Sen. Bernie Sanders says he considers Harris 'progressive' and her policy changes are 'pragmatic'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Sept. 8, 2024, 10:29 AM EDT


Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Sunday called Vice President Kamala Harris' decision to moderate her views on fracking and Medicare for All "pragmatic," saying that Harris is "doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election" and that he still considers her to be "progressive."

Still, Sanders added that Harris has a path to victory by campaigning on other progressive positions like raising the minimum wage, raising taxes on the wealthy and increasing Social Security benefits.

"I think if you campaign on those issues — raising taxes on billionaires — you know what, she's going to win, and I think she could win big," Sanders, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, said.

In recent weeks, Harris has changed her stance on certain issues, like supporting a ban on fracking and supporting proposals for Medicare for All.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/bernie-sanders-considers-harris-progressive-policy-changes-pragmatic-rcna170102

[Think. Again.]

1. Whatever labels anyone wants to put on her...

...the general public seems to love it!

[pat_k]

2. "recent weeks?"

Positions she held in 2019 and has not expressed support for since the 2020 election changed in "recent weeks"?

The Biden administration does not support a ban on fracking and Harris has been a partner in that stance. And when she confirmed that, as president, she would not seek to ban fracking, that is "changing her mind" ? Did anyone ask her when she changed her mind? Seems to me her answer made it clear that her position evolved as plans formulated to achieve climate goals without banning fracking came together and that did not happen in recent weeks.

Perhaps just a nitpik, but I find it annoying.

[jimfields33]

3. I hate this sentence more.

Harris is "doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election"

[erronis]

4. I'll vote for a pragmatist anytime.

One of the best compliments I've ever received is from a co-board-member as I was leaving because of the usual board disfunction: You are a pragmatist.

Not sure if she wasn't insulting me for not being an perfectionist, or whatever.

[sakabatou]

5. And yet, there would be those who say she's not progressive enough, and Sanders should've been selected

[Uncle Joe]

6. Eliminating the cap and raising social security benefits would be a steel reinforced concrete foundation

for a more solid national/democratic republic future and a long enduring positive legacy for a potential President Harris.

Thanks for the thread BumRushDaShow

[Beastly Boy]

7. How are Kamala's policies different from those of Hillary?

Do the differences really amount to "progressive" vs "neo-liberal"?

[Polybius]

8. I'd say Hillary is most certainly to the right of Kamala

A lot of hard-core progressives were hostile towards her, while even The Young Turks love Kamala.

[Beastly Boy]

9. Does this perception reflect any significant differences in policy?

[Polybius]

10. I think Harris is a bit more sympathetic toward Palestinian causes (not that I agree)

I also think she's far less of a Hawk. With that being said, Hillary is still my favorite politician.

[Beastly Boy]

13. I would question this assumption.

Kamala is Biden's VP, and Hillary was Obama's SOS. They were both an integral part of their respective Presidents' foreign policies, which differ insignificantly, if at all.

When Hillary was directly involved in establishing US policy towards the Palestinians, she had been a pioneer of advancing a two-state solution:

In 1998, she called for a Palestinian state before this was official U.S. policy. Earlier this month, Clinton said she believed she was "the first person ever associated with an American administration who called for a Palestinian state as a way to realize the two-state solution."

https://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/13/hillary.clinton.mideast.peace/index.html

And even if there is a small difference between Kamala and Hillary's stances towards the Palestinians, if any, this would be a tiny part of Kamala's platform (https://democraticunderground.com/100219434705). Certainly not enough to make a difference between a "neoliberal" and a "progressive", as Bernie is trying to do.

[betsuni]

11. No it doesn't. Weaponizing the words "progressive" "establishment" "neoliberal" as attacks against

Democrats when the huge Grand Canyon size fundamental differences are ... what? Nothing except a different strategy to reach the same goals. And when there's little difference in policy, go after character. 2016 was ALL about that and it's still harming democracy.

And all the bullshit about Hillary being a hawk and a warmonger, what the hell was that about? She wanted to be tough on terrorism? Oh no, how mean of her! Terrorists are freedom fighters!

[Oopsie Daisy]

14. Nailed it.

I remember those labels and insults being hurled from all corners. I can tell you that there are some folks that I'll never forgive, trust, or respect again.

[betsuni]

12. Just as the Sanders-supporting group Our Revolution rebranded as "pragmatic progressives."

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2021/jul/29/pro-sanders-group-rebranding-into-pragmatic-progre/

No more insisting on litmus test policies like Medicare for All or Green New Deal or you can't be progressive. Excellent call, that's how to win elections.

[Oopsie Daisy]

15. I welcome the change. But I do not trust them. I never will.

[betsuni]

17. Ample evidence for that.

Goal is still "revolution" and take-over of the Democratic Party.

[TBF]

16. Assuming he's trying to mollify the leftists

who might stay home. If I were him, I wouldn't bother - I think those numbers are offset by republicans who are sick of Trump and also not voting. He probably doesn't want to be accused of "not helping enough", but the democrats who hate him are not going to accept anything he says.

But putting all that aside, I don't see it. From my own leftist perspective, Kamala's a cop. I still like her. And I love that she is running because at least we have a great chance of keeping Trump out. Not because she's progressive (she's not), but because she is a law-and-order mainstream democrat. She's not going to do anything crazy. She's going to maintain status quo. For me that is enough right now. I am still reeling from the loss of womens rights during Trumps first term, and it will only get worse for women if he's allowed back in the oval office.