It surprises me that you would think that (not about Obama, but about Bernie). A big part of Bernie’s message is that he can’t do it alone – he pounds this message home over and over in his speeches, in interviews, in the debates. He has stated very bluntly, time and time again, that unless “millions of people stand up, and join in a political revolution” he would not be able to do much of anything. Now I think it’s a fair critique to say that this is pretty vague, and maybe he’s still underselling the level of change necessary – people may still be getting the impression that he thinks that just electing him, plus a few rallies at the Capitol, could turn it all around. But if so, it’s not for lack of trying on his part. He is out there telling people, over and over, that the only way to bring about the level of change he’s advocating is literally a “political revolution.” But I do agree he could still do a lot better in articulating what that would look like.
This fun little video (excerpted from audio of him talking to steelworkers, but could as easily be from almost any of his rallies or appearances) does a pretty good job of capturing his attitude toward the importance of one very specific step that is absolutely necessary – Democrats and progressives turning out in mid-term elections. And it makes that point in an amusing, if somewhat politically incorrect way, starting at about :40. Whether you support Bernie of Hillary in this primary campaign, I think you’ll probably enjoy that moment!
