The Nation magazine chose Monday -- the day of the CNN Democratic presidential debate -- to unveil its February edition, in which editors announced the magazine is endorsing Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders for president of the United States.
In so doing, The Nation becomes the first national news outlet of either party to endorse a candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination.
"Galvanized by his demands for economic and social justice, hundreds of thousands of Americans have packed rallies, and over 1 million small donors have helped (Bernie Sanders') campaign shatter fund-raising records while breaking the stranglehold of corporate money," said the editors of the progressive publication.
"Between Sanders surging in the polls this week, and news of MoveOn's endorsement, The Nation's commitment could not come at a more perfect time," editors said. "This has been in the works since late December, and is only the third time in the magazine's long history that we've endorsed in the primary (Jesse Jackson in 1988; Barack Obama in 2008)."
Though not due out until next week, the "Bernie Sanders for President" cover story states this:
- Sanders alone has the potential to unite the movements emerging across the country.
- Voters can trust Sanders because he doesn't owe his political career to the financial overlords of the status quo.
- Hillary Clinton is certainly seasoned, but her experience hasn't prevented her from getting things wrong.
In fact, editors go hard on Clinton:
"... The limits of a Clinton presidency are clear," they say. "Her talk of seeking common ground with Republicans and making deals to "get things done" in Washington will not bring the change that is so desperately needed. Clinton has not ruled out raising the Social Security retirement age, and her plan falls short of increasing benefits for all. She rejects single-payer healthcare and refuses to consider breaking up the big banks. We also fear that she might accept a budgetary “grand bargain” with the Republicans that would lock in austerity for decades to come."
The Nation expresses its appreciation to Sanders like this: "Whether his candidacy, and the inspired campaign it fuels, will spark a "political revolution" sufficient to win the Democratic nomination and the White House this year remains to be seen. We do know that his run has already created the space for a more powerful progressive movement and demonstrated that a different kind of politics is possible. This is a revolution that should live on, no matter who wins the nomination. Bernie Sanders and his supporters are bending the arc of history toward justice. Theirs is an insurgency, a possibility, and a dream that we proudly endorse."
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
