Pandering

James Carville is one of the political consultants who worried when Bernie Sanders seemed to be the front runner for the Democratic Presidential nomination after the Iowa caucuses. Since Carville is a consultant and not a candidate, he has always been free to be provocative and controversial. He helped campaigns succeed with his emphasis on: 1) change and more change; 2) it’s the economy, stupid; and 3) don’t forget health care. His quotes can make you laugh but mostly wince. He is 75 years old but still quick to buck convention. After he listened to other panelists bemoan the pandering in politics, he recently said he would actually like to see Sanders do more pandering to Florida voters upset about his praise for Fidel Castro and to Pennsylvania coal miners. Bernie cannot do that because he is nobly addicted to his own truth. Carville is addicted to winning elections, so maybe Sanders should have listened. Donald Trump is just as stubborn and polarizing as Bernie but bypasses pandering for outright lying. Sanders will fall short again but remain proud he did not pander. Beating Trump may not be the most important thing to Sanders after all.