Liberals are incapable of thinking that Democrats becoming more leftist is a political problem. On the week-in-politics roundup on Friday night's All Things Considered, National Public Radio anchor Robert Siegel suggested to Washington Post columnist E. J. Dionne that Sen. Bernie Sanders running for president is a "perfect sparring partner" for Hillary Clinton. Dionne agreed, and said Bernie's socialist focus on economics will help Democrats in 2016:
ROBERT SIEGEL: OK. One other item in politics this week, the announcement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, a self-described socialist who will challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination from the left - the perfect sparring partner for Hillary Clinton, E.J.?
E.J. DIONNE: Well, I actually think that, unless he gets so many votes that Hilary's in trouble, Bernie Sanders could be good for Hillary Clinton by focusing the campaign more on economic issues. Let's list two names who we don't get to talk about, Eugene Debs and Norman Thomas. This is the most serious socialist candidacy for president since they ran. But Bernie Sanders has a long list of particulars that he wants to put on the table. And I think by shifting the campaigns to economics, he will generally help Democrats.
SIEGEL: David Brooks?
DAVID BROOKS: Yeah. And if she's going to have an opponent on the left, it might as well be a guy who's unelectable. (Laughter) So that helps. And he'll be a cult figure though. If you look at cult figures though, like Ron Paul, Eugene McCarthy, they're sort of crusty, older guys. For some reason, that attracts the youth. (Laughter)
DIONNE: God bless the young people, I say.
