What the hell is an "avowed Democratic Socialist," anyway? [View all]

[merrily]

The minute you see "Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist," you can bet you are in for a slanted info and/or about to hear from someone who doesn't know what he or she is talking about. Bernie Sanders is a Democratic Socialist. But, that doesn't sound as bad as "Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist," now does it?

What is the difference between a socialist and a Democratic Socialist? First, socialists believe in government or other collective ownership, whereas US Democratic Socialists believe not only in working within capitalism, but also in working within the Democratic Party. (The US Democratic Socialist Party existed only from 1898 to 1901. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_America )

US Democratic Socialists are political activists, not a political party.

Who we are & what we do
Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. We are a political and activist organization, not a party; through campus and community-based chapters DSA members use a variety of tactics, from legislative to direct action, to fight for reforms that empower working people.

http://www.dsausa.org/

The DSA does not run its own candidates, but sees its strength as within the Democratic Party.

In electoral politics, DSA, like DSOC before it, was very strongly associated with Michael Harrington's position that "the left wing of realism is found today in the Democratic Party." In its early years DSA opposed Republican presidential candidates by giving critical support to Democratic Party nominees like Walter Mondale in 1984.[9] In 1988, DSA enthusiastically supported Jesse Jackson's second presidential campaign.[10] DSA's position on US electoral politics states that "democratic socialists reject an either–or approach to electoral coalition building, focused solely on [either] a new party or on realignment within the Democratic Party."[11]

During the 1990s, DSA gave the Clinton administration an overall rating of C-, "less than satisfactory."[12]

The DSA's leadership believes working within the Democratic Party is necessary because of the nature of the American political system, which rarely gives third parties a chance politically. That said, DSA is very critical of the corporate-funded Democratic Party leadership.[13] The organization believes that:
Original DSA Logo

"Much of progressive, independent political action will continue to occur in Democratic Party primaries in support of candidates who represent a broad progressive coalition. In such instances, democratic socialists will support coalitional campaigns based on labor, women, people of color and other potentially anti-corporate elements... Electoral tactics are only a means for democratic socialists; the building of a powerful anti-corporate coalition is the end..."[14]

Indeed, since becoming a member of Congress, Sanders has worked with, and been welcomed by, House and Senate Democrats.

In 1991, he became a member of the U.S. House and, that same year, co-founded the House Progressive Caucus and became its chair for eight years. He still caucuses with the House Progressive Caucus, as well as with the Senate Democratic Caucus. (The Senate has no Progressive Caucus.) While in the House, he indicated that he would like to run for the Senate, but only if and when Senator Jeffords chose to retire. (The late Senator Jeffords had begun as a Republican, changed to Independent and caucused with Senate Democrats.)

....and after Jeffords's announcement that he would not seek a fourth term, Sanders entered the race on April 21, 2005. New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, endorsed Sanders: a critical move, as it meant that no Democrat running against Sanders could expect to receive financial help from the party. Sanders was also endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and Democratic National Committee Chairman and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Dean said in May 2005 that he considered Sanders an ally who "votes with the Democrats 98% of the time."[46] Then-Senator Barack Obama also campaigned for Sanders in Vermont. Sanders entered into an agreement with the Democratic Party, much as he had as a congressman, to be listed in their primary but to decline the nomination should he win, which he did.[47]

In the most expensive political campaign in Vermont's history,[48] Sanders defeated businessman Rich Tarrant by an approximately 2-to-1 margin. Many national media outlets projected Sanders the winner before any returns came in.

Sanders was reelected in 2012 with 71% of the vote.[49]

Tenure

Polling conducted in August 2011 by Public Policy Polling found that Sanders's approval rating was 67% and his disapproval rating 28%, making him then the third-most popular senator in the country.[50]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders

So, it seems that being a Democrat Socialist is not very radical, after all.

I am the first to admit that I don't know much about anything in this post, except for the Democratic Party--and I did not start learning much about that until relatively recently. So, I welcome corrections and other input.