Sanders walks back pledge to vote for Hillary Clinton about an hour after saying he would

[zappaman]

Only hours after telling the hosts of Morning Joe that he would be voting for Hillary Clinton in the November election, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders gave a less definitive answer on CNN to the same question, adding the caveat “in all likelihood.”

Speaking with CNN host Chris Cuomo, Sanders was pressed about not directly endorsing Clinton before being asked about his vote. “Simply stated, when the day comes in November and Sanders has to cast his vote, to whom does it go, Cuomo asked Sanders. “In all likelihood, Hillary Clinton,” Sanders replied.

Cuomo asked, “When you say all likelihood, what percentage of error –?” before Sanders cut him off saying, “I don’t want to parse words right now.”

Sanders went on to add that he believes “This country faces enormous crises,” before adding that his campaign is working with Clinton’s people. He later reiterated his claim that he would do everything he could to make sure Donald Trump was not elected president.


http://www.rawstory.com/2016/06/sanders-walks-back-pledge-to-vote-for-hillary-clinton-about-an-hour-after-saying-he-would/


Over it.

[JaneyVee]

1. This is just getting sad now.

[Cali_Democrat]

23. It's very sad. nt

[BlueMTexpat]

33. Pathetic indeed. eom

[bravenak]

41. Been sad for a while now. Imo.

[scscholar]

60. Do you think it's just to get attention?

I agree with you that it is getting sad.

[DemFromPittsburgh]

2. What good is a deal with someone who goes back on their word???

[tonyt53]

3. Team player? There is no "me" in team unless you scramble it, like changing superdelgate rules.

[caquillo]

61. Ha!

Good one.

[puffy socks]

77. hmmmm...

[chillfactor]

4. sanders has become....

a shadow of his former self.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. It sounds like he's saying yes to me

[tonyt53]

6. Actions and words do not add up to that. Keep on campaigning/would versus likelihood.

[Lil Missy]

8. Sounds like yes to me too.

[swhisper1]

66. thank you. some are carrying their hate too far

[MadBadger]

72. Then he needs to just say yes at this point

[morningfog]

100. He is. The angle to the contrary is silly.

[NurseJackie]

7. I'm not surprised. But also, I'm not even disappointed, because just don't care any more. And ...

... it's very likely that I'm not the only person who feels that way.

[puffy socks]

17. You are correct.

You are not the only person who feels that way.

[BlueMTexpat]

34. + a million! eom

[LenaBaby61]

9. No offense at all ....

But when I've seen Bernie lately, I either turn the channel or don't watch him

[Beacool]

10. New rules, new rules, let me keep repeating that.......

Right now I'm biting my tongue until it's almost bleeding.

[puffy socks]

18. Ow

[tallahasseedem]

95. I agree...

We have enough to focus on trying to keep Trump out of office...what he is doing...ugh.

[TwilightZone]

12. I'm not going to worry about it anymore.

At this point, he'll commit when he's ready. Not really much else to say.

[leftofcool]

13. I don't care anymore.

[LexVegas]

14. I don't care what he has to say on any subject.

[swhisper1]

50. thank you are entitled to your opinion. I lend you no malice

[TeamPooka]

15. Waiter, check please! nt

[okasha]

22. There goes his influence on convention committees,

a speaking slot, or any help from the party paying off his campaign debt.

[swhisper1]

65. petty remarks are not appreciated

[okasha]

84. Taking offense at obvious facts is not a good political tactic.

[JonLeibowitz]

104. 'obvious facts' - and yet no sourcing ever for why he has campaign debt as you claimed

[okasha]

106. See the FEC documents.

[JonLeibowitz]

107. Cute, but I prefer substantive replies rather than vague generalities.

[okasha]

108. I'm not your librarian or your nanny.

The documents are public.

[JonLeibowitz]

109. Any reputable reporting on this topic? Seems like a nice article for a reporter to get.

[JonLeibowitz]

103. Evidence he has campaign debt? Or just more shit slinging about Bernie?

[DemonGoddess]

24. I'm not surprised

and I am SO over this. This is all about publicity for keeping a failed campaign going.

[swhisper1]

48. bull...t

[Grassy Knoll]

85. Calf...

[skidoo]

25. Sanders has a lot of supporters across the country.

[mcar]

35. Hillary has many more

She won, in fact.

[zappaman]

37. What's that have to do with the OP?

[bravenak]

40. And? Hillary has more.

[Cha]

76. HIllary has more who will take her to the White House.

[coco77]

26. What's the big deal?

I was told Hillary has it in the bag with or without Bernie or his supporters. Don't sweat it.

[Loki]

27. This is becoming offensive

And does nothing to secure his attempts to remain relevant or to further his cause. Good sportsmanship is a character issue for me.

[Duval]

28. I believe Sanders will support the Democratic nominee.

[mcar]

36. I believe he will too, Duval

I just don't get the strategy here.

[LongtimeAZDem]

42. Sure but by the time he does, nobody will care (nt)

[Haveadream]

29. Because Bernie is usually so unwavering in his positions

his reluctance to unequivocally endorse Hillary absolutely damns her with faint praise. It isn't clear if that is because he has reservations about her or if he just still holds out hope that she will somehow fail to be the nominee. Either way, since the primary is well over, his coyness about it is making everyone lose interest and seems anything but confident or decisive. He is hurting his legacy.

[caquillo]

62. Why is it solely on her?

In 2008, when she lost to Obama, her supporters (PUMAs) were butthurt, and it was up to Hillary to court them to Obama; she wasn't coddled. She's the victor this time, but once again you think it should be up to her to unite the party? Different sets of rules for Hillary, I suppose.

[swhisper1]

63. because she is the nominee and has to win the trust of almost half the dems

she does not have to be loved by everyone, she just needs their votes, she needs to make them settle for her- not a hard decision with Trump on the other side.

It is not a different set of rules, it is always the winners job to seduce the losers

[Haveadream]

74. It is most effective when both candidates persuade the supporters

That is only logical. Hillary is campaigning to that end but it isn't clear right now what Bernie's objective is besides working to have his ideas implemented. Which is fine but he is prevaricating on working to elect the winner of the primary, which is the usual course of events in a Presidential race.

[swhisper1]

75. you cannot fault him from taking this month to secure his downticket dems in their races. After the

convention, he will give her a share of his time and his support, but it is vital we take congress back to support Hillary, otherwise, all her efforts will find obstruction larger than Obama's

[Haveadream]

80. Agree

It is vital that Dems regain a majority and the top executive position so we can stop the GOP and fix SCOTUS. The latest conservative gun law obstruction shows just how determined they are to stop even the most modest efforts of the Dems.

[TwilightZone]

78. 35% is not "almost half the Dems"

Clinton won Dems 64/35

http://graphics.wsj.com/elections/2016/how-clinton-won/

[Haveadream]

82. Thank you for sharing that break down

It gives a good overview of her relative strengths and weaknesses. There is work to be done, particularly with rural white, independents and millennials. (Interesting because she swept the former two in the '08 primary) Hillary is smart; you know she is on it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

30. Yes sanders, this nation IS facing a big crisis

If Trump is elected.

Sanders is getting dangerous.

[AgingAmerican]

90. Fear is a crappy motivator

The crappiest, according to polling.

[George Eliot]

31. It's over. It is hers to win or lose. She's the candidate. Quit bashing Bernie.

I thought Bernie bashing would end once nomination process over. His vote is his own and its none of anybody's business. If you support her, give her credit for being a candidate who can win.

[ericson00]

32. the people decided, by a 12.5 margin

he needs to accept this.

[AgingAmerican]

38. After all the "tick tock"....

Guess which side cant let go?

[swhisper1]

45. Jesus, they really can't let go

[John Poet]

87. Indeed.

[bravenak]

39. Totally over it

[oswaldactedalone]

43. Bernie, Bernie, Bernie

I voted for you but you need to stop being a twit about this. You lost fair and square, endorse or get off the pot.

[AgingAmerican]

88. Ironic

This reminds me of "Marsha! Marsha Marsha!"

[swhisper1]

44. throwing red meat to your allies I see, Bernie has said over and over he would fight trump. He isn't

going to pledge allegiance until she proves some progressive move. Neither will I

[Beacool]

51. Pray tell, when is he actually going to start fighting Trump???

Sometime in the near future?

[swhisper1]

52. he is campaigning for down ticket, and bashing Trump continually

[Beacool]

53. The two main speeches he gave recently, like yesterday's, mentioned Trump in passing.

[FSogol]

46. Blustering rhetoric is more important than actions!

I don't get it either.

[Squinch]

54. Bernie who?

[UCmeNdc]

55. He said he will vote for Hillary

It sounds to me like he said he will be voting for Hillary.

[cosmicone]

56. Why is he still on TV shows?

The world has moved on.

[swhisper1]

64. because the movement, his baby, is gaining momentum

[kstewart33]

69. The movement is there, but doubtful that it's gaining momentum.

For that to happen, the media has to be involved. And they haven't been too interested lately.

[swhisper1]

70. Bernie does not need the media, he has the attention of half the americans at his back

and media is the known enemy. However, he is getting on the shows regularly now, more than he did when running, so I have to disagree with you about that point

[kstewart33]

71. Point well noted.

I haven't been watching much lately so perhaps he's gotten more media attention that I figured. However, he has to keep the media interested because that's how he best communicates with his supporters.

It's good to see him turn to building the movement. That potentially could be his real legacy - creating a movement that actually gets results - electoral victories.

As a Hillary supporter, I wish him the very best in his quest.

[swhisper1]

73. Thank you, and I wish Hillary a landslide

[TexasTowelie]

91. No, I disagree with you on that point.

He didn't even get the attention of half of the Democrats, yet alone the remaining population of America that includes independents, Republicans, third parties or people that are concerned about politics. Even if he gathered the attention of people, it does not mean that they agree with him or approve of his positions so I see no need to overstate his importance.

[AgingAmerican]

79. No they dont

What he built during the primaries happened with no media coverage. One must understand the nature of the electorate, and there disdain for the self-serving establishment, to understand the Dynamics at work.

[dubyadiprecession]

57. He's fading out like a sad song on the radio.

[David__77]

59. Did he say he "pledged?"

That wording sounds curious to me, and a form of editorializing.

[swhisper1]

67. no, he did not, the poster just wants to cause conflict. It was not the reporters business who Berni

is voting for. He has said all along he will vote for the democrat, but the OP thinks it is fun to stir the pot

[zonkers]

68. I see it as more of a strut than a walk back.

[MerryBlooms]

81. No he didn't, and the vast majority of us Sanders supporters will vote for Clinton

in the GE.

These manufactured hit pieces really aren't necessary.

[840high]

83. Trashing this crap.

[Grassy Knoll]

86. Wow, How Unfortunate, Oh Well..

..The REAL revolution of HRC marches on.
"The Glass Ceiling" And all that.
Power to the people, right on!!!

[John Poet]

89. I don't see any "walk-back" here.

He just said basically the same thing in a different way. He's going to vote for Hillary in November, as are most of us.

It appears to me that most of the Bernie folks on this board have moved on, but now it's the Hillary people who can't let go of the vendetta and want to rub salt in the wounds, and report Bernie's every single word while parsing to microscopic minutia.

Have a little adult patience. He's going to endorse Hillary in his own time. You're all like a bunch of kids in the back of the car pining, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? When will we be there? Are we there yet?" DON'T MAKE ME COME BACK THERE!

We'll be there when we get there. Have a cookie.

[SidDithers]

92. DU rec...nt

Sid

[Jamaal510]

93. Post removed

[ucrdem]

96. .

[Armstead]

94. I thought we weren't allowed to bash Democrats

Oh well....

[zappaman]

97. Where's the bashing?

[Armstead]

98. Oh heavens I don't know..

They're all so complimentary

[JonLeibowitz]

105. +1

[book_worm]

99. Sorry to say it but unless he strongly endorses HRC I don't think he deserves a

speaking slot at the convention. The thing is Hillary can win without him. It would be nice to have him, but he has to do what he has to do.

[SaschaHM]

102. He won't speak in a primetime spot if he hasn't conceded by then.

He may get something in the afternoon on the last day, but the Democrats are not going to waste any televised time on a speech that bashes them and doesn't strongly back the nominee. They shouldn't.