I want a journalist to ask Senator Sanders these questions…

[onehandle]

Question 1: Are you a member of the Democratic Party?

If he says yes, skip to question 3.

If he says ANYTHING other than yes, then…

Question 2: Will you become a member of the Democratic Party if you are nominated?

His answer BETTER be ‘yes,’ but regardless…

Question 3: If you are nominated and lose in the General Election, will you remain a member of the Democratic Party?

Currently, he's an Independent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders

Hey Look! A Poll!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251584841

[Warren Stupidity]

1. NOT GUD ENUFF! HE RILLY MUSS SWAERS AN OATS!

[Luminous Animal]

90. Hahahaha!!!!

[merrily]

166. It's all been handled (no pun intended) already.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

And, he has said all along that he will not run as a spoiler.

Some posters prefer things that just feel truthy to them to googling facts and law. 'Cause things that feel truthy (a) are much faster and easier to ascertain, as well as (b) supporting one's own bias.

[kath]

116. Bwahahaha!

[840high]

127. heehee

[HERVEPA]

2. Continuing no interest in substance I see. Just repeating same BS

[arcane1]

20. Sanders must be doing something right, if they have to resort to stupid shit like this.

Go Bernie!

[Fawke Em]

78. Yep. That's the way I figure it as well.

Go Bernie, Go!

[LondonReign2]

117. They resort to this same stupid shit time and time again

It's like they've collectively suffered a severe brain injury and lost all short-term memory and so simply post the same stupid shit over and over again. They must have missed that whole thing Obama said about welcoming Bernie to the Democratic primary process. Seems to be their very own version of the GOP Benghazi-Tourettes syndrome

[Rosa Luxemburg]

133. they did their best to ignore him but he just won't go away!

President Sanders

[L0oniX]

111. It's kinda like being in grade school.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. "I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever

"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 to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

[cyberswede]

6. Fuckin' fringe founding father.

JK. Great quote.

[onehandle]

7. Senator Sanders is running for the candidacy of a party.

Thomas Jefferson was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Which was the Democrtic Party at the time.

As for Sanders running as a Democrat the DNC approves of the run. You seem to be the outlier.

[AgingAmerican]

97. Purity tests are meaningless

In a Democratic party suffering from Stockholm Syndrome

[restorefreedom]

105. if they have an issue with a "non member"

and I put that in quotes because he's actually more of a Democrat than many so-called Democrats, but in any case if they had any issue with it they should've taken it up at the beginning of the process. Clearly it was not an issue. Time to move on to the real policy issues, unless the inevitable candidates positions on policy really SUCK. then I guess this is what's left.

[merrily]

143. And how do you suppose Jefferson became a member of the Democratic Republican Party?

Think carefully, please.

[sabrina 1]

16. Thomas Jefferson AND Bernie Sanders? This must NOT be tolerated. Party loyalty is THE most

important issue in ANY campaign and shame on both of them for their independence! This is a Democracy after all!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. Labelocracy!! Uniformity!! Conformity!! Robotocracy!!

Freedom for supporters of the government only, for members of one party only, no matter how big its membership may be is, no freedom at all. Freedom is always freedom for the man who thinks differently.

Rosa Luxemburg

[AgingAmerican]

98. Two traitorous pea's in a pod!!!!

Blasphemy!

[L0oniX]

112. Purity tests now! Start with Kim Davis.

[artislife]

34. It is good to have you on this site

From your posts to your sig line....love

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

40. Thank you. I feel the same about you.

[leftofcool]

4. Those are legitimate questions.

[mhatrw]

100. Because issues don't matter. Economics don't matter. Classes don't matter.

Voting record doesn't matter. The effects of your voting record don't matter. Economic power imbalances don't matter. Judgment doesn't matter. Intention doesn't matter. Effectiveness doesn't matter. Trustworthiness doesn't matter. Goodness doesn't matter.

All that matters is racial, gender, sexual and party affiliation.

That is all. And if you aren't in our group, then everything you say, no matter how indisputable or self-evident, is heinously wrong.

[merrily]

144. Which have been answered so many time they are no longer all that legit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[DanTex]

5. Eventually I think he's going to have to answer questions like that. Maybe in one of the debates.

But someone should ask him if he still believes all that stuff he said about the Democrats, and if not why doesn't he join the party now that he's running as a Dem.

Come to think of it, someone should also ask him when and why he stopped believing that major industries should be government owned.

[leftofcool]

13. I think those questions just might come up.

[virtualobserver]

32. uh huh

[AgingAmerican]

99. Cuz Americans want purity!

And strawmen

[sabrina 1]

30. If the public wants him in the WH that's where he will be. He is the best Democrat I have seen

on all of the issues, for a very long time.

So what is the most important issue for you wrt to choosing a candidate to lead this country?

For 80% of the population, eg, it is to 'get the money out of politics'. Not sure where they stand on party loyalty as a major issue. I suppose we could judge that by the registered voters of both parties.

Dems eg, make up 32% of registered voters. Repubs 29%.

Independents now the largest demographic at over 42%. A historical number of Americans according to polls, no longer registered with either party.

Looks like this issue you are so concerned about might not be at the top of the list of most Americans anymore.

I

[DanTex]

49. True, but I think in the course of getting there he will have to answer those questions.

Particularly in the primaries, which are his first hurdle.

In the general, if he gets that far, he will be facing the bigger hurdle of being a socialist in a country where that's a bad word, and being outspend by huge amounts.

For me the most important issue in choosing a candidate is whether they can beat the Republicans. I don't think Bernie is that candidate.

[AgingAmerican]

119. Nobody will change their vote based on this

Only Clinton partisans even care about this.

[padfun]

168. Maybe we should ask DWS those questions.

nt

[FBaggins]

60. You really think that 80% consider "get the money out of politics" to be the top issue?

That's pretty hard to believe.

Independents now the largest demographic at over 42%.

The problem with that is that the vast majority of those independents consider republicans to be too far to the right and democrats to be too far to the left. They're the "mushy middle".

The reason that questions like those in the OP (and the "Democratic Socialist" label) are a challenge for Sanders is that the reason he's stayed out of the party is that he thinks it isn't far enough to the left. Outside of the party faithful, it has little to do with "party loyalty".

[sabrina 1]

70. I don't 'think it' I know it. As for Indies, you are totally wrong in your assessment of

registered Independents. Both parties have been losing membership for several years now. Why? Because voters do not feel that either party represents them.

That should be a concern, at least for OUR party. Bernie running for the Dem nomination, is now bringing some of those voters BACK to the Dem Party. Because they hear him saying, and see by his record that he means it, what they expect from a Democrat but are not seeing wrt to how elected officials have been voting on major issues.

They are not happy eg, that the Wall St criminals not only were not prosecuted but were BAILED OUT while the victims of their criminal behavior are still trying to recover.

Many Dems are not happy about this country being lied into a devastating, still ongoing and extremely costly war/wars where over 60% of our disposable income goes to the Military Budget while 1 in 6 American children go hungry every day.

The list is long of what voters are ANGRY about, very ANGRY.

That our party leadership has MISSED this justifiable anger for so long, says only one thing, they don't care! And THAT is why voters are flocking to a candidate who KNOWS their problems, who HAS listened AND voted accordingly.

It's really very simple. I am actually STUNNED at how out of touch the Dem party leadership appears to be with the genuine anger that has been brewing for quite some time among ordinary people. Why DON'T they know and more importantly why don't they CARE?

[FBaggins]

76. You "know it"... but fail to back it up?

It's just a zen thing?

I have no doubt that large majorities (perhaps even over 80%) would agree with the statement that there's too much money in politics. But that's a very different thing from that being their "most important issue". Over the economy? Jobs? Health care?

Not a chance.

Both parties have been losing membership for several years now. Why? Because voters do not feel that either party represents them.

Of course... but that doesn't refute what I said. There isn't evidence to support a claim that most of them think both parties are too far to the right.

That our party leadership has MISSED this justifiable anger for so long, says only one thing, they don't care! And THAT is why voters are flocking to a candidate who KNOWS their problems, who HAS listened AND voted accordingly.

I'm sure that's the case for many people. But there are likely just as many (including myself) who won't vote for a Republican and really don't want to have to support Clinton.

[sabrina 1]

84. I have backed it up, many times. Several polls taken over the past few years show

that this IS one of the most important issues now because, eg see Biden's remarks on this which I will provide if you haven't seen them already, that so long as Candidates accept these obscene amounts of money, they are likely to cater to those donors:

Majority of Americans want money out of politics

When asked how important the issue of reducing the influence of money in politics and elections is, 78 percent of Americans said that it’s an important issue. The chart below shows the mean, or average, rating on a 0-10 scale, with 10 being the most important.

A different poll shows similar results:

New Poll Shows Vast Majority of Americans want money out of politics

Released Tuesday by The New York Times and CBS, the findings “reveal deep support among Republicans and Democrats alike for new measures to restrict the influence of wealthy givers, including limiting the amount of money that can be spent by ‘super PACs’ and forcing more public disclosure on organizations now permitted to intervene in elections without disclosing the names of their donors,” the Times summarizes.

A stunning 84 percent of respondents said that money has “too much influence” in American political campaigns today.

Furthermore, 85 percent of respondents said that victorious candidates either sometimes or most of the time “directly help the people and groups who donated money to their campaigns.”

Across the political spectrum, this has become a major issue for voters. Biden, eg, stated that it needs to be the MAIN ISSUE in this campaign, because, he said, 'Until this is fixed, nothing else can be done'. I agree, so do a majority of Americans.

That is one of the main reasons WHY Bernie Sanders is resonating with voters from all parties. As the above article says there has been a 'growing awareness' of what Biden calls, the 'corrosive effects of money on politics'.

[FBaggins]

106. Did you expect me to miss what you just did?

Or is it that you can't see the difference between "one of the most impotant issues now" and "for 80% of the country, it's the most important issue"?

I don't doubt that it's important. His career-long record on his own campaign finance decisions is one of the things that I love about him... but let's not pretend that it's THE issue next year and will trump the economy, jobs, etc.

[zappaman]

114. That poster seems to have an issue with numbers.

Consistently.

[sabrina 1]

122. Are you once again, referring to ME with false accusations you seem unwilling to direct TO me?

I have told you before, I will correct any attempts to lie about me or my positions even when someone attempts to do it in what they think is a clever way to accuse another DUer of lying.

Since you have once again inserted yourself into a conversation I am having with another DUEr, with yet another snide comment, point out the 'numbers' problems you are talking about, other wise you are simply stalking, not discussing in an open manner the issues under discussion.


You have made a claim, in a third way comment, now provide some proof of your claim. THIS is a discussion board, I have zero problem discussing ANY subject OPENLY and HONESTLY with any DUer. I expect that when someone inserts themselves constantly into discussions I am engaged in, that they do so in the same manner, openly and honestly with something to back up their consistently negative attacks.

[sabrina 1]

121. I hope you didn't miss what I just did. I provided you with a small sample of how the American

people feel about the money in politics, an overwhelming majority now viewing it as one of the most important issues re our electoral system.

And one of the main reasons WHY Bernie's supporters ARE Bernie's supporters.

I provided you also with Biden's opinion, stated by him just a few weeks ago where he believes that unitl THIS issue is dealt with NOTHING ELSE can be accomplished.


Just why do you think Sanders is running and WHY is he getting so much support from the people?

[mhatrw]

103. Politics is not a two dimensional line.

You would think a triangulator would understand that.

[merrily]

156. That does seem to be a very important issue for Americans.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Americans+want+money+out+of+politics+poll&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[mhatrw]

101. Yeah. First ask him why he's not Democrat.

Then ask him why he's not a socialist.

Then ask him why he is a Democratic Socialist.

[merrily]

145. You would think that, eventually, people have to stop bsing. But, that doesn't seem to be the case.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[cheapdate]

8. The inability to ask the teevee screen questions

is one of the main reasons I have a hard time watching televised interviews and debates.

I feel like screaming at the television, "For crying out loud, ask him about the dead hookers in the trunk!"

I'm a little high strung, sometimes.

[artislife]

28. *chortle nt

[SouthernProgressive]

9. Hopefully DWS has already asked him these questions. nt.

[merrily]

146. Hopefully, she doesn't need to because she actually knows stuff.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[Armstead]

10. I think he's a Republican Ringer

If he somehow manages to bamboozle all of his deluded crazed cult-like supporters and steal the nimination from a REAL Democrat, I think in his inagural speech he's going to say:

"Ha, ha you idiots. I'm really a Republican, and from here on out, Ted Cruze gets everything he want. Suckers!"

What a bunch of nitpiky crap.

[kenfrequed]

86. Yup

It was all a part of his sneaky fifty year plan that he hatched in college.

[Live and Learn]

12. Isn't the definition of spam, posting the same thing over and over again?

You've made your point. Time to move on.

[merrily]

147. I'm proud to be "spamming" this thread with a link to a factual post on the topic of the OP.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[jeepers]

14. I want the reporter to ask

For Bernies birth certificate and citizenship papers. I want him to ask if Bernie is a secret Muslim and why he hates minorities.

[Autumn]

15. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Democratic Party?

'You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?'

[onehandle]

19. So that's what you think of the Democratic Party?

In terms of how McCarthyism thought of the Communist Party?

Interesting.

[Autumn]

35. No, that's what the question you asked reminds me of. What I think of the Democratic party

is irrelevant. Bernie as an Independent has always sided with the Democrats. Bernie is running as a Democrat with the blessings of the Democratic party. He is fund raising for the Democratic party, he has brought back into the fold Democrats who have left the party or have lost interest in the party. Loyalty oaths always remind me of the McCarthy witch hunts.

[sabrina 1]

42. I don't think the poster was talking about the Dem Party. The Dem Party leadership has

accepted Bernie Sanders and are using his candidacy to raise funds for the party. President Obama and Biden have both praised Sanders campaign.

So it looks like this 'concern' you have isn't shared by the Dem Party at all.

Is there some reason why YOU don't like the Dem Party's acceptance of a great candidate who is bringing voters BACK to the Dem Party? Because the Party doesn't agree with you.

So again, the poster wasn't talking about the Party. YOU don't speak for the party, do you? If so, please explain. But meantime I think I'll take the POTUS and VP's view of Bernie running as a Dem.

[merrily]

160. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[arcane1]

17. Take that loyalty oath! The only thing that matters is The Party.

When do we get to start calling him a commie?

[GitRDun]

18. I'll see your phony e-mail scandal

and raise you a phony political party scandal.

[mak3cats]

21. This is really getting tiresome...

...he is an independent politician (small i), not a member of the Independent party (capital I). The distinction makes a difference to some people.

I notice you had no response to my post #27 in the poll thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251584841#post27

Therefore, I can only assume that you are now deliberately spreading misinformation. Nice tactic; it's worked for Fox News all these years.

[onehandle]

31. Your deflection tactic is not working.

Everyone else knows what an Independent is.

Capitalized exactly how it is on Wikipedia.

It's not a party, it's a state of being.

[mak3cats]

37. Exactly!

In my book, I'd rather one who is independent as opposed to being in party lockstep. Glad you see it my way!

[sabrina 1]

50. So both Obama AND Biden are wrong to accept Bernie's candidacy for the Dem Nomination?

The DNC has him listed on their site. What should we do about all that? The party doesn't agree with you. So now what?

[onehandle]

52. I said nothing like that.

Nice try.

[sabrina 1]

59. So what ARE you saying? This isn't an issue. So why are you

attempting to MAKE it an issue? Dem candidates are not required to take loyalty oaths unless we had someone in our party like Grover Norquist who demanded that Repubs do so, which thankfully we do not, which is why Bernie is NOT running for the Repub Nomination.

Bernie is perfectly within his right, as would any candidate be, to run for the nomination of any party he chooses. The decision is up to the PEOPLE. Thankfully this is how our system works. I sure would not want it to be otherwise. Dems are free to NOT vote for him or TO vote for him. Or any other candidate.

It's not like he's deceiving anyone. As a Dem I know if I support him he will be the nominee of MY Party. I'm fine with that. If you don't want him to be the nominee, then use your vote to express that opinion. This is how our democracy works.

So what is it that you're concerned about?

No one else seems to be?

[Fawke Em]

83. You know what the post is concerned about...

...that Bernie might win.

[sabrina 1]

85. I suppose, but why should that be a problem for ANY Democrat? He certainly has a record

that should make every Democrat smile, on almost all of the major issues Dems care about.

[frylock]

92. It's passive-aggressive pants-shitting.

[in_cog_ni_to]

102. ...

Now THAT was funny!

[zeemike]

153. Jury results.

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Ugh. Rude nothingness posts, adds zero to the discussion.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Sep 12, 2015, 10:01 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: nope
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Rude but accurate.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The words are unkind, but well within bounds of the general unkind environment of this conversation.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: When two people start a flame-war, I don't propose to step in and send one to their room.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Ridiculous alert.

[frylock]

174. My apologies to the alerter who feels that I've added nothing to this very important discussion.

[merrily]

151. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[merrily]

148. Your deflection tactic is not working either and that wiki article is not the be all and end all

when it comes to facts and law.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753


For a long time, Sanders ran as an Indie. Now he is running as a Democrat and not as a so-called third party candidate, IOW, not as a spoiler--you know, exactly what so many Democrats for years said Nader should have done? Deal with it.

Meanwhile Chafee and Webb are long time Republicans who starting running as Democrats. I wonder why no one questions the voter registration laws in their states.

[Vinca]

22. Maybe I'll email Bernie and urge him to run as an Independent.

If Democrats are determined to trash him, he might as well split the vote. At least we'll get 4 very funny years of Trump.

[artislife]

23. I wish they would ask him about issues

but that's what is important to me.

[djean111]

65. Not fracking or war or the TPP or cluster bombs or more H-1B visas. fascinatingly sad. n/t

[jeff47]

81. Issues?! Issues?!! What's wrong with you?!!

The most important thing is the letter after his name!!!

That's why we're all so concerned about Sanders not having a good (D) like Kim Davis (D-KY).

[catnhatnh]

25. Right after they ask Clinton....

"Hey, about the Bosnian sniper deal-were you lying or hallucinating?"

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. Here's the questions I want asked:

Do you support the TPP?
Do you support building the XL pipeline?
Do you think Multi Billionaires should be allowed to buy our government?
Do you think our crumbling infrastructure should be repaired?
Do you think our State Universities are too expensive?
Do you think private prisons should be shut down?
Do you believe we should demilitarize our local police departments?
Do you believe wall street thieves who destroyed our economy should go to jail?
Do you think corporate tax loopholes should be closed so corporations pay their fair share in taxes?
Do you believe fracking should be outlawed?
Do you believe that corporations should keep their businesses in the USA or be fined if they choose to move to China?
Do you believe our government is corrupt from the inside out? Top to bottom?
Do you think we should spend more money on alternative energy and less on fossil fuels?

So, so, so much more important than having a "D" next to his name.

[daleanime]

47. ........

[Ed Suspicious]

48. Do you think Secretary Clinton's fabulous hair is current with this season's trends

or is she ahead of the curve and already stylish for next season?

[in_cog_ni_to]

57. LOL!

That is the mentality of our MSM! I won't be surprised if every debate question he gets is about Hillary. It's pathetic.

And this new meme of the day - Democratic PURITY - test is beyond bizarre!

[onehandle]

58. That would take sooooo much longer to answer than my three questions.

Three easy questions.

[mak3cats]

63. The other poster's questions are of much greater import, however...

...and persons who have asked the other candidate those questions ONE AT A TIME didn't get answers either. I guess we'll all have to deal with it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

64. But

More important and meaningful.

I never thought I'd see a "Democratic" purity test on DU.

Does Bernie get PURITY RING if he passes?

[onehandle]

68. He gets to never have to answer these three simple questions again. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

72. Bull.

No matter what he answers will ever be sufficient for the party purists.

This is SO silly. Do you like Bernie when he's caucusing with the Democrats in Congress? Is his "I" next to his name acceptable for that?

Perhaps you'd prefer he ran as an Independent so you could have a President Trump?

[frylock]

93. Bernie just needs to show his long-form party registration..

and then all the questions will go away.

[merrily]

152. That's just it. Such a thing does not exist.

None of us has a party registration. We registered to vote in the Democratic primary--if our state does things that way. Vermont, like other states coming out of the comparative dark ages of voter registration, does not do things that way.

more:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[mak3cats]

61. Stop deflecting!!! (eom)

[merrily]

150. Yes, but, as we type, Sanders does have a (D) after his name, or he could not be

running for the (D) Presidential nomination. I am not sure why people are not getting that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[in_cog_ni_to]

155. I know.

This is all so stupid.

[angrychair]

27. Not to put to fine a point on it

But Bernie is a Democratic Socialist, still a Democrat.
Second, he is a declared, registered, 2016 canidate as a Democratic Party canidate, for president of the United States per his filling as a canidiate and the position of the DNC.

For help: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders_presidential_campaign,_2016

[onehandle]

33. Great! So he has the answers to the questions. Let's hear them. nt

[artislife]

43. Off topic

But it is rather unnerving to see John Lennon in the H of your avatar with the gun pointing in his direction from your sig line.


I know it isn't intentional and the two are making different conversations but...

[merrily]

154. And Vermont law.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[beam me up scottie]

29. "His answer BETTER be yes"?

Or what?

What are you going to do if he says no?

Say bad things about him on DU?

[magical thyme]

44. seriously....

oh, how I miss the "unrec" button.

[Warren Stupidity]

88. I believe he will stamp his feet. THREE TIMES!

[magical thyme]

36. Bernie has already answered question #1 many times over the years

His answer has been referred to in many articles. For example:

As Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday announced a bid for president, he made official another momentous political decision: That he will seek higher office as a Democrat.

Standing in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, the Vermont Independent and self-described “socialist” announced that he will run for the Oval Office to confront the “serious questions” of money in politics, wage inequality, and climate change....

...Democrats quickly voiced their support for the two-term senator in light of his campaign launch.

“I agree with Bernie,” tweeted Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner and prohibitive favorite to win the nomination...

...Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement: “Throughout his service in the U.S. House and Senate, Bernie Sanders has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the values we all share as members of the Democratic Party.”

But, until Thursday, Sanders has not ever been a Democrat in name, and he has been proud of that distinction. Since Sanders first ran for federal office in 1972, he has identified as a third-party or unaffiliated candidate.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/04/30/bernie_sanders_joins_2016_field_--_as_a_democrat_126448.html


Note that in accepting him as a primary candidate, DWS didn't mention any requirements that he join the party first, or join it if he won the primary.

[longship]

38. Not this shit again!

[daleanime]

41. Good idea...

let's not worry about goals he has or what actions he might take.....let's be very, very concerned about how he identifies himself.

Oh well, have a great day!

[Z_California]

46. We must have posted simultaneously :-)

[daleanime]

51. Yeahup.....

I let you go first next time.

[Z_California]

45. Because the biggest issue facing us is party loyalty

I mean, who cares about the candidates actual votes and actions over the last 30 years. What's important is the letter he or she has had after his or her name.

Another on point OP.

[demmiblue]

53. It appears that this has become an obsession. n/t

[demwing]

54. Id like to ask YOU a question

Since the DNC, the Democratic VP, and the Democratic POTUS all accept and encourage Bernie in his run as a Dem, where the hell is your party loyalty?

[onehandle]

56. That's nice, but nothing to do with my OP.

Simple questions.

[demwing]

62. That's what I thought - It's not about party for you

its about your candidate getting an unexpectedly serious challenge to her coronation.

You're so transparent, it's comical.

[onehandle]

66. Although it is true that undeclared candidate Democratic Vice-President Joe Biden is surging...

...it's still nothing to do with my OP and its three simple questions.

[demwing]

71. Poor thing, didn't get your coronation!

I feel for you. Berns, doesn't it?

[99Forever]

55. Well then.

Since an approved by the Democratic Party potential nominee for President doesn't meet YOU R private purity standard, I guess he'll just have to run as a Third Party candidate then.


That make you fucking happy?

[in_cog_ni_to]

67. Will Bernie get a DEMOCRATIC PURITY RING?

[onehandle]

69. He gets to never have to answer these three simple questions again. nt

[morningfog]

73. What is the relevance of number 3?

[onehandle]

74. Very. nt

[morningfog]

75. Expand on it. Why does it matter?

If he loses the Primary or the GE, what difference does it make?

He will hold the same policy positions, caucus with the Dems and keep going just the same.

[merrily]

167. Then please see Reply 166 on this thread.

[demmiblue]

79. Hopefully, it means that DUers from all camps are sick of these types of posts.

Edit: oh well, Sheepshank spoiled my theory. Lol! (It was a reference to the number of recs).

[Disco Inferno]

77. Is that how you want to recruit Sanders supporters

if Clinton wins? By dismissing them as fringe?

[jeff47]

87. Why recruit them?

If Clinton wins the primary, and then wins the election, they were moot.

If Clinton wins the primary, and then loses the election, then the OP will need someone to blame.

[L0oniX]

110. They don't care about that. They think we have no choise other than to chose Hillary.

All that pragmagicalogical shit and stuff is going to win 2016 for Hillary.

[upaloopa]

80. I support Hillary but I don't see what difference

it makes if Sanders says he is a Democrat or independent.
If he wins the nomination he will run as a Democrat, he has stated that more than once. He does not want to run as a third party he has said that more than once.
I trust him.
Now back to the issues.
I don't see him winning the nomination so most likely the problem will be a moot point.

[Jim Lane]

89. A Clinton supporter who posts a sensible response to this OP! Thank you thank you thank you!

I still don't support Clinton but your post reassures me that not all her supporters are {description omitted so I don't get a hide}.

I agree with your post, even including the part about Sanders still being the underdog. My only quibble would be whether it's therefore a moot point. If Clinton wins the nomination and comes looking for help from Sanders supporters, stuff like this won't be completely moot, because, through no fault of Clinton's, some of her {description omitted so I don't get a hide} supporters will have ticked off a lot of the people she needs. She'll have to hope that people remember posts like yours and dismiss the OP as the fringe.

[upaloopa]

94. No matter who wins the nomination we all need each other

The enemy is the right
I admire Bernie and have listened to him for years
He more than anyone over time has been telling it like it is.
I prefer someone else be president

[AtomicKitten]

82. He's caucused with the Dems x24 years voting with them 98% of the time.

He's a better Democrat that most Democrats.

[merrily]

157. Yes, and right now he is a Dem.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Americans+want+money+out+of+politics+poll&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[frylock]

91. Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Democratic Party?

[mhatrw]

95. You got him there!

You agree with all of his ideas!

You know he is right on all of the issues that matter to you most!

But he does not self-identify as a member of your tribal group!

Burn him!

[AgingAmerican]

96. Questions that don't matter

And have nothing to do with the issues. A purity test.

Well, if nothing else you folks are consistent.

[cherokeeprogressive]

104. No surprise that you don't want him asked questions about POLICY.

No sense in that, amiright?

[hifiguy]

109. That should leave a mark.

Some people are just rooting for the laundry.

Go Bernie!!

[cherokeeprogressive]

113. Funniest part is...

People think I post stupid shit.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

107. A counter question for you:

why is it important that he identify himself as a Democrat?

[Jim Lane]

115. And a related counter question for the OP:

Is there any set of answers he could give that would cause you to vote differently, in either the primary or the general?

[arcane1]

126. Answer: it's the only stupid thing left to try to smear him with n/t

[merrily]

158. And yet another fail, based on facts and law.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[underthematrix]

108. In Bernie's statement of candidacy for his

2018 US Senate run, he listed his party affiliation as Independent. Bernie has already explained why he's running AS A Democrat. He needs the Democratic party machine to have a viable chance at winning the Dem nomination. He believes he would not have a chance at winning if he ran as an Independent.

[onehandle]

120. Please link to the quote where he says he's running 'as' a Democrat. nt

[underthematrix]

123. I did a google search but can't find it. It was a video.

If you or anyone else finds it please share.

[onehandle]

131. Cool story, bro. nt

[thesquanderer]

135. Just google: sanders "running as a democrat"

here's the video and transcript that comes up as the first result:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-may-10-2015-huckabee-sanders-gingrich/

Of course, it's a silly question, as the fact that he is running as a Democrat is self-evident. That is, he is going to be on the ballot for the Democratic primaries, which, by definition, equals running as a Democrat.

[merrily]

163. Exactly. And participating in the Democratic Party debates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[merrily]

159. Not true. He said from the start that there were advantages and disadvantages to running as a

Democrat versus running as an independent. However, he also said from the beginning that he would not run as spoiler. The same people who insist Nader should not have done that are now saying or implying that Bernie should do that. Which kind of shows what their real issue is. And, yes, under Vermont law and with the concurrence of the Vermont Democratic Party as well as the DNC, he IS running as a Democrat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[whatchamacallit]

118. You can't always get what you want

https://m.

Hey it looks like a Sanders Rally!

[thesquanderer]

124. Answers to your questions

Question 1: Are you a member of the Democratic Party?

Vermont doesn't have party memberships, therefore it is impossible for anyone there to be a member of the Democratic party. People can certainly run on the Democratic party line, but there is no separate process for "registering" as a Democrat.
Note the absence of Vermont on this chart, for example:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/state-party-registration_n_5399977.html
This is also consistent with the fact that Vermont has open primaries. When you go in to vote on primary day, they do not ask your party affiliation (again, it has to be that way because there is no such thing as party registration), and you can choose to vote for anyone who is running, Dem or Repub (or Independent, as Sanders has run there in the past).

Question 2: Will you become a member of the Democratic Party if you are nominated?

Impossible, unless he changes his residence to be something other than Vermont once he is nominated.

Question 3: If you are nominated and lose in the General Election, will you remain a member of the Democratic Party?

Moot based on the answers above. This becomes a "when did you stop beating your wife" question. He can't "remain" a member of the party, because he can't become a member in the first place, as long as he is a resident of Vermont.

In terms of the bigger picture, why would you even care about this? It is self-evident that the Democratic party is fine with him running as a Dem, he has fulfilled all their requirements. Why would that not be good enough for you? If the party finds he has done everything he needs to do to qualify for being placed on the ballot in all 50 states, what more do you need? Once the Dem party puts him on the ballot, I would think it would just become a matter of who you prefer to vote for, just like anyone else on the ballot, based on their positions or anything else that may be important to you (experience, age, perceived electability, gender, religion whatever floats your boat).

[onehandle]

130. Total fail.

Extra points for effort.

[thesquanderer]

132. Total fail? Can you point out any error in my post? (n/t)

[thesquanderer]

136. You may also find this link helpful...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/10/politics/bernie-sanders-democrat-or-independent/index.html

There's a lot of background on this topic there, from back when people actually thought this was an issue.

It also happens to include this quote, reiterating my earlier point:

Tad Devine, a Democratic political consultant working with senator, points out that because Sanders has come up politically in Vermont -- a state with no party registration -- there is actually no way for him to register officially as a Democrat. "The mechanism doesn't exist," said Devine.

[William769]

125. Kick & highly recommended!

[tularetom]

128. Boy, now THAT will put that Sanders in his place!!1!

Are you gonna make him pinky swear?

[Bluenorthwest]

129. If your test for who is a Democrat can be passed by Kim Davis but not Bernie Sanders

You are using the wrong test.

[frylock]

134. *mic drop*

[merrily]

165. Bernie passes legal and factual tests, as well as policy tests.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

[TSIAS]

137. If he ran as an independent

Imagine if Bernie Sanders bypassed the Democratic primary and ran as an Independent in the general election. All the Hillary cultists would be up in arms about how he's destroying their candidate's chances to win.

All that needs to be said is that Sanders is running in the Democratic primary and is not positioning himself for an Independent run.

[eridani]

138. You missed the part about "Does he support the Dem Party platfom?"

Which now includes $15/hour minimum wage.

[MohRokTah]

139. I reserve the right to sit out any election with no Democrat on the ballot. eom

[merrily]

161. If Sanders is the nominee, there will be a Democrat on the ballot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

Unless, of course, you imagine you are the sole boss of who is a Democrat and who is not, no matter what the law, the DNC and the Vermont Democratic Party have to say about it.

[MohRokTah]

162. No, there won't.

Bernie is not, never has been, and never will be a Democrat.

[merrily]

164. Obviously, you willfully did not read and try to understand the post to which I linked you. nt

[MohRokTah]

169. Spin it any way you like,,,

Bernie Sanders is not now, has never been, and never will be a Democrat.

[merrily]

170. You are the one who is spinning and also the one imagining yourself to be the only

person in the USA who can decide who is a Democrat and who is not. That degree of hubris is almost never a good look.

[MohRokTah]

171. When it comes to my vote

I AM the only person qualified to determine who is and who isn't a Democrat.

[merrily]

172. That certainly was not either your original statement or your second post, claiming that I was

spinning when I was only stating verifiable facts and law, with links to support what I said.

[MohRokTah]

173. Bernies Sanders is not now, has never been, and never will be a Democrat. eom

[slipslidingaway]

140. I think the question of voting for the IWR needs to be explored more and that is

a question that needs to be asked of any candidate.

Millions of people have been affected by that decision and we are now living with the consequences and or backlashes. You push people too far and destabilize a region there are ramifications.

I am not so concerned about a label, whether you a Dem or a Repub or an Alien ... issues matter. Labels perpetuate an easy out and allow people to be lazy.

JMHO

[TheKentuckian]

141. What a set of critical issues you prioritize there! Clearly, these are question of the greatest

substance and impact on the true issues of our times.

In 10,000 years school children will be in eager to find out the answers to those questions!

[merrily]

142. He is not currently an Independent. You cannot run for the Democratic

Presidential nomination as an indie. http://www.democraticunderground.com/128018753

How many times are people going to post this erroneous disinformation?

[PowerToThePeople]

149. This one hit wonder is way overplayed.

[pinebox]

175. Sure! But let's ask Hillary this!

I want a journalist to ask Hillary this question however

1. Why do you feel the need to rope us in like cattle?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/04/hillary-clinton-rope-reporters_n_7727466.html





Meanwhile in the world of real people, this sort of thing happens.

[PatrickforO]

176. I've got a question I'd rather ask Bernie, instead of these three, which

seem to me non-issues, particularly since the trope last year and the year before is that we don't like politicians who put party above people. This question, I believe exposes the one minor weakness in a platform that is otherwise rock solid.

Here it is:
You propose to make state college tuition free and pay for it with a Wall Street 'transaction tax.' Now, the bulk of these transactions are made by arbitrage 'bots, who pull the trigger on trades in nanoseconds to take advantage of the narrow spread between 'ask' and 'sell' prices, often gleaning profits of only hundredths of a cent per share. If you impose this tax, it will effectively reduce trade volume on the stock exchanges because it won't be profitable any more.

Since this means that the tax revenue to pay for this won't really be there once the tax is in place, what is plan B?

[Attorney in Texas]

177. Does the label matter than much to you? Sanders votes 96% with Sen. Boxer, Markey, Booker, Cantwell,

Leahy, Gillibrand, and Brown. In fact, he voted 93% of the time with the Obama administration and when he and Clinton were both in the Senate they voted the same 93% of the time.

That makes Sanders more of a Democrat than Democratic Sen. Manchin, Heitkamp, Donnelly, King, and Tester.

I cherish Democratic Sen. Manchin, Heitkamp, Donnelly, King, and Tester so don't think I'm trying to criticize them, but Sanders supports Democratic legislation and the Obama administration more than many Democrats and so, to me, actions and votes speak louder than labels.

Do you feel otherwise?

If so, you should probably ask yourself why.