Biden: "I Never Thought Hillary Was The Correct Candidate"

[StevieM]

178. My point is that Hillary has as much right to complain about the caucuses, and their effects, as

Bernie does to complain about states that only allow Democrats to vote and not liking the debate schedule (HRC didn't get many debates in 2008 after Obama took the lead, and she also complained about that). None of these things constitute a rigged system (which I realize you have not asserted).

Clinton did make an effort to reform the caucuses back in 2008. And discussions continued after the election.

I completely disagree that she had the ability to tailor the nominating process to her liking, let alone her exact specifications. That is the talking point that developed which badly damaged her ability to win over many Sanders voters.

In reality, Obama controlled the party, not her. And I don't even think Obama could make those arrangements. The states decide whether or not to hold primaries. If they choose not to then the parties put together caucuses. These state leaders wouldn't alter decades of policy based on HRC's say-so, setting aside that most of them had GOP governors.

I think HRC was always going to have a good advantage over Bernie with AA voters, through no fault of his own. She also won by wide margins among Latinos. That was based on her own strengths, built up over the years. If Bernie runs in 2020 he may do better among minorities--we will have to wait and see.

I actually do think we are on the same wavelength. There are many flaws in the system all of which should be addressed. But nobodies victories should be deligitimized--not Obama in 2008, not Hillary in 2016 and not Bernie's historic campaign which absolutely did start a major movement, perhaps even one that will ultimately be a historic movement.

And I definitely don't think we should be looking to pay back anyone. We are one party and we should move forward together.