Democratic Primaries

thesquanderer

(13,001 posts)

161. The party can decide who is a Democrat.

Tue Jan 21, 2020, 12:47 PM

Jan 2020

It's their construct, and they can define it as they see fit. As you said, "The Democratic party defines what a Democratic representative is."

By allowing him to compete in Democratic primaries for the Democratic nomination to be the standard-bearer for the Democratic party, they show that he is sufficiently a Democrat for their purposes. Who are you or I to say differently? If Sanders only wants to be considered a Democrat "sometimes," that's his prerogative. And criticizing the Democratic party does not mean you can't be a Democrat.

re: "Democrats generously allow him to caucus with us."

I would say the party benefits from having him caucus with them.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

161 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Some history concerning the Socialist Workers Party, The Iran Hostage crisis, and Bernie Sanders [View all] ehrnst Jan 2020 OP

Interesting article Gothmog Jan 2020 #1

Interestingly, HRC did not bring it up at all in 2016. ehrnst Jan 2020 #14

sanders was mathematically eliminated after the super tueday constests Gothmog Jan 2020 #33

K&R! nt TexasTowelie Jan 2020 #2

WOW! --- That's 32 years ago left-of-center2012 Jan 2020 #3

I know. Remind me how long ago the MLK March on Washington was again? ehrnst Jan 2020 #4

The one that Mitch McConnel and Charlton Heston also attended? comradebillyboy Jan 2020 #107

Yes, that very one that is apparently the one true measure of progressive activism ehrnst Jan 2020 #108

Anyone can "attend" a march... that takes very little effort at all. NurseJackie Jan 2020 #115

Indeed. (nt) ehrnst Jan 2020 #116

true - but what does he say about it today? getagrip_already Jan 2020 #5

From the article: ehrnst Jan 2020 #6

"Today, no mention of Sanders' association with the SWP appears in any campaign biography ..." left-of-center2012 Jan 2020 #7

Whataboutism. He was a SWP far longer than his temporary affiliations with the Democratic Party. ehrnst Jan 2020 #11

re: "He does not serve or vote as a Democrat in the Senate" thesquanderer Jan 2020 #17

He didn't vote with the Democratic Party once between Jun 28 last year and Jan 6... George II Jan 2020 #21

Look at the bigger time frame. He's been in congress 30 years and you're talking about 6 months. thesquanderer Jan 2020 #30

Yes, behind four of his former and current rivals* for the nomination..... George II Jan 2020 #32

Every one running for President misses votes karynnj Jan 2020 #37

My point is that he's getting "credit" for not voting with trump when the reason he didn't is... George II Jan 2020 #41

Unless he is telling Schumer what his vote would have been karynnj Jan 2020 #49

I don't know, but still that wouldn't be factored into 538's "trump score". They use official votes. George II Jan 2020 #50

re: "Those 'non-votes' are included as 'not voting' WITH trump." thesquanderer Jan 2020 #156

You were the one who brought party affiliation into the discussion... ehrnst Jan 2020 #34

re: "You were the one who brought party affiliation into the discussion..." thesquanderer Jan 2020 #45

My mistake - you were jumping to the defense of someone that brought Party affiliation into this ehrnst Jan 2020 #55

re: McCain vote to preserve ACA did not indicate that he served even at that moment as a Democrat. thesquanderer Jan 2020 #155

Sanders: "I don't consider myself a Democrat" ehrnst Jan 2020 #157

Interesting analogy. Are Jews for Jesus Jewish? Christian? Can they be both? thesquanderer Jan 2020 #159

So you don't believe Bernie? "It's just semantics" ehrnst Jan 2020 #160

The party can decide who is a Democrat. thesquanderer Jan 2020 #161

He's not a Dem either dware Jan 2020 #97

no comment is very much a comment... getagrip_already Jan 2020 #8

To admit that he has any regrets, any mistakes or changes of heart ehrnst Jan 2020 #20

Wow! We have Sanders people beating on Senator Warren because she was once a Republican. NNadir Jan 2020 #61

But more recent than the time Sanders chained himself to a black woman...nt SidDithers Jan 2020 #71

Then I guess Bernie's "marching with MLK" is even more irrelevant.... ehrnst Jan 2020 #73

Some background about the author and the Daily Beast: George II Jan 2020 #9

Just out of curiosity, what things of Warren do you support? brutus smith Jan 2020 #10

What does that have to do with the OP? ehrnst Jan 2020 #12

Great question melman Jan 2020 #18

Still smarting? ehrnst Jan 2020 #35

So, no answer. brutus smith Jan 2020 #64

To your red herring? ehrnst Jan 2020 #66

Nope, not frustrated. I didn't have to edit my post twice. brutus smith Jan 2020 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author RandiFan1290 Jan 2020 #99

Still got nothing but evasions and red herrings? ehrnst Jan 2020 #102

Sanders was certainly a firebrand in that era stopdiggin Jan 2020 #13

I certainly would think that he'd be eager to state that. ehrnst Jan 2020 #15

all of that is valid. and all is ALSO well known. stopdiggin Jan 2020 #25

Bernie touts his college civil rights activities, and participating in the March on Washington ehrnst Jan 2020 #27

perhaps because it ISN'T new. and therefore represents a rehash? stopdiggin Jan 2020 #36

Again.... bringing up the MLK march, which isn't new ehrnst Jan 2020 #38

Not everyone knows this. In a national election, his past is a liability. NurseJackie Jan 2020 #118

Please stop posting these divisive posts. EOM tiredtoo Jan 2020 #16

What is 'divisive' about stating the facts? ehrnst Jan 2020 #24

Any post that is negative about a current candidate is divisive. how about something positive about tiredtoo Jan 2020 #65

They're facts. Do you think that facts that don't flatter a candidate should be ehrnst Jan 2020 #67

As a matter of fact I do tiredtoo Jan 2020 #68

Republicans are going to use my posts as "fodder?" And you want to ban such posts on DU? ehrnst Jan 2020 #69

yes i know that tiredtoo Jan 2020 #70

"Bad" historical data? ehrnst Jan 2020 #72

I don't feel i said anything bad about a candidate tiredtoo Jan 2020 #79

You were joining in, and not scolding them for being negative.. ehrnst Jan 2020 #80

oh man tiredtoo Jan 2020 #82

You complained about polls much like you complained about sharing facts ehrnst Jan 2020 #85

Sorry I do not remember complaining about polls. tiredtoo Jan 2020 #89

.... ehrnst Jan 2020 #90

Thats not a complaint. I still wonder why. tiredtoo Jan 2020 #92

"I wonder why someone would (do this)?" is a passive complaint or criticism. ehrnst Jan 2020 #103

You are really stretching it here. tiredtoo Jan 2020 #105

No, I'm not stretching anything. I'm explaining why your post appears to be a complaint. ehrnst Jan 2020 #106

The GOP already has all of this. TwilightZone Jan 2020 #77

Good point. (nt) ehrnst Jan 2020 #78

They don't want to push this now because they want to push it in a General Election Zolorp Jan 2020 #104

Lol squirecam Jan 2020 #83

for the record i am a warren supporter tiredtoo Jan 2020 #86

Campaigns don't work that way. We need to know about the candidate, good and bad. ehrnst Jan 2020 #109

ok fine tiredtoo Jan 2020 #112

Ah, the "calm down" evasion. ehrnst Jan 2020 #114

Cool tiredtoo Jan 2020 #120

"I will pray for you" "You are like Trump." ehrnst Jan 2020 #122

Well then tiredtoo Jan 2020 #123

Bless yours, too. ehrnst Jan 2020 #137

Sorry tiredtoo Jan 2020 #147

Well, I think it will help calm you down. ehrnst Jan 2020 #148

Look in the mirror. EOM tiredtoo Jan 2020 #150

Sigh... ehrnst Jan 2020 #152

Thank you!! Scotch-Irish Jan 2020 #26

You're going to change your candidate preference because someone posted some historical ehrnst Jan 2020 #39

You said you were going to do that awhile ago. Cha Jan 2020 #43

You mean.... he's said this to other Warren supporters??? ehrnst Jan 2020 #62

You're Absolutely Wrong.. Cha Jan 2020 #63

Thank you! mountain grammy Jan 2020 #59

Do you get on Joe Biden Threads and Cha Jan 2020 #74

I would if i saw one. eom tiredtoo Jan 2020 #84

uh huh Cha Jan 2020 #87

Thanks for the confirmation. tiredtoo Jan 2020 #91

They exist - here's a link to a negative Biden thread, so you can start scolding people for ehrnst Jan 2020 #141

Oh man tiredtoo Jan 2020 #145

Calm down, now... I gave you a chance to show that you indeed are ehrnst Jan 2020 #146

Post removed Post removed Jan 2020 #149

Again.... high blood pressure is more of a risk when one continues to ehrnst Jan 2020 #151

What "confirmation"? Can you elaborate? Cha Jan 2020 #158

It's called vetting. nini Jan 2020 #100

Ronald Radosh melman Jan 2020 #19

Shoot the messenger when the message is uncomfortable... ehrnst Jan 2020 #22

Straw man melman Jan 2020 #28

Because you say so? ehrnst Jan 2020 #29

No melman Jan 2020 #40

Perhaps you missed that the Daily Beast published the piece. ehrnst Jan 2020 #42

Ronald Radosh is not a "right winger". Read about his entire history of who he worked with, for.... George II Jan 2020 #48

Yes he is melman Jan 2020 #51

The article he wrote for the Daily Beast is even closer than "google away"! George II Jan 2020 #52

Good luck with that. ehrnst Jan 2020 #53

Good luck with what? melman Jan 2020 #56

Like I said, good luck with that. ehrnst Jan 2020 #58

lol Cha Jan 2020 #76

Ronald Radosh: George II Jan 2020 #23

From a man who joined the Army as a 17 year old kid in Oct., '80, this is incredibly relevant. Zolorp Jan 2020 #31

indeed. (nt) ehrnst Jan 2020 #44

Thank you for your service, Zolorp. Cha Jan 2020 #46

Thank you for your service. sheshe2 Jan 2020 #54

The Socialist Workers Party is a communist party. Now Sander tries to hide or minimize The Valley Below Jan 2020 #47

It's not good optics. I imagine that's why he excludes it from his bio, even as he ehrnst Jan 2020 #57

It's disqualifying and demoralizing. Zolorp Jan 2020 #60

Fortunately Sanders won't be our nominee. The Valley Below Jan 2020 #75

..... ehrnst Jan 2020 #81

LOL. The Valley Below Jan 2020 #88

Make up your mind Bernie Wawannabe Jan 2020 #93

This is so infuriating NYMinute Jan 2020 #94

yep... myohmy2 Jan 2020 #95

One person's "badge of honor," is another person's "badge of shame." The Valley Below Jan 2020 #124

trump has a large oppo file on sanders Gothmog Jan 2020 #96

the republican... myohmy2 Jan 2020 #101

....facts matter... ehrnst Jan 2020 #113

excellent read... myohmy2 Jan 2020 #125

...one standard for Bernie, another for the rest.... ehrnst Jan 2020 #138

I'm just... myohmy2 Jan 2020 #140

...trying to be positive.... ehrnst Jan 2020 #142

He hasn't been scared enough to bribe a whole country to make up lies about Bernie. MrsCoffee Jan 2020 #117

"It matters who the candidate is." myohmy2 Jan 2020 #127

There are plenty of Congressman that don't believe it is an advantage. TexasTowelie Jan 2020 #129

...some believe that anyone who attempts to vet Senator Sanders... ehrnst Jan 2020 #134

'we've all come short of the glory'... myohmy2 Jan 2020 #139

....no one requires candidates to be perfect... ehrnst Jan 2020 #143

The Clinton campaign had an amazing oppo file on sanders but did not need it Gothmog Jan 2020 #121

okay... myohmy2 Jan 2020 #128

Facts are good things Gothmog Jan 2020 #131

Apparently not for Bernie, in the opinions of some... ehrnst Jan 2020 #136

....how does one see the Sierra Blanca nuclear dump as "progressive?".. ehrnst Jan 2020 #135

....still no explanation for Sierra Blanca as 'progressive?'.... ehrnst Jan 2020 #144

We ignore that at our peril. Baggage matters. ehrnst Jan 2020 #111

K&R highplainsdem Jan 2020 #110

I suggest DUers do some research on Andrew Pulley to see just how extremist he was. highplainsdem Jan 2020 #119

Holy shit. RandySF Jan 2020 #126

K&R RandySF Jan 2020 #132

K&R betsuni Jan 2020 #130

K&R RandySF Jan 2020 #133

Again when you hear it bandied about Historic NY Jan 2020 #153

Yep... DURING the general election, it will be MUCH TOO LATE to try and redefine "socialism"... NurseJackie Jan 2020 #154