{"id":14074,"date":"2020-03-11T10:55:02","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T17:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=14074"},"modified":"2020-03-11T10:55:04","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T17:55:04","slug":"progressives-sound-alarm-to-democrats-biden-is-not-the-safe-candidate-against-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2020\/03\/11\/progressives-sound-alarm-to-democrats-biden-is-not-the-safe-candidate-against-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Progressives Sound Alarm to Democrats: Biden Is Not the ‘Safe’ Candidate Against Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 10, 2020 by Common Dreams<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Joe Biden is not safe. Not safe for the planet. Not safe for our health. Not safe to run against Trump.”<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Jake Johnson, staff writer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 59 Comments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at Berston Field House in Flint, Michigan on March 9, 2020. (Photo: Mandel Ngan\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is no time to take a risk. We need our strongest candidate. So let’s nominate the Democrat Trump fears the most.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was Joe Biden’s message in an ad released in January<\/a> ahead of the Iowa caucuses, and it is an electability argument<\/a> that Biden has made central<\/a> to his White House bid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Bernie Sanders is not a risky candidate against Donald Trump. He is, in fact, the safest candidate.”
\u2014Naomi Klein<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, as voters in six states headed to the polls Tuesday, progressives and supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) argued that nominating the former vice president would be a massive risk for the Democratic Party, given Biden’s voting record and current policy positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You know, I keep hearing this thing about Joe Biden being ‘a safe candidate.’ Safe for who?” asked environmentalist and author Naomi Klein, who endorsed Sanders for president, said in a video released Monday. “I know he goes to corporate fundraisers and tells people that nothing’s going to change. So he’s clearly telling them that he’s a safe candidate for them. What’s safe for the ultra-rich is incredibly dangerous for everybody else.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klein added that Sanders’ support for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and other transformational policies make the Vermont senator the most electable 2020 Democrat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Policies that don’t challenge the status quo right now are incredibly dangerous,” said Klein. “Bernie Sanders is the only candidate whose policies are bold enough to actually keep us safe… Bernie Sanders is not a risky candidate against Donald Trump. He is, in fact, the safest candidate.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n