I don’t believe that most Americans remember that Hillary Clinton was ahead in the polls in 2008, leading Barrack Obama by 2.5 points in New Hampshire. As her campaign began to attack the young Senator from Illinois, her numbers declined. As Yogi Berra said, will 2016 be “déjà vu all over again.”

Clinton and her supporters are making a serious mistake by attacking the integrity of Bernie Sanders. By citing his voting record in the Senate, they are attempting to discredit the Senator for his vacillation on gun control and immigration. Without a complete understanding of the situation in each case, this is unfair.

Sanders has been consistent on the most important issue; the quality of life for all Americans, not just for a few. His main points are income inequality, education, women’s rights, and transparency and oversight of Wall Street. His entire career has been involved with these issues.

Attacking Sanders may weaken Clinton’s campaign. He has enormous support from millennials, and is gaining increased support from women. The American people are tired of attacks after listening to the bickering children the GOP is offering its voters. The issues are important to Democratic voters, and straying from the facts may sour the opinions of some voters.

Is the ‘new’ Hillary an illusion, or had she matured in the political field? Is she reverting to the tactics which lost her the nomination in 2008?

This is not the year to belittle other candidates. Attacks on Donald Trump have revealed the fact that the American people are disgusted with a government which has failed its people. Trump’s numbers have risen as his opponents attempt to defile his character. Clinton could face a similar backlash.

What the media fails to reveal is that Sanders’ view of America and its future aligns with many on both sides of the aisle, and from all demographics. Millennials and women support Sanders, and a rising number in my age group of senior citizens believe that a return to greatness for America can only happen under the leadership of the Independent from Vermont.

At the beginning of the campaign season one fact was apparent in 2008; the nomination was hers to lose.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Marc Nozell

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