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I reject the premise of this article - that moderates need the Bernie Left as much as the Left needs Democrats.
1/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/16/opinion/leftists-moderates-democratic-party.html?smid=tw-share
1/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/16/opinion/leftists-moderates-democratic-party.html?smid=tw-share
The first issue is that the author assumes the Bernie Left shares our Democratic values and wants to be part of the Democratic party.
They don't.
They want to destroy the Democratic party and take it over. It's in the Justice Dems mission statement.
2/
They don't.
They want to destroy the Democratic party and take it over. It's in the Justice Dems mission statement.
2/
She claims the party need activists to make forward progress, but she doesn't acknowledge we don't want to go in the direction the Bernie Left wants to go.
And they aren't the only activists out there. There are plenty of other movements pushing the Democrats forward.
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And they aren't the only activists out there. There are plenty of other movements pushing the Democrats forward.
3/
We all want universal healthcare.
We DON'T want socialized medicine.
It isn't a matter of the country not being ready. Socialized medicine would put our healthcare at the mercy of each incoming GOP administration.
That's never going to be okay.
4/
We DON'T want socialized medicine.
It isn't a matter of the country not being ready. Socialized medicine would put our healthcare at the mercy of each incoming GOP administration.
That's never going to be okay.
4/
We ALL want to fight climate change.
But AOC's "GND" isn't even a climate change plan. It's a letter to Santa with a list of Bernie's buzzwords.
M4A? Public assistance for people unwilling to work? That's not about climate change.
It's just another purity test.
5/
But AOC's "GND" isn't even a climate change plan. It's a letter to Santa with a list of Bernie's buzzwords.
M4A? Public assistance for people unwilling to work? That's not about climate change.
It's just another purity test.
5/
She compares the "fight" for M4A and GND to the right for marriage equality, saying Democrats suffered devastating losses in 2004 before the movement was successful.
This is misleading to the point of irresponsibility.
Here's why:
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This is misleading to the point of irresponsibility.
Here's why:
6/
First of all, marriage equality was achieved THROUGH THE COURTS. It was not a legislative victory. It was not something "achieved" by activists.
Yes, the movement changed "hearts and minds" and prepared the country to accept the decision, but that's not the same thing.
7/
Yes, the movement changed "hearts and minds" and prepared the country to accept the decision, but that's not the same thing.
7/
What's more, and this is important, the ballot initiatives on "gay marriage" in 2004 were not pushed by LGBT groups.
Karl Rove and GOP put Constitutional amendments on the ballots in swing states to motivate evangelicals to turn out so they would also vote for W.
It worked.
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Karl Rove and GOP put Constitutional amendments on the ballots in swing states to motivate evangelicals to turn out so they would also vote for W.
It worked.
8/
So she's claiming LGBT groups pushed a marriage equality legislative agenda that failed at first and caused huge losses for Democrats, but that was worth it because it ultimately succeeded, so it's a road map or model for GND and M4A.
False to the point of gaslighting.
9/
False to the point of gaslighting.
9/
She says "Bernie Sanders and AOC were loyal soldiers in this election."
We all know this isn't true. Bernie attacked Biden and the Democrats every chance he got.
He went on TV and made demands, and he tweeted negative attacks on Democrats right before E-day.
Again.
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We all know this isn't true. Bernie attacked Biden and the Democrats every chance he got.
He went on TV and made demands, and he tweeted negative attacks on Democrats right before E-day.
Again.
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AOC spend $14 mil on ads in swing states about M4A and "Defund the Police"
While local candidates were doing everything they could to convince their voters that those are not Democratic priorities - because they aren't - and it was safe to reelect them.
It didn't work.
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While local candidates were doing everything they could to convince their voters that those are not Democratic priorities - because they aren't - and it was safe to reelect them.
It didn't work.
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She cites a study saying young voters care about racism and climate change and "The Democrats can’t afford to alienate the people inspired by Sanders and the Squad."
Bernie and the Squad don't care about racism.
And again, ALL Democrats care about climate change.
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Bernie and the Squad don't care about racism.
And again, ALL Democrats care about climate change.
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What's more, Bernie didn't even win the "youth vote."
Not all young people are brainwashed idiots. Most can look beyond slogans and think for themselves and recognize there are better ways.
And they didn't have to be told that Biden is better than Trump, by Bernie or anyone
13/
Not all young people are brainwashed idiots. Most can look beyond slogans and think for themselves and recognize there are better ways.
And they didn't have to be told that Biden is better than Trump, by Bernie or anyone
13/
She concludes with this, ridiculous on the face of it.
The Bernie Left made everything harder. They made people who hate Trump vote for him anyway, because they fear socialism even more.
14/
The Bernie Left made everything harder. They made people who hate Trump vote for him anyway, because they fear socialism even more.
14/
So, I don't know what she was trying to do here, but almost nothing in her piece was based in reality.
There's probably no chance she will see this, but she should at least have to answer for LYING about 2004.
Sadly, plenty of people will buy into the revisionism.
15/15
There's probably no chance she will see this, but she should at least have to answer for LYING about 2004.
Sadly, plenty of people will buy into the revisionism.
15/15
