In response to Senator McCaskill's attack on the populist progressive values with which Bernie Sanders has been thrilling overflow crowds,
Democracy for America (DFA) has posted the following petition which addresses McCaskill and all the 2016 Democratic Presidential candidates:
Tell Sen. McCaskill and 2016 Democratic candidates: There's nothing "extreme" about progressive values
Text of DFA's petition:
Last Thursday morning on MSNBC, Sen. Claire McCaskill tore into presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, calling him "too extreme" to be the Democratic nominee.
That's noteworthy enough. But when she was asked what policies Sanders supports that make him unelectable, her answer really got our attention:
"He would like to see Medicare for all in this country," McCaskill said, adding that Sanders "would like to see expansion of entitlement." She further argued that Sanders is "not worried about debt at all. He is somebody who is, I think, frankly, against trade."
Wait a second. Every single policy McCaskill took a jab at -- Medicare for All, Social Security expansion and opposition to bad trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- is a strong, solidly progressive position. In fact, over the past months and years hundreds of thousands of DFA members have taken action in favor of each and every one of these proposals. They're key battlefronts in our war against income inequality.
Claire McCaskill needs to understand that there is nothing "extreme" about wanting an economy that works for everyone. Every single Democratic candidate running in 2016 should support policies that will protect our workers and retirees and make our health care system more affordable. That isn't crazy. It should be common sense.
Sign Democracy for America's petition to tell Claire McCaskill and all Democratic candidates in 2016 that you support Medicare for All, expanding Social Security, and opposition to the TPP -- and you think they should, too.
When Progressive Democratic values are attacked by elected members of the Democratic Party, where can progressives find a home? When the values of expanding Social Security, adopting Medicare for all, and stopping international trade agreements which harm American sovereignty, workers, and environmental laws are seen as too extreme, who will represent the vast majority of Americans who embrace these values?
From DFA's email:
Over the years, a solid majority of Americans have supported single payer health care. The latest poll taken earlier this year showed just over 50% support Medicare for All -- including one-quarter of Republicans.
A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed that 61% of Americans -- a solid, bi-partisan majority -- supports expanding Social Security. In fact, 46 Democratic Senators voted last April for an amendment that would have expanded Social Security -- including Sen. McCaskill herself!
A New York Times / CBS News poll taken earlier this month showed that 55% of the U.S. public opposes passing the Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Fast Track process, which will restrict the ability of Congress to change the massive trade deal. And yet many Democrats in the Senate and House voted for it.
Sign the petition to tell the Democratic 2016 Presidential Candidates and other elected Democrats to uphold progressive American values and leave the criticism to the Republican Party!