Bernie's Biggest Mistake

[kentuck]

This is just my opinion.

Although Bernie is running as a "Democrat", he has never totally committed to the Democratic Party. He has never explained fully why he is a Democrat after his many years as a Democratic Socialist or Independent. There is nothing wrong with his affiliation but Democrats were looking for a candidate with the stature and beliefs of FDR. Bernie has those credentials. He is the best "Democrat" running. But he chose to not define himself as such. That was a mistake, in my opinion.

He could have run as a Democrat returning the Party to its roots. He could have made Democratic voters more comfortable in voting for him. But he seemed content with the "socialist" label. It was almost as if he never expected to be as popular as he is at present.

There are many sophisticated voters in the Democratic Party that understand the "socialist" label but there are many that do not understand. This has hindered Bernie in his run for the Presidency, in my opinion. The best Democrat since FDR is being hurt by the "socialist" label. Again, just my opinion.

[Vinca]

1. Isn't it enough that he ran as a Democrat to keep the White House from the GOP?

If he'd run as a third party candidate, Trump would be measuring for draperies already.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Bernie only has himself to blame

Pat Leahy managed to call himself a Democrat even though Vermont doesn't have party registration.

If you're gonna run to be the Democratic nominee, you have to embrace the label otherwise you will fail.

[reformist2]

3. Going from 4% to 44% ain't bad. Bernie's only mistake thus far is not preparing for Hillary's lies.

[Svafa]

7. +1

[Peregrine Took]

33. +1. Thom Hartmann said he (BS) was scraching his head when she popped out the one about him

not voting for the bail out.

He was, genuinely perplexed as to WTH she was talking about.

[Champion Jack]

51. +1

[Le Taz Hot]

4. Bernie's more Democrat

than 95% of the elected "Democrats" out there. But for some, a "D" next to the name, no matter how odious the candidate, is all that's needed for blind party loyalists.

[angstlessk]

39. Agree 100% and more if it made sense.

He is a FDR Democrat, of which there are very few now in the Democratic party

[redstateblues]

5. Very insightful. Totally agree

[jcgoldie]

6. just my opinion

I think his biggest mistake in terms of why he will not win the nomination is his criticism of president Obama. If he had won even a significant portion of the black vote this race would be pretty close and he'd have a path to win going forward. Instead he got crushed in that demographic. I'm not saying some of his criticism in the past wasn't justified. I'm still a big fan of the president, but like most liberals I have been disappointed in what he was able to achieve at times throughout his presidency. Still from a political perspective it made it pretty easy for Clinton to present herself as the scion to the president's legacy and policies. Obama is overwhelmingly popular with black voters. I think the answer is that simple.

[LannyDeVaney]

10. I agree ...

similar to the mid-terms when Democratic candidates inexplicably ran from Obama. They lost, and Democrats lost the Senate.

As a Clinton supporter, I know I'm biased about what I see as another real weakness in his campaign - foreign policy. Sanders is a brilliant man and if nothing else, he has pulled the Democratic message to the left which is a good thing.

Have a nice day!

[Voice for Peace]

57. Tulsi Gabbard disagrees. Foreign policy is the #1 reason

she resigned the DNC & endorses Bernie.
Clinton's foreign policy competence is a myth; her judgement consistently hawkish and shortsighted.
Please, do research progressive reporting on this subject. #humblerequest

[LannyDeVaney]

59. Yes, I'm aware of Mrs. Gabbard's reasoning ...

I've heard her interviewed several times since she resigned. She is very well spoken and competent and I imagine she has a bright future.

However, we'll just have to agree to disagree on Sec. Clinton's foreign policy competence (and besides, I was talking about Sander's lack of competence on foreign policy).

Have a nice night.

[Voice for Peace]

60. "Lack of competence" suggests a documented series of

errors and incidents of poor judgement. Can you be more specific? As far as I am aware his judgement has been consistently better than hers.

[kentuck]

15. I think the harder Bernie tried to capture the black vote, the more difficult it became.

He should have said he was the best Democrat running and challenge everyone to look at his civil rights record, and leave it at that. I think that would have been a better way to go after the black voters. His record stands for itself.

[Maedhros]

8. Q: Who the fuck cares?

A: Those who put tribal identity ahead of what's right.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. In my case, and I trust in other cases, he's being helped by the Socialist (gasp!) label.

I'm a Socialist and I like voting for socialists.

[kentuck]

11. I think most "millennials" think likewise and have no problem with the label.

But the older the voter, the more indoctrinated they are to the "socialist" label.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

44. I'm 72 and was indocrinated to be a Socialist by age 6.

My grandmother and father were both Socialists.

[MrMickeysMom]

12. So, his biggest mistake is being honest...

Then, every single voting person, including all of us on DU should hang our heads, since this is would be everything that every single voter has been waiting for... an honest politician who has a track record as an independent, virtually accomplishing everything that ANY Democrat could do, if they were true to the party's platform.

HUH!

[liberal_at_heart]

16. An Independent who caucuses with Democrats and joined the Democratic

Party and said he would support Hillary if she won. Let's face it. There are just some Democrats that will never accept him no matter what he does. And that's okay. He is a good cross over candidate. He is liked by Independents, Democrats, and even some Republicans.

[djean111]

13. As if this whole election cycle was not already set up for Hillary.

Bernie was welcomed as a Democrat - until he started doing better than expected. He is a better Democrat than most.

Oh, and if Debbie Wassermann-Schultz - you know, the one who supports GOP candidates here in Florida, and GOP legislation in Florida - is what passes for a Democrat these days, it may be time to re-evaluate just what being a Democrat means, eh?

[stevenleser]

14. That is definitely one of the issues.

It definitely doesn't feel good to a lot of folks to be a Johnny-come-lately to the party and then criticize folks who have been members for decades. If he wanted to do that he should have joined a long time ago.

[kentuck]

17. I don't think it was necessary for him to join the Party a long time ago.

In fact, I think he could still help himself, even today.

[frazzled]

18. He did just advocate gutting one of FDR's New Deal programs

The Import-Export Bank. Just saying, for all those FDR nostalgics.

I would say his biggest problem has been his almost singular focus on "big banks" and "the billionaire class," and his stressing ideological issues over policy details in the debates. As someone who's worked the ground door-to-door in several states during several elections, I can tell you that ideology does not sell. (Clinton has been much smarter this time in going on local and regional bread and butter issues, and in expressing detailed solutions for achieving rational goals rather than simply saying "there are too many people in jail or living in poverty.&quot And I don't think anger sells either, except perhaps to those for whom anger at the system is a main political goal.

[kentuck]

19. Good point.

Also.

[Gwhittey]

23. The Import-Export Bank

Today is not one FDR New deal was. That link saying the "You as Democrat oppose the party of Lincoln and the support the Party of the KKK"

[Arazi]

49. Lol, the Ex-Im bank has NEVER once come up in phone banking

or canvassing for Bernie.

Not once

[BernieforPres2016]

20. Bernie's campaign has been a miracle

Given that he's running against Hillary, the DNC, virtually every Democratic governor and member of Congress and the top 0.1% and their virtually unlimited supply of money.

[liberal_at_heart]

21. +1000000

[kentuck]

22. I agree.

Bernie has been great ! But he could have done better, imo.

[Gwhittey]

25. Sure

But DNC being more fair with Debates, Get out the vote drives and the M$M being so much in bag for Hillary. There is no way to overcome crap like that. It is like Micheal Phelps losing in last Olympics because he was caring a 180lb Western gorilla on his back

[Arazi]

50. And an almost total media blackout. It IS a miracle

[hack89]

24. That and pinning his chances on young voters. nt

[Gwhittey]

26. How was he

suppose to get the word out to people that only watch TV for news? They rigged this election so bad it is sad.

[hack89]

28. You buy TV ads. It is not complicated. nt

[thereismore]

27. He is more of a Democrat than Hillary, Bill, and DWS all combined. nt

[kristopher]

29. I think that's detached from reality.

He has been a Democratic Socialist for his entire career.

He has worked exclusively with the Democratic party all of his career.

Your opinion in this case seems extremely naive when it weighs the alternatives to his choices and the consequences inherent in those alternatives.

Pfffft.

[kentuck]

31. He only has to convince Democratic voters...

Not Republicans.

[kristopher]

34. That isn't true.

He is in the first step of running for President of the United States. It wouldn't matter what he did, the bought-and-paid-for Democratic party machine isn't going to help him end their money train.

I think his judgment is as solid here as it was in Iraq. The problem and the solution are both obvious.

[Gamecock Lefty]

30. I wonder if Bernie will stay labeled a Democrat after Hillary wins the nomination?

I'm betting he goes back to Independent.

[auntpurl]

45. I believe he has already registered

as an independent for his senatorial seat. I read that on DU though, so take it with a grain...

[H2O Man]

32. Recommended.

I think that this is, in large part, because he hasn't spent years and years planning a presidential run. Almost all candidates from both parties have had years of preparation. He hasn't.

[kentuck]

35. True.

I think he may have exceeded his own expectations.

[H2O Man]

40. Right.

I remember meeting him in the early 1980s. At the time, I was quite a bit to the left of him politically. But I was hugely impressed.

I had been introduced to him before he spoke to a university crowd. After listening to his presentation that evening, I was happy to be able to spend time with him and a few others afterwards. There was something about the guy -- he was humble, but he also had absolute confidence in the power of his message, and its potential impact upon the public -- if they could hear it.

Obviously, I didn't think, "Gosh, I hope he runs for president in 2016." But I knew that I had met a man on a mission. And a powerful human being.

[kentuck]

42. Bernie is great!

It is encouraging to see so many young people supporting him. Youth will be served.

[Kalidurga]

54. From day one.

He showed up in Minneapolis expecting around 500 people to show up at a smallish rally. Actually the initial plans were for less than 200. The location had to be moved due to demand. Anyway 5000 at least showed up and the lines yes the lines two lines were both several blocks long. There was not enough room inside the venue for everyone and that area seats 3,000. There were at least 2,000 of us outside listening to Bernie on loud speakers while sitting in the bleachers, on steps, on the lawn, and park benches.

[liberal_at_heart]

36. and that's why we love him. He is authentic. He has integrity. Would he still be the same

man had he spent many years preparing for a presidential run? Had he spent years preparing for a presidential run would he have listened to those telling him there is no chance of winning without a superPAC?

[H2O Man]

43. Yes, very well said.

In a post above, I talked about the time I met Bernie Sanders, long ago. He made a huge impression on me. And for exactly those qualities that you noted -- he is authentic, and has true integrity.

I've also met Hillary a couple of times. I was favorably impressed. But not in the same manner as I was impressed by Bernie Sanders. At the time, he was the Voice in the Wilderness. He is on a mission now, and I think that he is a great American, and a great human being.

[longship]

37. Not this shit again! nt

[taught_me_patience]

38. His biggest mistake is coming off as "angry"

"angry" candidates never make it to the end. The American people want someone more uplifting.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

41. Has Hillary explained why she is a Democrat after years as a Republican? nt

[TTUBatfan2008]

46. How many of the career Democrats...

...had the guts to stand up to the Clinton machine? That's the bigger story here. We ended up with two very flawed candidates because no one (Warren, Biden, etc) wanted to challenge Clinton due to the fact that Bill and Hillary control the vast majority of the party.

[Land of Enchantment]

47. bernie

Last edited Tue Mar 8, 2016, 11:03 PM - Edit history (1)

[Land of Enchantment]

48. bernie

Last edited Tue Mar 8, 2016, 11:03 PM - Edit history (1)

[Bread and Circus]

52. He had a right to run for President. If he ran as an Independent

He would have guaranteed a Republican President.

Arent you thankful he ran as a Democratic?

Jesus, what is wrong with you people?

[mrdmk]

61. My perception about this post is about his messaging could improve

The word Socialist has cogitations/stipulations from the cold war era. A lot of people are still around from that time and when they hear the word Socialist, they immediately think of the word Communist. To many people, these words are negative due to the constant propaganda use against other counties. Not whether Sanders is running or not. Just my take on this post.

[Voice for Peace]

53. I think he needs us all, this is not his campaign alone.

So contribute your pov directly to his campaign.
They listen and they care.

[Billsmile]

55. If The Democratic Party Fully Embraced Bernie

Bernie supporters would be fully embracing the party.

[BeyondGeography]

56. It's also unfortunate post-primary

Not with voters so much as the Party establishment itself, which always resists change and will try to treat Bernie as an outsider one-off rather than leverage what he has brought to this race.

[Scootaloo]

58. His biggest mistake was going against a Sicilian when death is on the line