Jimmy Carter: To beat Trump, Dems cannot scare off moderates

[left-of-center2012]

ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Jimmy Carter is cautioning Democrats that their path to defeating President Donald Trump depends on independents and moderates.

Speaking at his presidential center in Atlanta on Tuesday, Carter said U.S. policies on immigration, the environment and human rights will not improve while Trump is in office. Carter also noted polls showing independents souring on the Republican administration.

But the Democratic former president warned that moderates "need to know they can invest their vote in the Democratic Party" in the November midterms and the 2020 presidential election.

Carter acknowledged that he supported democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders over establishment favorite Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, but Carter added that too "liberal a program" can scare many voters.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/politics/article/Jimmy-Carter-To-beat-Trump-Dems-cannot-scare-13222147.php

[HopeAgain]

1. So they will vote Tea Party instead?

There are like, what, five moderate Republicans left?

[manor321]

2. Why don't they ever say that about Republicans?

Why have Republicans been allowed to get crazier, and crazier, and crazier, and crazier for the last 40 years and nothing happens?

[elleng]

4. $$$Propaganda

[unblock]

5. Well, they do have to cheat more and more each cycle...

[RockRaven]

3. His analysis is based upon the supposition that voters rationally evaluate/choose candidates

THEY DON'T.

A hell of a lot of voters vote based on self-image, tribalism, and emotion. Yes, even moderates/independents.

If moderate/centrist policy positions won elections, we'd have a f-ing President HRC right now.

[elleng]

6. He's right, of course,

and can't afford to scare off ANYONE, including 'lefties' and rational repugs (those returning to rationality, of course.

'Purists' may like it or not, but it's TRUE.

[kstewart33]

9. Yep, and double yep.

[still_one]

7. Carter's assessment I believe is wrong because it is too generalized. Howard Dean showed us what it

takes to win elections, and that is run his 50 state strategy, which recognizes that West Virginia is NOT California

One size does not fit all.

However, on all states we should focus on issues we can all agree on, health care, social security, medicare, jobs, etc.

[GulfCoast66]

8. While I do not disagree with President Carter, this is a good post

Senator Manchin is going to win re-election and he is shooting an actual shotgun at a bill to eliminate protections of the ACA in an Ad! The Irony! And there was a thread on DU wanting to ban such ads!

We will never control the Senate without moderate Democrats. I do not like it. But it is what it is.