I have a hard time watching debates with my candidate on stage. Unless s/he’s really on fire, or the opponent is goofing and gaffing, I am a super critical pearl clutcher who is either mumbling or shouting out possible comebacks for my hopeful contender like someone playing along with a game show at home or talking back to the horror movie. Last night in Miami was no different. Bernie missed a couple great opportunities. I suppose Hillary did as well, but I care about Bernie, so I was still trying to magically feed Bernie talking points and lines this morning, wanting to let him know how I (and maybe others) hear what he is saying and not saying.

And, in dwelling on what I thought was his biggest missed opportunity from last night while getting my morning caffeine on board, I started to think about a point that I wish Bernie would explicitly make. It is a point that could serve him well both in the primary and in general and would underscore his consistency over his last half century of struggle and service. It is this:

When you speak your mind truthfully with what is in your heart, in the public arena, and in the pursuit of justice, peace and prosperity for all people, there will be some things you will say that will give some folks pause or that some people will not agree with. (Even more so when those things are taken out of context)

What does this have to do with the working class and the brand of Law and Order politics that was born in the 60’s and has metastasized into the prison-industrial complex and Patriot Act world of today? A whole hell of a lot, if it can be unpacked and communicated.

Bernie was arrested in Chicago protesting housing discrimination. A few years later that city was the scene of the DNC police riot, made possible, in part, by shift in both parties to an emphasis on Law and Order and the veiled racism and anti-urbanism of that ideology. This was the era when blue-collar workers, who should be solidly Dem, (considering the lack of a Labor- specific party) beat on students and protesters (many of whom should be solidly Dem, or at least no. t R). The left was split. Over the years, many union workers would migrate to folks like Reagan (and even Trump) because of the assault they felt from the new left’s agenda that was not in line with their goal of trying to maintain safe and secure livelihoods and neighborhoods. In that same time, many of those hippies cleaned up, got polite and became liberals who spoke about how unions were a good thing “way back when”. There is no single faction of the left that bears the blame for this division and, indeed, I think it was conservative control of the narrative that widened this rift between these factions of the left in order to keep poor whites, poor blacks and other less privileged groups from finding common ground.

Bernie has an opportunity to not just do some damage control when presented with 30 year old interviews and comments. He has an opportunity to speak to the rift that occurred within our party more than a generation ago and which still hobbles our party today. During the 60’s, both parties were drastically changing identities while gaining new followers and losing others. And, although there is still strong support for Democrats by union leadership, if those endorsements translated into votes more reliably, Reagan would not have won (he got about 45% of union household votes).

Bernie was at the beginning of this party system (fifth or sixth depending on how you count). It easy for to point to some of his actions and make the deduction that he was another DFH that was active in the splitting. But his record does not support that passing claim. Yes, Bernie marched with folks and for causes that were on the younger side of this division between the old left and the new left. He marched in the civil rights movement. He was arrested in that struggle. He spoke out against police brutality. He fought to end the war in Vietnam. But, in addition to all this, his record shows that he has been on the side of the American worker and working on bread and butter issues throughout his career. He is not a candidate for one wing or another in one party in our current party system.

Instead, he was, and is, something more radical and something that is desperately needed today. He was, and is, a great force for unification and forward progress for all. He understands that it is not a zero sum game for the members of 99%. Better wages for workers, safer streets, safer housing, equal protection under the law, equal treatment by police and courts, sustainable communities on a sustainable planet, more and better jobs, more leisure, better food, greater national security, along with equal pay for women, a living wage for all, cleaner air and water, greater energy independence, less war, more art, humane immigration policy, and a first world infrastructure are not mutually exclusive goals. He is a candidate that is working to lead us out of our current corrupt political and economic system towards a future where the goals of a former president might finally be realized, goals that were those of FDR, who took us out of the great depression, rescued millions of Americans from desperate poverty, fought fascism, and rebuilt our workforce and our industry.

Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom from Want
Freedom from Fear

He has consistently fought for the realization of those four freedoms. And he seeks them for all people, whether they are 3rd generation union, recent immigrant, women, LGBT, black, Christian, brown, Muslim, white, urban, or rural. He is a candidate that will serve the workers shafted by NAFTA and other trade deals and the ones worried about losing what they do have to TPP. He will serve the recent arrivals to our country. He is looking to bring together all those people because it only together that everyone can reach those goals. Separately, no of us get there.

So, if you can imagine a political landscape beyond our current situation that is dominated by a coalition of diverse people working towards common goals of economic security and social justice, please enjoy the view. If not, at least imagine a Democratic party that once again has union membership solidly under the tent, along with those people who are passionate about equality towards minorities, women, LGBT folk, and fairness in regards to immigrants, the economy, human rights, the earth.

[video:https://youtu.be/gp5JCrSXkJY width:640 height:480]
https://youtu.be/gp5JCrSXkJY