Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who recently announced that he is running for president, proposed that Democratic candidates debate the Republican candidates before the general election.
“In a sense, the Republicans get away with murder. They have an absolutely reactionary agenda,” Sanders told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about his proposal.
Sanders said that if Americans saw Democrats and Republicans debate the issues earlier in the election cycle, they would better understand Republicans’ views.
“If we can confront them and debate issues, rather than allow the media to get into political gossip and polling and fundraising, but talk about the issues — I think their agenda does not reflect more than 15 or 20 percent of the American people,” he said. “The more we have that clash of ideas, I think we win, I think people become more engaged in the political process.”
Since announcing his presidential bid, Sanders’ popularity has increased among likely Iowa caucus attendees, according to a poll released on Monday.
Watch Sanders’ interview with Rachel Maddow via MSNBC:
H/t Mediaite
What an excellent idea.
He’s right. We spend so much time listening to unchallenged reactionary spew that we become inured to it, and mistake it for ¨the way things are.¨ Thus, we (most of us) accept, or at least tolerate, the notions that America’s a center-right country; that the poor are poor because of a deficiency of character; that the rich are that way because of nothing but hard work; that for-profit businesses are always more efficient than government; that property rights trump the environment, etc. In this country, a person with ¨Socialist¨ after his/her name is scarier to most folks than some crazed fucker carrying an AK 47 through a Denny’s restaurant. We are seriously unhinged, and a lot of push back is called for.
I’m skeptical. Although a laudable concept in theory, I’m willing to bet good money that such a debate would degenerate into a kind of surrealistic discomposure. For the Democrats involved, it would be like debating a room full of Sam Kinison impersonators on acid. Although, on the other hand, maybe that’s Bernie’s expectation and plan.
Easy peasy, Bernie.
Change your registration to Republican and get ahead in the polls to the top ten.
You’ll get invited!
Worst case scenario, you’ll face Hillary in the General!
Sorry Senator, the shadow puppet show planners would never ever accept your intellectual disruption of their sing-along events. On a positive note your challenge will go unanswered, making you much less vulnerable to R and D zingers.