In a previous diary I reprinted an e-mail exchange between my sister and me over the Bernie vs. Hillary battle. I am on the west coast, and a Bernie fan. She and her significant other are on the east coast and firmly in the Hillary camp. i am going to reprint the latest exchange because I think it gives an inside look at the emotions currently dividing the Democratic camp :
Hi Mark,
Both Christie and I are mystified at the vitriol directed at Hillary. We see her as hard working, practical, smart, experienced, a negotiator can get along with all kinds of people and is the most like us. Hillary’s soul is for God to address only. If she were the devil incarnate, Obama would not have selected her as his Secretary of State nor would he be supporting her right now as the best candidate to help continue his policies.
Bernie to me is an unsophisticated aging hippie who has never gotten any of his ideas through congress. He has never even written legislation for his grand ideas. Vermont’s Governor was not successful in getting single payer health care passed in the tiny state of Vermont because it was not cost effective.
I also never had a Democratic candidate attack me as the enemy. Republicans have said pernicious things about my but never Democrats. Does Bernie realize that a lot of the people he is trashing when he trashes Wall St. and the uber rich are people that grew up middle class and are finally making it? Isn’t that the American way? We are paying 39.5% in Federal income tax right now and he wants to raise it to 50%. Economists say that the total amount we would pay in taxes would be 72% which would included federal, state, medicare and social security. Is this fair?
I don’t worry about Bernie being president because I know he could never push any of his ideas through congress. I don’t feel the Bern, he leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I replied:
Hi Luisa,
I won’t keep going back and forth because you have your opinion and I have mine. Let me see if I can demystify ( is that a word)? the vitriol towards Hillary. She does have a high negative rating and there is a reason for that. People simply don’t trust her! One minute she is for something and when the political wind shifts she is against it. Two examples come immediately to mind ; her stance on the TPP, she waffled on it, then came over to Bernie’s side and her stance against Gay marriage which she finally came around on as well.
So you think Hillary is most like you? Hmmm I didn’t know you were doing so well! she definitely stands with big corporations, wall st. and the big banks. If you think she is going to do anything to regulate them you are sadly mistaken. ( especially after getting $225,00 for a 25 minute speech).
I will just sum up the difference between the two this way : When Bernie speaks, he speaks to tens of thousands of people who pay nothing to her him talk. When Hillary speaks, it is to a room full of a hundred or so people who pay thousands of dollars to hear her talk. I know who has my back!
Hope all is going well,
Love,
Mark