WAPO: Bernie Sanders pushed for a contested convention in 2016. Now he wants to avoid one.

[ehrnst]

With the potential of a contested convention on the horizon for Democrats, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday staked out a notably different position on delegates during the ninth Democratic debate.

Asked if the candidate with the most pledged delegates should be the Democratic nominee — even if that candidate did not have a majority of pledged delegates — Sanders said, “the will of the people should prevail, yes. The person who has the most votes should become the nominee.”

It is the opposite of what Sanders and his campaign said in 2016, even after Hillary Clinton had secured the majority of pledged delegates.

“The responsibility that superdelegates have is to decide what is best for this country and what is best for the Democratic Party,” Sanders said on May 1, 2016. “And if those superdelegates conclude that Bernie Sanders is the best candidate, the strongest candidate to defeat Trump and anybody else, yes, I would very much welcome their support.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/20/bernie-sanders-pushed-contested-convention-2016-now-he-wants-avoid-one/

[evertonfc]

1. Democratic socialist

taking over our party. Tom Perez must be tickled

[LanternWaste]

2. Much like the Democratic party itself, the rules are a mere convenience he applies if it suits him.

[dalton99a]

17. +1

[SunSeeker]

3. Yes, "the will of the people should prevail," 75% of us DON'T want Sanders.

Sanders is not the "will of the people" candidate.

[Bonobo]

22. So that's how the math is done!?

So if Biden gets 8% in a contest, it means 92% don’t want him?

Sure you wanna stick with that?

[SunSeeker]

23. No Bonobo, your making incorrect assumptions. That 75% is the Not Bernie vote.

You're assuming people who vote for Biden are equally fine with Bernie or one of the "not Bernies." That is simply not true. The Not Bernie vote is relative fine with any top Not Bernie candidate, but definitely do not feel represented by nor do they want Bernie. I am fine with any of the top 3 Not Betnies: Buttigieg, Warren, or Biden. One of them should prevail to represent us 75% of Democrats who don't want Bernie.

[Bonobo]

25. Let me get this straight...

You believe that in the case that Sanders gets 25% of the vote, it means that 75% of the people are choosing anyone but Sanders because they oppose Sanders.

But

In the even that another candidate gets only 10%, it does not necessarily means that 90% oppose that candidate.

The math only work s that way for Bernie

[SunSeeker]

26. The 75% of Dems who are Not Bernie voters would prefer any top tier Not Bernie over Sanders.

It's a matter of what the majority wants in a democracy.

[corbettkroehler]

4. There's A Simple Truth, Delivered By One Of Our Top Statesmen

Link to tweet

[ehrnst]

7. How does this address Sanders complete reversal on a brokered convention?

It appears that brokered convention would not benefit him personally this time, so suddenly he has dim view of the "fairness" of such a process....

“The responsibility that superdelegates have is to decide what is best for this country and what is best for the Democratic Party,” Sanders said on May 1, 2016. “And if those superdelegates conclude that Bernie Sanders is the best candidate, the strongest candidate to defeat Trump and anybody else, yes, I would very much welcome their support.

Perhaps you have another explanation for this most recent flip-flop?

[corbettkroehler]

8. It Addresses It In 2 Manners

1) Many have criticized Sanders for his Las Vegas debate assertion that the candidate with the most delegates should win. Kerry said likewise.

2) The 2020 Democratic Convention will feature a YUGE difference from 2016's, due to reforms which Sanders arranged. In 2016, the Superdelegates voted in the first round and were almost entirely locked down before the first state primary. In 2020, they don't vote until the second round, if there is one, and only a fraction of them have committed themselves so far.

[stopdiggin]

10. parsing the language

Sanders 2016 = super delegates, BAD!
Sanders 2020 = super delegates, GOOD!

Sanders 2016 = "it's not just about percentages!"
Sanders 2020 = "the person with the most votes .."

[HarlanPepper]

13. That's an excellent summation of the hypocrisy

[corbettkroehler]

16. That's What Happens When Superdelegates Are Used Improperly

At the risk of repeating myself, let's try this again.

Superdelegates originally were created TO BREAK A TIE, not to influence the first convention vote.

In 2016, they not only influenced the vote but gave ammunition to the corporate media to question Sanders' momentum at every turn, from the moment he announced his run.

In the aftermath, through the normal party process, Sanders arranged for the Superdelegates to be restored to their original purpose.

THAT WAS A SEA CHANGE OF TRULY MOMUMENTAL IMPORT.

So, yes, Sanders has a different message BECAUSE THE NOMINATING CONVENTION ONCE AGAIN WILL WORK AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED, a structure in place LONG BEFORE Sanders ever ran for President.

Better?

[stopdiggin]

18. "When Superdelagates Are Used Improperly" .. from a viewpoint of self-interest

"In 2016, they not only influenced the vote but gave ammunition to the corporate media to question Sanders' momentum at every turn, from the moment he announced his run."

Nothing in the above is inherently "improper" or illegal. The delegates acted (in 2016, and in previous nominating processes) properly and within the rules. And mewling around about the "corporate media" and "momentum" and what have you says absolutely nothing to the effect of "rules", "actions" or "propriety" on their part. The problem appears to be that what is "improper" or unfair is largely defined by what is favorable (or unfavorable) to this particular candidate, in this particular cycle.

Pretty much as the previous post indicated.

[squirecam]

28. On the video, Kerry said

The candidate with the majority will be the nominee. Which is correct.

Sanders wants the candidate with the plurality to be the nominee. That is not correct.

[Hav]

33. And when he was running against a candidate

who even had a clear majority of pledged delegates and not just a plurality, that somehow didn't matter then.
It's just pick and choose of whatever is convenient for him.

[Cha]

14. Switch.. will he switch back?

[boston bean]

36. Umm he is stating majority of delegates

Ie all delegates

Bernie will not have a majority, ie over 50% on the first ballot. It will go to a second.

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

5. Sanders' supporters please explain this:

Why did Sanders keep campaigning in 2016 even after Clinton had already won enough primary delegates to lock up the nomination?

[ehrnst]

21. Crickets.....

[SunSeeker]

24. THIS

[William769]

6. Just another part of a tangled web that he and his campaign are weaving.

We have enough fucking tangled webs in Washington already!

[TwilightZone]

9. Whatever is best for Bernie at any particular time...

is what he and his supporters want, even if it's a complete reversal from last cycle, or even last week.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. K&R

[HarlanPepper]

12. I'm going to enjoy watching someone else become the nominee on the second ballot

[NurseJackie]

15. I can't trust someone like that.

And I could never vote for someone that I didn't trust.

[TomCADem]

19. I Think We Should Honor Bernie's Demands and Give Him a Contested Convention

If he fails to hit the threshold. Heck, he wanted a contested convention even though he did not have the math last time.

[totodeinhere]

20. Of course. This is a campaign and Bernie will say and do whatever he thinks is in the best interest

of his campaign. And so will every other candidate. That certainly is not earth shattering news. And some of the same people who are bashing Bernie for possibly changing his position on this topic are more than willing to give Bloomberg a pass for his many changed positions.

[ehrnst]

30. False equivalence and Whataboutism: especially referencing a politician who says he never changes.

Logical fallacies are the last resort when one can't really defend one's position, but don't want those disagreeing with you to go unanswered.

[betsuni]

27. I was told Bernie is consistent and never changes.

Maybe he's a politician like any other!

[ehrnst]

29. "Told...that his superdelegate convention push would defy history and the will of the voters

Sanders said, “Defying history is what this campaign has been about.”

From the article in the OP.

[Blue_true]

31. It bothers me how Bernie wants to change rules before

the convention to a system that helps him.

[redqueen]

32. "Let's discuss this video from WaPo clip-by-clip...because it's got some problems"

Link to tweet

[comradebillyboy]

34. Walker "The Liberal Case for Donald Trump" Bragman?

In what universe would any rational person take Walker Bragman seriously?

https://www.salon.com/2016/04/29/a_liberal_case_for_donald_trump_the_lesser_of_two_evils_is_not_at_all_clear_in_2016/

[ehrnst]

35. Yep. When one tries to shoot the messenger, it sometimes backfires...

[Blue_Tires]

37. hypocrite...