How Not To Get The Best Possible Democratic Candidate For The White House!

[NanceGreggs]

78. You are leaving something key out of the equation.

You do not represent “we the people”. We people (Democrats) are in the millions, and include centrists, far-leftists, and everything in between. You are not speaking on behalf of all of them.

“A whole lot of Democrats are not happy with Hillary as their only choice.” First of all, Hillary hasn’t even said she’s running yet – and if she does, she won’t be the only choice when primaries begin; there will be others in the field.

As the polls/surveys have shown, a whole lot of Democrats are NOT unhappy with Hillary as a potential POTUS. You seem to want to ignore that fact, and instead pretend that everyone in the Party thinks exactly as you do, and wants exactly the same candidates you want. Being part of the Big Tent, Democrats have different opinions and different priorities, often dependent on where they live, their financial situation, their race/ethnicity, their sexual orientation – and a million other variables that shape an individual’s views.

“One way to guarantee that the people will get someone they really do not want is to say 'however, if s/he is the nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for her anyhow'. Again you completely dismiss the idea that some people are willing to support and vote for candidates that you find not to your liking – and vice-versa.

Your entire OP seems to be premised on the idea that (a) every Democrat wants exactly the same nominee, and/or (b) you know what’s best for everyone, and anyone who disagrees with you should be dismissed out of hand.

“Telling them NOW that if this is the only choice we have, we will not vote for her/him is a far better strategy in order to persuade them that they need to present a candidate people WANT if they want to win.”

Exactly who is the candidate “the people want”? Again you are assuming that you know, unequivocally, the perfect candidate that will unite every single Democrat in their support for one person. Who IS that person, Sabrina?

No doubt that if you call the PTB in the Party (whoever you believe those PTB to be) and threaten to not vote for (D)s you find unacceptable, that is the question you will be asked. So what’s your answer? I assure that “none of the above” would be rendered meaningless the minute you uttered the words. Bernie Sanders? There are Democrats who don’t believe he’s electable – and with good reason. Elizabeth Warren? Again, there are Democrats who don’t think she can win. So what’s your fallback position? “I KNOW either one of them can win, so just trust my better judgement”?

“Democratic voters have a right to expect a true Democratic Candidate who represents the best interests of the PEOPLE first.” Does it never occur to you that the person you see as “a true Democrat” is not the same person someone else sees as such? Does it never cross your mind that the concept of the “best interests of the People” is a perception that can vary widely between one voter and another?

“How about they try to get Bernie to run? How about we pressure them to do that?
How about we tell them 'it's either HIM or NO ONE! How about US telling THEM: This is your only choice for a change?”

Yet again, you assume that YOUR ideal candidate is what everyone wants, everyone needs, everyone will get behind. Do you have any facts, any statistics, any poll results to support that idea? Of course you don’t. Your entire argument seems to be based on “I want what I want, and what everyone else wants is of no consequence.”

You (and your buds here) consistently label anyone who disagrees with YOUR ideas as Third Wayers, New Democrats, Conservadems, DINOs, etc., in furtherance of the naïve notion that YOU are the voice of the Democratic Party, and speak for the majority. In truth, you don’t speak for anyone other than yourselves – and your numbers among Democrats as a whole are minimal.

Your first mistake is assuming that every Democrat thinks exactly as you do – they don’t. Your second mistake is assuming that Democrats as a whole are dissatisfied with the Party – they’re not. Your third mistake is assuming that participants on DU represent the opinions of Democrats across-the-board – they don’t. But your fatal mistake is your assumption that the Dem Party is a matter of “them” versus “us”.

Although I realize this is a popular misconception on this particular website, the fact is that WE ARE THE PARTY, and many of its failings are the direct result of people who, like yourself, are more interested in whining that the Party is some distant entity comprised of powers-that-be instead of admitting that the Party includes people whose ideas and ideals you personally object to. You find it more convenient to complain about the direction of the Party than to acknowledge that you contribute nothing to changing that direction, because you're too busy pointing your finger at people who DON'T think as you do and declaring them as outsiders.

By all means, Sabrina – encourage Democrats to whine to the “powers that be”. Tell them to recognize that the millions of voters who elected Barack Obama – twice! – are actually dissatisfied voters too timid to speak up. Tell them that you KNOW better who should be elected, and who shouldn’t. Tell them that you WON’T vote for any (D) unless your personal demands are met.

Then get back to us, and let us know how that worked out – how the Party has decided to cave to your personal demands, how the Party has recognized you and a bunch of disgruntled DUers as their “base”, how all Democrats should just bow to your superior knowledge as to how things should be done, how the entire country will get behind whoever YOU decide should be in the running in 2016.

I’m sure every Democrat in the nation – all being of ONE mind and ONE opinion – will rally behind you in whatever decisions YOU make.

DU stopped being reflective of the voice of the Democratic party years ago - and pretending otherwise, pretending that those here who never stop whinging is representative of the Party as a whole, is just another bit of insanity that people like yourself cling to in hopes of being somehow relevant.