I still think Bernie Sanders is right for America. But his messaging is fading. Segments of rank and file Democrats hear HRC and HRC surrogates first. And they jammed the “one-issue” label on him. And insinuate he’s against Obama. Maybe even because he didn’t like the Civil Rights Movement. Hillary attacks him— ok, ok, questions if he is a real democrat?
Bernie should say the truth — Bernie is an FDR-MLK Democrat. In from the cold. He should embrace THAT, draw the contrast there. And he should say “I’m for the inner Obama”.
Most importantly, he must say what he’ll do for Main Street. And State Street. And MLK Boulevard. Most democrats know Wall Street and short sighted corporate management are big parts of the problem. But that’s not where the battle is now. The battle is for the soul of the Democratic electorate.
None of what I’m saying is really that much different than what he’s already saying. But he needs to take the initiative back.
He can do this if he announces a “New New Deal”. (Someone please come up with a better name). Which is really his program already. He should re-state it with a couple tweaks.
1. Jobs program for unemployed/underemployed urban youth. A 21st Century CCC, Putting solar panels on Federal Buildings; fixing roads and bridges. Not just jobs, but jobs that will train kids for the 21st century.
2. Federal aid to school districts with large undocumented populations. (Bernie already proposes Federal equalization of school expenditures, but he needs to say why that’s so good).
The Heritage Foundation and Right wing/windbags will tell you that undocumented immigrants use more services than they pay in taxes. That’s wrong in all areas of government services except for school funding.
But that’s not because the undocumented workers don’t pay taxes. It’s because all American lower class and middle class families don’t pay enough in taxes to fund their local schools. This is a generational/investment funding mechanism. This funding shortfall is a HUGE source of local electeds’ backlash against undocumented families.
Bernie can say we’ll fund this with taxes on the corporations that profit from undocumented labor.
And he should take a quick jab at the Common Core while he’s in this.
3. Add a work/study component to his free public college and university program. Not a lot. Cite Berea college in Kentucky — free tuition, room and board but work is a component. All lower and middle class, And its non-denominational Christian.
This will inoculate the program against the “free stuff” label.
4. Preemptive attack Krugman, etc wonks. Just say we can’t grow the economy if we don’t grow the middle class. I don’t think economists matter too much. Most can’t golf. But they do distract. Show a little tough love; the pension fund managers will at least give pause.
5. Tweet like the Donald.
“Bernie Sanders will create jobs for all of today’s young people. Teach 21st Century skills. Got a problem?”.
