This diary is really aimed at my fellow Sanders supporters. As the quote from PPP below indicates, we still have work to do to get our fellow Sanders supporters on board. So this is really just a question: what are the best arguments to make to get them to vote for Clinton?
In my discussions at the Convention and since, here are the arguments I would make. I am also interested in what arguments you think don’t work.
So here is my list:
1. The Clean Energy Power Plan — this is an Obama proposal that will die if Trump wins. The plan mandates a 32% reduction in CO’s emissions in 25 years. It is how the US would meet its obligations to the Paris Agreements. The plan was stayed by a 5-4 vote: one taken before Scalia’s death. Replacement of Scalia likely ensures this plans adoption.
Not many people know the detail — and I think most Sanders people would agree this isn’t by itself enough. But this is large change, and it will happen if Clinton isn’t elected.
2. Free Public University Education — Clinton clearly largely adopted the Sanders position. This is a big deal. I get there will be skepticism this will happen, but committing the party to this change is a big deal.
3. Replacement of Scalia with a left of center judge — this causes groans sometimes. Decisions that were 5-4 or 4-5:
Obergefell (Mandated Marriage Equality) Roe v. Wade (current 5-4 support) NIFB V Seleblius (5-4 on upholding, BUT 4-5 on requiring state adoption of Medicaid provision). Most people in my experience don’t get the last part of it — but it would extend health insurance to millions. A raft of Civil Rights cases which define the scope of defendent’s rights4. Obamacare will survive, and we might get a public option and be able to negotiate on drug prices.
5. Clinton has committed to increased spending on infrastructure, and a tax surcharge on the wealthy of 5%.
6. Immigration — Clinton has committed to what is widespread agreement within the party on a path to citizenship, and opposition to the racist language and policies of Trump.
7. Rolling back mass incarceration — There is actually some bi-partisan agreement on this, and I would bet it happens in a Clinton Administration. Trump’s law and order speech makes this unlikely.
8. Donald Trump
Most Sanders supporters are well aware of Trump. I don’t think that by itself is really enough. We need to show there is an agenda that a progressive can support. I don’t mention foreign policy — because it leads very quickly to Iraq and I don’t think it moves people much. Trump actually scares me quite a bit — but the Sanders people I talk to fear Clinton as well.
From the PPP poll — we still have work to do:
“It's also important to note that most of the remaining undecided pool is very Democratic leaning. They give Barack Obama a 55/33 approval rating, and they'd rather have him as President than Trump by a 59/10 spread. If they ended up voting for Clinton and Trump by those proportions, it would push Clinton's lead up from 5 points to 8. But they don't like Clinton (a 4/83 favorability) or Trump (a 2/89 favorability). A lot of these folks are disaffected Bernie Sanders voters, and even after the successful convention this week they're still not sold on Clinton yet. She and her surrogates will have to keep working to try to win those folks over and if they can the election enters landslide territory. “