NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” Sunday pressed Sen. Bernie Sanders on how he would respond to Republican charges of being a socialist.
“Democratic socialist,” Sanders corrected. (What that means in the U.S. is contested.)
It’s a distinction Sanders should make more often. However, for Republicans and for Trump voters, it may be a distinction without a difference. For them it’s not a question about political philosophy. For people whose politics were formed in the Cold War, socialism is 21st- century shorthand for commie, pinko, red, “ain’t one of us,” whatever. It’s a rock handy for bashing in opponents’ heads. What type of stone, what shape or color, is irrelevant.
Sanders’s problem is when the topic comes up, he’s playing defense when he should be playing offense.
Sure, Sanders could mention that social democracies — countries like Finland, Denmark, and Norway — top the list in the UN’s annual World Happiness Report while in the U.S. discontent grows. But Americans in their discontent hate being told they are not #1 in everything. And they hate people who remind them they are not.
Sanders could remind Americans that beloved programs like Social Security and Medicare are social welfare programs. But they hate being told that for the same reasons. It sounds like “free stuff” for lesser-thans who don’t deserve it. That’s why Republicans condemn universal health care as “socialized medicine.” Let the sick and poor die and decrease the surplus population, eh?
Socialism : bad. Capitalism : good. Yes?
But if any form of socialism is bad, conservative critics should have to defend socialized spending they approve. Sanders should ask the Chuck Todds what color their aircraft carrier is.
Where do you harbor your personal carrier strike group?
How much profit did your carrier strike group bank in the last quarter? Can I invest?
Did you buy your carrier strike group retail, or did you order it Capitalist Prime, 2-day delivery from Amazon?
And by the way, Chuck, where does Arlington, Virginia let you park your M1A2 Abrams tank? (At 0.6 mpg, I hear fuel costs are brutal.)
When was the last time Republicans demanded the Pentagon turn a profit? When was the last time they insisted the Pentagon is “broke” because it spends more than it takes in? Because it’s been broke now for over 75 years.
America-firsters, patriots that they claim, loathe any form of socialism. Make them defend socialism they like.
“Not a single Democrat will openly denounce socialism or a socialist candidate. This is the true Democratic Party,” tweeted America First PAC during Friday night’s Democratic presidential debate. Chaired by Linda McMahon and with Sean Spicer listed as senior adviser, America First PAC describes itself as “the only Official Pro-Trump Super PAC.”
If Sanders wins in New Hampshire tomorrow, we’ll hear plenty more of that BS. Republicans don’t do it to promote healthy political debate, but to shut it down. And to shut up Sanders and his Democratic “comrades” with him. But if you are explaining, you are losing, it’s said. Make them do the explaining.
Sanders should make opponents defend socialism for the rich and metastasized capitalism for the rest. He should make conservative critics defend why they support socialized national defense and other forms of collective spending they never mention. He should ask them, “What color is your aircraft carrier?”
It won’t change any minds, but with enough repetition it might change the conversation.
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