Martin O'Malley characterizes economic plans of his rivals.

[Eric J in MN]

In NH today, O'Malley said we shouldn't "scrap capitalism and replace it with socialism," nor should we ignore "crimes on Wall Street and take orders from Big Banks."

Is that a fair characterization of the respective plans of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton?

[Armstead]

1. Definetly not on Sanders. He's Red Baiting. I thought OM was better than that.

He's either very unaware of political thought, cynically manipulative, or desperate or all three.

As for Clinton, well, I'll accept that stereotype he is throwing out.

[aidbo]

2. He said the same thing in the moveon.org forum recently.

Too bad it wasn't in a debate where either Hillary or Bernie could rebut his assertions.

[Crystalite]

3. That's a cheap shot, and wrong, about Sanders.

We live in a hybrid socialist/capitalist system.

Sanders isn't promoting scrapping capitalism.

[bigtree]

9. neither is O'Malley

...he's defending his own populist economic appeal. Everything isn't about projecting around the Sanders campaign.

Besides, Sanders made his own cheap shot in the last debate lumping Clinton and O'Malley together while ranting about Wall Street. O'Malley didn't name anyone in his speech.

Should he stop criticizing Wall street to protect Hillary's sensibilities? Or, should he shy away from defining his own economic philosophy because it might reflect negatively on Sanders' political identification? He's not in this race to carry either of the two's murky water for them.

[Crystalite]

15. I'm not saying Sanders' campaign is blameless, just that the socialist quip is...

...is out of thin air if not directed toward Sanders.

Like, do we really have a concern about socialism in our country, as we dismantle one public program after the other?

I really like Mike and that seemed out of character.

[lovemydog]

4. No, but in a brief answer he's distinguishing himself

from his rivals. I doubt he'll be anyone's running mate. He brings a lot of good to the democratic party, especially on criminal justice reform, in my opinion.

[bigtree]

8. sure, maybe

...but he's also defining himself.

It's as if critics of that line in his speech who are defending Sanders expect he should mold his message to suit Bernie's or Hillary's campaign. He has as much right to defend his own populist economic policy from charges of anti-capitalism as Sanders does; as much right, as you say to distinguish himself from the others.

[lovemydog]

10. True enough bigtree.

I don't see some awful negative with the words democratic socialism or socialist nor would the woman from moveon who he's addressing. As you say, O'Malley is defining himself as he's entitled to do.

[Recursion]

5. O'Malley is bad at bumper stickers

He doesn't do proposal by meme, and this is an example of why.

As an MOM fan, I think that was a bad answer, and I assume he's going to walk it back. I do still think his economic plan is parsecs ahead of the other two's, though.

[bigtree]

6. interesting that when Bernie says his economic philisophy isn't 'radical' supporters cheered

,,,Bernie had this practiced medley during the debate about: this or that proposal of his 'isn't radical'.

He also went on a rant about how, unlike his rivals, he wasn't beholden to 'Wall Street'.

Why is it fine for him to distinguish himself that way and not fine for O'Malley? Unlike Sanders, he didn't identify his remarks with anyone but himself.

Don't you think he'll need to (deserves to be able to) defend his own populist economics from the same charges from the right, of anti-capitalism, that Sanders is being subjected to?

[riversedge]

7. I felt rather sad for Marty as I listened. He had to jab hard at Democrats, while

Hillary was ahead of game and thinking of the GE--knocks down her Republican rivals--the real opponents.

[NurseJackie]

11. He's in a tough spot, that's for sure.

But if GHWB can land the VP slot after his "voodoo economics" jab at Reagan, maybe O'M hasn't crossed the line of being a persona non grata just yet.

[99Forever]

12. Oh Martin.

Maybe it's time to drop out instead of acting the fool.

[marble falls]

13. Not if he's running for Vice-President. Bernie's never said "scrap capitalism" though Hillary is a..

crony of Wall Street and Big Banks - look at who her big donors are.

[NCTraveler]

14. I think it is the perfect angle for O'Malley to take.

It is a good place for him to position himself. Would have worked better if he were louder about it a couple of months ago. Heads up, he is quickly joining Clinton with scorn from Sanders supporters. lol.

[Andy823]

16. Yep

"Heads up, he is quickly joining Clinton with scorn from Sanders supporters. lol.'

I knew it was coming, sooner or later.

[Skwmom]

17. O'Malley sounds like a Republican - Bernie doesn't advocate scrapping capitalism for socialism. n/t