Bye-bye Bernie

The real Democratic Party has said “nyet” to socialism, at least to the brand being peddled by Bernie Sanders — for now.

By the “real Democratic Party,” I mean the one between the coastal elites, the one in flyover country, the one schooled in the factory and maybe the military. The one that believes in hard work, fair play and compassion, but not of endless giveaways.

For now. That might change in the future, but the future is not now.

Middle-of-the-road Democrats like me can’t vote for Donald Trump, won’t vote for Bernie Sanders, but will vote for Joe Biden — if he doesn’t go crazy. 

It is possible endless giveaways will be embraced by a future Democratic Party in a future America. But for now, Bernie’s vision of government handouts as a “uuman right” has been rejected by Democrats who love their country, honor their flag, oil their guns and treasure their Bibles.

Yeah, I am alluding to the caught-on-mic elitist remark by candidate Barack Obama (who I supported), who said about Americans: “They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Let’s break that down from the end to the start.

The “anti-trade sentiment” wasn’t that. It was anti-bad trade deals and today’s Democrats run screaming from NAFTA. In case you missed it, Donald Trump ran against NAFTA and rewrote it. Promise kept.

“Anti-immigrant sentiment” is actually anti-ILLEGAL immigrant sentiment and Trump swung that like an axe. Sanders vows to break up ICE, to  end deportations and give illegals free health care. That does not go down well with many, if not most, Democrats. 

Americans are increasingly less religious, but most Democrats still believe in God. Despite that, most Americans don’t see Democratic candidates as very religious. That has got to hurt a little.

Only 16% of Democrats own a gun, while 41% of Republicans do, but, importantly, 36% of independents do. The total of gun-owning Dems and Independents is 52%, a majority of Americans.

This is why being perceived as “gun grabbers” is not where Democrats want to be. They have to do a better job of explaining that “gun control” does not mean “gun confiscation,” which is a club Trump used to beat them with.

What is the lesson for Biden in all this? 

Go starboard. For non-navigators, that means turn right, back toward the center where most Democrats and Independents reside. If you try to appease the Berners by moving left, you lose votes in the general election. 

I know Bernie says he’s winning the battle of ideas. He will say that in Sunday’s debate. Your response: Winning the battle of votes is more important. 

Uncle Joe, never again mention Beto O’Rourke as your gun czar. 

When the lanky former Texas congressman said, “Hell, yes, we are going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” that translated to “the gummint is gonna grab my gun.” That put the last nail in Beto’s political coffin. Pardon the expression, but don’t hand ammunition to your opponents. Find a well-known Democrat who is a shooter to explain how universal background checks and red flag laws protect innocent Americans. 

While most Americans don’t want illegals who have lived here a long time to be deported, they do not like Sanctuary Cities.  

Illegal is illegal and recognizing that is not racist. You have cover here because President Obama openly opposed illegal immigration:

It’s not hard for you to say you will enforce our borders and deport those who disrespect them.

Extend ObamaCare. That battle is already won. Do not force Americans to lose their health insurance. Like a doctor, first do no harm. 

Every American who wants it should receive affordable coverage and that will eliminate bankruptcy caused by medical bills. 

Free community  college is OK, wiping out student debt is not because everyone knows the debt is not cancelled, it is transferred from students who get the benefit of it to taxpayers who do not.

Americans are reasonable people with reasonable expectations. They’d be OK with allowing students to refinance their debt to make it manageable. Their debt.

Reparations are a loser. You want to increase black wealth? Have a fund that helps them buy a home, often the keystone of a family’s wealth. Make it a sort of GI Bill for blacks. That’s smarter than handing out cash. 

Donald Trump is the worst fraud of a president we have ever had. He owns the one-third of Americans who are Trumpicans. They are deadly loyal.

He won last time by attracting moderates and peeling off a sliver of working class Democrats. 

If you go left, he will snatch them again.