Bill Maher pressed Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to explain how he can “undemonize” the word socialism and pay for the social programs he hopes to implement on Friday’s episode of “Real Time.”
The late night host told Sanders that he supported his campaign, but that many Americans wouldn’t vote for a candidate that openly identified as a socialist.
“They hear socialist they hear herpes, Bernie,” Maher said.
The two got into a spirited back and forth, as Sanders argued that the progressive policies he advocates for have popular support and are common in many other countries.
“On every one of the major issues I’m talking about, the American people agree,” he said.
Maher kept pushing the question to a flustered-looking Sanders, saying raising taxes on the 1 percent wouldn’t cover the cost of universal singlepayer healthcare or free public college tuition.
Watch their exchange below.
I love Bernie. Conversations like this one will help him flesh out his argument.
To get Americans to accept socialism give them no more, Medicaid, Medicare, social security, public schools, libraries, make them pay to use the roads and bridges. Maybe then they’ll get it.
Senator Sanders is like a repairman that shows up to your house with no tools. he can troubleshoot the problem (in this case: crazy ass republicans) but he ain’t going to fix shit.
Bernie does not have his answer ready. He doesn’t get it. I agree with him on the issues. But Maher is right that the terms “socialist” is toxic, and Bernie is avoiding it by circling back to issues. It’s not gonna work. He needs to define the term as it applies to him, not through answers about his agenda punch-list, but by speaking in broad terms about what being a socialist democrat actually means (e.g., it means A, B, C, and it is not X, Y, Z). He has to do this, and he has to do this effectively, or he cannot win. Period. Until he can demonstrate an ability to put this issue to rest, I cannot support him in the primaries.
I fail to see where talking about the issues is less important than a label. This is a constant tactic of the naysayers. Don’t bother to discuss the merits or demerits of an argument, simply shout a name or label and deflect the conversation.