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TexasTowelie

(111,322 posts)
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 02:43 AM Apr 2020

Why Biden may have an easier time than Clinton winning over Sanders' base

The end of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign removes the final roadblock standing between Joe Biden and the Democratic presidential nomination.

But it is Sanders’ army of young, progressive and strong-willed supporters who could pose the more menacing long-term threat to Biden’s ability to unify and excite the party as it marches toward a general election battle against President Donald Trump.

Coaxing Sanders’ backers to climb aboard without alienating the moderate and disillusioned Republicans Biden is counting on in November will be one of the most critical and delicate tasks the former vice president’s campaign undertakes in the coming weeks.

Yet Biden’s advisers argue they already sit in a more favorable position to coalesce the left than widely presumed for three central reasons: Biden’s visible and behind-the-scenes overtures on progressive policy, a considerably less contentious primary than the one between Hillary Clinton and Sanders in 2016, and the much higher stakes to remove Trump from office.

Read more: https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/election/article241859321.html
(Olympia Olympian)

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why Biden may have an easier time than Clinton winning over Sanders' base (Original Post) TexasTowelie Apr 2020 OP
Winning Factor Swassed Apr 2020 #1
Huh? SouthernCal_Dem Apr 2020 #2
he's a man. nt msongs Apr 2020 #3
ridiculous rampartc Apr 2020 #5
He's a man. LizBeth Apr 2020 #8
That's the cold truth Walleye Apr 2020 #22
Wrong -- the penis is the reason why obamanut2012 Apr 2020 #13
Hillary Clinton reached out to Sanders supporters...so that is not true. And those supporters who Demsrule86 Apr 2020 #18
Absolutely. Misogyny was a very significant factor in 2016. Hortensis Apr 2020 #7
This. eShirl Apr 2020 #9
Yup obamanut2012 Apr 2020 #12
Yep. GoCubsGo Apr 2020 #19
Nailed it HarlanPepper Apr 2020 #28
Exactly. betsuni Apr 2020 #29
reason #4 stopdiggin Apr 2020 #4
Some little problems with slant: Sanders' big youth vote didn't turn out. Hortensis Apr 2020 #6
What a load of hooey! James48 Apr 2020 #10
Don't care what part of your anatomy you hold. Just vote Blue! Walleye Apr 2020 #20
While we are all bereft about the fact that we will not see you jump up and Squinch Apr 2020 #23
My comment back to you rufus dog Apr 2020 #33
Four years of Trump will clarify the mind, and four more years of Trump will scare the bejeezus sop Apr 2020 #11
Any voter who needs to be "won over" at this point is either a sociopath Squinch Apr 2020 #14
While I believe Biden would do well to avoid aggravating Sanders' supporters DFW Apr 2020 #15
I believe that there are more votes to be won in the middle of the political bell curve TexasTowelie Apr 2020 #16
No arguments there DFW Apr 2020 #17
#1: he has a penis. CousinIT Apr 2020 #21
I would guess so the Republicans waged a war doc03 Apr 2020 #24
Yep, I just wrote something similar. nt Buckeye_Democrat Apr 2020 #27
Biden also hasn't been a "target" of right-wing... Buckeye_Democrat Apr 2020 #25
The right-wing began their anti-Hillary jihad in 1993, right after Bill put her in charge of his sop Apr 2020 #30
One reason and one reason alone mcar Apr 2020 #26
Two reasons stick out to me: Jake Stern Apr 2020 #31
Medicare at 60 and wiping out college debt for those making under $100K. SMC22307 Apr 2020 #32
I also think a lot of people thought Hillary had it in the bag. That won't happen this time. nt Quixote1818 Apr 2020 #34

rampartc

(5,271 posts)
5. ridiculous
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 03:56 AM
Apr 2020

what did secretary clinton say about sanders supporters? "who needs them?"

biden has been much more unifying, esp in the last week.

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
18. Hillary Clinton reached out to Sanders supporters...so that is not true. And those supporters who
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:41 AM
Apr 2020

voted for anyone but her helped elect Trump. Vote blue no matter who...

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
7. Absolutely. Misogyny was a very significant factor in 2016.
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 04:25 AM
Apr 2020

Including among Sanders' faction, which regards itself as highly enlightened but is actually heavily influenced by the socially conservative, "lock her up" populist types he also draws.

GoCubsGo

(32,061 posts)
19. Yep.
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:43 AM
Apr 2020

That, and 40 years of ceaseless vilification of Hillary, most of which had its roots in misogyny.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
6. Some little problems with slant: Sanders' big youth vote didn't turn out.
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 04:01 AM
Apr 2020

Although many fine young people knocked on a lot of doors for him, they turned out not to be an army.

And Sanders drew some young people who are looking for something bigger than themselves to believe in, a movement to join, but generally speaking, people who don't yet vote reliably aren't anyone's base.

A major problem I see in speaking to Sanders' youth voters it that they don't realize yet that his promises weren't real things he could come through with. His dreams have always relied on faith -- that giant waves of support would arise to sweep away all the resistance of representative democracy and clear his path to victory.

Biden's goals in contrast are real-world goals. They're very representative of what Americans want and very accomplishable. But the mundane realities and limitations of serving 327 million people makes them less exciting than Sanders' great movement that refused limitations.

Biden's problem with youth is the one politicians always have with young people who haven't yet developed into engaged, voting citizens (understanding that many people never do). It apparently takes some maturity and a degree of wisdom to be excited and inspired by realistic goals and commitment to maintaining a stable society, within which people can be free to seek their own personal revolutions.

In this case the usual problems are aggravated by the seemingly idealistic expectations Sanders raised in his subset, which a liberal Democratic president not only can't meet but never, ever would, even if it were possible. One faction sweeping all who have other ideas out of its way to impose its will, no matter how well meaning, is not how democracy works.

And that's likely to be discouraging for people of any age who swallowed Sanders' Dem-Repub lies and, so unfortunately, have no idea that to be Democrats fighting to put an end to 40 devastating years of conservative domination and undoing of a century of advances IS to be part of a great movement.

James48

(4,416 posts)
10. What a load of hooey!
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 05:43 AM
Apr 2020

Excuse me, but, as a two time Sanders supporter (now age 59), I think this article completely misses the point.

No- announcing “Medicare if you want to buy in at Age 60” is nothing like “Medicare for All”. It’s not anywhere near a policy that most Sanders supporters will be willing to go knock on doors for.

We’ll hold our nose and cast a vote for Mr. Biden, but there is nothing that he stands for that will make a Sanders supporter jump up and down energetically. I’m pretty sure that whoever wrote this article likely has never spent a day conversing with a Sanders supporter. And, unfortunately, neither has Joe, nor have Joe’s advisors .

Good luck. Let us know how that turns out.

Squinch

(50,774 posts)
23. While we are all bereft about the fact that we will not see you jump up and
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 08:27 AM
Apr 2020

down energetically, your jumping is not essential to the process.

Many of us preferred other candidates. We all see what needs to be done now, and we will do it with all our might.

Everyone needs to put on their big people panties now. And if you will not enthusiastically support Joe as an alternative to Donnie Bodybags, I just really don't know what to say to you.

 

rufus dog

(8,419 posts)
33. My comment back to you
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 11:48 AM
Apr 2020

Close to your age, voted for Bernie in the 2016 primary, (mistake! - Has nothing to do with misogyny, I just don't like the Clinton's, like her better than Bill, not going to explain it here) but really don't get your point, well I think I do but I find it extremely offensive.

We’ll hold our nose and cast a vote for Mr. Biden, but there is nothing that he stands for that will make a Sanders supporter jump up and down energetically. I’m pretty sure that whoever wrote this article likely has never spent a day conversing with a Sanders supporter. And, unfortunately, neither has Joe, nor have Joe’s advisors .


Seriously, FUCKING SERIOUSLY!

1. How many active Corona virus cased do we have in the US right now? How many deaths? Do you think HRC would have done any better? Do you think Biden will do better? (Be real careful how you answer the last two, because they my show your true colors)
Yet you state "We'll hold our nose and cast a vote for Mr. Biden" Seriously, FUCKING SERIOUSLY!

2. Kids are still in cages, that fact the kids were EVER in cages is a problem. Do you think HRC would have done any better? Do you think Biden will do better? yet you state "We'll hold our nose and cast a vote for Mr. Biden" Seriously, FUCKING SERIOUSLY!

3. Could go on and make this list 100 items, stacking courts, the wall, muslim bans, etc, etc, etc. In each cast the same questions are valid. Do you think HRC would have done any better? Do you think Biden will do better? yet you state "We'll hold our nose and cast a vote for Mr. Biden" Seriously, FUCKING SERIOUSLY!

I'm guessing nothing has directly impacted you, if items 1 and 2 can't get you out to enthusiastically vote for Biden, then I suggest the issue is with you and not Biden.

sop

(9,955 posts)
11. Four years of Trump will clarify the mind, and four more years of Trump will scare the bejeezus
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:01 AM
Apr 2020

out of even the most recalcitrant Bernie follower. The expression "mugged by reality" comes to mind.

Squinch

(50,774 posts)
14. Any voter who needs to be "won over" at this point is either a sociopath
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:15 AM
Apr 2020

who is just being "undecided" for attention and to fuck with the rest of us, or they are too stupid to be reasoned with.

Either way, they will come around or not due to things that have little to do with what we or the candidate says or does.

I wish people would move on from this. "Courting" these people is self destructuve insanity.

DFW

(54,059 posts)
15. While I believe Biden would do well to avoid aggravating Sanders' supporters
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:18 AM
Apr 2020

If I were in his position, I would not be approaching them on bended knee, either. He wone the primary decisively, and should act like it.

If Sanders and his machine play a significant part in Biden's election, reward the loyalty. Don't beg for it beforehand.

TexasTowelie

(111,322 posts)
16. I believe that there are more votes to be won in the middle of the political bell curve
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:32 AM
Apr 2020

than at the tail of the curve more than two deviations left of the mean.

DFW

(54,059 posts)
17. No arguments there
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:37 AM
Apr 2020

GOTV will be most effective with groups shown to actually have voted in the past.

My message to Sanders and his followers would be "Get With It," not "Get Lost."

CousinIT

(9,151 posts)
21. #1: he has a penis.
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 07:50 AM
Apr 2020

Now don't get me wrong. I love Biden. I think he's a great person. And he'll make a find President.

But the #1 reason he'd have an easier time over what Clinton dealt with as nominee, is that he's a male.

doc03

(35,151 posts)
24. I would guess so the Republicans waged a war
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 09:21 AM
Apr 2020

against Hillary for nearly 30 years. The NRA sent fund raising letters out every few days for decades attacking her and Ted Kennedy. They hammered on Bengazi for
over three years. There is nobody that has ever been so maligned as Hillary Clinton.
I look up and there is anus lips on the TV god I would like to punch him in the mouth.

Buckeye_Democrat

(14,848 posts)
25. Biden also hasn't been a "target" of right-wing...
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 09:33 AM
Apr 2020

... propaganda nearly as much as Hillary Clinton.

The years of attacks against HRC were seeped in the minds of many voters. It can be hard to change some people’s minds after they’ve “picked a side”.

Since those were old and vicious attacks, they could seem more plausible to casual voters who might otherwise “expect” that sort of thing between opponents of an upcoming election.

sop

(9,955 posts)
30. The right-wing began their anti-Hillary jihad in 1993, right after Bill put her in charge of his
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 11:14 AM
Apr 2020

healthcare panel. Hillary's been the right's favorite bête noire for over a quarter century. Biden's been spared that level of vitriol so far, the most the right would say about Joe was, "he's a gaffe machine."

Trump's Ukraine scheme to smear Biden and his son really blew up in his face, and got him impeached. As a result, Joe's probably been inoculated from future Ukraine attacks. The right-wing's smear machine is scrambling to catch up now, so it will be interesting to see what they come up with over the next seven months.

Jake Stern

(3,145 posts)
31. Two reasons stick out to me:
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 11:38 AM
Apr 2020

1. He's shown, by adopting some of Bernie's platform, that he's open to those kind of ideas.

2. Biden has taken a much more conciliatory tone than Clinton did in 2016. The Clinton camp's attitude toward Bernie supporters was along the lines of "We won. You lost. Get with the program or STFU" while Biden's approach is more "I'm asking you to join me in defeating Trump".







SMC22307

(8,088 posts)
32. Medicare at 60 and wiping out college debt for those making under $100K.
Sat Apr 11, 2020, 11:41 AM
Apr 2020

No analysis needed - those are WINNERS.

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