2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumRailed against the Dem party for years, neglects to contribute to down ticket races
...and even though his campaign stole data from the DNC computers, still persists in a $75k lawsuit against the party.
Tell me again why Sanders is running as a Democrat.
POLITICO @politico
Sanders sues and sought $75k in damages from the DNC http://politi.co/1UPkqsh | Getty
Blanks
(4,835 posts)It'll split the liberal vote.
That's all.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)dogman
(6,073 posts)75K <75mil
...
revbones
(3,660 posts)to "Railed against injustices no matter who did them, for many years" - see there? It's more accurate now.
Also - I'm guessing by downticket races you think Hillary's Victory Fund is doing that. Unfortunately, it's just a bribe tool for super-delegates and so forth.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)also easy to find where he has done nothing for down ticket, except hope that his name will create magic for anyone that aligns with him.
revbones
(3,660 posts)I'm guessing you mean her Victory Fund which is being used as a way to bribe super delegates.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)you do have to get passed the one that proffers old, outdated and misleading info..but keep reading responses and you'll get the answers.
revbones
(3,660 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)revbones
(3,660 posts)the way Hillary is currently doing...
Wilms
(26,795 posts)Dem dare are da facts.
All this 'real democrat' bullshit is just that - bullshit.
People who treat politics like a fucking football game are part of the problem.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Which is the only reason anyone has ever supported HRC or Bill.
Viva_La_Revolution
(28,791 posts)The more scared you smell
ebayfool
(3,411 posts)SANDERS CAMPAIGN CMTE contributions to Democratic party committees
9 contributions totaling $226,521
http://www.followthemoney.org/show-me?f-core=1&pt-pt=1&d-eid=8206022
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON CAMPAIGN CMTE contributions to candidates and committees
8 contributions totaling $6,425
http://www.followthemoney.org/show-me?f-core=1&d-eid=569313
Last updated: 03/24/2016
She's been doing big fundraisers for months, so where is the money she's donating to the down ticket races?
Hyperbole - railing? Pumping that angry old man meme again?
DNC/Wasserman has the lawsuit coming, imo. Let the courts take their course, either way.
He just might be the one to bring the party back from the GOP brink it's been teetering on for quite some time, imo. At any rate, it'll be a better party if we can make it pay attention to the base that it's taken for granted ... for years.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)Hillary raised $4.4m in Jan 2016 alone to help down-ballot Dems across the US - Still waiting for Bernie
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511402186
from Bloomberg.
The Clinton campaign now has deals in place with the Democratic parties in Florida, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas, among other states and Puerto Rico, to create "victory funds." Contributions to those funds will be divided between the respective state parties and Clinton's primary campaign war chest.
Clinton has stressed that she wants her campaign and candidacy to boost other Democrats all the way down the ticket. Helping channel donors' support for her into state parties is one way to leverage her fundraising power on behalf of other candidatesand to link the success of other Democrats to her own.
The Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee announced a fundraising agreement in late August, making it possible for donors to give to her campaign and to the party's general election fund with one check. Clinton would only benefit from the money if she becomes the Democratic nominee.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511536448
ebayfool
(3,411 posts)But I'll keep looking at stuff. The whole point of my post was poster saying Sanders doesn't fundraise for down ticket races. My link shows otherwise.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)her Victory campaign (the of the Clooney fundraiser) and you are still trotting out numbers from that bizarro Follow the Money site? C'mon now. You know better. I'm sure their numbers are inaccurate for Sanders as well. $6.4K was always unbelievable, LOL.
ebayfool
(3,411 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)ebayfool
(3,411 posts)standing. Bugs the hell outta me when I see a sub-thread like this and can't see the post they're talking about. If it's edited or removed, then others still won't know it was a rotten link. Capiche, paisano?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Lots of articles about 2012 and 14, and seems to be dormant now. Good page of links, but I dunno about the rest of it.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)I'm not anti-Hillary or anything. But she has Super PAC's backing her and she is a multimillionaire. She is "on the inside". She can easily put on big ticket per plate fundraisers. Your complaint here is very, very disingenuous and you know it.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)but instead of giving her credit, people rip her to shreds as if she is greedy. her corporate contributions are 1% of the money raised, and you all have crowned her the queen of corporatism. there is a huge disconnect.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)I'm simply saying, she has enough going for her in terms of outside money, connections and name recognition that she can afford to do that and still run a viable campaign for President. I'm a Bernie supporter, but I'm not anti-Hillary Clinton and will have no problem voting for her in November if she is the nominee (and she likely will be). She isn't my ideal candidate, but she is acceptable to me.
Despite that, Bernie has done his share of raising money for Democrats in the past. But running for President, he has and will continue to be an underdog. He has to spend his contribution money and time and energy on his own campaign. He wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as he has, had he not been doing that. This is just common sense stuff.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)is never going to go away completely, people being what they are in the USA. I actually think it would be funny if he got the nod and the DNC had to spend that money on him. That would be all kinds of ironic!
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)The Clinton Victory Fund has made fund-raising pacts with 33 state Democratic organizations that benefit both the states and the Clinton campaign. The CVF is raising money for the Democratic Party, not the Clinton campaign. Major donors can give hundreds of thousands of dollars to the CVF, and from there the money is passed on to the state Democratic parties. After passing through the states, some of this money is kicked back to the DNC and to the Clinton campaign. The advantage to Clinton is that the money has been laundered in a way that she can use it as if it were a direct contribution. The strings that normally go with Super PAC money do not apply.
-------------
From Bloomberg News, February 3:
Clintons move last year to lock in fundraising alliances with 33 state Democratic parties has already added $26.9 million to the mountain of hard money she has raised so far, a Bloomberg analysis of Federal Election Commission filings shows. Bernie Sanders, her competitor for the nomination, has inked one such deal, netting a total of $1,000. The agreements, thanks to a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision, make it possible for major donors to give hundreds of thousands of dollars in hard money to a candidacy, amounts far greater than the $2,700 limit on contributions directly to a campaign.
At least 24 donors have given $300,000 or more to the fundraising vehicle, known as the Hillary Victory Fund, including Haim and Cheryl Saban, George Soros and Daniel Abraham, longtime donors to both Bill and Hillary Clintons political campaigns and the Clinton Foundation. The only other way to make such large contributions is through outside groups, such as super-PACs, which can take unlimited donations but cant coordinate with the candidate.
Under the agreements, the first $2,700 of a contribution goes straight to Clintons campaign, the next $33,400 to the Democratic National Committee, and the remainder is split evenly across the 33 often cash-strapped state committees. Unlike super-PAC donations, the money can be spent to directly support her campaign on anything from get-out-the-vote efforts to TV ads
In other words, this enables Clinton to launder Super-PAC money in a way that allows her to use the money as if it were direct contributions to her campaign. And Im sure Hillary Clinton wants you to know this is perfectly legal. And the national and state Democratic Party campaigns now have millions of dollars they wouldnt have had otherwise.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)The state parties will decide how the money is best spent, and I am sure in each state it will be different.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)---
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)I appreciate the irony of him needing campaign money when he is against having campaign money. It is certainly a catch-22.
He is not viable without it, his (and Hillary's) plans are not going anywhere without gaining seats in congress, yet raising money for that- which is a requirement of winning- whether you like it or not- is considered evil somehow.
How do you reconcile all that and help the downtick races, as well as his own in the general- and not feel absolutely tainted?
Please explain?
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)in order to clean up the system. But that's the only way it can be done, since the PTB are certainly NOT listening to a large segment of the American people--those who really do want a government that works for all, not this pretense of Democracy. Sanders candidacy gives us a voice.
At this point I don't reconcile anything. I chalk it up to the egregious failings of a very sick system, corrupted by big money special interests, administered by severely ethically challenged wealthy people who continue to exploit and plunder. Yes we are at a point where "evil" is an appropriate word for it that everybody understands. Look at some other countries around the world--they don't put up with this garbage. And after putting up way too long, Americans are finally gagging on it.
I think our only chance to change anything about this situation is to elect Sanders.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)said has made me very unhopeful about our chances of fixing things at all quickly. I remember when someone asked him about Russia he went off on a tangent about how their problems had an economic basis- corruption and greed plays a part.
Just thinking internationally I don't think they is a continent on the planet which is not corrupt in the majority. It seems only Japan, Iceland and Scandinavian cultures value integrity over greed. Asia- including Russia, Africa, and most of southern Europe is rife with corruption. It's depressing to think about all the unchecked greed, that's for sure. There are no easy answers.
Thanks for being civil despite my guarded support of Sanders. It is very much appreciated.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)when you target the right problems and actually work on them. There are plenty of good people who would jump at the chance to be a part of a Sanders administration and turn the wheel in the right direction. Of course you need congress too and hopefully people are more than tired of the paralyzed congress.
Australia and New Zealand and Canada have less opportunity for corruption and exploitation because their laws are tighter limiting undue influence. Those countries attempt to work on behalf of the people. Not ideal but certainly better than the US.
Why should the US be like the parts of the world where governments are corrupt? The bulk of the American people are good and hardworking and deserve a democratic government that invests in us. Not what we currently have. I don't even know how schoolteachers can even teach American govt or civics right now--they have to lie a lot.
No problem, thanks appreciated
bigtree
(85,986 posts)...and his fundraising methods don't allow for any contributions?
I'm trying to understand the explanation for the big fat zero he's contributed so far in this campaign.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)Loki
(3,825 posts)As of the last reported quarter ending in Dec 2015 she had raised over 18 million for the DNC for down ballot raises. Mr. Sanders $0.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/1/2/1465551/-Why-didn-t-Bernie-Sanders-raise-any-money-for-the-DNC
ebayfool
(3,411 posts)point this thread wanted to be absorbed, but looks interesting. Be back after digesting it.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)I really do not know.
Loki
(3,825 posts)Most districts in the states that have been tortuously drawn to benefit the Republican incumbent which no amount of money can change are usually non starters. But demographics are changing and as we see more states go to an independent committee to redraw districts after census numbers come in, hopefully we will see more representative and competitive elections.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)since they are both getting money from these fundraisers.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)Like Tim Canova have picked up the torch and are running for office.
How many Clinton Democrats have been inspired to do the same.
Not even close. His message has done a lot more than her $
Loki
(3,825 posts)Ive been here since 2001. You since 2016. We try to inform without making snide political statements when someone asks a questions.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)As if it meant something. As if I suddenly stumbled upon the political process. Congrats on being here a long time. I was a Kos fan for many years. Came here for the dialogue. Miscalculated.
But again, congrats on being here since 2001. While you have been typing away, I've worked for local and state Democrats and have worked side by side with a Presidential candidate in his campaign during a primary run.
But I'm sure I need to log a few more miles here before that's worth anything.
Enjoy your day.
Loki
(3,825 posts)Try doing it in Texas like I did for over 15 years.
Kittycat
(10,493 posts)I've been a member since 2003
Many of us have elected to donate directly to candidates of preference because of the way DWS is running the DNC. I made this choice long before Bernie threw his hat in the ring. I have donated to down ticket races out of my home state in the past, well.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)SheenaR
(2,052 posts)Somehow not a Democrat.
I don't use ignore but it's gotten to the point where there are about two or three Clinton supporters left to take seriously here
Loki
(3,825 posts)And you think you have the right to tell everyone how wrong they are? Bernie maybe the most liberal, but what has he accomplished? You have no idea how liberal or progressive I am or have been all my life, but I'm also a realist and my whole working career was in a profession based upon the ability to absorb information immediately and take the best course of action. Ridigity of ideology accomplishes nothing or very little.
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)"but I'm also a realist and my whole working career was in a profession based upon the ability to absorb information immediately and take the best course of action."
Snicker
Loki
(3,825 posts)should you have ever needed one.
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Based on your "ability" to process information, if your were my ICU nurse, I would likely be dead.
Lol!!
Loki
(3,825 posts)they are published information, provided you have the brain power to understand them. And your childish sarcasm and evident disregard for nurses everywhere is duly noted. I know what Mr. Sander's has accomplished in his many years in the house and senate, and they aren't very impressive. I think that this is why so many here disapprove of the tactics you all have adopted. They are right out of a Karl Rove playbook, and not attractive nor will they ever accomplish what you want.
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Here you go, maybe it will help with your own personal issues.
How to Spot a Narcissist
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/08/04/how-to-spot-a-narcissist/
Loki
(3,825 posts)I'm impressed you have that much self-awareness.
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Broward
(1,976 posts)Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)And it is never the best course of action for any Democratic president to attack the Democratic base from the right or to agree to fight for policies that mean lost ground for the base.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)angrychair
(8,691 posts)Or since I've only been here since 2006 is that not long enough? The arrogance and self-righteous indignation dripping from your post is stunning.
If we are to grow and learn and if this site is to continue to be a viable interest, than we must welcome and encourage new voices on this website, not tell them to "shut up and go sit in a corner till you have been here awhile".
FYI, I also find it amusing that you don't realize the irony of your own statement:
"Rigidity of ideology accomplishes nothing or very little."
Loki
(3,825 posts)been there for a very long time. It's not arrogance or self-righteous indignation it's called manners.
angrychair
(8,691 posts)That poster owes you nothing. You can address or don't address their comments but the "how dare you talk to me like that, I've been here since 1776" is the very definition of "obnoxious" and "self-righteous indignation".
Now, to be fair, I'm not the Internet police either. At the end of the day, you can talk to people anyway you want but if you continue to do it like that I would not expect to much interaction or non-hostile interactions anyway.
My advice, do with it what you will.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)I was out working for local, state and national candidates. But IF ONLY I had joined DU sooner I could be taken seriously!
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)I keep wondering when you will ever engage in respectful debate. North of 1000 posts and still waiting for you to put that snark away. This is my first response directly to you, but I had been watching and hoping at some point you'd change your tune. But alas it's not to be. Since I don't like parsed threads, I don't have an ignore list, but you are welcome to add me to your ignore list. It might be a welcome relief.
I have had several OPs reach the Greatest Threads list. I have become a major contributor to the Bernie Group. Snark is delivered where snark is needed.
If you wish to debate policy, bring it. Been waiting since I got her for Clinton supporters to do so.
mythology
(9,527 posts)As a Democrat given what he's said about the party. He has repeatedly condemned the Democratic party. So yeah it's fair to say he hasn't been a Democrat.
Maybe he changed his mind, but maybe Sanders realizes if he ran as an independent he wouldn't have had any impact at best.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)I also do not think it takes much to see that his belief system closely aligns with almost all of the major tenets of the Democratic Party.
If he has run as an independent, tens of thousands of his supporters may still be on the sidelines disengaged. Has his "Revolution" gotten the necessary support? Not to this point. But he has clearly helped the Party in this cycle.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)He railed against this party when we went too far to the right, as millions of Dems have done. We should never have become as conservative as we did in the Eighties and Nineties.
And he does support down ticket races.
stonecutter357
(12,695 posts)hobbit709
(41,694 posts)Especially the ones that voted with Rs for political expediency and support from their corporate masters.
Vinca
(50,260 posts)his sister with the Girl Scout cookies, demanded 5 pens on his desk at all times as well as a box of paper clips, refuses to wear mom jeans, once ate fried chicken that was pink in the middle, doesn't really care for his name, secretly wanted to be a farmer and always milks cows at the Brattleboro heifer parade.
randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]
Logical
(22,457 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)per the FEC:
Office Sought: S - SENATE
Election Year: 2018
State: VT - VERMONT, District: 00
Party: INDEPENDENT
http://www.fec.gov/fecviewer/CandidateCommitteeDetail.do?&tabIndex=1&candidateCommitteeId=S4VT00033
Meanwhile his one and only "coattail" is the guy in Florida challenging an incumbent Dem because Bernie.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)the voter lists. He's not a democrat.
Loki
(3,825 posts)He's no MLK or Cesar Chavez or RFK. I want your money, but I won't support the people who have worked hard for years to keep this toxic republican ideology from overtaking this country.
Loudestlib
(980 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)Tell me again...?
Broward
(1,976 posts)Tell me, how the hell have we gotten to a point where the likely Dem nominee is a right winger?
Loudestlib
(980 posts)The DNC has been busy circulating flyers that look like ballots with his name missing. They rigged the debate schedule. I stopped donating to the DNC years ago and just give to candidates now.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)...
Loudestlib
(980 posts)If he doesn't I hope he uses the money to push progressive ideas. He's not my senator but I've been donating to him for years.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)Loudestlib
(980 posts)Medicare for all, free college for kids, a less aggressive foreign policy. These are a few. If we are having a conversation here. I'll tell you that I have great medical coverage, I'm done with school (I may go back for a PhD one day,) I prepaid all my kids college expenses, and I'm a veteran. Sanders would likely raise my taxes.
People don't support Bernie for Bernie, they support him because of what he's been fighting 40 years for. He's been fighting for these things for a long time. People trust him to keep fight for them.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)Loudestlib
(980 posts)Right now Sanders is the best chance of getting the issues I talked about onto the national stage. I want him to use what ever money he has or can get to go all the way. After the primaries, if he has money left, I trust him to keep using that money to get those issues more attention.
DemocracyDirect
(708 posts)Are joint fundraising efforts...
Where Hillary puts her name on it and shares the proceeds with other candidates,
while those candidates and other surrogates do most of the fundraising.
Other than attending an event or signing thank you cards it takes no effort on her part.
And there is nothing wrong with that.
But it's disingenuous to blame Bernie for not doing the same when he is an outsider still.
Bread and Circus
(9,454 posts)at the vanguard of liberalism, progressiveism, and alongside those who fight for justice.
But yeah, a capital D matters so much more than a voting record, public service, public speech, and acts of defiance.
Would you be happier if Bernie ran as an Independent?
WTF is wrong with you people?
bigtree
(85,986 posts)...using the Democratic party's resources and voting rolls.
It's bad enough that he's campaigning against his own party; bad enough that he's contributed squat in this election to state and local candidates who he should be looking to for support and advancement of his initiatives; but holding this $75k threat over the DNC's head is just a poke in the eye of all Democrats who contribute their time and resource to support our coalition of legislators.
It's amazing to listen to the person trailing in the election demanding that his initiatives take precedence over the person receiving the most votes. Even more amazing to hear his campaign openly considering subverting the process to try and supplement their trailing campaign with 'establishment' superdelegates.
That points up Sanders' relationship with the party like nothing else; he's fine with the Democratic party when it suits his own agenda (one which he hasn't managed to advance in his 25+ years in the nat. legislature), but treats us like a doormat when it doesn't accommodate him.
If he ran as an independent, he'd be Nadered out of the race before he started. None but a tiny fraction of Democrats are going to stand by and allow Sanders or any other interloper to dictate our agenda. That's what this democratic process of elections and our convention are for.
Bread and Circus
(9,454 posts)You should also be very thankful for his all his liberal votes that have supported the Democrats through the years.
What you are exhibiting here is disgusting, entitled, privileged behavior that is only worthy of contempt and ridicule.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)... I work goddamn hard, challenging physical labor for not too much money. When I do gain, I have to work even harder.
You think you can lecture this 55 year old black man about 'privilege?' I've been working-class my entire adult life, raising two sons on a meager budget.
The arrogance I see from Sanders supporters is their habit of talking down to Hillary supporters as if their political positions give them some sort of superiority over people they imagine and suppose disagree with them. They firmly believe they hold some moral high ground where they can stand in judgment of the 'values' and 'principles' of people who may prefer one of these candidates over the other.
I'd just like to know, where the fuck do you get off talking to a perfect stranger like this?
Bread and Circus
(9,454 posts)And what you write is arrogant bullshit.
Also, I don't care whether you are African American or not. Claiming it as some sort of badge or shield as you just did so as to act as if you have some special moral authority here has no effect on my view of your words.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)...what the fuck is wrong with you?
B.l.o.c.k.e.d
Bread and Circus
(9,454 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)Bread and Circus
(9,454 posts)Broward
(1,976 posts)peace13
(11,076 posts)if Bernie had the free publicity that Hill has he would have the funds to contribute downstream. Americans on a shoestring budget send hard earned cash so that he will become President. If he gives money away before his position is secured that would be a big problem for so many! We really need to get real and drop this talking point! There are better ones.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)...it's 'let me get mine,' and then we'll see about helping you get yours (with conditions).
You should realize that he's in a world of his own if he believes this is an effective way to advance his agenda. The first consideration should be the dearth of but a handful of legislators who have expressed support for his campaign. It would behoove him to avail his political effort of new, emerging legislators who might share his agenda. It would also stand to reason that he's going to need the support of most of the Democrats he's railing against as 'establishment' evil.
Where does a losing presidential candidate go to collect on his success in organizing a hopeful, but losing movement of voters? Hopefully, to throw his chips in with the rest of us in the correct and vital effort to defeat the republican nominee.
Larkspur
(12,804 posts)I'm a Democrat and I won't support Wall Street or pro-corporate Democrats with my money. And that includes Hillary Clinton.
They can pay for their campaigns out of their own bloated bank accounts or take a loan.
bigtree
(85,986 posts)...professing support for Democratic voters and the issues they raise and represent, will either find a way to coalesce with members of our party, or concede that their rhetoric was hollow and resign themselves to doing next to nothing significant to help defeat the republican nominee.
Larkspur
(12,804 posts)The Dem establishment is hypocritical as well as they also support corporate Dems over progressive ones
Walk away
(9,494 posts)for a Quisling like the Bern The entire Democratic party (except for nutty crooks like Grayson or Muslim hating whackos like Tulsi Gabbard) hates Bernie Sanders guts. Before this run he was generally just disliked or tolerated but now he is the Ted Cruz of Democrats!
He is going to be negotiating for his political life by the time this is over and (judging by his past behavior) he will throw his Followers right under the bus!
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Kip Humphrey
(4,753 posts)Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Compared to Hillary who is NOT. And he didn't steal any data. You'll get to know more about him when he's President.
pinebox
(5,761 posts)and he is chair in the senate and caucuses with Dems.
It's a trap!
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Appropriation of, and identification with the Democratic platform, coupled with triangulation can be effective tactics.
ky_dem
(86 posts)In KY you can't even send out joint mailers unless you are specifically running as a slate. I'm pretty sure it would be against campaign finance rules for him to move money around like that and since he doesn't have a Super PAC that's the limit of his fundraising.
Are you saying he should be hosting fundraisers for down-ballot candidates? Because frankly I don't think he has time right now given his schedule
jpb33
(141 posts)why he is running as a dem. Because his ideas are pure democratic parties ideas dating back to FDR. And Bernie has been there for the Dem party where it truly matters and that is in the senate. Just because he has not raised alot of money for other dems is meaningless. Anyway, how much $ could an unknown senator from a tiny state raise for other dems. Not much. He has been with the dems where it really counts and that is governing!
It is Hillary who is not a true democrat. In the 90s the dem party was a victim of invasion of the body snatchers. All real dems were replaced with 3rd way dems which are basically moderate republicans and over the past 20 years these moderate reps masquerading as democrats have taken the party even further to the right.