I agree with the sentiment that Bernie supporters are pushing a much more extreme expectation. It can’t go without saying that Sanders’ “revolution” was about pushing the Democratic Party farther to the left. But doing this isn’t just about functionally doing so (because they’re already pretty far left on various issues), it’s also about image.
Regardless, I’m hesitant to say that this is the result of “brazen dishonesty”. I know this might seem like a retort on semantics, but it’s not. Really this boils down to understanding the opposition. Calling them liars doesn’t do much to get them to “see the light” — as they say.
As an analogy, calling a racist person “brazenly dishonest” about their perspective ignores the fact that their viewpoint is a worldview irrespective of other facts.
Regardless, you’re suggesting that Bernie Sanders supporters are shamelessly, boldly, and willfully lying to people about issues. But that’s a false approach to address the issue. But there’s a difference between lying about something, and arguing a different perspective on how to accomplish a policy agenda.
Another analogy: I read this argument as you being in favor of moral objectivism, and calling all of the moral subjectivists liars for seeing the world in a different light, based on other, or similar facts.
I, personally, think that there can be unity between Sanders and Clinton supporters, but that it’s going to require both sides to quit being so dirty and trivial over aesthetics. And yes — I also think it’s going to require Sanders supporters to quit being so radical in their approach: 1) because it’ll be opposed by current legislators, 2) it comes across divisively, 3) progress comes slowly sometimes so let’s get on with it.
One last bit, I blame Sanders supporters more than I do Sanders. For one, Sanders has voted in line with Democrats more than 90% of the time — which means that Sanders is vocally more radical than he is functionally in congress. A point worth mentioning, because if he was radical as his words, and more importantly as radical as his voter base, he would be closer to 40–50% in line with Democrats, and less than 10% with Republicans. Another interpretation is that the Democratic Party is more “to the left” than said. I’m willing to concede that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
