Hillary Clinton said she is a progressive, and by Bernie’s standard Obama doesn’t qualify as a progressive either. As far as I remember, he wasn't.
In 2008 I’ve only had my green card for a year, and didn't pay that much attention to American politics. When it was clear that the Democrat’s candidate was going to be either a woman or a black man I was delighted: I was going to witness a historic event!
I remember watching one of the debates on CNN, they were both asked whether they support gay marriage (can't remember if Edwards was still in the race), both of them said no, without batting an eye.
I was totally shocked for a short moment. Growing up in Taiwan during the 80s, homosexuality was a topic that good kids are not supposed to know about, let alone talk about. I had my own personal "evolution” on this topic from teenage well into to my twenties. For a while I didn't understand why they need legal recognition, and then I didn't understand why it matters whether you call it civil union or marriage. But in 2008, even I, formerly uninformed girl from rural Taiwan, strongly supported that gay marriage should be treated the same way as heterosexual marriage. How can Obama or Hillary be less progressive than someone like me?
After the initial shock I knew. Of course in their hearts they think the same as me. More likely than not embrace the cause more thoroughly than I did. But they can't admit it, can they? They have to say they oppose gay marriage so that whoever gets nominated has a chance to beat the republicans. We all knew this is a show. They were progressives at heart but they cannot admit what they actually believe, because in the general election you have to be a centrist to win, and the end justifies the means. We didn't criticize either of them for being insincere. It was the smart way. The lying was necessary. The superPACs were necessary.
But is being a progressive at heart enough for qualifying as a real progressive?
I often wondered, if Joe Biden didn't blurt out what he really thought of gay marriage, how much longer would Obama have waited for? Long enough so that some elderly gay couple could not live to benefit from the new policy? Would it be better if he acted a little more progressive a little earlier?
I don't think Hillary is a bad person. I don't think she is evil, greedy or a habitual liar. She probably does think that she is a progressive because in her heart she embraces progressive values, although she does not always act upon them because she needs to play the political games right. She probably really believes that the speaking fees did not swayed her opinions or actions in any way. Everything the Sanders camp was criticizing her about are more or less expected behavior of a "normal” politician: she changes her position with the society, she takes whatever money that was legal, even if a bit questionable, she breaks a few stupid rules here and there…… Nothing extremely scandalous, maybe we can give her the benefit of the doubt?
Unfortunately for her, Bernie Sanders came along and broke the mold.
He miantained the same position for decades, since when they were unpopular! He doesn't take any tainted money! He was always classy! He only talks about issues! We as voters never thought a person of such solid principles and this level of honesty is possible in a presidential candidate. Suddenly Hillary Clinton, the one who plays it safe, is not enough for us any more. Having a progressive heart under all the moderate disguise can no longer satisfy our appetite, now that we see a higher standard is attainable.
So, is being a progressive at heart enough to qualify as a real progressive?
Not any more. It might have been enough in 2008, but not in 2016. The society has evolved. In Victorian times a feminist at heart is a progressive, but in 2016, being a feminist in the West is just the norm. Bernie may not be the gatekeeper of progressiveness, but our society as a whole is.
And by the way, I love Obama. I wish I gained my citizenship early enough to vote for him. Please don't hate me for calling him a not-progressive in 2008.