50+ years as a Democratic Party member, voter and activist, here. I've been around a while and I've seen our current situation developing for quite a while. It is simply undeniable that most of our Democratic Party leaders today represent the interests of the uber-rich and transglobal corporations, with barely a sop to the majority of the people in the party and the country. They have no time for "we, the people." They spend almost all of their time with rich people hitting them up for money. They now THINK like rich people and ACT like rich people. And Hillary Clinton is the worst example of this betrayal of the Democratic Party's history and its fundamental values that I have ever seen.
This party badly needs a thorough shake-up! It is already a minority party, with 40+% of the electorate now declaring themselves Independents. Most of those people are doing so because they are DISGUSTED with the lack of representation they perceive in the halls of power. And many of them see plainly enough that we are NO LONGER the "big tent" party that represents workers and the poor, the majority of the country.
What is MOST disgusting to me is the bribery and cronyism that has been used to subvert labor union leadership, progressive office holders and the leadership of progressive groups across the board. It is truly appalling to see someone like Dolores Huerta, recipient of $100,000 from the Clinton Foundation, turn around and participate in dirty tricks for Clinton, like that phony business Huerta pulled in Nevada's first caucuses, claiming that Bernie Sanders supporters had shouted her down with cries of "English only!" That was a damned lie. It's on vid. It DIDN'T happen. It was a bought-and-paid-for dirty trick. And that is not the only one we have seen!
I hold Hillary Clinton directly responsible for the extent of this corruption of our party and our democracy. It is a very, very corrupt system, and some people who engage in money-grubbing within it might be forgiven because they are poor and powerless and can't see any other options. For instance, I would never begrudge Dolores Huerta her $100,000 if it is being used to help poor farm workers. But for the repayment to be lies like she told in Nevada--whether at her own instigation or because she was told to do so--is the part that is disgusting, and the part that I hold Clinton responsible for.
Oh, yes, the Democratic Party needs to be shaken up, big time!
And they most certainly are being shaken up by the Sanders revolution, and will be further shaken up at the convention, because Hillary Clinton CANNOT reach her pledged delegate target in the remaining primary states. It is a mathematical impossibility. See this MSNBC political analyst's rundown on the numbers:
Feel the math!
https://www.facebook.com/susan.sanders.35325/videos/636912853123585/
From
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512046916
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