Robert Reich tells Warren supporters they "must" back Sanders

[highplainsdem]

I had a negative reaction to this when I ran across it earlier today, and apparently I'm not the only one.


Reich:

Link to tweet

Sanders and Warren both would have made fabulous presidents, but there can only be one Democratic nominee.

Now that Warren is out, her backers must come together behind Bernie so that a true progressive can have the votes to take the White House, and even flip the Senate.

I just ran across this reaction to Reich from a Warren supporter, in a tweet retweeted by Tom Watson, another Warren supporter.

Joan McCarter, Daily Kos senior political writer:

Link to tweet

Just a suggestion for the all white men out there right now: shut up. Just. Shut. Up.

Telling the rest of us what we "must" do is not in your best interest.

[LisaM]

1. Hoo boy.

I don't think he has a real grasp of why people supported Warren.

[Firebrand Gary]

53. Bazinga! Ding ding ding

[pnwmom]

98. Especially the women will really love hearing a man telling them what they must do. n/t

[Cha]

2. Elizabeth supporters "must" do what They Want.

[still_one]

10. Exactly. How arrogant of Reich.

[Cha]

14. Yeah.. desperate, too

[ehrnst]

82. Indeed. (nt)

[iluvtennis]

43. + 1. nt

[Cha]

59. Thank you

[OhZone]

51. This!

[Cha]

60. Mahalo, OhZone!

[MustLoveBeagles]

99. This right here

That should be self evident, but apparently it isn't for some people. Excellent post Cha.

[Cha]

100. Mahalo, Beagle!

[flibbitygiblets]

3. Fuck you Robert.

[George II]

4. How to win friends and influence people.

[LizBeth]

5. HRC supporter that wanted Warren. Never. There is no way as an HRC supporter I would cast the vote

to Sanders.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

6. They still believe this is a huge conspiracy against

Sanders

Pakman, Seder, TYT, the hill, and nameless other Bernie tubers are pushing the narrative Pete, Amy and Mike made some ridiculous deal with the DNC

[Paka]

74. Because they are realists.

That's simply the way politics works.

[ehrnst]

84. Apparently it's easier for them to believe than him actually not having the votes...

[MineralMan]

7. Oh, Twitter is not responding well to Mr. Reich's orders.

No, indeed. If you click on that tweet and read the replies, it's clear that folks don't care much for his commands.

[Historic NY]

77. Jack ass

Hey Bob a little arrogant, you think Sanders can win this w/o mainstream Democrats. 43% of his supporters in Cali won't vote for the Democrat if the socialist doesn't get the nomination. 43% are just only dissatisfied w/ Trump, in other words they prefer him a full 50% don't count themselves as Democrats WTF.

[AGeddy]

8. And once again, Bernie surrogates are his own worst enemy

[totodeinhere]

9. If Elizabeth were to endorse Bernie it might make a difference.

But failing that I think that it remains to be seen where the bulk of Elizabeth's support will go. On DU most of it seems to be going to Biden, but in the greater Democratic Party I'm not sure. And I don't think that Elizabeth has any plans to endorse Bernie.

[Hortensis]

17. Also don't think she would endorse Sanders. No one who knew

him endorsed him in 2016 until a small handful finally did as a gesture to constituents who liked him. And to this day almost none still won't. It goes to very unacceptable character, competence, and ideological differences.

I wasn't sure so just looked:

ONE senator is endorsing Sanders: VT's senior senator Pat Leahy, who didn't in 2016. Nutcake ex-senator Mike Gravel co-endorsed him with Tulsi Gabbard in 2016, but declined to throw his support ( ) to Sanders this time after withdrawing form the race.

EIGHT members of the house, out of 435, endorsed Sanders this time.

ONE present or former cabinet official out of over 130 has: Reich.

Btw, I'm still hoping Warren and Biden both have the door still open to Warren becoming his running mate if it all works out.

[LisaM]

58. I do not know ONE Warren supporter who'll go to Sanders.

Not. A. One.

[barbtries]

65. i know 2,

and one whose been for sanders all along. two are my sons and one is the younger's girlfriend.

[JusticeForAll]

89. You do now

But will gladly vote Biden when he gets the nom!

[LisaM]

96. I should have specified "in person", sorry.

I do know people here who supported Warren and now will support Bernie. I just meant among my physical friends; however, most of them were die-hard Hillary supporters.

[woundedkarma]

92. I've wanted Sen. Warren as Pres since I first heard her on tv

(but I doubt I represent even a small portion of typical Warren supporters)

I'm deeply miserable about the whole thing.

I'm not sure who I want to vote for on Tuesday.

Would it help if she endorsed someone? It probably would. She kept saying vote for who you believe in. So if she endorsed someone, she believes in them and I'd follow because I trust her like no one else.

Both candidates are pretty bad. Biden's showing dementia and sanders has his heart issues. At least sanders is more likely to just die and the presidency will fall to the VP. Biden will just forget everything including his who his wife is apparently. We'll be stuck with him but at least he won't actively try to destroy the country.

Ideologically, I'd rather have Sanders because at least he'll try to bring about the right ideas. Unfortunately everyone is so scared to death of him they won't give him a chance.

Anyway, because you all hold people to gunpoint and force them to say it "yay vote blue no matter who"

Just don't ask me to be even remotely enthusiastic about it except for the part where trump gets his *** kicked out of the whitehouse.

[stonecutter357]

93. Sanders just called Warren a liar !

[totodeinhere]

97. I think they both called each other one. But things are said in campaigns.

Now we are at the kiss and make up stage.

[NCProgressive]

11. Robert Reich is fuming and blabbering

He should have seen what the whole country wants as proven by Tuesday night.

[el_bryanto]

29. what the whole country wants?

Reich wants actual economic and social progress, and Biden is less likely to provide that - he's likely going to stay the course with Neo Liberal pro-Business policies. I get that a lot of Democrats want to see that as well, though.

Bryant

[coti]

30. NO, we want that fucking fuck OUT of the White House. nt

[el_bryanto]

32. Ah - and your theory is that Reich doesn't want that? nt

[coti]

33. You think I wouldn't prefer Medicare for All?

This is a matter of PRIORITIES.

[NCProgressive]

44. If he wanted that, he would ask Bernie to drop out and endorse Biden.

[Jakes Progress]

88. Just that he wants to be right

more than he wants what is right. He has the background to be smarter than he is displaying.

[Paka]

85. What is it about DU posters...

that keeps them from accepting that Bernie supporters DO want the orange monster out of the White House. I acknowledge your right to an opinion, which is all that it is. My opinion is that Bernie is the BEST option to defeat Trump. Am I not allowed to have an opinion?

[LanternWaste]

113. I don't think that opposition to your opinion equates to a denial of that opinion.

"Am I not allowed to have an opinion?"

No one is arguing a denial of holding opinion, simply arguing against the premise of that opinion.

[treestar]

79. Neither is more or less likely to provide that

Without Congress. Biden is more likely to get at least something. My way or the highway doesn't work.

[LanternWaste]

112. Much as I get you provide us little more than bumper stickers.

"I get that a lot of Democrats want to see that as well, though..."

[silverweb]

12. I'm pretty shocked.

I like Reich and almost always find what he says to be valuable. I do not like this "must" attitude.

The only mandate we have this election is to get rid of Trump. Well, that and keep the House and win back the Senate, of course.

[rurallib]

71. I am right with you

Really like Reich and his messages on various issues. I was surprised when he backed Sanders.
This message that we "must" back Sanders really misses the mark.

Job #1 is getting rid of Trump. Nothing is worth anything until that cancer is removed.

[silverweb]

107. Precisely!

[oasis]

13. Nope, no cabinet post for you Rob. Go hideaway and write another book.

[JaneQPublic]

15. It's bad enough all we have left to vote for are old white men.

I'll be DAMNED if I'll be told WHO to vote for by yet another old white man.

Reich needs to be slapped silly with a pink pussy hat.

[LizBeth]

24. Exactly and after just a small amount of time, I am thinking people ought to walk gently here

because a lot of us women are starting to get pissed. I am. Told I am on a damn bandwagon because I am responsible and chose the Democratic blue wave at the expense of my candidate.

[Paka]

86. Many old white men are telling us to vote Biden.

Do you resent that?

[LanternWaste]

114. "But whatabout...?"

It's a bad look, bad form, and an awkward deflection from the original premise.

[Kota]

16. I usually like Robert Reich. Rubbed me the wrong way, but...

I'm still undecided, wish Biden were more progressive.

[Salviati]

63. I think that we on the left worry too much about the presidency...

If we want a real leftward change, we need to focus more on the legislature. We're not going to get progressive change passed without a much more progressive house and senate, it doesn't matter who the president is, and we've seen how easily change via executive order can be overturned.

Lasting change can only come about when we get control of the house and senate, and we need to focus on that and thus midterm elections to make that happen.

[treestar]

80. +1

And state legislatures, to control gerrymandering and other Republican cheating methods.

[dhol82]

91. +2

[Kota]

111. Agree, I think Warren understood this. I really wanted Warren at the helm with

the senate and house dem controlled.

[ancianita]

18. See how patriarchy works? Reich can shove it.

[LizBeth]

25. Yes.

[FreepFryer]

19. Reichsplaining just jumped the last shark. His impeachment law blunders were bad enough...

... this is just dumb.

[PETRUS]

20. I think there were a variety of reasons people supported Warren.

For those who intended to vote for her because of her policy platform, Sanders does make the most sense as a second choice. For those who supported Warren for other reasons, maybe not.

[LizBeth]

28. I disagree. I supported the whole package but her policy platform is so beyond Sanders.

I would no way support his policy platform of undoable. There is no way, not to mention the rest of the stuff. What Warren had over Sanders is she is capable of implementing and progressing forward the very thing Sanders lacks. So even on policy, that would be a no.

[PETRUS]

34. Ok.

I disagree, but I'm not sure it's worth an argument.

[LostOne4Ever]

21. I switched to Sanders but

I think this is the stupidest thing I have read in a long time.

Warren supporter should and must support whoever they like best for whatever reason they choose and no-one else.

Robert needs to clean off his glass navel and get over himself!

[wysi]

22. I had to mute Reich in 2016...

... and I did it again yesterday. He doesn't get to tell me whom I "must" vote for.

[JimGinPA]

23. Yeah, I Unfollowed Him Today When I Saw That

[tblue37]

26. I was all in for Warren, but I don't think Bernie can beat Trump. nt

[renate]

27. Joe would never have been in my top 5 or 10, frankly, but I resent this Bernie or bust BS

I'd be delighted--overjoyed--if we had President Sanders and a House and Senate to match. But it's not going to happen.

Getting rid of Trump is EVERYTHING. I find it impossible to envision Bernie Sanders raising his right hand and taking the oath of office. I'd love it, but I can't see it even in my wildest dreams.

Those of us who felt strongly about another candidate are not currently in the mood to be sold a "wouldn't it be great if our wildest political fantasies came true" bill of goods. Especially not now that all the female candidates are gone. That was my wildest political fantasy, not another old white guy as our candidate.

[Fresh_Start]

31. Easily looks like 10+ to 1 against moving to Sanders

bye Bernie.

[beachbumbob]

35. reich is off his meds

or tripping on LSD

[Talitha]

36. MUST??????

Oooooh, that's gonna leave a mark!

[mr_lebowski]

37. WTF does him being 'white' have to do with any thing JOAN?

Or male, for that matter?

The retort is nearly as lame as Reich's post.

[John Fante]

62. Seriously.

Telling someone as respected as Reich to shut up simply because he's white is bizarre.

He's not the first surrogate to insist Americans "must" vote for their candidate of choice, nor will he be the last. It's not that big a deal. Lighten up, Francis.

[treestar]

83. I guess she is thinking his white male status

is what gets him thinking he can tell others what they must do.

[RelativelyJones]

38. "Must"? The only thing they must do is decide for themselves about the best way to unseat Trump.

[NurseJackie]

39. Robert Reich... you need to shut the fuck up!

[pampango]

40. Policy-wise Warren and Sanders have a lot in common. Stratigically her decision may differ if

she does not see a path for Sanders then she may push her progressive agenda in other ways.

In either case, while I respect Reich immensely, he is not position to tell anyone what the MUST do.

[Roy Rolling]

41. This is Funny

The backlash will prove bigger than his endorsement. More Warren supporters will tell him FO and not vote for Sanders. Reich may be a great economist but a terrible politician.

[relayerbob]

42. Hahahahahahahaha

Not in this lifetime, dude.

You're telling us what to do, after calling her a snake, and a bunch of other nasty things, for not doing precisely what you demanded her to do.

After Sanders goes and pretend to be appalled at finding this out, but only when he needs something from her and us.

I have two words to Mr Reich ... Bite and me. I'm trying to stay nice, because I prefer two other words, the second one being off.

From what I've seen at least 75% of Warren supporters are heading over to Biden's camp, after catching our breaths.

[Sloumeau]

46. Is this what they call "mansplaining"? :) nt

[gldstwmn]

47. No you know how I feel when people tell me

I must support Biden.

[rickyhall]

48. Let's have pity party...

[Mr.Bill]

49. It's obvious that there would be a prominent place for Warren

in either a Sanders or Biden administration. The longer she waits to endorse one of them, the more it looks like she is playing it from both angles. That doesn't look good on her. Especially when other candidates who have dropped out picked a side. The longer she waits to endorse someone, the less sincere the endorsement will look. Pick a side, Liz. I will never think less of you no matter who it is. It will only look more courageous, win or lose.

And you know what? She knows this, too. She's not naïve or stupid.

[Skya Rhen]

57. I agree about the effect of not endorsing quickly - this is why Kamala is off my list for anything.

Something about her that I can’t quite put my finger on but I do know that whatever it is, doesn’t deserve to be rewarded. Too many more qualified deserving women out there,TBH.

[Mr.Bill]

61. I feel the same way.

I was all for Kamala early on, although I didn't say so here too much. She lost me when she went after Joe about school bussing at that debate.

[LisaM]

101. It's not obvious that she'd have a role in a Sanders administration.

I can't see him working with any of the other candidates, frankly (maybe Tulsi Gabbard). He's a bridge burner.

I don't think Warren owes anyone an endorsement the day she was forced to drop out. And, I don't think we should call them "sides".

Maybe she honestly hasn't decided. Ideologically she might be a little closer to Sanders, but temper and empathy-wise, closer to Biden. Maybe she wants to be guided by her supporters. Maybe she wants a day off to play with Bailey.

Or maybe she's waiting to gauge the reaction from both of them. Some Sanders supporters have been pretty demanding, telling her what to do.

[BlueWI]

50. Why do you care?

You're not voting for Warren or Sanders.

Pot stirring can be an addiction.

[mcar]

52. Telling the little women what to do?

[blm]

54. Sanders campaign is filled with snakes.

[DinahMoeHum]

55. Uh, Reich, Sanders is NOT a Democrat.

Just sayin'

[LaurenOlimina]

56. done!

[barbtries]

64. twitter didn't care much for this tweet,

including me. My response:

Link to tweet

"must"? No, actually what I have to do is choose which candidate would 1. be the best president, and 2. be most likely to rid the country of trump and help to win a majority of both houses of Congress.
you must realize that Warren supporters think for themselves.

[DIVINEprividence]

66. Robert Reich advocated for free trade and NAFTA

The anti trade rhetoric of Bernie is a direct line to the racist anti-immigrant sentiment infecting this country. Reich was right the first time. The rust belt was already a thing. Look at our economic growth since embracing free trade. It is through the roof. Bernie’s anti trade rhetoric let’s the real culprits offbthe hook who created the 2008 financial crash, white guys in pin striped suites on Wall Street.

[YOHABLO]

67. Reich has the right to endorse whomever he wants. Joan McCarter, STFU.

[TwilightZone]

90. Endorsing is a little different than telling supporters of a rival candidate that they must...

hop on the bandwagon. If he'd stuck to explaining why he thought they should support Sanders without demanding that they do so, it wouldn't sound quite as presumptuous.

[YOHABLO]

95. As if most people who follow R.Reich aren't already very progressive. Gimme a break.

He's talking about Progressives, yes it's synonymous to an endorsement and I don't think that particular group of people have a problem with his ''demands''.

[frazzled]

68. Bob Reich mansplained me once

Back when he was running for governor of Massachusetts. It was in a personal email he wrote in response to mine. I was utterly shocked, and we were his supporters. We still voted for him, but I would never listen to him again.

[NBachers]

69. This is why they invented "WTF?"

Sorry, but the respected icon has now become a laughing stock.

[Soph0571]

70. I really appreciate him but on this

He can fuck right off

[paleotn]

72. Don't tell me who to vote for....

I can do that calculus just fine without Reich's input. Though I like some of Sander's ideas, he was never in my top 3 or 4. And not because of the silly "socialist" scare mongering. When you get down to nuts and bolts, Warren's ideas are as "socialist" as anyone's. I just don't do populists or ideologues. Simple as that. I take a dim view of those who say they have all the answers and demonize anyone who disagrees with them on the smallest point. Sorry, folks, but democracy doesn't work that way. It's messy and you don't always get what you want. Mick put that far more eloquently than I.

[sprinkleeninow]

73. Whatever whatchamacallit I had of him just went out the flippin' window. Sorry.

[Blue_true]

75. Sanders supporters keep claiming that he will dramatically expand the electorate. SANDERS HAS NOT

DONE THAT IN ANY STATE. Biden has.

[honest.abe]

76. "must" was not the right word.

[treestar]

78. I follow him on FB

He has become a Bernie cultist!

[ehrnst]

81. Just imagine if someone said that Warren supporters "must" back Biden...

[Jakes Progress]

87. Reich became irrelevant to progressivism

in 2016 when he could barely bring himself to mildly support Clinton over trump. He carped about her throughout the primary and then did so more mildly after the convention.

I lump him in with sarandon and the green party people.

It is a shame he is so politically naive and so self-absorbed that he can't see the damage he did. He can't do any damage now, since he has thrown away his reputation.

[AncientGeezer]

94. Finally people are realizing Reich is a little grenade throwing, mansplain', authoritarian.

Hmm..that mindset rings a bell.....

[Bettie]

102. I really like Robert Reich

but he can take a seat.

This is NOT the time to be giving women orders.

[we can do it]

103. Not happening. Sorry bob.

[delisen]

104. Clueless in Cali- The tenured entitled preacher/teacher.

[dalton99a]

105. NEXT: Warren MUST endorse Sanders

and Warren MUST tell supporters to vote for Sanders

[highplainsdem]

108. There have already been lots of tweets about that. Though not from Reich, AFAIK.

[wishstar]

106. Doesn't seem like Warren herself has reached that conclusion

or she would have already endorsed

[TexasBushwhacker]

109. Generally I like Robert Reich

But I'm an adult and Fully capable of decideing who to vote for. Does it even matter to him that Russia is supporting Sanders because they think he's easier for Trump to beat?

[kcr]

110. Same reaction, here. Sorry, but no.

Already made my decision.