Bernie Sanders tells Democrats to back off primary attacks

[Tom Rinaldo]

130. Smears are despicable.

Last edited Thu Mar 8, 2018, 02:53 PM - Edit history (1)

We agree on that I think. You have looked at that CD primary race closer than have I. I have no basis to dispute your characterization of what happened there, nor any inclination to doubt you on it. As I know you realize, I did not try to make my post into a defense of either Bernie Sanders or My Revolution in this or any other matter. I have issues with stances that some My Revolution chapters have taken before, and no doubt will have again in the future.

To help keep our dialogue here focused, my understanding of My Revolution is that is not particularly tightly controlled in a top down manner by Sanders himself. In an earlier cycle, Democracy for America developed it's own identity after Howard Dean launched it, which is consistent with organizations that profess a strong belief in and a dependency on grass roots activism, both for better and for worse.

Though the DCCC only represents a small percentage of elected Democrats as you noted, it's a pretty important segment of them and it is an organization which all of us have every reason to expect to be run highly professionally. The perception that it is a formal organ of the Democratic Party is wide spread even if it is factually inaccurate. That said, everyone is capable of misjudgements. I am more than willing to believe that the DCCC can draw the proper lessons from this particular incident. That was the aspect of this OP that I was drawn to comment on above.