he wrote
Democrats hurt themselves in this respect through their rhetoric. Especially for neoliberal politicians, Democrats all too often speak as if the economy and government were working fairly well for everyone, but needed to be adjusted to “take care of those left behind.” Voters who hear that rhetoric assume that Democrats are going to take money out of their pockets to give to the poor.
I commented twice. The second comment I typed is
"Especially for neoliberal politicians, Democrats all too often speak as if the economy and government were working fairly well for everyone, but needed to be adjusted to “take care of those left behind.” "
Who are you quoting ? When did this person say (or write) "take care of those left behind".
Are you debating with a straw man ?
I do think that if you put words in quotation marks that you should be able to provide a citation.
Back to google I didn't find any neoliberal Democrats when I googled "take care of those left behind"
http://bit.ly/1OPuwYi
I conclude you are debating with a straw man.
The first was less rude
I'm sure you know more than I do, but I definitely don't have the impression that Democratic politicians focus on helping the poor not the middle class. I think they know of the anger you describe (as people like you describe it to them). "Middle class" is one of the phrases I recall hearing most often from Obama and both Clintons.I'm sure you know more than I do, but I definitely don't have the impression that Democratic politicians focus on helping the poor not the middle class. I think they know of the anger you describe (as people like you describe it to them). "Middle class" is one of the phrases I recall hearing most often from Obama and both Clintons.
Bill Clinton campaigned on welfare reform, higher taxes on the rich and a middle class tax cut. Obama on higher taxes on the rich and a making work pay tax cut (and he actually delivered).
Note that Obama has not proposed reversing welfare reform (which he praised in "The Audacity of Hope". Also he doesn't argue for increased foreign aid. I'm pretty sure that all elite liberals think the foreign aid budget should be increased (for one thing because they know how small it currently is). But I also think that they know not to admit this in public
Hell Bernie Sanders is a self described socialist and he talks about the middle class all the time.
You definitely unerstand US public opinion. But I think that Democratic candidates got the message no later than 1972. It is clear that they haven't managed to convince the people Judis and you talk to, but I don't think this is for lack of trying. This includes both an obsessive focus on the middle class when campaigning and also a strong focus on the US lower middle class when legislating.
I will now google hillary clinton
www.hillaryclinton.com
ISSUES
"Hillary's economic plan: raise middle class incomes"
"middle" and "class" are the 5th and 6th words under issues and the 16th and 17th words on the web page.
Next issue "The New College Compact" a middle class concern (also and perhaps especially for parents who don't have college degrees).
OK how about Sanders
"middle" and "class" are the 18th and 19th words under issues.
The first 3 clickable issue headings are for the middle class
"INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY
GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
CREATING DECENT PAYING JOBS"
Neither mentions foreign aid or welfare.
They know what you know. They are doing what can be done.
I'm pretty sure I shouldn't type a third comment as I might get really rude.
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