Constructive criticism for Bernie Sanders: start keeping your promise to help defeat Donald Trump

[geek tragedy]

Senator Sanders, on June 9th you were promising to do everything you could to defeat Trump.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/sanders-does-not-concede-primary-pledges-to-do-everything-in-my-power-to-beat-trump/

Now, three weeks later, you're making the same empty promise and making excuses for not actually doing anything to defeat Doald Trump.


http://www.rawstory.com/2016/06/tapper-calls-out-bernie-are-you-truly-doing-everything-you-can-do-to-defeat-donald-trump/

“Media focuses on politics as a game,” Sanders replied. “What we are talking about and what this whole campaign is about is transforming the United States. Dealing with the issues that led to Brexit. Understanding why the middle class continues to decline,” adding that he is trying to “build a strong progressive political movement that takes on big money interests.”

“With all due respect, Senator, I’m not viewing this as a game,” Tapper replied. “I’m looking at the fact that I talk to your supporters all the time and many of them do not want to vote for Hillary Clinton, and they feel very negatively towards her. And if it is important to you, as you say it is, to defeat Donald Trump, I wonder if you are truly doing everything you can do to defeat Donald Trump.”

You don't get credit for promising to help defeat Trump. Those are platitudes, not actions. You are a politician, and politician's promises are worthless without the will to act on them.

Note: when you criticize Clinton on policy--going so far as suggesting she's not on the side of workers and the people-- but refuse to criticize Trump on policy, only on his rhetoric, you are not keeping your promise, quite the opposite actually.

You will get credit in direct proportion for what you do to help defeat Donald Trump.

You do not owe Hillary Clinton anything, but if you keep this up she and the Democratic party won't owe you or your movement anything either. Your choice to be an ally, or not. But you have to act as an ally to be treated as one.

[DanTex]

1. Yeah, I'm not sure what Bernie is thinking these days.

The NYT article he wrote about Brexit was borderline nonsensical, and his continued refusal to endorse Hillary and campaign for her is strange. He stands for the right things, but at this moment in time, he needs to get his priorities straight. And the priority now is defeating Trump.

[KMOD]

3. I agree. He doens't owe Hillary Clinton, anything.

But there comes a point where he needs to join in the General Election mission of defeating Donald Trump, or simply get out of the way.

The electorate has decided who they want to move our party, and our values and positions forward.

[deathrind]

4. With all due respect

Mr Tapper. Bernie and his supporters have been told for several months now that he nor his supporters were needed by HRC to defeat Trump. That HRC has this in the bag so to be surprised that there is not a full court press by Bernie or his base should not come as a surprise.

[uponit7771]

17. No one from the Clinton campaign told you that

[BeyondGeography]

5. Someone needs to move on

"...we got something like 12 or 13 million votes.”

Factually true, but it really sounds like he's still grieving.

[Auggie]

6. Someone alterted on the OP ...

[aikoaiko]

7. I think he's doing a fine job by working on the platform and asking HRC to respond to his supporters

Who might not be with her yet.

[geek tragedy]

10. what policy criticisms has he made against Trump?

Has he said that Trump is aligned with Wall Street, wants to screw over workers, has reckless ideas, stuff like that?

[aikoaiko]

11. I do not know, but I do know that defeating Trump means voting for the Dem nominee.

And Bernie is in a unique position to help make the party more attractive to people who are disinclined to support HRC.

[guillaumeb]

13. As Elizabeth Warren is doing so well. eom

[aikoaiko]

14. Yes EW is doing it in her way. I haven't actually listened to since she started campaigning for HRC.

But the news reports are encouraging.

[uponit7771]

18. What supporters?!? They're on the record supporting Clinton now in multiple polls...

[mcar]

8. K&R

[Her Sister]

9. Yes, when is "defeating Trump shortly" going to start and how is he going to do that?

[niyad]

15. WaPo: "Bernie Sanders just gave an amazingly condescending interview about Hillary Clinton"

WaPo: "Bernie Sanders just gave an amazingly condescending interview about Hillary Clinton"


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/28/bernie-sanders-just-gave-an-amazingly-condescending-interview-about-hillary-clinton/

[uponit7771]

16. Good point, a stump speech against tRump would help much

[MohRokTah]

19. K&R

No further comment. The Admins have enough work to do without me adding to it having them unhide a bogus hide.