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Donkees

(31,340 posts)
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 05:17 AM Dec 2016

Sanders to Dems: We must change our strategy to regain power

12/26/16

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) said Democrats need to create a new strategy in all 50 states to win more middle-class voters and gain more control as a party.

Sanders spoke with Democracy Now, where he said the Democrats failed badly in the 2016 election against President-elect Donald Trump.

"The new approach, I think, is to, A, create a 50-state strategy. That means we start playing ball in states that the Democrats have conceded decades ago," the former presidential candidate said.

This approach, Sanders said, should be through a grassroots movement where the most important members of the party are younger and middle class. These people can give the party a better understand of what needs to change, said Sanders, whose been tapped by Senate Democratic leadership to head the party's outreach efforts.

“I’m going to be going around the country to try to do everything that I can to create a party which represents working people and not just the 1 percent” Sanders said. “Right now in the United States, as you know, Mr. Trump will be inaugurated. Right now, the Republicans control the U.S. Senate. Democrats, I had hoped—we thought we had a better than even chance of gaining control. We did not.”

“So I think any independent assessment, without casting any blame, says the current approach has failed. All right? When you lose, you know, it’s like they always say about the football coach: You know, if you’re zero and 10, you’re not doing well,” he continued. “Well, the current approach clearly is not succeeding, and we need a new approach.”

Sanders is a large proponent of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) in his bid to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Sanders also said supporters of Trump are angry with the establishment, and reiterated that Trump was able to tap into this anger during his campaign.

“There are some people who think that everybody who voted for Donald Trump is a racist, a sexist or a homophobe or a xenophobe. I don’t believe that. Are those people in his camp? Absolutely. But it would be a tragic mistake to believe that everybody who voted for Donald Trump is a 'deplorable.' They’re not,” Sanders said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/311833-sanders-democrats-must-change-their-strategy-to-regain-power


11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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dae

(3,396 posts)
1. How is Ellison's campaign for DNC chair looking?
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 07:57 AM
Dec 2016

With Obama and the 4 Dem Governors endorsing Perez will Ellison hold onto his support?
When will the new DNC Chair be selected?
Thanks.

Donkees

(31,340 posts)
3. They are to elect the new Chair end of Feb, but I recall reading that there were to be several
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 07:24 PM
Dec 2016

regional conferences before then (Texas is one of the regions). I haven't been following the campaigns lately to know the score

dae

(3,396 posts)
5. Thank you, if there is a coordinated campaign for Ellison in
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 10:17 PM
Dec 2016

Louisiana I could easily help make calls to State committee members or whoever.
Happy Holidays!

Donkees

(31,340 posts)
8. If there isn't, there should be, because his grandfather organized Black voters in Louisiana...
Wed Dec 28, 2016, 08:09 AM
Dec 2016
Excerpt: 'Listening more. Talking less.'

"My mom, Clida, taught my four brothers and me about her father’s work to organize Black voters in rural Louisiana in the 1950’s."

https://medium.com/@ellisonforcongress/listening-more-talking-less-2bb36e171dca#.70tibp1kx



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Donkees

(31,340 posts)
9. The DNC Regional Forums will be in AZ, TX, MI, MD and LIVE-streamed
Wed Dec 28, 2016, 08:26 AM
Dec 2016

The DNC is hosting four regional forums featuring candidates for Chair and the other officer positions. The tentative schedule for the forums is:

January 13-14 in Phoenix, AZ
January 27-28 in Houston, TX
February 3-4 in Detroit, MI
February 10-11 in Baltimore, MD

All regional forums will be open to the public and streamed live.

http://my.democrats.org/page/s/regional-forums-2017

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
2. Wise words comin from a wise man.... maybe it's time we listen to Bernie and do it his way.
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 11:52 AM
Dec 2016

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
7. Yup, yup... maybe after the Rethugs take mega-majorities in both houses, the Dems will start listenin to Bernie on how to win.
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 10:53 PM
Dec 2016

TexasBushwhacker

(20,146 posts)
11. Truer words were never spoken
Tue Jan 3, 2017, 05:50 PM
Jan 2017

"There are some people who think that everybody who voted for Donald Trump is a racist, a sexist or a homophobe or a xenophobe. I don’t believe that. Are those people in his camp? Absolutely. But it would be a tragic mistake to believe that everybody who voted for Donald Trump is a 'deplorable.' They’re not,” Sanders said."

I totally agree with this HOWEVER, it is beyond distrurbing that the GOP has welcomed these folks to be under their tent. There was a time when the GOP told the anti-government RWNJ John Birch Society folks to take a hike. But that was before Fox News, the internet and the Koch Bros.

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