Sanders' Supporters Ignore the Lessons of Obama

"What I will do -- and it's not easy, I'm not here to tell you I have a magic formula -- is start to make the United States Congress listen to what the American people want by mobilizing the American people," Sanders said. "If voting turnout in America was 70, 75 percent, this country would be a very, very different place. Trust me. Because people, working people, young people, low-income people would be participating. Congress would have to listen to them, not just billionaire campaign contributors."

Good luck with that. In the run-up to the 2012 election, frustrated Obama allies diagnosed his difficulties as having come from spending too much time on an "inside Washington" game. He would, they vowed, take his case directly to voters, harnessing their energy to break the cycle of congressional intransigence. How'd that one work out?

Even more, Sanders' confidence that the American people are overwhelmingly on board with his program -- that the only thing blocking its enactment are those billionaire donors -- is misplaced. Third Way, a centrist Democratic group, shared findings of a new poll of registered voters that raised questions about the power of Sanders' the-system-is-rigged message -- even among Democrats, but certainly in a general election.

Given the choice of a candidate who promotes "helping Americans get ahead with more skills, more jobs and more wealth," or one who emphasizes that "the deck is stacked against everyday Americans and we need to focus on breaking up Wall Street banks ad raising taxes on the wealthy," voters chose the growth message over the deck-stacked argument, 66 percent to 21 percent.

Just half favored breaking up Wall Street banks or raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Less than a quarter said they preferred "larger government providing more services," compared with four in 10 who wanted smaller government with fewer services.

Sanders says it will take a revolution. Americans are angry and frustrated, but it's far from clear they're prepared to embark on one.

========

Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.