The Nation, a prominent liberal opinion magazine, has endorsed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination, and released a cover story online Thursday announcing its decision.
“He has summoned the people to a ‘political revolution,’ arguing that the changes our country so desperately needs can only happen when we wrest our democracy from the corrupt grip of Wall Street bankers and billionaires,” the Nation’s editors wrote. “We believe such a revolution is not only possible but necessary — and that’s why we’re endorsing Bernie Sanders for president.”
The Nation’s editors note that they have rarely made any endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary. While the publication has existed since the 19th century, The Nation has endorsed just two Democrats in the primary cycle — then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008 and Jesse Jackson in 1988.
And while the magazine believes Clinton would be preferable to any of the Republicans running for president, it offered a damning indictment of her candidacy.
“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,” the editors wrote. “Clinton is open to raising the Social Security retirement age, instead of increasing the woefully inadequate benefits. 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 magazine also criticized Clinton’s foreign policy experience, and argued that she “is certainly seasoned, but her experience has hasn’t prevented her from getting things wrong.”
The Nation’s endorsement of Sanders is not a surprise, but could benefit Sanders if it helps motivate far-left Democratic primary voters who helped President Obama defeat Clinton in 2008.
