When Bernie used the word “establishment” in reference to Planned Parenthood and HRC, I understood how he meant it. by the context he used. Since then,. Hillary Clinton and a score of Bernie bashers have ignored the context. Several spread the word that Bernie lumps these organizations with Wall Street Banksters and Vulture Capitalists. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Tuesday over the decision by progressive groups like Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign to endorse Clinton.
In an interview on MSNBC on Tuesday night, Sanders responded to a question about Clinton’s endorsements with a broad criticism of the "establishment," explaining, "What we are doing in this campaign — and it just blows my mind every day, because I see it clearly, we’re taking on not only Wall Street and the economic establishment, we’re taking on the political establishment."
"And so I have friends and supporters in the Human Rights Fund, in Planned Parenthood," Sanders continued. "But you know what, Hillary Clinton has been around there for a very, very long time and some of these groups are, in fact, part of the establishment."… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <CNN>
Photo credit: Salon.com
When Bernie separated economic establishment and political establishment, he made it clear that he meant something else. I understood his frustration that, despite his perfect voting record on both LGBT and women’s reproductive rights, they endorsed Hillary before the primary season even kicked off. Bernie had thought he had a chance for those endorsements, because they endorsed the upstart, Obama, in 2008. However, they waited until Obama had a significant lead in delegates to do so. HRC endorsed him in June, and Planned Parenthood, in August. For Bernie, I thought “political establishment” implied that they assumed Hillary would win, and supported the established candidate. I think that implication was correct. Fortunately, Rachel Maddow, clarified it with Bernie.
Frankly, I think HRC and Planned Parenthood were wrong to endorse Hillary so early in the contest. They should have waited, like they did in 2008. However, that does not mean that I will stop supporting their initiatives, and donating to them. They do too much good work to hold one mistake against them.
15 Responses to “The Establishment Brouhaha”
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I agree with the prematurity and the pressures from party persons to endorse prematurely will hurt the party in the long run.
PP should have waited, for sure! I hope it doesn't hurt the drive to keep PP funded! With all the funds being cut because of RepukkklicanTs trying to reverse Roe v. Wade, they really need to revisit this endorsement!
I hope so too. That's why I qualified my criticism swith the caveat that I'll keep donating to them,
Bernie already has his work cut out for him defining "socialism." It's a pity this happened, and thank God for Rachel.
Words are very funny things. There is a contingent of people now who want to make a distinction between "Birthright Citizenship" and "Natural Born Citizen," with a view to disqualifying Cruz. While I certainly don't want a President Cruz, I would like to see this accomplished through (what we have left of) the Democratic process, rather than by verbal quibbles (which can come back to bite). So far I have asked in comments whether they thought the Founders were thinking about "natural birth" as opposed to Caesarian section, such as the C-section which gave McDuff the power to kill MacBeth in spite of the witches' prophecies (well, partly because of them. I haven't had an answer to that, but I also have another card up my sleeve in case someone does. You know, there were some centuries in which illegitimate children were referred to as "natural children." Do they think all Presidents ought to be bastards (the jokes just write themselves)?
BTW the endorsements – I think they may be promises made long before Bernie decided to run which are now being cashed in.
Out of curiosity, why do you think so?
You are on a roll tonight!
I agree on birthright citizenshop, but I would love it were he deported, and the the very idea of that is Sasquatch terror!
I am glad Bernie got a chance on Rachel to clarify what he meant. I think the Clinton campaign is nervous about how well he has done and the gloves are off.
I think that Clinton is nervous about Bernie's numbers so is picking a fight with him, trying to bring him down. On Bernie's part, perhaps he could have chosen his words a little better, but Clinton manufactured the controversy.
Spot-on!
These are times when I'm glad we don't have presidential/gubernatorial elections bringing with them endorsement from every possible nook and cranny. These elections make EVERYTHING political, even organizations that have no business being political, i.e. partisan, like Planned Parenthood. If these organizations receive federal or state funding to provide services to everyone irrespective of race, color, creed, gender, sexual preference or income, then they should stay out of the political arena and not endorse anyone.
A agree, up to a point, but when an individual candidate or party, threatens a groups existence, as the Republican party keeps trying to outlaw Planned Parenthood,, the organization should be allow self defence.
A valid point, TomCat, but if endoresement doesn't mean you chose between Democrats and Republicans – a choice that is of course quite understandable, but between the candidates of the party they prefer, the argument of self defence no longer holds, I think. They are now setting up Democrat against Democrat and that is the last thing they should do.
Thanks all. Great comments! Hugs!!