It’s time for Democrats to unify: Why even the most idealistic Sanders voter should support Clinton

[baldguy]

We don’t know what Bernie Sanders discussed with Hillary Clinton when the two of them met Tuesday night, but it’s fair to assume that the conversation revolved around Clinton’s new status as the presumptive Democratic nominee. As the burgeoning Bernie or Bust movement clearly demonstrates, a lot of Sanders supporters are unhappy with the prospect of backing Clinton. Of course, because Green Party candidate Jill Stein has offered to run on a joint ticket with Sanders, they may not actually have to do so.

And so we find ourselves at a crucial junction in American political history. If Sanders and his supporters swallow their pride and acknowledge that, despite her flaws, Clinton offers them their best chance of achieving progressive policy changes, they will use their newfound leverage to push her to the left and then elect her president. On the other hand, if they place ideological pride over doing the right thing, they can contest Clinton’s nomination up to the Democratic convention or join Jill Stein on a third-party ticket… and their legacy might wind up being the election of President Donald Trump.

Before I encourage both Sanders and the Bernie or Bust movement to support Clinton, it is first necessary to dispense with the popular arguments used against doing so. The most common refrain that I hear from those in the Sanders camp is that Clinton somehow “stole” the nomination. Although she undeniably had far more support from the party establishment, this in its own right doesn’t constitute stealing (after all, Trump was also overwhelmingly opposed by his party establishment, with well-known results). Yes, Clinton has 581 superdelegates to Sanders’ 49… but she also won 2,219 pledged delegates to Sanders’ 1,832. More importantly, she won 15.8 million popular votes to Sanders’ 12 million, making her without question the preferred choice of a majority of Democratic primary voters.

more:
http://www.salon.com/2016/06/16/its_time_for_democrats_to_unify_why_even_the_most_idealistic_sanders_voter_should_support_clinton/

[Autumn]

1. When you say "Fuck Bernie Sanders" your unity posts are horse shit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141469736#post70

[baldguy]

2. Unless & until Sanders conceeds & endorses Clinton, it fits.

Until then, he's just helping Trump. It's all up to him to change the narrative.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. Ah so yet another sore winner.

It must be terrible to be so insecure about your candidate and your support for your candidate that you feel the need to lash out over and over again agsinst your fellow democrats.

[baldguy]

10. Sanders wants to keep the campaign going, and you're surprised when he's treated like it is?

Maybe we should just ignore him.

[Autumn]

8. No it's not up to him to change the narrative and I hope with all my heart he does not endorse her.

[azurnoir]

17. It's the honeymoon phase

[TrueDemVA]

3. Nah

I can't support anyone who voted to go to war, supports fracking, supports private prisons, supports regime change, supports disasterous free trade deals, is against single payer health insurance, and who evolves as often as they do.

I'm no longer supporting candidates that say one thing then lobby for the opposite.

[baldguy]

4. Trump supporter, then.

[Fuddnik]

6. There's more than 2 people on that ballot.

Maybe you should brush up on your Dale Carnegie, because this horse shit sure ain't winning friends or influencing people.

In fact, you're driving them away.

[baldguy]

12. Only 2 that matter.

If you don't vote for Clinton, the you're supporting Trump

[TrueDemVA]

7. No, just not a Clinton supporter

Good try though. I like that you didn't argue any of the points. The truth hurts sometimes. It's okay.

[vintx]

9. Why don't people realize that trying to force people to do what they want is counterproductive?

Could it be because they're fucking idiots?

Well, they backed the most unpopular candidate ever (besides Trump, which ... well talk about damning with faint praise).. so...

[baldguy]

11. Sanders is trying to force the entire Democratic Party to dance to his tune. Is he a fucking idiot?

[vintx]

15. lol, you mean the tune the rest of the world has already evolved to, while neolibs here

keep us held back with their repub lite compromising kabuki theater bullshit?

[TheFarseer]

13. What Bernie policies is she likely to fight for, in you opinion?

[PowerToThePeople]

14. Bernie or Bust!

eom

[Attorney in Texas]

16. I understand (and support) the need for party unity in Ohio and Florida. Why do you care if Texas

and California voters (as well as voters in the forty-something other non-battleground states) vote for a progressive candidate like Jill Stein at the top of the ticket and vote for Democrats down ballot?

It is ridiculous to suggest that a vote for Jill Stein in California will affect Hillary's inevitable win in California or to suggest that a vote for Jill Stein in Texas will affect Trump's inevitable win there.

I have not made up my mind. My decision will be based on four factors:

1. the ticket (I won't be voting for a ticket where neither the nominee nore running mate share my values),
2. reform of the party rules and leadership (the superdelegate scheme is antidemocratic, and the DNC is rudderless),
3. the platform (the platform must memorialize Hillary's promises to progressives during the primary), and
4. the role of progressives at the convention (either we're within the party or we're being asked to look elsewhere).

If these factors break in favor of progressives, I can continue t believe that the Democratic Party is the progressive party. If these factors break against the progressive wing of the party, I begin my transition to progressive party by voting for Jill Stein at the top of the ticket and vote for down-ballot Democrats.

Neither pathway will have any effect whatsoever on electing Trump. Frankly, it is silly to suggest otherwise.