Original article from: New York Times
Bernie Sanders has been sounding more direct notes of caution to the Biden campaign, saying the centrist former vice president should work harder to appeal to young voters and Latinos.
When Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out of the presidential race in early April, he vowed that the progressive movement he championed would carry on. And while at nearly every turn, he has encouraged his supporters to unite behind Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee, he and others in the party’s left-wing have tried to nudge the former vice president more toward the policy goals his movement supports.
In recent days, he has been sounding more direct notes of caution to the Biden campaign, urging in public and in private that the former vice president, a centrist, must do more to excite progressive voters. He has emphasized, in particular, that Mr. Biden should work harder to appeal to young voters and Latinos; both are groups that overwhelmingly supported Mr. Sanders in the primary but Mr. Biden has so far struggled to connect with as the nominee.
“Senator Sanders is confident that Joe Biden is in a very strong position to win this election, but nevertheless feels there are areas the campaign can continue to improve upon,’‘ Faiz Shakir, Mr. Sanders’s former campaign manager, said in a statement on Saturday, which was first reported by The Washington Post. “He has been in direct contact with the Biden team and has urged them to put more emphasis on how they will raise wages, create millions of good-paying jobs, lower the cost of prescription drugs and expand health care coverage.”
LEFT VIEWPOINTS
Joe Biden is walking a tightrope. A lot of moderate Republicans who voted for Trump in 2016 will vote for Biden in 2020. Biden doesn’t want to risk losing those votes by appearing too far left. In fact, Biden isn’t left at all — not compared to the rest of the world. Ideas like universal healthcare, public-funded higher education, and progressive income taxes are not far-left policies in most European countries. The United States has shifted so far to the right that even moderately left-leaning ideas get labeled as “socialist” or “far left.”
Joe Biden stated that he opposes Medicare for All. This, understandably, angers many Progressives who know that Medicare for All would be far superior to all of the United States’ private healthcare plans. And it would cover everyone. However, Biden can’t promote Medicare for All because it would likely lead to the right labeling him as “socialist.”
Why should Progressives vote for Biden then?
Imagine the fate of this country as a football game. If Biden wins, it’s like a running play for Progressives that results in a few yards closer to the goal line. If Trump wins, it’s like a fumble that far-right recovers and runs for a touchdown. Imagine if Trump chooses Ted Cruz or Tom Cotton to pick the next Supreme Court Justice. It’s highly likely that Medicare for All would be ruled unconstitutional if it ever does become law. Envision all of the other damage the Republicans can inflict if their rampage isn’t stopped this year: the climate, LGBTQ rights, immigration, and so on.
Biden is no Bernie Sanders, but he’s no Trump either. Trump is the antithesis of everything Progressives stand for. Trump winning would be devastating for the country, but most of all, for Progressives.