General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo a few family friends came down, and we talked politics.
First time in over the 7 years we've all known each other that the talk wasn't My dogs bigger than yours...The gramma and grampa have always voted R across the board, the uncle (grandsons uncle, son to gramma and grampa) has as well. The grandson (the one graduating) this is his first year to vote, his GF also her first year to vote. I'm hoping to talk to them a little later.
FYI each and every time we've talked about politics in the past they've been part of the "Thanks Obama" blame game crowd no matter how many times I've explained to them how it works, or pointed out that it's pretty hard to get anything accomplished when people are putting land mines down in front of you constantly. The grandma even bought into the whole birth certificate crap. For the sake of peace we just all agreed to not talk about that, his religion, or anything else.
So we're in the car(Gramma, Grampa, Uncle, myself), heading to grandsons graduation and the uncle pipes up with "Hear anything good about any of these jokers running?" So I say "You ever hear of Bernie Sanders?" They had, but hadn't heard very much. I tell them he's a progressive Independent and is running under the D in the primary. I share with them some of his voting history, talk about some of the speeches he's made etc. I didn't lay it on thick because I've learned with them that a little goes a long way.
After I talk about him a little bit, chalk me up as surprised when they started asking questions. Specifically about social security, medical, etc. Then I ask the uncle, who is a long distance truck driver, how the roads were on the way down. (They are from Ohio BTW) He said they get worse every year.
So I pop in there Bernie Sanders drive to get our infrastructure fixed, roads-bridges-schools etc. His response? "It's about d*mn time someone focused on that." Gramma pipes up and says "Well there's no way I'm voting for any of those whackadoodles they have running. Where do they find these people?" She was talking about the R party. Grampa then says "I'm going to have to seriously look at this guy(Bernie) when we get back home, if he's on the up and up I could vote independent." Everyone, all of them agreed. I'm forwarding a few links I have about him to them The conversation was much more detailed than what I'm putting down for the sake of simplicity but you get my drift.
While we talked it smacked me in the face, he can really win this. I support him but I've been pretty down about his odds, especially with all the negative back and forth I've been reading. His secret strength? Being an (I) makes long time (R)'s take a closer look and consider voting for him in a very real way. He's not just going to appeal to Democrats, he's going to appeal to all walks because his message crosses those political lines in a way that none of the other candidates do. He's not appealing to a party, he's appealing to PEOPLE.
PS if you notice not once did I slam HRC in this message and I don't intend to so please don't slam me for supporting my choice of candidate? Thanks for letting me share my feel good moment.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)This is the first real deal, People campaign I've ever seen and Bernie even said he will win because People, and not big money, will decide.
Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)The fact that an unnamed team tries a new smear every day to drag him down is testament to that.
But these feel-good stories about his appeal way beyond party lines - Is Sanders capable of a re-allignment, do you think?
ms liberty
(8,633 posts)caraher
(6,279 posts)They probably wouldn't listen if they knew he's generally to the left of (D)! Well done!
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Your story is a prime example of the message finding its way to every day experiences of living in the USA.
Paka
(2,760 posts)I know there will be lots more stories like this as we move along. If we get the message out, he's in...like flinn, whoever he is.
indivisibleman
(482 posts)It is mostly folks that are centrist but usually vote R when the election comes around. But what is interesting is that they are bringing up Bernie on their own. It is like they are willing to listen to him because he isn't a Democrat.
Fast Walker 52
(7,723 posts)snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Enjoyed reading your post .You're a good storyteller
LiberalCatholic
(91 posts)He makes sense when he talks and with more exposure will gain more support. I like HRC and will support her if she gets the nomination. I worry about her chances in the general election. She is very polarizing. My 18 year old son is a passionate progressive. He has stated he will not vote for Hillary if she gets the nomination. He loves Bernie, though. Even wants to volunteer in the campaign.
DFW
(54,527 posts)The Media will not go on in detail about his positions, so it is word of mouth plus the internet that will have to do it unless and until he provokes some serious media attention.
Once THAT happens (IF it happens) then look for the true barometer of a non-Republican's impact--if Fox Noise starts slamming him with any regularity, THEN you'll know the other side has sat up and noticed.
jaxind
(1,074 posts)Just curious - you said grampa was going to seriously read up more on Bernie. I'm wondering - did you hear from him after he read up more? I'm wondering if he likes Bernie even more now.
Mother Of Four
(1,716 posts)So he's probably not read much on him yet. I'm giving him a couple days.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)rock
(13,218 posts)Whether it's Bernie or Hillary, it's a Democrat! Loved the story.
Mother Of Four
(1,716 posts)rock
(13,218 posts)I tickled pink because our choices are so good. Though I don't have much feel the other two, they're at least Democrats.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)... and he's the real deal. I've met him and spoken with him several times. I remember when he was first elected as the Mayor of Burlington. The only time I've disagreed with him is over basing the F-35 with the Vermont Air National Guard in Burlington.
But he'll have my vote. And the mealy-mouthed trolls who claim he's "not good on race" have not done their homework. Bernie got his start in politics by working in the trenches and marching during the fight for civil rights in the sixties. He, and thousands of others, risked their lives in support of equal rights for people of color. We obviously have a long way to go, but Bernie is the man to lead us in that fight.
DamnYankeeInHouston
(1,365 posts)swilton
(5,069 posts)are critical of Bernie because of some of his foreign policy decisions.
I think that that is foolish if you think of what Bernie is doing - he's essentially making this current political process more like a European system with multiple parties....to present a crude depiction of the spectrum.
far, far right (Republican)
neo-liberal (Democrat)
left (Social Democrat)
hard left (Green)
The ideological purists don't recognize that even in Europe - there would not be political unanimity - the Greens just don't have that much power....what they do do is participate in coalitions. Sanders demonstrates that he is trying to open up the US duopoly political spectrum: evidence is lobbying the Democratic National Committee to open up the primary debates to different voices and to have those debates issues based (rather than the soft-ball silly questions normally raised). The other evidence of opening the political spectrum is that Sanders 12 points supports publicly funded elections.
This is extremely sophisticated political posturing btw and I am convinced Sanders campaign offers opportunities for fundamental and revolutionary change. The memes going around about him not appealing to non-whites is being pushed by the Hillary camp - the non-white/minority vote is the way that she's tailoring her campaign...That doesn't have to be Sanders' strategy and I don't think it is...I think he is basing his campaign on class. Like Clinton I he's going for a 50 state strategy. Unlike Clinton I, his base won't be conservatives and Blue Dog Democrats but on progressives and class issues that transcends race and political parties.
It would be interesting to reconcile this strategy with Ralph Nader's book UNSTOPPABLE: The Emerging Left Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State
stopwastingmymoney
(2,044 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Will they fall back on older ways of thinking?
HRC was called out by the GOP as 'big government.' So has Obama.
You may not get the conversion you're hoping for, but I certainly hope so.
Keep at them... Especially the GOP plan to eviscerate SS.
Of course during the last shut down, the baggers had already bought into the 'It's Obama's fault' routine. They said that he refused to work with the GOP!
But they didn't know what the GOP was trying to get away with, and couldn't answer me when I tried their old meme on them - 'Have you ever heard of a 'tax and spend liberal' who didn't want to spend?
They had no answer, but kept on with the 'If Obama was being reasonable, the government would not have had to be shut down.' Completely disregarding that Cornyn and Paul were giddy about it. Paul said he could frame the idea of default as being reasonable.
With that, their money would mean nothing, and as Paul said, they would cut SS for everyone to 40% of the current payout.
They likely never followed the process closely. You've got a hard road with them but keep up the good work.
Mother Of Four
(1,716 posts)I know it's not a slam dunk. They didn't commit to anything but saying they would look into him further. I'm just tickled that they ARE looking into him you know? It's a start, and I definitely am going to follow up on it.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Caretha
(2,737 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)And why would that be a good way to get liberals to like him? Makes no sense. Once they find out he is a socialist, it'll be the end of their interest. They are thinking of a Perot-like independent.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)Sounds to me like they were talking about policy. And as has been pointed out over and over, liberal policies without the liberal label are very much mainstream in this country.
treestar
(82,383 posts)where they differ on policy.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)Republicans are not going to flock to Bernie. Dream on.
What is hilarious is some people (may not be you) are against things because the Republicans are for them. Then they should turn against Bernie in that dream world where Republicans want him.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)People are sick of the screws getting turned on them. D, R, I -- doesn't matter as much as a candidate with INTEGRITY who will do after elected what they talked about as a candidate is what everybody wants.
Response to Mother Of Four (Original post)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Hillary's support is a mile wide and an inch deep. She has Wall Street and Yellow Dog Democrats. That's it. She has ZERO crossover appeal. Bernie has a LONG history of putting his legislation/votes where his mouth is. He's not all talk unlike EVERY other person running for their respective nomination. The guy is the real deal and the more people learn about him the more support he's going to have. He has ENORMOUS cross-over appeal.
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)upload pictures of Sanders with some of his quotes. Both pertain to the work he's done for veterans. The first time was a nice surprise...the second time makes me think there's an interesting undercurrent bubbling up. The country is so hungry for a leader that cares about the people.