Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders bump elbows before the Democratic debat hosted by CNN on Sunday, March 15, 2020. (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
Socialists for Biden and the Power of Corporate Media
While behind in the race for delegates, Bernie Sanders' policy agenda—from Medicare for All to big tax increases on the wealthy—is remarkably popular with Democratic primary voters.
It's doubtful that Sunday night's CNN debate shifted momentum in the presidential race currently favoring Joe Biden. The next few weeks offer the Bernie Sanders movement perhaps its last chance to win over--mostly through electronic means--Democratic primary voters.
One voting bloc to focus on might be called "socialists for Biden."
In a speech last week from Vermont, Sanders made two key assertions. First, he said: "Poll after poll, including exit polls, show that a strong majority of the American people support our progressive agenda." He then added: "While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability."
Sanders was correct on both points--which tells us something about the persuasive powers (and limits) of "corporate liberal" news outlets like MSNBC, CNN, NPR, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Despite those outlets having long maligned Sanders' progressive proposals--from Medicare for All to big tax increases on the wealthy--his policy agenda is remarkably popular with Democratic primary voters.
By contrast, the media barrage on electability has proved far more persuasive to many Democrats--apparently convincing them that Biden can defeat Donald Trump while Sanders is a huge risk who could bring on a Trump landslide and undermine Democrats down-ballot.
On Super Tuesday, NBC News exit polls revealed the previously unknown existence of millions of socialist-inclined Biden voters. In North Carolina and Tennessee where Biden handily defeated Bernie, more voters expressed a favorable opinion of socialism than unfavorable. In Texas, which Biden won, socialism also triumphed with 57 percent favorable vs. 37 percent unfavorable. Ditto for California (which Sanders won): 53 percent favorable vs. only 33 percent unfavorable.
In four Southern states where Biden trounced Sanders on Super Tuesday and the following week (Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama), NBC News found that a majority of Democratic primary voters support Sanders' signature policy, Medicare for All--phrased in the poll as "a single government health insurance plan for all." Most startling were Mississippians who voted for Biden over Bernie by an 81 to 15 percent landslide, but exit pollsters found nearly two-to-one support for Medicare for All: 62 to 32 percent.
So, on the policy agenda, Democratic primary voters have shown some resistance to corporate media propaganda--such as the oft-repeated canard that Sanders would "strip 150 million people of their health insurance." ("Stripping" is hardly accurate to describe a proposal that would provide fuller coverage--and, except for the superrich, at less cost.) When questioned continually by elite journalists and candidates like Biden about costs, Sanders has cited federal statistics showing that sticking with a private insurance system would cost more.
Since Democratic voters are closer to Bernie than Biden on most policy issues, Biden's string of primary wins suggests that corporate media have proved much more convincing on the issue of electability--with their drumbeat about Biden as electable against Trump, and Bernie as too risky. Primary voters, including older African Americans, are rightly terrified of a second Trump term. But not much data supports the claim that Biden would be a stronger candidate against Trump, and there are plenty of counter-arguments and counter-data, including the fact that Biden often appears unsteady and inarticulate.
The abrupt solidification behind Biden by the corporate establishment within the Democratic Party and allied media (MSNBC, CNN, etc.) appears driven as much by an ideological fear of a Sanders presidency as by a logical belief that Biden has a better chance of defeating Trump.
Pro-Sanders activists are running out of time in their efforts to confront the electability issue and persuade progressive-leaning voters to vote for the actual progressive in the race.
Unfortunately, when it comes to electability, too many Democratic primary voters are listening to the pundit elite--the same elite that had told us in past years how "moderate," status-quo, corporate Democrats were the most electable. You remember President Gore? President Kerry? President Hillary Clinton?
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
It's doubtful that Sunday night's CNN debate shifted momentum in the presidential race currently favoring Joe Biden. The next few weeks offer the Bernie Sanders movement perhaps its last chance to win over--mostly through electronic means--Democratic primary voters.
One voting bloc to focus on might be called "socialists for Biden."
In a speech last week from Vermont, Sanders made two key assertions. First, he said: "Poll after poll, including exit polls, show that a strong majority of the American people support our progressive agenda." He then added: "While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability."
Sanders was correct on both points--which tells us something about the persuasive powers (and limits) of "corporate liberal" news outlets like MSNBC, CNN, NPR, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Despite those outlets having long maligned Sanders' progressive proposals--from Medicare for All to big tax increases on the wealthy--his policy agenda is remarkably popular with Democratic primary voters.
By contrast, the media barrage on electability has proved far more persuasive to many Democrats--apparently convincing them that Biden can defeat Donald Trump while Sanders is a huge risk who could bring on a Trump landslide and undermine Democrats down-ballot.
On Super Tuesday, NBC News exit polls revealed the previously unknown existence of millions of socialist-inclined Biden voters. In North Carolina and Tennessee where Biden handily defeated Bernie, more voters expressed a favorable opinion of socialism than unfavorable. In Texas, which Biden won, socialism also triumphed with 57 percent favorable vs. 37 percent unfavorable. Ditto for California (which Sanders won): 53 percent favorable vs. only 33 percent unfavorable.
In four Southern states where Biden trounced Sanders on Super Tuesday and the following week (Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama), NBC News found that a majority of Democratic primary voters support Sanders' signature policy, Medicare for All--phrased in the poll as "a single government health insurance plan for all." Most startling were Mississippians who voted for Biden over Bernie by an 81 to 15 percent landslide, but exit pollsters found nearly two-to-one support for Medicare for All: 62 to 32 percent.
So, on the policy agenda, Democratic primary voters have shown some resistance to corporate media propaganda--such as the oft-repeated canard that Sanders would "strip 150 million people of their health insurance." ("Stripping" is hardly accurate to describe a proposal that would provide fuller coverage--and, except for the superrich, at less cost.) When questioned continually by elite journalists and candidates like Biden about costs, Sanders has cited federal statistics showing that sticking with a private insurance system would cost more.
Since Democratic voters are closer to Bernie than Biden on most policy issues, Biden's string of primary wins suggests that corporate media have proved much more convincing on the issue of electability--with their drumbeat about Biden as electable against Trump, and Bernie as too risky. Primary voters, including older African Americans, are rightly terrified of a second Trump term. But not much data supports the claim that Biden would be a stronger candidate against Trump, and there are plenty of counter-arguments and counter-data, including the fact that Biden often appears unsteady and inarticulate.
The abrupt solidification behind Biden by the corporate establishment within the Democratic Party and allied media (MSNBC, CNN, etc.) appears driven as much by an ideological fear of a Sanders presidency as by a logical belief that Biden has a better chance of defeating Trump.
Pro-Sanders activists are running out of time in their efforts to confront the electability issue and persuade progressive-leaning voters to vote for the actual progressive in the race.
Unfortunately, when it comes to electability, too many Democratic primary voters are listening to the pundit elite--the same elite that had told us in past years how "moderate," status-quo, corporate Democrats were the most electable. You remember President Gore? President Kerry? President Hillary Clinton?
It's doubtful that Sunday night's CNN debate shifted momentum in the presidential race currently favoring Joe Biden. The next few weeks offer the Bernie Sanders movement perhaps its last chance to win over--mostly through electronic means--Democratic primary voters.
One voting bloc to focus on might be called "socialists for Biden."
In a speech last week from Vermont, Sanders made two key assertions. First, he said: "Poll after poll, including exit polls, show that a strong majority of the American people support our progressive agenda." He then added: "While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability."
Sanders was correct on both points--which tells us something about the persuasive powers (and limits) of "corporate liberal" news outlets like MSNBC, CNN, NPR, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Despite those outlets having long maligned Sanders' progressive proposals--from Medicare for All to big tax increases on the wealthy--his policy agenda is remarkably popular with Democratic primary voters.
By contrast, the media barrage on electability has proved far more persuasive to many Democrats--apparently convincing them that Biden can defeat Donald Trump while Sanders is a huge risk who could bring on a Trump landslide and undermine Democrats down-ballot.
On Super Tuesday, NBC News exit polls revealed the previously unknown existence of millions of socialist-inclined Biden voters. In North Carolina and Tennessee where Biden handily defeated Bernie, more voters expressed a favorable opinion of socialism than unfavorable. In Texas, which Biden won, socialism also triumphed with 57 percent favorable vs. 37 percent unfavorable. Ditto for California (which Sanders won): 53 percent favorable vs. only 33 percent unfavorable.
In four Southern states where Biden trounced Sanders on Super Tuesday and the following week (Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama), NBC News found that a majority of Democratic primary voters support Sanders' signature policy, Medicare for All--phrased in the poll as "a single government health insurance plan for all." Most startling were Mississippians who voted for Biden over Bernie by an 81 to 15 percent landslide, but exit pollsters found nearly two-to-one support for Medicare for All: 62 to 32 percent.
So, on the policy agenda, Democratic primary voters have shown some resistance to corporate media propaganda--such as the oft-repeated canard that Sanders would "strip 150 million people of their health insurance." ("Stripping" is hardly accurate to describe a proposal that would provide fuller coverage--and, except for the superrich, at less cost.) When questioned continually by elite journalists and candidates like Biden about costs, Sanders has cited federal statistics showing that sticking with a private insurance system would cost more.
Since Democratic voters are closer to Bernie than Biden on most policy issues, Biden's string of primary wins suggests that corporate media have proved much more convincing on the issue of electability--with their drumbeat about Biden as electable against Trump, and Bernie as too risky. Primary voters, including older African Americans, are rightly terrified of a second Trump term. But not much data supports the claim that Biden would be a stronger candidate against Trump, and there are plenty of counter-arguments and counter-data, including the fact that Biden often appears unsteady and inarticulate.
The abrupt solidification behind Biden by the corporate establishment within the Democratic Party and allied media (MSNBC, CNN, etc.) appears driven as much by an ideological fear of a Sanders presidency as by a logical belief that Biden has a better chance of defeating Trump.
Pro-Sanders activists are running out of time in their efforts to confront the electability issue and persuade progressive-leaning voters to vote for the actual progressive in the race.
Unfortunately, when it comes to electability, too many Democratic primary voters are listening to the pundit elite--the same elite that had told us in past years how "moderate," status-quo, corporate Democrats were the most electable. You remember President Gore? President Kerry? President Hillary Clinton?