Sanders And Trump Are The Same Totalitarian Candidate

The Daily Wire ^ | February 10, 2016 | Ben Shapiro

[newgeezer]

On the surface, there's not much in common between New Hampshire GOP primary winner Donald Trump and Democratic primary winner Bernie Sanders. Trump is a billionaire businessman; Sanders is a career politician. Trump's personal favorability is the lowest of all candidates on either side; Sanders' is the highest. But the impulse that drove New Hampshire voters to the polls for Sanders is the same as the impulse that drove them to the polls for Trump: the desire for a powerful authority figure to fix everything using the power of government. In fact, before the New Hampshire primary, CNN reported, "Because independents can register as ‘undeclared' in New Hampshire and then vote in either party's primary, the Vermont senator's campaign has noted some of these voters are wavering between Sanders and Trump."

There's a reason for the confusion: Trump and Sanders aren't that different on policy. Really.

They're both anti-establishment candidates who bash Wall Street. Here's Trump from his victory speech last night:

It's special interests' money, and this is on both sides. This is on the Republican side, the Democrat side, money just pouring into commercials. These are special interests, folks. These are lobbyists. These are people that don't necessarily love our country. They don't have the best interests of the country at heart.

Here's Sanders from his victory speech last night:

We have sent a message that will echo from Wall Street to Washington, from Maine to California, and that is that the government of our great country belongs to all of the people and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors, and their Super PACs.

Trump and Sanders are on the same page on trade, which they see as a zero sum game at which America is losing. Sanders has described trade with China as "catastrophic" for our economy. Days ago, Trump admitted that he and Sanders mirror each other on the topic: "The one thing we very much agree on is trade. We both agree that we are getting ripped off by China, by Japan, by Mexico, everyone we do business with."

Both Trump and Sanders want to do away with Obamacare in favor of a more universal system. Trump has been extraordinarily unclear on what he wants to replace Obamacare, but he vows that he'll stop the "insurance companies…getting rich on Obamacare" and ensure "we're going to take care of the people on the street dying."

Here's Sanders last night:

Twenty-nine million Americans should not remain uninsured, an even greater number should remain under- insured with large deductibles and co-payments. We should not be paying by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs at a time -- listen to this, when the top three drug companies in this country made $45 billion dollars in profit last year. That is an obscenity, and let me tell you something. When we make it to the White House, the pharmaceutical industry will not continue to rip-off the American people.

Both Sanders and Trump vow to enshrine programs like Medicare and Social Security. Here's Trump last year:

I'm not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I'm not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.

Here's Sanders last night:

No, we will not allow huge tax breaks for billionaires, we will not allow packed — huge cuts to social security, veterans needs, Medicare, MedicAid, and education.

And while Trump has run on the basis of a uniquely strict anti-illegal immigration policy, Sanders has historically opposed illegal immigration on the basis of driving down American wages: "Bring in all kinds of people, work for $2 or $3 an hour, that would be great for them. Real immigration reform puts the needs of working people first - not wealthy globetrotting donors." This is straight from the Trump playbook.

On foreign policy, too, Trump and Sanders sound alike. Here's Trump on the Iraq war from the last debate:

I was very much opposed to the war in Iraq. Lot of these guys were all for the war in Iraq look what's that has got it. Spent $2 trillion, now handing Iraq over, just handing over to Iran…I'm very much into the military, will build our military better and stronger, that's the — opposed to what we have now. I was opposed to the war in Iraq. Most conservatives, let's go gung-ho. Everyone of them wanted the war in Iraq. Look where it got us.

Back in October, Trump said we should let Russia handle ISIS, and added that he wanted to cut military spending. Here's Sanders from his speech last night:

As president I will defend this nation, but I will do it responsibly. I voted against the war in Iraq, and that was the right vote. While we must be relentless in combating terrorist who would do us harm, we cannot, and should not be the policeman of the world. Nor should we bear the burden of fighting terrorism alone. In the Middle East, the United States must remain part of an international coalition sustained by nations in the region that have the means to protect themselves. Together we must, and will, destroy ISIS, but we should do it in a way that does not put our young men and women in the military into perpetual warfare in the quagmire of the Middle East.

So why are Trump and Sanders soaring? Because they both represent a reaction to the corruption and entitlement culture of Washington D.C. - and both of those reactions are anti-democratic. Neither candidate ever talks about the proper role of government. They just talk about how they'll increase its power to use it for their own purposes.

That's what many of their supporters want. Many Trump supporters frequently comment that he "wins," that he will "win" for America, that he's capable of "making deals," that he's not beholden to anyone or anything. Sanders supporters say the same thing.

Many Trump supporters - the ones who believe he is a transformational figure - ignore the fact that Trump won't change the nature of government in any real way. They're looking for a singular authoritarian solution to the problems of their lives. They believe it takes a power broker to stop the power brokers. Hand Trump the ring of government power, and watch what he can do! He may not cast it into the fiery chasm from whence it came, but he'll use it to fight Mordor sometimes.

Sanders' supporters also object to a corrupt government - but they think that more government is the solution. They think the government is bought and paid for by outside parties, and they want an honest socialist dictator in charge to clean house. They want a Hugo Chavez to ride in on the wind and use the power of government to punish their enemies. Sanders may proclaim that his motivating feeling is hope, but the real motivation behind his campaign is bitter jealousy and petty vengefulness.

These are the wages of big government and an unendingly powerful executive branch. Too many people gain too much by its existence to do away with it; too many people want to control the guns and the money to back a true reformer. Every four years we now pick our dictator. It's just a question of whether that dictator does the stuff you want, or whether you're his target.

[Leto]

They could not be farther apart. One is a communist and one is a capitalist. Best election evah.

Pray America wakes.
______________________________________________________

Crony capitalism is a leftist practice not far removed from socialism, go read the road to serfdom.

[lodi90]

I admit I’m not going to vote for Trump in the primary. My question is whether I can stomach voting for him in the general election, and dismissing concerns as “talking points” isn’t likely to convince any of us that are on the fence.

---

You should be able to pull the lever for Trump in the general if you can stomach Cruz after he campaigned for Barack Obama in the U. S. Senate and accepted millions in money laundered donations.

[odawg]

Trump wants to cut military spending? After maintaining since his announced candidacy that he was going to build it up? And when he talks about cutting government, he always exempts the military?

Anyone who can not see the difference between Trump and Sanders, or claims to not be able to see any difference, is being deceptive and devious.

Written by a typical Cruz-bot.

[Mom MD]

The article is correct. Unfortunately many people will figure this out too late.

[MNJohnnie]

Maybe if you posted some rational thought commentary, people might take your comment seriously.

After months of reading your daily barrage of snarky posts, people realize your comment is pure projection of your own infantile behavior onto anyone who does not worship your candidate.

[taildragger]

I have grown melancholy on the Trump phenomenon as one who noticed it 1st that it was real and told fellow freepers so. I am privy to one of his most recent behaviors on the stump that I can't and will not discuss that has turned me sour even more. So we know Sanders is a Socialist. My question is, is Trump Putin that can build a high-rise with the marking savvy of the Kiss Lead Man aka Gene Simmons. With that said, is he a cross between Putin and Gene Simmons without a Guitar.

Again the words of the late Libertarian Michigan ( and DC ) talk show host Mark Scott haunt me, we will have the choice this November of "The evil of 2 lessers"

My conscious is at stake, how do I pull the lever for a merde sandwich again, I can't not again, McCain and Romney were bad enough, but again?

Pray for Cruise to rise up and win against all this madness....

[don-o]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3395701/posts?page=18#18

[silverleaf]

We know Sanders is an old communist. He even sounds like Lenin (Savage show played recordings of Lenin speeches last night, with translation) = Bernie even uses the same phrases. Sanders has been steeping in Marxist-Leninist mindspeak since 1963!

But define Trump’s totalitarianism for us, please? Building a yuge real estate empire and being an unrepentant capitalist is totalitarian how? Donating to politicians of all parties (which has earned Trump the wrath of conservatives) is totalitarian how? Deferring to the states on marriage and abortion is totalitarian how?Supporting the 2d amendment is totalitarian how? Curious about what “totalitarian” compartment you place Trump?

[bray]

You mean crony capitalism like Goldman Sachs who wrote the TARP laws keeping themselves from bankruptcy? They are the most leftist financier on the planet and connected directly to Cruz.

[PIF]

“They want a Hugo Chavez to ride in on the wind and use the power of government to punish their enemies.” They want a Che Guevara to do the punishments the right way ...

[Guenevere]

Hardly....Trump loves America, and wants to make her safe, and productve again

Sanders wants our hard earned money, he wants to prosecute our police officers
and oh yes

Sanders is a Communist

[PhiloBedo]

If this mean Pres. Trump will go “Pinoche” on the illegals, liberals, PC, and government departments, I’m all in!!

[going hot]

Wow, the scales have fallen from mine eyes.

I was simply going to not vote for anyone if trump did not get the nomination, because I am an idiot and want to be vindictive to everyone that does not believe in Jesus and want to be damned to hell,...

But...

Now I have been righted and experienced my epiphany.

I shall simply cut to the chase and vote for Bernie Sanders, because he is, well, he is so superior to Trump, to Cruz, and yes, even the rest of the herd.

Clinton showed some promise, but I could not vote for her openly, so I just told everyone here that it was Cruz or the highway, knowing this would surely get her out to the front, and get back at those heathens who don't believe, but hey, I see now a better pathway,

Simply vote for the bern, and be done with it.

Now I need to go eat some more smart pills.

[Leto]

You mean crony capitalism like Goldman Sachs who wrote the TARP laws keeping themselves from bankruptcy? They are the most leftist financier on the planet and connected directly to Cruz.

______________________________________________________
Trump supported TARP and supported the Stimulus bill and the auto bailouts.

Cruz opposed all of the above. Actions speak louder than unsubstantiated innuendo.

[woofie]

Here ya go

I thought the writer was very insightful . He layout comparisons side by side that are very credible and impossible to dismiss (here I will leave our my snarky comment about those who truly believe) This article means something t me in that I cannot find a core belief in Donald Trump that is in any way close to what I have come to know as conservatism

I was first taught by my father who believed in the stock market,free enterprise and limited government. Every week he watched Wall street week with Louis Rukyser. He read numerous books on politics and went to school when they taught Latin and the Classics. I was born in 1950 so in the 60s I was a hippie and laughed at all I had been taught.

I came back around once Reagan was president (I voted for his second term and have voted Republican ever since). Why? because among other things the president of the US was a teacher who explained to us why conservatism made sense. It corresponded to what I was finding in the real world.

Our nation is hemmed in at every level by bureaucracy, which I as a citizen must continuously confront ....and its getting worse.

Trump is using Platitudes and cheap tinkingt to sway people.

He is not that smart.(not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.

He got money at birth and has used it to navigate around bureaucracy and anything else that was put in his way.

Thats fine if you can do it but it does not address the problems in our society

The biggest problem i have with Trump is that absolutely no one knows what he will do with the power of government.

He gets around that by reassuring his adoring crowds that he is smart ,capable,and knows how to run things...

All he is done his whole life is buy off problems that got in his way and put his name in lights .

He is a brand like Coca Cola and I don’t think he will taste good after 3 months in office.

in short I agree with this article

Do you?

[stormhill]

If this mean Pres. Trump will go "Pinoche" on the illegals, liberals, PC, and government departments, I'm all in!!

If Trump goes "Pinoche" on those people, I'm all in, too.
Problem is that living in New Jersey, I've been watching him since the '80s and judging from past experience, I'm more concerned Trump will go "Pinocchio" on his campaign promises.

[woofie]

see my post above and forgive my misspellings. I am a lousy typist

[Kazan]

There's a reason for the confusion: Trump and Sanders aren't that different on policy. Really.

No, not really. Trump wants to slash taxes to lower rates than Reagan while Bernie wants to raise the top rate to 90% and raise taxes on everyone. That is like the difference between night and day.

Trump Derangement Syndrome takes ordinarily intelligent people and reduces them to babbling idiots.

[LS]

Shark, meet jumping platform.

[bray]

You mean like he supported TTP? Seems like your critique is very selective.

Trump is far more conservative then you give him credit. You have no problem with Goldman Sachs unless you can attack Trump with it. Mrs Cruz making $750K per year is no problem right?

Nobody is making Trump a saint like you Cruz supporters pretend your guy is. They are both flawed.