I am far closer to Bernie Sanders on the ideological spectrum than I am to anyone else running for president from the two major parties.
In a lot of ways, I would love to see a President Bernie and have always wondered how America would deal with an unapologetic progressive/socialist at the helm, something we have never had.
But my problem with Bernie as a candidate is not his positions or his ideology. I would have supported Ralph Nader if this were only about ideology. My concern is whether he could ever be an effective political leader for our country.
As progressives, we know how frustrating it is to have public opinion polls demonstrate that on issue after issue, our side enjoys majority support.
Huge majorities support clean air and climate action.
Huge majorities support raising taxes on the 1% and holding Wall Street accountable.
Huge majorities support comprehensive immigration reform.
Huge majorities support limiting our overseas engagements.
Huge majorities support raising the minimum wage and better social benefits for our people.
Huge majorities support investing in our infrastructure and building out a clean energy economy.
The problem isn't that we don't have huge majorities supporting these and so many other issues. The problem is getting things passed and building a governing majority in Washington to get these things done.
Now, I haven't followed Bernie's political career in intimate detail. I know he is a dependable progressive vote on nearly every issue that comes up. And that counts for a lot.
So does introducing legislation that can be used to help set the progressive flank, as he has done scores of times over the years.
But, I've been able to find only one substantive piece of legislation he introduced that became law: The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013. And, there have only been a handful of bills he's introduced that have passed even one of the two houses of Congress.
Now, I'm sure he's introduced amendments and that some of his legislative ideas have been incorporated into other pieces of legislation and reconciliation bills. And I may have missed something in my research.
But Bernie has been in Congress for nearly a quarter of a century, since the Bush I presidency. And it does concern me that he has rarely been able to build a majority in support for any of his legislative priorities.
I understand that Democrats have controlled both houses of Congress in only four of the 13 sessions since he was first elected -- and getting things done in this partisan era is tough.
But, by comparison, his colleague from Vermont, Senator Leahy, has introduced nearly two dozen substantive bills that have been signed into law in just the last 10 years. Senator Leahy is a progressive Democrat from the same far left state operating in the same political environment and has a record of legislative accomplishment Bernie just can't match.
I know Leahy has been in Congress a lot longer and has risen to leadership positions. That matters. But Bernie is no spring chicken. He's had plenty of opportunities to advance and work with his colleagues, and just hasn't made much of a legislative mark.
I realize this is a tough audience to make this point. I read Daily Kos every day and, while I don't post or comment much, totally understand where the wind is blowing around here. Don't get me wrong -- I'm a Bernie supporter in spirit. I just wonder what that would mean in reality.
Which brings me to what I think is an essential point in all this. There is a clear and vital role for activists in our political system. Bernie has been an activist more than he's been a legislator, and I respect the heck out of him for championing progressive causes for his entire political life. I just wonder what it means if he were to actually become president. And I don't think I'll be able to overcome that concern.