Sanders to run as a Democrat -- but not accept nomination

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Politico

Bernie Sanders is running for the Democratic nomination in Vermont — but he won’t accept it if he wins.

The famously independent senator, who briefly joined the Democratic Party to run in the 2016 New Hampshire presidential primary only to un-enroll later, officially announced Monday that he would seek a third term in the Senate this fall. He also said that he’ll pull the same maneuver that he did in his 2006 and 2012 Senate races: Running as a Democrat, declining the nomination when he wins and then running as an independent.

The move makes it virtually impossible for another Democrat to seek the party’s nod. And it allows Sanders to loom large in the party primary in August, but still preserve his independence.

But the move also comes at a time when Sanders supporters are pushing for changes to the presidential nominating process as part of the Democratic National Committee unity reform commission. One priority is to open up the party’s primaries to voters who aren’t registered as Democrats.

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/05/21/bernie-sanders-democrat-independent-vermont-601844

[Shipwack]

1. WTF? NT

[brush]

2. Think. He'd have done this if he'd won our presidential nom. in 2016.

A maneuver which would've destroyed the party and made us a national laughing stock.

Can you imagine our nominee rejecting our nomination to run instead as an independent?

We dodged that bullet but you can bet he's going to try it again.

He won't get close this time though. Too many are tired of his charades and there will be too many younger, attractive, actual Democrats running.

Been there and done that, Senator.

[WhiteTara]

4. He does this in lots of elections it seems

from the article. We are being played again and again. I'm sure he's afraid if he had to face a real democrat he would lose, just like all his candidate picks and his revolution.

[RhodeIslandOne]

7. I'm sorry, but you'd be wrong

Do you realize in 2006 the Vermont Democratic party essentially stepped aside when he was a non-incumbent mind you, and did not oppose him for that US Senate seat?

He is currently the most popular Senator running for re-election this year in his home state.

https://morningconsult.com/2018/05/21/as-midterms-approach-bernie-sanders-on-safest-ground-among-senate-incumbents/

The Vermont Democratic party knows there is no point in opposing him, even 12 years ago. Do you think they are engaged in some sort of conspiracy?

[WhiteTara]

19. No, RIO

I think we are being used, that's all.

[George II]

25. "...the most popular Senator running for re-election this year IN HIS HOME STATE"!!!

He had ~200,000 in his last election, 2012, IN HIS HOME STATE, the 49th LEAST diverse state in the country.

To contrast that, Dianne Feinstein had 7,800,000 - FORTY TIMES as many votes in one of the most diverse states in the country.

So tell me more about being "popular", please.

[Gothmog]

34. The Party should replace sanders on the ballot if he pulls this stunt

When you apply to be on the ballot, there is a promise to run on that ticket if nominated. Sanders would be breaking that promise.

[shanny]

35. The Party has been going along with This Stunt

since he first ran for the Senate.

Clearly you are not aware that clearly they don't have a problem with it.





It is hard to understand but one would almost think that some would rather split the left vote and let a puke win.

[Gothmog]

42. The Vermont party is making a major mistake

If Sanders withdraws as the nominee of the party, then the party needs to replace him on the ballot

[shanny]

43. A "mistake" they have made before

and clearly don't have a problem with.

[thesquanderer]

45. Bingo. "Real" Democrats are fine with this.

The Democrats who are actually in power (i.e. his fellow Senators, the members of the DNC, the Vermont Democratic Party, etc.) have no problem with this. They support him. He gets committee positions. etc.

IMO, people here complaining about it are looking at this as a spectator sport, doing the equivalent of painting their faces the colors of their favorite team, while criticizing the things the team's ownership and management are doing that actually bring victory.

[stevenleser]

55. No, they're not. No "real" Democrats are OK with this

see, I can play that silly game too.

[thesquanderer]

61. What silly game? I explained what I meant by "real Dems" in first line.

It seems clearly factual to me. They put out public statements of support. They give him committee positions. They don't look to primary him. etc. They know what they're getting, and they're fine with it. Just as they're fine with some red state Dems who may not be as progressive as some of us would like. They get the big picture.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

76. Bingo is right!! Those Democrats you describe support Bernie as a Democrat

because he's as real as it gets. Bernie is popular among Democrats for a reason, including the fact that he votes with the Democrats more than any other Democrat votes with the Democrats. If that does not make Bernie fo' real, I don't know what does.

[BlueTsunami2018]

3. That's what he's done the whole time.

No one cared before, he’s always been one of the most beloved senators around here. Why would anyone care now?

Oh, right.

[George II]

26. "around here"? Around where?

[stevenleser]

31. You mean besides the fact that he promised not to do it?

And that he was a Democrat from now on.

You want another reason besides that one?

[thesquanderer]

46. Link for those claims, please?

Also please see post#45

[stevenleser]

52. Here you go

https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/277086-sanders-will-be-democrat-for-life-campaign-says%3famp

[thesquanderer]

62. An interview comment from Jeff Weaver does not equal...

...a promise from Bernie Sanders. So it fails to support your assertion in two ways.

So do you have a link to anything that would be Sanders' own words?

And further, expressed as an actual promise? Promising/pledging to do something is not the same as expecting or intending to do something. (Heck, Hillary said she wouldn't run, as I recall.)

[stevenleser]

66. Yes, it does equal a promise from Bernie Sanders. That's how that works, particularly since

he did not correct it.

[thesquanderer]

70. So anything a Hillary spokesperson said during the campaign...

...should have been interpreted as a PROMISE directly from Hillary? Even if she were never asked to confirm it? I think that would have been an unfair assumption.

[stevenleser]

73. Correct, that's how that works. Particularly if the candidate doesn't correct it.

This is a surprise to you? Come on.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

77. Oh, right is right!!

[flibbitygiblets]

5. I think this is a duplicate thread of this one

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100210641313

[luc mont]

6. Go Home and Stay There, Bernie

Wearing the 'D' is beneath you, Senator? Then fuck off!

[Me.]

29. WEll Welcome To You luc mont

[Bucky]

8. What does this even mean?

I love Bernie for how he stands up to the corporatization that's overrunning our economy and the privatization that's neutering our government. But this nuance is just kookoo for cocopuffs

[RhodeIslandOne]

10. It means nothing. The Vermont Democratic party has been fine with this since the early 90's

But when people discovered Bernie Sanders existed in the spring of 2015, it's now an issue and "he's up to something".

By the way, lest anyone make any accusations, I'll shut that shit down now. I voted for Hillary in the primaries. Thanks.

[stevenleser]

57. It's a big middle finger to anyone who cares about the Democratic Party

And the Vermont state party is clueless about how they should be standing up to this.

[msongs]

9. only democrats in the democratic primary. which real democrats will run in this primary nt

[dlk]

11. It's Really Past Time for Bernie to Make a Decision or Get Off the Potty

He seems to like Democratic resources but isn't interested in contributing to the Party. If he wants to be a Democrat, fine. If he doesn't, then he needs to stop utilizing the Democratic platform and resources--enough already!

[RhodeIslandOne]

12. I didn't realizing using the Democratic platform wastes money.....

Especially when you uphold it more than West Virginia Joe and North Dakota Heidi.

[SFnomad]

17. Using the Democratic Primary system and then throwing away the results sounds like a waste of money

but that's just me.

[Sherman A1]

38. Precisely

If the people of Vermont are not happy with the rules of their system, they can move to change them.

[truthisfreedom]

13. Interesting logic. I'd vote for him in a primary again

And I’d vote for Hillary again too. And Michelle. And Oprah.

[left-of-center2012]

14. Who are we to tell Vermont what to do?

From the linked article:

"The Vermont Democratic Party passed a resolution over the weekend
supporting Sanders’ move ..."

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. IKR!!

[stevenleser]

32. So everyone else should shut up? You're against free speech?

And that’s supposed to be progressive?

[mac56]

37. You're enjoying this, aren't you?

[left-of-center2012]

50. Thanks for the laugh !

[stevenleser]

56. Ok so you are taking it back and everyone's opinion on this is valuable

good.

[left-of-center2012]

58. Oh hell no !

But thanks for playing.

You're wrong --- again.

[stevenleser]

59. So you really are telling everyone else to shut up. Thanks for clarifying. nt

[left-of-center2012]

60. Oh hell no #2

I'm just putting you on 'ignore'.

Bye !

[stevenleser]

68. Oh hell yes. If you can't defend your position, maybe your position is the issue. nt

[Sherman A1]

39. Yup

A good point.

[LanternWaste]

71. I'd pretend it's a good point too if my bias depended on it.

It's fun to pretend that mere discussion is actually telling the Vermont Democrats what to do... I'd pretend it's a good point too if my bias depended on it.

Accuracy just isn't progressive enough.

[LanternWaste]

69. I don't think discussion is akin to a command.

I don't think discussion is akin to a command.

More accurately, "who are we to discuss what the candidates and voters of Vermont are doing?" But I get that accuracy doesn't quite assist your sentiment in this case.

[mcar]

15. What?

[CaptainTruth]

16. It looks to me like he puts a D after his name when he wants to use party resources.

When he's done using the party to further his goals, he removes the D.

That just doesn't sit right with me.

Either be a Democrat or don't be a Democrat, it's not complicated.

[Me.]

30. Bammo Bingo

[iluvtennis]

18. Shouldn't be allowed. Either you run as Democrat or you run independent.

I never like Bernie and this is another datapoint for why. GAH

[Sherman A1]

40. Then move to Vermont

And work within the party there to change the rules.

[LanternWaste]

72. Or discuss it on a message board...

Or discuss it on a message board...

Seems you little fellas are having difficulty with the concept of discussion and exchange of ideas these days, and act rather piqued when sacred cows become the target of discussion.

I doubt you'll ever apply your sentiment to all thing political and international. It would be a hoot if in a thread on Putin, your melodrama gets the better of you again and you tell everyone "move to St Petersburg if you don't like what they're doing!"

Bias precludes consistency of rational thought. Good luck!

[iluvtennis]

82. Like

[Equinox Moon]

20. Rank Choice Voting could be the answer.

[karynnj]

21. I don't get the last paragraph - there have long been states with open primaries

Not to mention in Vermont, you do not register by party - the question is not even asked. In each primary, you take whichever ballot you want - but only one.

Frankly, in Vermont, even if Sanders was NOT on the ballot, he would likely win the Democratic nomination by write in given the fact that there is no solid opponent.

[pnwmom]

22. He wants all states to have open primaries. nt

[pnwmom]

23. The Vermont party should require its candidates to accept the nomination if they win. nt

[still_one]

24. As far as I am concerned if he has any presidential ambitions in 2020 to run as a Democrat, he can

FORGET IT.

[KPN]

27. Another Politico hitpiece. Why didn't this come up

in 2015? Easy -- the establishment wasn't afraid of Sanders at the time. Now the fact that Bernie runs once again in the primary -- the only way he can (well he could run as an R) -- in a blue State that obviously isn't bothered by that or him being Independent, is portrayed as deceptive and underhanded on Sanders' part. Pretty obvious the hit is on early. Kneecap him now.

[stevenleser]

33. You mean besides the fact that in 2016 he promised he was a Democrat to stay?

We shouldn’t care about that in your world I guess?

[KPN]

36. Did he? What did he say exactly and when?

What was the context?

[Sunlei]

47. as I remember Sanders exact statement- he said "Stay in the Democratic party"

Sanders always votes with the D party in Senate anyway.

So many other seats to worry about these midterms- if Ds lose a few states and don't gain just a few congress & senate positions...... RW will be in charge of America for a couple generations.

It won't even matter if a D manages to get in the White house in 2020. We'll be a 2 class society.. haves & have nots.

[stevenleser]

53. Here you go

https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/277086-sanders-will-be-democrat-for-life-campaign-says%3famp

[KPN]

63. Didn't answer the question. What did Sanders

say exactly?

[stevenleser]

67. As with all politicians, their campaign staff relays promises from them. That is a Sanders promise.

[Sherman A1]

41. Precisely

It is very much a political hit piece as you describe.

[KPN]

64. Yup -- all political.

[Sunlei]

44. same as " in his 2006 and 2012 Senate races"

good for people to learn how state elections work imo.

[melm00se]

48. Which is more important?

Actions or labels?

Bernie Sanders progressive ranking

If you fall into the "label is more important" then would you support Doug Jones (D-AL), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Mark Warner (D-VA)? Bear in mind all 5 were rated "F" in the above scorecard.

[stevenleser]

54. Labels. Without solidarity in the party you get Trump and George W Bush. nt

[KPN]

65. So lack of labels gave us Trump and GW?

How so?

[stevenleser]

74. Yes, that's exactly what I am saying.

You realize that straw men and other logical fallacies and pretending you don’t understand what someone else is saying hurts your credibility right?

[KPN]

75. Lol. Hurts my credibility?! That's rich.

I could just as aptly -- or inaptly -- use the very same same sentence in response.

[stevenleser]

83. By all means continue to play the straw man game. Nt

[Sherman A1]

79. Well said!

Actions are much more important.

[heaven05]

49. he is not a democrat

and has stated he won't ever be a true DEMOCRAT. He's a Socialist and that's it.

[onetexan]

81. spot on

guy's a fraud far as i'm concerned. He should never be allowed to run as a Dem again.

[Paladin]

51. Thanks for nothing, Bernie. As usual. (nt)

[HopeAgain]

78. If true, he just lost one person who was open minded about him.

[Blue_Tires]

80. Just remember that success, excellence, etc. wasn't enough to stop Bernie

from whoring the hell out of his angry "PRIMARY OBAMA!" campaign in 2012...

Oh, you thought I'd forgotten about that?

[Bradical79]

84. I assume this is to avoid a three way race? -nt