There has been a lot of talk lately about an anti-establishment fervor in the Democratic Party, largely fueled by both dissatisfaction with the status quo and the manner in which the DNC rigged the rules to block challengers to Hillary Clinton in 2016. Clinton's inability to beat a candidate as terrible as Donald Trump cast more doubt on the party establishment's strategy of promoting moderate candidates. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory over party insider Joseph Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district Democratic primary gave additional hope for progressive and true liberal Democrats hoping to beat the party establishment. In Michigan efforts to beat establishment candidate Gretchen Whitmer (who would still be far preferable to GOP front runner Bill Schuette) for the nomination for Governor might be thwarted by two candidates running as progressives in Michigan who are likely to split the vote. However, only one is a true progressive.
While both Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar are running as Bernie Sanders style progressives, only El-Sayed looks like the real deal. The Intercept has had multiple articles exposing Thanedar as an opportunist. In a new article today, The Intercept shows how they differ on health care, but first recapped the case against Thanedar:
In Michigan, businessperson Shri Thanedar has spent millions of dollars on television ads casting himself as “the most progressive Democrat running for governor,” and promising that he would bring single-payer health care to Michigan.The Intercept interviewed Thanedar and found that "Thanedar’s much touted single-payer health care 'plan' appears to be nonexistent." In contrast, they found that former Detroit Public Health chief Abdul El-Sayed "has a detailed strategy for how to accomplish it." However, Thanedar is likely to split the progressive vote due to having spent much more on advertising. The Intercept notes:“Health care is not a privilege; it is our fundamental right. I will bring single-payer health care to Michigan,” Thanedar says in a TV commercial. “Agree? Vote for Shri.”
But there’s reason to be skeptical.
Over the last year, investigations by The Intercept have revealed many facts which cast doubt on Thanedar’s progressive branding. He donated thousands of dollars to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, he was spotted clapping and nodding approvingly at a Marco Rubio presidential rally, and several Michigan political consultants have claimed that Thanedar once consulted them about possibly running as a Republican.
Last month, he released a plan to establish “Michicare,” which would levy payroll and business taxes to establish state-funded public coverage for all Michigan residents...The article also notes how this will impact the race against establishment candidate Gretchen Whitmer:But despite having a more well-developed plan, El-Sayed’s middle-class background means he does not have the same resources to advertise his health care plan as does Thanedar, who, not without controversy, made a fortune in the chemical testing industry.
As a result, there’s a real risk that the public might be misled.
But by coopting a progressive message and splitting the progressive vote, Thanedar has helped Whitmer, an establishment candidate, take a comfortable lead.El-Sayed has been endorsed by Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, The People for Bernie, Our Revolution, the Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party, Democracy for America, and after her victory in New York, by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Whitmer has a long list of establishment endorsements. I am not aware of any significant endorsements for Thanedar but the Grosse Pointe Democratic Club has issued an anti-endorsement for Thanedar warning Democrats NOT to vote for him.Whitmer is the daughter of former Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Richard Whitmer. She’s the only Democratic candidate in the race who does not back single-payer, saying that it’s not “realistic” in Michigan at this time. BCBS Michigan lobbyists threw a fundraiser for Whitmer earlier this year. And she’s currently taking heat from an unidentified group who have paid for ads attacking her from accepting “big money” from insurance companies.
Original post here:
http://liberalvaluesblog.com/2018/07/11/two-candidate-running-as-bernie-sanders-style-progressives-in-michigan-threaten-to-split-vote-with-only-one-worthy-of-progressive-support/
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Nice analysis! Well written, and very informative.
I believe Abdul is the sleeping giant and if awoken he could also carry the state into a new kind of renaissance period.
Whitmer is more likely to capture the mainstream voters, but the ethnic minorities across the state may be waiting for this moment in order to propel Abdul.
Abdul has been an outspoken supporter of #Michigan Medical #Cannabis Patients and favors full #legalization