Which potential presidential candidates will be acceptable to those

[MineralMan]

who use the term "corporatist" to describe President Obama and Hillary Clinton? I'm curious about this. I've seen Elizabeth Warren mentioned, but she has firmly declared her non-candidacy. Bernie Sanders has been mentioned, but I don't see him as viable in the general election, despite my admiration for him.

So, who? Biden? I don't think so. O'Malley? I don't know enough about him. Who?

[guillaumeb]

1. how does one define corporatist?

as working for corporations and against workers?

as coming from a corporate background?

other definitions as well?

[MineralMan]

2. I don't know how people define it. I just see it used a lot

with regard to Obama and Clinton. I suppose there are different definitions, depending on who's using the word.

[guillaumeb]

5. agreed

and considering that Citizens' United v FEC makes money the equivalent of free speech, how exactly can we separate corporate money from the political process?

The responses should be interesting.

[hifiguy]

9. I will posit a definition

Anyone who puts the interests of the wealthy, the large banks and corporations ahead of the interests of the general populace is a corporatist. Anyone who fails to support workers and unions is a corporatist. Anyone who supports the out-of-control MIC and national security state - both of which are largely privatized - is a corporatist.

And corporatists are evil incarnate.

[MineralMan]

10. And that's your definition. Frankly, I'm not concerned with exact definitions.

I'm interested in the people who call Obama and Clinton corporatists, whatever the definition. I'm not interested in the definitions, frankly.

[guillaumeb]

19. an interesting working definition

and evil incarnate is Dick Cheney's middle name

[android fan]

3. Sanders. Enough said.

And I think Sanders will be a fantastic President.

He'll be announcing within the next 10 days.

[MineralMan]

4. I honestly don't think he can be elected.

I'll vote for him in the primary if he's on my ballot in Minnesota, but I don't think he has a prayer. Minnesota's delegation to the national convention will be for Hillary. I can make that prediction with a lot of confidence, since I've been involved in DFL politics for a long time.

[android fan]

6. Hah! The same could have been said for Obama in 2008!

Think about it!

[MineralMan]

7. I have thought about it.

Very different situations, actually. Not even close.

[riqster]

8. I'll support him if he is on the Ohio primary ballot.

[cali]

11. they're all corporatist. it's a matter of degree. you can't find anyone of either

party who is more deeply entrenched and entwined with corporate interests and the financial industry than Hillary. that should give you pause.

[MineralMan]

13. Why should that give me pause?

I just wrote that I support Sanders for the primaries.

[cali]

14. I meant a generic you. I should have said "anyone/

[HuckleB]

15. I'd love to see Sanders in the White House, but I don't think it would happen.

He would have to win in a situation similar to the one that earned Carter the presidency. Unfortunately, the country didn't much like a president who actually tried to do the things we all say we want a president to do. I think Sanders would face the same reality, even if he were elected.

[KoKo]

12. If Hillary stumbles and neither Warren nor Sanders runs

Last edited Sat Mar 21, 2015, 04:29 PM - Edit history (2)

I've found Chris Van Hollen interesting.

DU doesn't allow tables to format...so this may be hard to read...but this is what Open Secrets has at their link:

--------------

NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2013-2014 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data available electronically on Monday, February 02, 2015. Click to see the reports included in calculating this information.
Not a favorite of any industry for this cycle.


Sector Totals

Sector Total PACs Indivs

Agribusiness $6,000 $3,000 $3,000
Communications/Electronics $73,072 $57,500 $15,572
Construction $14,500 $11,000 $3,500
Defense $52,000 $50,500 $1,500
Energy & Natural Resources $14,500 $13,000 $1,500
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $226,100 $160,500 $65,600
Health $156,100 $123,000 $33,100
Lawyers & Lobbyists $115,868 $28,318 $87,550
Transportation $37,750 $36,500 $1,250
Misc Business $92,100 $53,500 $38,600
Labor $155,500 $155,500 $0
Ideological/Single-Issue $30,100 $14,250 $15,850
Other $98,550 $6,000 $92,550


Top 5 Contributors, 2013 - 2014, Campaign Cmtee

Contributor Total Indivs PACs
Northwestern Mutual $25,200 $15,200 $10,000
Arnold & Porter $13,068 $9,250 $3,818
Northrop Grumman $10,500 $500 $10,000
Choice Hotels International $10,400 $10,400 $0
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons $10,000 $0 $10,000
...view more data
Top 5 Industries, 2013 - 2014, Campaign Cmte
Industry Total Indivs PACs
Health Professionals $107,200 $16,700 $90,500
Insurance $98,900 $30,900 $68,000
Lawyers/Law Firms $89,118 $64,800 $24,318
Public Sector Unions $82,000 $0 $82,000
Retired $67,325 $67,325 $0
...view more data

------------------


http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013820

[Orangepeel]

17. Van Hollen is running for Senate, not President

Did you mean O'Malley? (Cuz both are from MD).

[KoKo]

18. He should run for President instead of Senate is my point. Donna Edwards could win the MD seat.

Sorry I wasn't clear on that. I don't think O'Malley will run so I didn't include him.

Van Hollen has an excellent background, particularly in Foreign Affairs. His father was a diplomat, mother worked for CIA as Russian Analyst and he spent his childhood in Pakistan.

We are going to need a candidate with his diverse background, if all others fail, particularly if something happens with Hillary.

[Agnosticsherbet]

16. Oxford dictionary: The control of a state or organization by large interest groups.

And here, those interest groups are, specifically, large corporations and especially banks.

When I see it used here, that is what I accept as its meaning. This is especially true about Senator/Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who have been accused of being Corporate lackeys and working for the banks.