2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Bernie Sanders needs to embrace being a Democrat.. [View all]Raine1967
(11,589 posts)Last edited Mon Aug 3, 2015, 11:38 PM - Edit history (1)
I have said if before, but not here in GDP.
I am a member of the democratic party. I am not ashamed of saying that.
Having said that, there is something that bothers me: While Sanders always caucused with Dems when he was elected to office as a representative and later as a Senator, he was never a part of trying to build and change the infra-structure of the Democratic party to what his vision is. He has always made it clear that he is not a member of the party. HE has even done as far to say that he is not a liberal
The party has been very happy to have him caucus with us, but
He has not helped with the legwork in building the party platform.
He is reaping the gains of the party without having contributed to the party as a member. Just to be clear, I am talking about PARTY politics. If anyone wants to know why party partisans are reluctant to say that he is a viable candidate, I think it's because he has never been willing to say he is a Democrat. I respect that He's not.
Right now, to the best of my knowledge (and his words), he is running as a Democrat because this is his best chance to be elected on a national scale. I think is the first time he has ever run as a Dem and he still is not an official member of the Democratic party. (I know, in advance as a resident of Vermont he doesn't have to register in a party).
Sanders wants a political revolution in a party that he never wanted to be a part of. That really bothers me.
That is not a slam, this is a fact.
Considering we have O'Malley, and Clinton both of which have been life long members of the party I affiliate with; both of which have worked to change and make the platform better, both of which have campaigned to get other Dems elected in local, state and federal elections I feel a little uneasy about a man that is running for the nomination of the Democratic party that hasn't dome that. He hasn't gone out of his way to be a part of the party that he is asking the nomination for.
My personal preference for the nomination is Martin O'Malley; he has a track record with working across party lines to get things done. I like that. I appreciate that. I want that in a president. I would be fine with Clinton as well and yes, even Sanders however the issue I am responding to you about is something that I am honestly saying makes me feel uncomfortable.
His not being a part of helping to build and change the Democratic Party platform will become an issue for people who are Democrats. I agree with almost everything that Bernie stands for; Most Dems do but he never wanted to be a part of the party I am in. Now he wants my vote. I don't know if I like that.
I know that we have a lot of people here on DU that do not care about party politics. I get that.
I happen to care about party politics because we still have a two party system, Sanders wants to have it both ways right now. If he wins, my concern is what is he going to do to help get other democrats elected in all levels of government? It's not just about the office of President, the way I see it, it is who the candidate can bring along and help get elected.
Right now, as I see it, O'Malley and Clinton have a record of doing just that. I am not seeing where Sanders has helped to build and change the party after all of his years in federal governance.
I am a liberal.
I am a progressive.
I'm a member of the Democratic party and I am looking forward to our primaries.