trying to find ways to distinguish herself positively from Bernie in the eyes of the Democratic base. There have been some votes on gun control that she feels demonstrate such a difference. She has pointed to that difference - but has done so in an exaggerated politically tinged way, which is what generally happens in an election.
She has never called him callous, cruel, deceitful, or malicious, and has, in fact, praised him repeatedly. In debates, she often says that she agrees with Bernie on many issues and that she and her fellow Democrats are light years ahead of the Republicans on everything. Bernie has similarly praised Hillary and expressed agreement with her as well on many topics.
Hillary's argument with respect to health care is that Bernie wants to start over and try to get a medicare-for-all type plan, while she believes that the ACA was a hard-fought battle and is the best compromise that they will ever be able to get with the Republicans. I think that both candidates have legitimate points on this topic.
I can totally see why someone would be for Bernie and not for Hillary. I can also see why one would believe that the Clintons are corrupt and that HRC has negative baggage, a likability problem, etc.
That being said, I think it is critical that we defeat the Republicans this year. They are truly comprised of some of the most vile individuals in recent memory who are proposing policies that are antithetical to everything we believe in as Democrats and progressives.
While there are some differences among the Democrats, they pale in comparison to the differences between our candidates and the Republican ones. Time and time again you must have noticed Bernie saying "I agree with Secretary Clinton on this" throughout the debates.
I hope that we can all unite behind whichever candidate gets the nomination in the end and work in concert to defeat Cruz, Trump, Rubio, or whatever lunatic they select.