Progressives look for concession from Biden with running mate

[left-of-center2012]

Progressives want to extract a concession from former Vice President Joe Biden with his pick for a running mate after they failed to push one of their own to the top of the Democratic 2020 ticket.

Biden, a centrist who bested more liberal rivals such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren on his way to becoming the presumptive nominee, has already vowed to tap a woman as his vice presidential pick. Several advocacy groups told The Hill that tapping a progressive to share the ticket would go a long way in signaling to the party's left flank that he takes them — and their policies — seriously.

“Joe Biden absolutely has to pick a progressive champion as his VP pick. He has to unify the party, and that’s the key,” Charles Chamberlain, head of Democracy for America, told The Hill. The former vice president has consistently touted a moderate platform and campaigned on a return to normality, a stance anathema for progressives who demanded a “political revolution” to push the nation forward.

Some liberal voters are still smarting over the defeats of Sanders and Warren, and a coalition of eight progressive groups sent the former vice president a letter with a list of policies they demand he adopt if he wants their support.

Prominent Sanders supporters have already vowed to withhold their support for now, citing Biden's reluctance to adopt key progressive platforms. Briahna Joy Gray, who was Sanders’s national spokeswoman, emphatically declared this week: "I don't endorse Joe Biden."

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/493307-progressives-look-for-concession-from-biden-with-running-mate-pick

[Wounded Bear]

1. Well, that'll get Trump re-elected...

Elections matter. Biden got the most votes and WON the primary election.

[dem4decades]

2. Is anyone that refuses to endorse Biden still a Democrat?

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Then, Breee-ahhh-nah, may I suggest you fuck off and shut the fuck up?

[empedocles]

8. These people are not about winning elections, forwarding policy - just stoking their base

[beachbumbob]

4. ptogressives have a simple choice. elect biden or elect trump, if they don;t get that,

fuck them. I can not say it any clearer. Biden will choose who HE THINKS is the best VP and right now, its Harris.

[Hortensis]

5. Biden is a solid, PROVEN liberal, not a "centrist."

The Hill serves Republicans. No to posting RW lies and propaganda without pointing them out for what they are.

VP Biden has an almost 50-year record that shows beyond any possible doubt that HE has always been a Left-Of-Center liberal. As am I and other liberal Democrats here.

"I am not now, nor have I ever been, a liberal Democrat." Maybe not, but Sanders is allied with us now, which I notice this contemptible article carefully avoids mentioning.

[aka-chmeee]

6. Had BS prevailed in the primaries,

Would the "progressives" be contemplating adopting more moderate positions to placate the mainstream Democratic Party? I think not. They would be secure in the knowledge that the "Party" would do what is necessary to remove the tumor killing the nation. If the people had wanted the farther left agenda, BS would be the nominee. Why should Biden have to become the candidate he defeated (soundly, I might add) to satisfy people who, at least in part, claim to be willing to vote for the tumor rather than the cure?

[katmondoo]

7. I am sick to death of Bernie and his so called Progressives. Be yourself Joe.

[beastie boy]

9. Progressives are on board with Biden. It's the far left who want concessions, despite their decisive

loss in the Primary race. Biden is sure to pick a progressive VP nominee, there is no doubt about it, and no concessions are needed for that. Prominent Sanders supporters can keep throwing tantrums and hold their breaths until they turn blue, it's not going to make any difference. They have no credibility or leverage left.

[George II]

10. Democrats, independents, and even some republicans have chosen their candidate.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Bernie's fringe needs to stop whining and grok that they lost.

“Joe Biden absolutely has to pick a progressive champion as his VP pick. He has to unify the party, and that’s the key,” says some guy. In fact, Joe Biden doesn't have to do shit because (a) he's a progressive, just not delusional, and (b) the party is already unified, which was demonstrated by the fact that Biden won the primaries decisively because the actual Democrats voted for him.

[Hekate]

12. So, they still have not read his platform, or read his Liberal record, or heard a word he's said?

And they won't endorse the clear winner of the Dem primaries, when the alternative is Trump?

Then these "progressives" are useless as allies, aren't they? They must, on some level, be satisfied with what Trump is doing to destroy this nation. There's your "revolution" -- complete with body count and the destruction of institutions.

And when they stand on the rubble in 2024, then will they think their point has been made sufficiently?

[GulfCoast66]

13. Losers don't dictate terms.

[Generic Brad]

14. More futile Trump generated division. Yawn.

Not buying the premise. The very few who are demanding concessions in exchange for their vote have no credible political clout anyway.

[LakeArenal]

15. "concession from Biden"

That is unbelievable.
The loser makes concessions.
The loser is supposed to supplant and concede their loss to the victor.

Joe isn’t demanding anything from them but unify the country against trump. The need to choose.

[3catwoman3]

18. How is it that people do not get it that if they...

...don’t get off their purity high horses and fail to get Joe Biden elected, there wil be NO Democratic agenda items acted upon - progressive, moderate or otherwise.

Wake Up, purists!

Let this icon symbolize me banging other people’s heads against a wall -

[ooky]

19. Please. Whoever Biden picks will be more progressive than anyone on the Fascist ticket. nt

[mcar]

20. ...

[Cha]

21. NO... they Lost Big Time. Joe Biden will Choose his OWN VP..

Not who the Losers want.

[struggle4progress]

22. Let's aim to win. I think we need centrist conservatives.

[George II]

23. Did the Japanese insist on concessions from the US when they surrendered in 1945?

This kind of stuff (not from you) really annoys me. Sanders was beaten soundly, and he conceded before it became a rout. In some ways I wish it had gone on to the end to REALLY show what Democrats and the American people think, although I'm glad it's over for the sake of Americans' lives.

[left-of-center2012]

28. "Did the Japanese insist on concessions ..."

I think the only thing they got,
whether they asked for it or we let it happen,
was to keep the Emperor and that he would not be prosecuted,
although their form of government became a democracy, as it is today.

[pampango]

24. Trump played to the hard-core religious right with his selection of Pence rather

than make a play to the middle. Actually VP selections are often used to solidify the base then the presidential candidate can campaign towards the middle.

[Demsrule86]

25. It won't work in this case...we need the same coalition that one the house more than we need a

a small number of super left voters...who may or may not turn out. We need geographical balance on the ticket...go for states like Georgia or Texas...appeal to the Mid West..electoral college win.

[Renew Deal]

26. The party is unified against Trump

They can choose. Biden or Trump. No need to waste more time on this.

[pampango]

27. The party was unified against Herbert Hoover in 1932. Thank goodness we got FDR instead

of just anyone who could beat Hoover. If the party is already unified, the choice of VP is not determinative. Should we still play for the 'voter in the middle' or solidify our base?