General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A plea to Bernie Sanders supporters. [View all]calimary
(90,124 posts)Similarities to here and now. Establishment candidate versus more progressive upstart. The McCarthy people were utterly on fire for their guy. Hubert Humphrey was unfortunately tied too closely, as Vice President, to LBJ and therefore also to Vietnam. Humphrey prevailed in the contest for the nomination. But the McCarthy people REFUSED to unite. They turned their backs and went home to pout. And they stayed in that position on Election Day.
And we got Richard republi-CON NIXON in the White House the following January.
Wonder if anybody asked the McCarthy people - "happy NOW??????"
Hey, I understand sticking by principles. But when you have to be practical, sometimes you have to adjust - in order to gain the greater good.
It's very clear that Bernie Sanders people are fired up for the sake of the greater good. That's what his campaign is all about. That's what the progressive vision is all about. That's why we as Democrats believe in using government as a force for the GREATER GOOD. For the collective. But then, what happens when we find ourselves looking at the OVER-ARCHING greater good? What happens if Hillary Clinton DOES prevail and win the nomination? The over-arching greater good at that point would seem to be - HOW DO WE KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE?
I guess my biggest issue stems not just from being a Hillary supporter and trying to show respect, and getting beaten up by some of the snark and snide comments and insults from the other side - COMBINED WITH assertions that it's "Bernie or Bust" - if he doesn't get the nomination then they're gonna go Gene McCarthy on us and stay home and pout. Thankfully, not all Bernie people are like that. But I feel compelled to point out that I have yet to see ANY Hillary people, myself included, who are threatening to do the same thing. I've yet to see ANY Hillary people saying it's "Hillary or Bust" and screw the rest of you if we don't get it OUR way. If Bernie beats her to the nomination, I am SO there in the Bernie camp. With bells on! I will advocate and help and have his back and vote for him with eagerness and enthusiasm. No staying home and pouting for me! And you can take that to the bank. With some Bernie people, I would hope to see that same commitment coming back this way, and I don't. And that worries me - that we're headed to another Nixon-type result. One side is rigid and one side is more flexible. Therein lies the most troubling rub. I've seen this happen before. I DO NOT want to see it happen again! Believe me, everybody, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN EITHER!!!! The very fact that Bernie Sanders supporters stand so staunchly with him proves that they certainly don't want to see another GOP-controlled White House, either. But where will they be if Hillary Clinton wins the nomination? Can we count on THEIR support? Dear Admiral, you already have repeated vows from me that you WILL be able to count on MY support if it's Bernie over Hillary. I just feel great trepidation that there will not be a corresponding effort to unite from too many of our brothers and sisters if it's Hillary over Bernie.
I find that the sting I still feel from the recent barbs and brickbats thrown at me tempt me to say "well screw you AND the candidate YOU rode in on." And I CANNOT allow myself to go there. NONE OF US CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT!!! WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CON IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!! Bernie people, that means YOU, TOO!!! Because the REAL prize, FOR THE GREATER GOOD, is to keep the republi-CONS OUT of the White House. At least until we have a change to replace some of the scalias or thomases on the Supreme Court.
And btw, I'm no "concern troll." Which is what I see to explain away other efforts like mine, to try to remind our friends in the other camp of the possible reality of the conundrum we may ALL face. If nothing else, my post count should prove that.
PLEASE remember - we face a common enemy. We all share a common enemy. Both we Hillary supporters and we Bernie supporters - are up against the SAME ENEMY. And we share the SAME overriding objective: TO KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE IN DEMOCRATIC HANDS. Let's NOT forget that!