General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The presence of such a divisive figure on our Democratic stage will only harm us. [View all]meadowlander
(4,394 posts)to shut up and fuck off. How well has that worked in the past?
There's a difference between "attacking" and "offering constructive criticism" and I don't think that the Democratic Party is either (a) perfect or (b) so weak that it's going to be disabled by someone publicly discussing what they consider its flaws to be. Having that conversation is what makes us stronger. Insisting that any criticism is rank betrayal and anyone offering it needs to be expelled makes us weaker.
I'm a liberal progressive who has voted straight Dem tickets in every single US election for the past 24 years. I am a true Democrat and I'm interested in what Bernie Sanders brings to the table. I agree with basically everything he says and I think he offers a powerful progressive voice and a focus on the real issues that we need to be addressing - income inequality, rising college and healthcare costs, and climate change.
I accept that there is a more recent wing of the party that is more moderate but I don't accept that the party moving to the middle means I'm not a real Democrat anymore.
And if you think trying to exclude people from the party or shut them down is either what the "true party" is about or is somehow going to help that party win in 2020 then you are sorely mistaken. Again.