Thank you Bloomberg for killing this talking point...

[DanTex]

Link to tweet

[TwilightZone]

1. Bloomberg isn't a Republican.

Hasn't been since 2007. He's been an Independent since then.

I don't think Sanders is going to be able to complain that an Independent shouldn't be running as a Democrat.

[DanTex]

2. Umm, Bernie's not complaining about that. It's anti-Bernie people that complain.

Right up until the point where they endorse Bloomberg...

[TwilightZone]

4. If you want to play semantic games, Mike self-identifies and is registered as a Democrat.

And Sanders doesn't and isn't, other than for purposes of this particular election. He's already registered as an Independent for his next Senate run.

Is that really the argument you want to make?

Looking at their full histories, Bloomberg has been a Democrat longer than Sanders has.

[DanTex]

5. Or we could just drop the whole "Bernie's not a Democratic" talking point entirely.

[TwilightZone]

7. Or we could acknowledge that he is what he says he is.

There is no "true Democrat". It's a myth. Having democratic principles doesn't make one a Democrat. Self-identification makes one a Democrat.

People are whatever they identify as. Bloomberg is a Democrat, because he says he is and has registered as such. Sanders has chosen, for nearly his entire political career, to identify as an Independent. Unless forced to by circumstances, he won't register as a Democrat and only says he's a Democrat when it's required by the situation.

He says he's not a Democrat and I take him at his word. That doesn't mean that I don't think he associates with or caucuses with the Democrats or that he can't run as one, since the rules clearly allow that. But, he's been abundantly clear on the fact that he is an Independent.

Why do you insist he's something even he says he's not?

[DanTex]

8. And he says he's a Democrat...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/03/05/sen-bernie-sanders-signs-pledge-declaring-democrat-2020/3074461002/

There's no difference between Bloomberg and Bernie on being a Democrat right now. Bloomberg used to be a Republican who endorsed George W Bush. Bernie caucused with Dems his whole career. But right now, both are Democrats.

[TwilightZone]

10. He's already registered for his next Senate race as an Independent.

Stop pretending that you know nothing about him or his history. It's disingenuous and you're not fooling anyone. The assertions just look ridiculous.

[DanTex]

15. That's in 2024. Right now, he's a Democrat.

I know his history, and I know Bloomberg's. Both are now Dems. Both used to not be Dems. The difference is the Bernie was never a Republican who endorsed George W Bush.

[catbyte]

60. And in 2018 he ran in the VT Democratic senatorial primary then refused the nomination

when he won. That's the biggest problem I have with Sanders. Why isn't the Democratic party good enough for him except when he's running for president? In 2016 he didn't get the nomination so he dumped us again and now he's back at it again. Then he'll dump us if he doesn't get the nomination this time. He's a squatter and there's something sleazy and dishonest about it. I don't care if he caucuses with the Democrats or that the Vermont Democrats are "okay" with it. I'm not.

[Kaleva]

16. Bernie is registered as an Independent for his next Senate run.

"Sanders Files For 2024 Senate Run As Independent — Not Democrat"

https://www.nationalmemo.com/sanders-files-for-2024-senate-run-as-independent-not-democrat/

[DanTex]

19. That's in 2024. By then he will probably be a Democrat running for re-election as president.

If not, he might go back to being an independent. But right now, he's a Democrat.

[Kaleva]

22. Bloomberg has been a Democrat for most of his life

Bernie ran as a Democrat in 2016 but registered as an independent for his 2018 Senate run.

[DanTex]

24. Umm, OK. So what?

[Kaleva]

35. What you posted in your OP is misleading

"Bloomberg, a former Republican who registered as a Democrat just last year." tweeted by Waleed Shahid.


Bloomberg didn't just become a Democrat last year. He's been a Democrat for most of his adult life. Shahid should have said "Bloomberg, a former Republican and Independent who reregistered as a Democrat last year."

[True Blue American]

44. We can't because

Bernie has already registered to run as an Independent for the Senate.

[PupCamo]

57. but he's not a Democrat

he's never run for the Senate or House as a Democrat

[AleksS]

49. But then wouldn't it also be true that:

Wouldn’t it also be true by that logic that “by registering as an {independent Senate} candidate Bernie is legally and literally an independent no matter what he says?” (Since, at the moment he is a registered Independent candidate for Senate.)

At the moment, it appears he’s going for a “Why not both?” approach which just feels a lot like wanting to have his cake and eat it too. It also feels like he’s just using the Democratic Party if he knows, and openly plans, on leaving it as soon as the going is good.

If you were going to get married, and on your wedding day you saw that your future wife had filled out paperwork for something 4 years in the future using your best friend’s last name, maybe you would be concerned?

[George II]

56. That's false. There is no party registration for VOTERS, there is party registration for CANDIDATES.

[George II]

62. Leahy isn't an independent, he's run as a Democrat since the 1970s.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. Not THAT same old tired argument again!!...

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[George II]

63. Not a "tired old argument", more like FACT.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

39. ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[tiredtoo]

6. But he has been supporting republicans and their policies forever.

He donated 3 million dollars to get Michigan's republican governor Rick Snyder elected two times. He has supported G.W.Bush and other republicans in most if not all recent elections. Calling yourself an independent does not mean a damn thing. Your actions define you!

[TwilightZone]

9. Party identification is self-determined.

If he says he's an Independent and registers as one, he's an Independent. If he says he's a Democrat and registers as one, he's a Democrat. Welcome to the big tent, that's how it works.

[tiredtoo]

13. yep for sure

And that's why we have to look at what he/she does rather than just vote because of party declarations.

[Kaleva]

12. Michael Bloomberg Will Spend $80 Million on the Midterms. His Goal: Flip the House for the Democrats

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/mike-bloomberg-democrats-election.html

In 2016, Bloomberg endorsed Hillary.

[jimfields33]

20. Not much of a goal since the house is flipped already.

[Kaleva]

30. The article is from 2018

[jimfields33]

31. Oh sorry.

Just taking out my frustration out on Bloomberg.

[Kaleva]

47. Lol!

[tiredtoo]

21. For Bloomberg

In 2016 Hillary was the lesser of two evils. Glad to hear he put some money on flipping the house. I am sure it helped all of us including Bloomberg.

[jimfields33]

23. Bernie and others need to remind voters of this everytime they speak

I mean George W. Bush??? Must be shouted at the top of their lungs!!!! And often.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

43. "Your actions define you"... now THERE'S a concept!! Unless, of course, your name is Bernie...

in which case, actions be damned... the only applicable standard is that Bernie must be stopped under any and all circumstances. Even if it means nominating a candidate who promoted and heralded stop & frisk policies that are racist by their very nature.

The irony here is that the disparate treatment of Bernie is what is propelling him to new heights in the polls!! So keep it up... I'm lovin it!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[Stuart G]

59. Are you sure? If Bernie donated to a Republican Governor, that puts him in a different light for me

I didn't know that. Why is he running for President as one of us?

[tiredtoo]

65. Hate to assume anything but i assume you are confused

Twas Bloomberg that has supported republicans with speeches and money. You could probably edit your post or even delete it. so you don't look so silly.

[thesquanderer]

27. Mike has certainly supported more Republican positions than Bernie has,

whether you look at just since 2007 as you mention, or look back further, or look back even less far.

[Kaleva]

3. Blommberg was a Democrat for much of his life.

" Today, I have re-registered as a Democrat – I had been a member for most of my life – because we need Democrats to provide the checks and balance our nation so badly needs," the former New York City mayor said in an Instagram post. "

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/10/michael-bloomberg-democrat/1587307002/


Waleed Shahid's tweet is misleading. It should say Bloomberg reregistered as a Democrat.

[Pachamama]

11. Is Bernie Sanders registered as a Democrat?

No - he is not

But guess what?

Michael Bloomberg is....

[DanTex]

17. Vermont doesn't have party registration. Bernie has declared himself a Dem, though.

And the DNC has accepted his pledge that he's a Democrat.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/03/05/sen-bernie-sanders-signs-pledge-declaring-democrat-2020/3074461002/

[Pachamama]

25. Then why was Howard Dean a registered Democrat in Vermont?

Just wondering...

[DanTex]

29. You're going to have to ask Dean that.

Party Affiliation: There is no party registration in Vermont. All registered voters can vote in the primary election-but can only vote one ballot. You will be given a ballot for each of the major parties. You mark one of the ballots and put the remaining unvoted ballots into a discard bin.

https://votesmart.org/elections/voter-registration/VT

[Demsrule86]

64. Leahy is a fegistered Democrat so no...not true.

[Pachamama]

26. Is age or perception of age important?

Just wondering...

[Pachamama]

32. So Bernie Sanders "seems" younger to you than others?

[Pachamama]

40. How does Pete Buttigieg sound then if age perception is importantly?

In addition to youth, he has military service and is smart?

[Pachamama]

42. Huh?

What does that mean?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

37. Apparently, only if the candidate's first name is Bernie!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[redqueen]

18. This primary is making Dems look like the petty party.

I seriously wonder if the pundit class know how this shit comes across to people who don't think politics is awesome.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. THIS!!! Peeps need to think about the political consequences of their actions.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[George II]

46. You are 100% correct. ALL people "need to think about the political consequences of their actions".

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

33. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[George II]

45. Bloomberg has been a Democrat for more than 40 years in his life. The other one? A few months....

...in 2015-2016 and a few months so far in 2019-2020.

[onetexan]

48. Thank you for setting the record straight

[dem4decades]

53. Isn't Bernie already planning on running as an Independent in his

Next Senate election?

Is he a Democrat or an Independent?

[underthematrix]

55. Yep. There it is.

[PupCamo]

54. when did Bernie register as a Democrat

hmm?

[dem4decades]

58. That I'd like to know.