Bernie isn't even a Democrat

[Liberal_in_LA]

Someone had to say it.

Hillary is lifelong Dem

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Lifelong Dems campaigned for Goldwater?

Or do you mean your lifetime, not hers?

[PowerToThePeople]

31. Boom!

[onecaliberal]

34. ^That^

[yellowcanine]

37. Seriously you are going to quibble about her activities as a 17 year old?

Before she could even vote? Yeah technically you have a point. But a cheap one, imo.

Why not address the question of why Democrats should support someone who seemingly cannot call themselves a Democrat? Sorry but this is not going away. It is not a huge issue but it cannot be dismissed by talking about Hillary's activities at 17 as a Goldwater Girl.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

40. Life begins at 18 years out of the womb?

If so, we can start agitating for abortions up until 18.

You make a statement, use the right words. Don't make a non-factual statement and then complain that people are 'quibbling' when they point out it's wrong.

[yellowcanine]

54. Now you are just being silly. And still not addressing the issue.

I would not have made the statement. Not because it is not essentially correct - it is. But because of silliness such as yours to just distract from the question rather than actually addressing it. The case can be made as to why Democrats should support Bernie but you are not making it.

[sabrina 1]

158. What about Bernie would make HIM 'not a Democrat' compared to say, someone like Joe Lieberman

[PowerToThePeople]

59. Hey, looky at this

http://www.democrats.org

Holy crap! Who do I see there?

Hmmm.

[yellowcanine]

65. What's your point, that the question can't be asked just because of the website?

Orwell is alive and well, apparently. If we just say Bernie Sanders is running as a Democrat and we put him on the Democratic website, voila!

[PowerToThePeople]

72. My point is

The party says he is a party member. Pretty simple concept imo.

[yellowcanine]

89. "The party says he is a party member." Oh, excuse me. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery.

Ignorance is strength.”

Not to mention, “Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.”
― George Orwell, 1984

Silly me. Why didn't you tell me that "THE PARTY" said it? No need for me to have my own opinion, then. Nor Bernie, either I guess...

Even as he launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) insisted he was not a Democrat. "No, I am an independent who is going to be working with the —" Sanders told Seven Days Thursday afternoon, cutting himself off mid-sentence. "I am what I am, and I will have to deal with the state-by-state regulations. But I am what I am."

http://digital.vpr.net/post/how-will-bernie-sanders-officially-become-democrat

[Mnpaul]

129. Bernie has a better record supporting the party platform than many Dems

it is sad too see that many are only concerned about the letter behind their name.

[workinclasszero]

95. Oh hellz no you must be holy your entire life

from conception till the second you die or you are not pure enough for the Bernie cult!

[daleanime]

151. No, we're always ready to take new converts....

[MADem]

57. Well, she wasn't a voter then--she was fifteen. And back then, you had to be 21 to vote.

Who cares? I don't care what Sanders was either, over a half century ago. He's competing for the Democratic nomination because the Democratic Party is allowing him to join in--we're very "Big Tent" that way--way bigger than some people here on DU, who want to kick some Democrats out of the tent for not being sufficiently like them...good think they aren't the deciders.

Elizabeth Warren wasn't always a Democrat, either--in fact, she was a registered Republican in 1996. Do we hold that against her, too? Should we?

I don't care what party people thought was "cool" in 1963. Hell, Trent Fucking Lott was a Young DEMOCRAT when he was a college cheerleader, and we saw how THAT turned out.


I want to know what the politician has done to better the world LATELY.

I don't see substantial differences between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, either--I know people on DU like to pretend there are massive disconnects, but I don't buy that. The Socialist Worker doesn't buy it either--they think they're the same, too!

I think their main differences are those of exposure, perception and electability--their policy differences are actually rather minor, from the perspective of what a chief executive might be able to accomplish from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[L0oniX]

61. Thread win.

[daleanime]

152. And right off the bat too!

[pnwmom]

137. She was a teenager whose father was a Republican.

Once she was on her own she went in another direction.

Bernie was lucky enough to be born to progressives and he stuck to the family politics. It's harder to switch sides, as Hillary did.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

142. As someone else pointed out, she was still the leader of some young republicans group

for a while in college. But I'm not challenging the fact that she did indeed switch parties in her late teens or early twenties. I was just pointing out that you can't use the phrase 'life-long' correctly in such a case. A 'life long Democrat' would never have been the leader of a college republican group, even for a single semester.

[pnwmom]

149. She still wasn't old enough to vote.

But the Republicans she supported in college were liberals -- in an era when Repubs included liberals like John Lindsay and the Democrats included conservatives like George Wallace.

So, for her generation, being a life-long anything is pretty meaningless.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

150. Was the voting age much higher back then?

Or did she get into college extraordinarily early? I was of voting age between getting out of high school and going to college as a freshman.

[pnwmom]

156. It used to be 21. It was lowered to 18 as a result of the Vietnam war.

People pointed out the unfairness of drafting 19 year olds, who weren't even old enough to vote. So in 1971 they finally passed a constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 18.

Hillary had become eligible to vote in 1968, when she turned 21.

[Thinkingabout]

155. In 1964 Hillary was 16/17 and in high school. Bernie's choice was to live in a

Kibbutz in Israel.

[el_bryanto]

2. By george that's right

Hillary Clinton is a life long center right candidate who is a member of the Democratic Party. So I guess if you only care about the Democratic Party than she's got to be the one for you.

If you want to elect liberals . . . hmmmmm are Socialists more or less liberal the Democrats?

Bryant

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. How did a center-right Democrat consistently receive a > 90% ADA score every year she was in the Sen

How did a center-right Democrat consistently receive a > 90% ADA score every year she was in the Senate?

Thank you in advance.




Yes, I only care about the Democratic party, up to the point where its interests aren't consonant with the general interest and that's why I am here.


DemocratSinceBirth

[el_bryanto]

35. Because American politics in general are Center Right

That's why people are so down on Sanders - he actually exposes how right wing we are as a nation. In almost any other modern democracy Clinton would be seen as a right winger; but here, because our politics are so terribly distorted, she can pretend to be left wing.

Bryant

[DemocratSinceBirth]

41. I tend to agree with you...

I tend to agree with you but it's best to compare like things to like things. Hillary is well within the mainstream of her party and it would be inaccurate to say she is a right wing Democrat.

Also, Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Japan have center right leaders so it's not as if Hillary is out of step with them either.

[el_bryanto]

48. Exactly - if you want a center right leader who will ignore the fundamental economic problems

facing our country than Hillary Clinton is the candidate for you.

I like Sanders myself.

Bryant

[DemocratSinceBirth]

58. I support your right to have a choice, of course.

That being said I don't believe The Leviathan can be fundamentally altered. It can be nudged in a direction that gives us a more humane, compassionate, and hopeful future but any attempts to fundamentally alter it will end in defeat and leave us in a worse predicament than what we have now.

[Scootaloo]

127. I read posts like yours and wonder why people like you even bother being Democrats.

Seriously, your biggest hope is to "nudge it a little"? That's the best outcome you can see?

Are you only a Democrat because someone you dislike is a Republican? I did sports teams like that back in the Long Ago Times when I cared about sports. "Oh, you like Alabama? I'm an Auburn fan. Rooting for the Yankees? Go Red Sox!"

[Art_from_Ark]

136. "What do we want?"

"To nudge The Leviathan!"

"When do we want it?"

"Sometime in the future!"

[Scootaloo]

139. "Nudging the leviathan," huh?

Man, back in my day we called it something completely different!

[truebluegreen]

52. A minor quibble:

Sanders actually exposes how right wing our politics are; liberal policies otoh consistently poll well, and politicians consistently overestimate the conservatism of their districts.

I'd say we are center left, but our politicians are not. We continue to elect them because of propaganda and distorted media views and marketing.

It is great that Sanders is in, maybe he can correct the record a bit, reframe the issues, inspire the apathetic and even poach some voters from the dark side. For example, my RW BIL thinks he makes some good points.

[-none]

70. Our candidates are picked for us.

The pickers don't really care who wins, because the fix is in and the pickers come out ahead regardless.
But Bernie is not beholden to the pickers, so maybe this time around we can actually vote for our interests for a change.

[truebluegreen]

100. Yes, they are.

Brave defenders of the status quo, the lot of them.

[CrispyQ]

92. This: "I'd say we are center left, but our politicians are not."

I have given the "Joe Conservative" essay to republicans & asked them which policies they are oppose to in the essay & they've told me they don't oppose them. Things like safe food & drinking water, education, care of our environment, social security, & a host of other liberal policies that take care of citizens, not corporations.

What's the purpose of government if it doesn't take care of it's citizens? I would like to have a government that provides the following, at no cost, for all citizens:

3 hots & a cot
health care
child/elder care
education through college
a digital package so all citizen have internet access
a comprehensive public transportation throughout the country

We could do this, easily, but there is no political will, at the top, to provide for everyone. Corporate entities have more rights than we do. Our government serves them, not us. Corporations should serve the public, not the other way around. Our founding fathers would be spinning in their graves if they knew how much power corporations have amassed again.

[truebluegreen]

99. I've had similar results whenever I've sent anyone to politicalcompass.org:

When asked about their policy views, everyone, of every stripe, tests as more liberal than they have been taught to think they are.

And I agree wholeheartedly with your policy goals. The richest country in the history of the world could do all that, easily...if it wanted to. When did we become workers and consumers, serving the economy, instead of citizens?

[deutsey]

3. Stunning expose!

[marym625]

8. +1000

[truebrit71]

4. Lifelong Dem? Not so much...

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/hillary-worked-for-goldwater/

[leftofcool]

7. Sorry to burst your bubble, she was 17 and not old enough to vote.

Her first vote was for McGovern in 1972. You should always read the entire article.

[truebrit71]

11. Hilary DIRECTLY QUOTED...

"I was also an active Young Republican and, later, a Goldwater girl, right down to my cowgirl outfit and straw cowboy hat emblazoned with the slogan "AuH20." … I liked Senator Goldwater because he was a rugged individualist who swam against the political tide."

But, yeah, I didn't read the article....

[leftofcool]

13. Sound like something a 17 tear old girl would say.

[KingCharlemagne]

27. Goldwater advocated using nuclear weapons against the Vietnamese in the

1964 campaign. But Hillary was only 17 so she can be excused for supporting a candidate who advocated using nuclear weapons against a civilian population.

What-the-fuck ever.

[Sheepshank]

51. How old was Warren when she stopped voting Republican?

This argument is the most stupid yet for why Hillary is not a Dem.

[truebrit71]

55. No clue. We're talking about Bernie and Hillary in this thread...

...you're welcome to get on topic if you'd like...

[Sheepshank]

62. You are making a point that at 17 HRC picked a Political side and is therefore always with that side

yet, I guarantee you would not pose the same argument for Warren. And it is exactly on point, except that you don't like the abvious being pointed out.

[truebrit71]

67. The obvious? You mean Hillary's direct quote about her political affiliations?

When did I say she was "always with that side"?

How about not once? I quoted her words directly about her political affiliations IN HER OWN DAMN BOOK, when someone suggested she was a "lifelong Democrat". Something that the CANDIDATES OWN WORDS show to be incorrect.

I could give a shit about Elizabeth Warren because she isn't a declared candidate...the moment she does, THEN it will be relevant...

[frylock]

112. the point is that the op claimed Clinton was a lifelong Democrat..

LIFELONG. That clearly is not true.

[Sheepshank]

113. She has always voted Dem

and since in the political world, her voting record is what counts...that is a lifelong Dem.

[frylock]

116. How about Sanders' voting record?

irrelevant or....?

[Sheepshank]

121. what is Sanders record?

I haven't checked.

I personally don't really care, except that on this thread, other DEMS are trying to state that HRC isn't a true DEM because at 17 she and Goldwater interacted politically. That thinking is pure bunk.

[frylock]

122. "That thinking is pure bunk."

as is focusing on the letter sewn onto the team jersey

[cascadiance]

88. Younger than Ronald Reagan when he switched to being a Republican!

Look it up!

[Sheepshank]

91. exactly!!!

So do we hold someone to past or to recent and current affiliations? Bringing up HRC and her pre-voting affiliations (her association with Goldwater was at age 17 and at 18 she voted DEM) are just some stupid red herring diversionary tactic.

[yellowcanine]

97. 46. She says she "started voting for Democrats in 1995." She was born in 1949.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Warren

That means she was on board with Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Poppy Bush, apparently.

[Mnpaul]

128. She also said she was a registered Republican for four years

'91 to '95. Before that she was an indy.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Final question, it might surprise a lot of your supporters to know that you were a registered Republican as recently as 1996.

WARREN: I was -- no, I think you're...

STEPHANOPOULOS: 1991 to 1996...

(CROSSTALK)

WARREN: I think it's four.

STEPHANOPOULOS: ... in Pennsylvania, but that's what I read at least.

WARREN: OK.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And I was just wondering, what drew you to the GOP and why did you leave?

WARREN: I was originally an independent. I was with the GOP for a while because I really thought that it was a party that was principled in its conservative approach to economics and to markets.
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-sec-jeh-johnson-sen-elizabeth-warren/story?id=23471456&singlePage=true

another myth that won't die

[Tarheel_Dem]

105. She was still a registered Repuke in 1996. Nixon, Reagan, Bush I. Was it Bush that tipped her over?

[DURHAM D]

18. I noticed that the Goldwater stupidity returned to DU

this morning. My guess is that an email blast went out last night with new instructions.

Its pathetic and frankly every time I see it (twice in this thread) I actually laugh out loud.

jftr - I campaigned for Ike. I was 6 years old.

[truebrit71]

22. Yup, nothing like having the candidates actual words being used in a discussion...

...right?

[misterhighwasted]

32. Email blast went out alright..que the attack pac talking points & links

They're obvious.

[Liberal_in_LA]

75. ok but she has been demonstrated for decades. Bernie is indep

[truebrit71]

76. And the argument is that Bernie has been a better 'Democrat', advocating for Democratic positions...

...for far longer...

[NYC_SKP]

5. Hillary is not a lifelong Dem.

[leftofcool]

6. But, but, he is "running as a Democrat"

He caucuses with Democrats and he votes with Democrats. He can't register as a Democrat in Vermont. Yet, no one has ever explained to me why Patrick Leahy has D behind his name and Bernie does not.

[still_one]

17. good question. Maybe it has to do with the Demand critic party on a national level, because

you are correct Vermont as a state does not support political paties

[DemocratSinceBirth]

49. Would you please tell the gentleman above that every vote she cast was presumably for a Democrat?

That makes her a Democrat and a stalwart one at that.

[FSogol]

9. Itchy and Scratchy!

Cue Dick Clark voice, This special dedication is going out to you, DU with Luv from FSogol

They fight,
They bite,
They bite and fight and bite,
bite, bite,bite,
fight, fight, fight,
The Itchy and Scratchy Show

[misterhighwasted]

10. Why would he even want to run as a Dem? I don't get why he

Just doesn't run on the Party he proudly affiliates himself with.
If he is that strong in his beliefs then wouldn't it make sense for him to disavow both Dem & Repub partys & make the Indy Party a viable choice?
I never understood those who flip flop between a Party.

[still_one]

23. He clearly said he will not be a spoiler, and running as a third party he would be

[truebrit71]

33. And yet there still persists this confusion amongst the Hillary faithful...

Relax people.....if she's inevitable, and Bernie doesn't stand a chance, why the drama? Just wait until she's crowned and then all will be right in your world...

[still_one]

47. No one is inevitable

[misterhighwasted]

146. eeeewwww nnnnasty

I just asked a question.
Well ok then.
If you keep saying there's going to be coronation, then I guess we will have one.
Hillary will wear that crown wisely & proudly & most graciously.
Enjoy you weekend!

[deutsey]

36. The Democratic Socialists USA isn't a political party

Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. We are a political and activist organization, not a party; through campus and community-based chapters DSA members use a variety of tactics, from legislative to direct action, to fight for reforms that empower working people.

www.dsausa.org

Democratic politicians have collaborated with DSAUSA and democratic socialists have collaborated with the Democratic Party, but DSA is not a political party.

Aren't you a party that's in competition with the Democratic Party for votes and support?

A: No, we are not a separate party. Like our friends and allies in the feminist, labor, civil rights, religious, and community organizing movements, many of us have been active in the Democratic Party. We work with those movements to strengthen the party’s left wing, represented by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The process and structure of American elections seriously hurts third party efforts. Winner-take-all elections instead of proportional representation, rigorous party qualification requirements that vary from state to state, a presidential instead of a parliamentary system, and the two-party monopoly on political power have doomed third party efforts. We hope that at some point in the future, in coalition with our allies, an alternative national party will be viable. For now, we will continue to support progressives who have a real chance at winning elections, which usually means left-wing Democrats.

http://www.dsausa.org/what_is_democratic_socialism

[Mnpaul]

130. To get his name on the ballot in 50 states

and to have a voice in the debates

[LWolf]

12. And he somehow manages to be

better on every issue than his Democratic opponent.

He, and his record, represent the best the Democratic Party has ever offered.

[truebrit71]

16. No shit.

Right?

[arcane1]

104. Funny how that works, isn't it? n/t

[immoderate]

126. I would call him an UNDERGROUND DEMOCRAT!

--imm

[LWolf]

143. WINNER.

[hobbit709]

14. and some Democrats are DINOs.

By their actions you shall know them.

[hrmjustin]

15. My only concern is will he do party building for more moderate members of the party.

The party has several wings and while i think it is good that he would promote progressive candidates we know the progressive candidates don't always win the primry.

Will he stand by the moderates and centrists in general elections?

[truebrit71]

19. He has already said he will not run as a spoiler in the general election.

I am sure he will back those Democrats that ask for his backing.

[hrmjustin]

28. I hope so.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. You know what

given the 2008 history I would worry a lot more about PUMAS 2

[hrmjustin]

53. Oh i am.

Several people here said they won't support the nominee.


That is heartbreaking. Our candidates are worthy of our support.

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. 1.- your candidate (I am independent)

Last edited Thu May 28, 2015, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

2- the primary is not even started. So this talk of the nominee is rather early. We are not even close to any primary. So coronation talk is way inappropriate. (And I hope to get more clowns into this car. The more the merrier)

3.- I am talking of Hillary fans in 2008 who did not vote for the Democratic Party nominee...went out of spite and formed the puma organization and some voted for McCain. That is actual history. So if I were worried about anybody not voting for the person the dems ultimately select, if it is not Bernie Sanders, that be Hillary supporters. There is a history there.

Oops, wrong election and clown for the republicans. It was 2008 not 2012.

[hrmjustin]

66. Well i will grant you if Hillary doesn't get the nomination there will be some pissed off fans.

But i will soldier on for the nominee.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. Like people were pissed

but went on from other nominees.

[hrmjustin]

71. It will be a long season.

[nadinbrzezinski]

73. Nah it is silly season

now with more spleen (TM)

[Mnpaul]

133. That support is a two way street

you can't close the street once elected. Or as the old saying goes: You have to dance with those that brought you

[hrmjustin]

135. Yes i agree.

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. Do you think actual voters in a Presidential election would not vote for a Democratic candidate...

...because they were not a life long Democrat? They would sit out the election because of that? Vote Republican? Vote 3rd Party instead? That's crazy.

[still_one]

25. Crazy talk, 6 1/2 minute abs verses 7 minute abs

[yellowcanine]

79. Hmm. Last I looked, one had to get the nomination first. If that is crazy, so be it.

Democratic Primary voters tend to vote for ...... Democrats. Give us a reason to change our behavior. That is all some of us are asking. Calling us crazy, okay, you can do that, but the question still hangs out there, twisting in the wind.

[Tom Rinaldo]

84. Now now, I didn't call you crazy...

I know I focused attention on General Election voters and I'll outright state as an assumption that the overwhelming majority of Democratic PRIMARY voters who may be uncomfortable voting for someone BECAUSE he"isn't even a Democrat" would rally behind that person if he won the Democratic nomination.

I can accept your concern as a sincere view some primary voters may hold, though admittedly in my opinion I don't think that will matter even one tenth as much to even them ultimately as their feelings about the candidates personally and the views that they hold. My point is that I can't see that issue hurting Bernie n the General Election should he end up as the Democratic nominee.

[City Lights]

24. Hillary is not a lifelong Dem. She used to be a Republican.

And someone has already said this.

[pnwmom]

138. She supported Republicans when she was too young to vote. As a voting adult,

she became a Democrat.

[B2G]

26. "This PSA was brought to you by the DNC"

[Liberal_Dog]

29. "Bernie isn't even a Democrat"

Oh, so that is why the DNC is using Bernie in some of their fundraising emails.

[misterhighwasted]

39. Yup. Same reason they use that "goldwater girl".

How dare they!

[Autumn]

38. That melodious refrain shall soon fill the halls of DU again.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

42. Hey, 'someone had to say it'.

Nevermind the fact that dozens of people have been saying it for a couple of months now.

[Orsino]

43. No, you didn't have to say it. Not before checking facts. n/t

[DFW]

44. OK, so he's not an official party member

But his sentiments are close enough to make him want to caucus with us in the US Senate. If he wants to campaign for our nomination, I say let him. How he does in the primaries is much more important that what it says on his party registration.

His stances sure seem a lot closer to those of FDR and JFK than ANY of the current Republican whackos are to Teddy Rooselvelt or Eisenhower.

[UglyGreed]

45. Bernie is what the

Democratic party used to represent, so you are correct by today's standards he is not a Democrat.

[-none]

86. ^^^This^^^

The current Democratic leadership is where the Republicans of 30/40 years ago used to be.
Hillary did not have to change her positions on much of anything. The Democratic party moved over to where Hillary positions are. And that is the real problem here.
Bernie is where the Democratic party used to be, before the party moved so far to the Right. That is why I am for Bernie Sanders.
Instead of thinking Democratic/Republican, think Liberal/Conservative and apply that to the various political positions and see how they stand up to the more realistic comparisons.

[Mnpaul]

131. The New Democrats

are the old Republicans.

I'll pass on those. They want to have their cake and eat it too. They want to take that easy cash both now and later from the 1% and throw out a few crumbs on social issues to run as a Dem.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Very late to that talking point/ horse beaten to a pulp

give that hose a rest.

[yellowcanine]

60. Yes late to that talking point but I disagree that it is a dead horse.

As far as I can tell, neither Bernie nor his supporters has done much to address it. Until they do, that horse has some life, however gasping and down on the ground.

[nadinbrzezinski]

68. You mean like pointing out to the VT

SOS or the fact that both the Democratic Party of Vermont and the DNC acknowledge he is running for the Democratic nom? I am sorry if I take the NATIONAL PARTY's statement over posters on a political board. His word is good for the party...so yes, this is pulp you are beating. It might get rather bloody and messy at this point.

[yellowcanine]

74. Actually not the question. But hey, have at it.

Talking about dead horses may be fun and all, but it doesn't address the question as to why Democratic primary voters should vote for Bernie Sanders.

[truebrit71]

78. Because his platform looks out for their interests rather than Hillary's platform?

(Whenever it gets released)

[djean111]

80. Okay - here is an answer - because Bernie represents what the Democratic Party SHOULD stand

for. What it used to stand for. Voting slavishly for just the "D" just gets us more DINOs.
That's my reason.

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. You are free to vote for anybody running in the race

we are a pretend democracy so they still let you and me vote. Gasp, even pretend it matters.

But the word of both the state and national parties are what they are.

Here is a free clue though. Both HRC and Bernie Sanders will be on those ballots. The vast majority of voters are not, shocking I know, reading DU. So if they see both names (I hope more names, I prefer muscular pretend primaries) on the ballot, they will assume, correctly, that the state party vetted them.

So the challenge is not whether they are blue, red, yellow, brown or Martian. It is who is this guy or gal? She has a little more name recognition and most voters who have nothing else will vote for the familiar name. That said, her advantage is not that great...this is partly what campaigns are about. Not just policy...though that is left for us wonks...but who the heck is this clown on the ballot?

Nope, most people will not go through voting records (they should) less read actual legislation...gasp I know, what is the problem with these people? Sheesh! They take the word of party poobahs that this guy/ gal is kosher, and whatever they saw on TV, or the radio.

More shocking, I know, but this "debate" is not going to matter, because most voters do not tune in to the smears...err campaign, but 6 weeks from the actual election.

[cherokeeprogressive]

56. President of the Young Republicans at Wellesley.

[L0oniX]

64. Depends on what a real Democrat is "is".

[AlbertCat]

77. Hillary is lifelong Dem

Well, labels are everything.... right?


And Bernie isn't a corporate 3rd way Dem.... thank whichever god you like.

[TheSarcastinator]

81. all the pro-Hillary panic is fun to watch

Thanks!

[frylock]

115. It really is

[cyberswede]

82. This is a totally unproductive post.

Unless your product is shit stirring.

[frylock]

119. Someone had to pick up the slack in VanillaD's absence

[AtomicKitten]

125. Mags and VR

heading toward their next flameout in a thread near you soon

[suffragette]

85. In WA state we had two state Senators who were elected as Dems, then enabled a Repub coup

Of the state senate.

Despite track records of voting against Democratic principles and the party platform, they had received state Democratic funding assistance for the elections in which they ran and were elected as Democrats.

The minute the numbers were close enough to shift power, they jumped over to the Republicans to shift the election results from a Democratic controlled Senate to a Republican one.

Only after this, did the state party FINALLY decide not to assist them with state funding in the future.

Policy positions and voting records matter.

Bernie's record is clear and consistently democratic and Democratic.

[Liberal_in_LA]

124. well good. maybe pres Hillary will appoint him to something

[eloydude]

134. Appoint Bernie as the President of the United States

while she resigns and does something corporatist..

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

87. Democrat is a flexible label. And, that's pretty much all it is.

"Lifelong" Democrats vote with Republicans, support Republican policies, with that label. See IWR vote and TPP support by "Lifelong" Democrats for two references.

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." --Thomas Jefferson

[Z_California]

90. Bernie's positions on every issue are very similar to FDR

The party has drifted from FDR. A lot of us would like to see the party go back to those ideals. Labels are superficial.

[CrispyQ]

93. A lot of Democrats aren't even Democrats, so who cares?

I miss unrec.

[Liberal_in_LA]

123. I miss unrec also

[workinclasszero]

94. Exactly

And she's going to win as well

[redstateblues]

108. I love watching the Bernistas

Twist themselves into knots trying to make the "Socialist" moniker that Bernie embraces into a positive. The American electorate will not elect a Socialist to the presidency in 2016- maybe someday.

[cascadiance]

96. And Michele Bachmann CAMPAIGNED for Jimmy Carter as a Democrat too...

Do you think Republicans honestly think she could be a stealth Democrat these days?

Labels are labels people!

What is important now is what candidates say they will do for the NATURAL PEOPLE of this country, not the CORPORATE PEOPLE of this country, and what they are going to do NOW and in the future when the work for us in office!

[WillyT]

98. Hillary Was A Goldwater Girl Back In The Day... NOT A Lifelong Dem...

Was also an intern for Gerald Ford.

Link: http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/hillary-worked-for-goldwater/

[Angry Dragon]

101. Show me some real democrats

Maybe we should adopt the 1956 republican platform

[lewebley3]

102. Agree, and Bernie will be using Dem party raised money to run!

Bernie, has to use the Dem party to get on the ballot in every state,
the Dem party is able to do this with hard work and money.

Bernie, will benefit from Obama, Clinton, and Dem fund raisers over
the years.

[peecoolyour]

103. Bernie is a DIPO.

Democrat In Policy Only

[Orsino]

118. I wish the Democratic Party were Bernie in policy. n/t

[Maedhros]

106. It's a feature, not a bug. [n/t]

[KamaAina]

107. Vermont does not have registration by party

The New Hampshire SOB SoS was trying to use that as an excuse to keep Bernie off the primary ballot.

[Jester Messiah]

109. He is, however, a liberal.

Something Hillary barely pretends at.

[frylock]

110. I guess when none of the other turds are taking purchase upon the wall..

it's time to dust off this old chestnut.

[Avalux]

111. I don't much care. It's actions, not words, that matter.

Which candidate has been the most consistent in their actions for the entirety of their political career?

[Liberal_in_LA]

140. he would enter office at age 74 or 75 if elected. that would be the focus of the election

His age

[Avalux]

147. Is his age a problem for you?

Again, it's not his age, it's his actions. The young people taking interest in him don't seem to care he's 73.

[HERVEPA]

154. Bullshit. Why don't you just go hide somewhere

[olddots]

114. oy ...just oy !

OK. oy again

[Stellar]

117. Hillary is lifelong Dem?

How can you tell...never mind.

[Rex]

120. .

[cherokeeprogressive]

132. life·long ˈ(adjective) lasting or REMAINING in a particular state THROUGHOUT a person's life.

So you're goin' with that, huh?

Mmmmkay.

[Cheese Sandwich]

141. That's one of his best features.

[LWolf]

144. To quote, er...you...

he's an UNDERGROUND Democrat.

[madokie]

145. Bernie can be anything he wants and I'll still vote for him

He's true to himself and that means a lot to me.
You see I vote based on issues and issues only. Race or gender has nothing to do with my voting, none whatsoever.

[sendero]

148. You say that..

... like it is a BAD thing.

[HERVEPA]

153. A bunch of people already said it. Just stupid flame bait and highly unoriginal.

And it couldn't be more irrelevant as he is in the Democratic Primary, has far more Democrat ideals than the rest of them running, and will not run as third party, but will support the candidate.

[cyberswede]

157. This is a perfect example of what Skinner was talking about

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026745686