Shaun King: DON'T Be So Sure Bernie Sanders Supporters Would Easily Switch To Hillary Come The GE

[Segami]

~snip~

On Wednesday, Bernie Sanders did a very revealing interview with Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks. The whole interview was insightful and Bernie seemed to really let his guard down with Cenk. Three different parts of their conversation, though, stuck out to me. Cenk asked Bernie what hosts always ask presidential candidates at this point in the election - "If you don't win the Democratic nomination, will you campaign and support Hillary Clinton?"

Now, of course Bernie gave the typical spiel on how he is "in this campaign to win it," but when Cenk pushed Bernie for an answer, he pretty much refused to say he'd campaign for her. Seeing the opening, Cenk pushed Bernie on how he "had pretty much convinced millennials that Hillary was the establishment candidate" and asked again if he would get behind such an establishment candidate and campaign for her. Bernie wasn't vague in his answer. Instead, he very clearly told Cenk that he was more interested in what the democratic establishment would do to meet him halfway and then went right into a full fledged critique of the party.

Cenk's question was as insightful as Bernie's answer. With nearly 80% support among voters under the age of 30, I don't think the Democratic Party, in recent history, has ever had a candidate as popular as Bernie with young people not actually win the nomination. It's new terrain. Young people aren't marginally supportive of Bernie — they love him, trust him, and believe in what he stands for. They won't port over to Hillary's campaign very easily. Cenk then asked Bernie, hypothetically what it would take, if he lost, for him to be an enthusiastic leader of the party moving forward. Bernie's answer was so long and so thorough and so unlikely - including the $15 minimum wage, healthcare for all, removing money from politics, tuition-free college, and more, it was almost as if Bernie was making it clear that his current trajectory simply isn't on the same path as that of the party or Hillary Clinton.

The final question made it all unmistakably clear. Cenk asked Bernie if he would be willing or even interested in having Hillary Clinton as a part of his administration.

Cenk asked, "If you win, is Hillary Clinton liberal enough to be in your cabinet?"

Bernie replied, "Oh, stop getting me in trouble here. There are other people that I would probably go to before Hillary Clinton... people like Elizabeth Warren, for example."

cont'

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/king-don-bernie-supporters-back-hillary-article-1.2578063

[amborin]

1. good article a while back: don't ask voters to violate their core principles

[VulgarPoet]

3. but but but party loyalty

and if you don't you're a privileged misogynist who hates the entirety of all women on the planet hyperbole hyperbole something something something inevitable.

This place looks more and more like tumblr every day before I log in...

[840high]

27. My new motto this year is

Country and it's people before party. That's how I'll vote.

[daleanime]

29. Amen....

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. Bernie is both a patriot and a smart man, he will support Hillary if she is the nominee.

[SusanCalvin]

36. Of course, I sincerely hope and expect. nt

[noretreatnosurrender]

43. Conflating

And if he doesn't would he no longer be a patriot and smart man?

[Jackie Wilson Said]

49. He still would be, but he will support her, he knows the alternative is unthinkable, even if some

here dont.

[rock]

4. I ran, I lost, now here are my demands!

Got it.

[Bjornsdotter]

7. The more things change

....the more things stay the same and repeat.

Democratic Convention Speech 1980

Circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue. It is surely correct that we cannot solve problems by throwing money at them, but it is also correct that we dare not throw out our national problems onto a scrap heap of inattention and indifference. The poor may be out of political fashion, but they are not without human needs. The middle class may be angry, but they have not lost the dream that all Americans can advance together.

...There were some who said we should be silent about our differences on issues during this convention, but the heritage of the Democratic Party has been a history of democracy. We fight hard because we care deeply about our principles and purposes. We did not flee this struggle. We welcome the contrast with the empty and expedient spectacle last month in Detroit where no nomination was contested, no question was debated, and no one dared to raise any doubt or dissent….

.....Finally, we cannot have a fair prosperity in isolation from a fair society. So I will continue to stand for a national health insurance. We must -- We must not surrender -- We must not surrender to the relentless medical inflation that can bankrupt almost anyone and that may soon break the budgets of government at every level. Let us insist on real controls over what doctors and hospitals can charge, and let us resolve that the state of a family's health shall never depend on the size of a family's wealth.


....And to all those overburdened by an unfair tax structure, let us provide new hope for real tax reform. Instead of shutting down classrooms, let us shut off tax shelters. Instead of cutting out school lunches, let us cut off tax subsidies for expensive business lunches that are nothing more than food stamps for the rich.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm

[Vincardog]

31. Oh is the primary over now?

[SusanCalvin]

35. Really. nt

[rock]

57. The question was

"If you don't win the Democratic nomination, will you campaign and support Hillary Clinton?" It's called a 'hypothetical question'. Need more help in understanding English. I can recommend some online grammars.

[ky_dem]

37. That is historically how the democratic party platform has changed

Civil rights for instance in the 1948 convention - a minority of liberals pushed for a more progressive platform. I for one am glad

[CorporatistNation]

5. That Contention Is Seriously Open To Question I As It Would Require Bernie To Do Something That He..

has historically avoided (And This Is Well Documented)throughout his entire political career... and that is... become a H******t! THAT Ain't happen'n!

[Segami]

6. I agree. Underestimating Bernie is the first mistake...

All the talking-heads and pundits have and continue to do so.......

from The Devil's Advocate:

John Milton: "...Don't get too cocky my boy. No matter how good you are don't ever let them see you coming..."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Most of us will make up our own minds wheter to support Hillary if she gets the nomination.

I'd be very surprised, and disappointed, if he asked Hillary to be a member of his cabinet.

[Segami]

10. May I say, that Hillary would never accept a position

in a Sanders administration.......Its all or nothing at this stage of her career.......V.P position would be a reminder to all that she lost AGAIN and SoS, well, been there, done that......so, as far as I can tell, it's the presidency or bust for Hillary.

Bernie has already made his views clear:

"..There are other people that I would probably go to before Hillary Clinton... people like Elizabeth Warren, for example.."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. I agree. There are people far, far, more qualified than Hillary for SOS.

[Politicalboi]

26. Supreme Court

[Major Hogwash]

47. What do you think she will do after she retires?

Campaign for the poor by giving more speeches to Wall Street bankers?
Not likely.

[GreatGazoo]

9. Obama supporters have been slow to support her

[SusanCalvin]

34. I'm in that middle group. nt

[grasswire]

39. wow

that's really interesting

[ky_dem]

41. Thanks for posting this - very interesting

I too fall in the middle group!

[Jackilope]

51. I am in the middle group as well.

Donating MORE to Sanders than Obama and on regular basis.

[katmondoo]

12. I am sure they wouldn't

from all I have read here on DU

[Doctor_J]

13. I know of at least one who won't be

[tomm2thumbs]

54. ••• Results of Jury •••

I know of at least one who won't be
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1579442

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

A clever way to say "I will not vote for Hillary in the GE." Clever, yes but still against TOS.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Mar 26, 2016, 08:51 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Waste of time.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: you are not so clever yourself. here's a vote against your alert
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Tsk tsk. We're not in the GE time frame yet so people are more free to express their opinions until Skinner's edict is pronounced. Besides the poster left it nebulous on who they're referencing.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Could be one view of the statement yes, but the sentence as it stands is not hideworthy

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Segami]

55. My vote goes to Juror #3.....

[tomm2thumbs]

56. I know, right?

[Ino]

14. Cenk might as well have asked Bernie...

"If you lost the nomination, what would it take for you to campaign & support the Republican?" Sanders & Hillary are THAT FAR apart in their views.

[hrmjustin]

15. I can't stand sore losers but we should also not be sore winners.

[daleanime]

32. It's not about winning or losing....

it's about desperately needing.

[Jitter65]

16. I'm certain that many of them won't since many are not really Democrats to begin with. nt

[Jester Messiah]

17. They certainly aren't conserva-dems.

What's more important? The party label, or the principles for which one stands?

[daleanime]

42. Can't speak for anyone else here, but for me.....

I'll take principles over party any day of the week.....month....year.....decade.....

[SheenaR]

18. They support

progressive principles at the core of what the Party stands for. If they are not Dems, what are they?

It's an easy argument to make, but it's a lazy one. "Anyone who doesn't support Clinton wasn't a Democrat anyways"

[Dawson Leery]

45. +1,000,000

[timmymoff]

59. I've been a democrat a long time

but nowhere does it say as a democrat I have to support regime change, fracking, wall st., Wal-Mart, private prisons, keystone, TPP, and etc when we know the rightward lurch is coming. if you choose to support that platform good for you(I guess) but length of time or not being "democrat enough" for you is quite comical. It seems you consider a length of time and loyalty (even if it is false ) is more important than being true to democratic principles. In no way did I sign up for those republican like stances nor would I

[Beacool]

19. Barring some unforeseen eventuality, Sanders will not be the nominee.

Therefore, he has two choices: Help Democrats to win the WH in November by supporting the nominee and by encouraging his supporters to vote for her, as Hillary did in 2008, or be a spoiler and stand aside while Trump is elected president.

[Bjornsdotter]

20. It's not up to Bernie

...to win the election for Hillary. It's up to Hillary to win it for herself. If she can't, then the problem is with her....not everyone else.

[daleanime]

44. +1

[renate]

50. that's an excellent point

I'd most certainly vote for her if she were the nominee, but that's just me. You're right--it's not up to Bernie to win it for her, it's up to her. There's plenty of room to her left for her to move.

[KingFlorez]

21. The PUMAs overestimate their numbers

It's likely that the bulk of Sanders voters are not the type who are angry activists who will sit out the general election. Social media does not represent the median voter. If it did, Sanders would be the presumptive nominee.

[Adrahil]

22. Yeah, i love "vote for cadidate or else" voters.

Fuck Bernie or Bust.

[rockfordfile]

23. I'm trying to remember, didn't Rupert Murdoch have a fundraiser for Clinton?

[H2O Man]

24. Outstanding!

Recommended.

[Miles Archer]

25. It's gonna get VERY interesting around here the minute Skinner hits the "Primaries Are Over" button.

If Hillary wins...if...I'll be in the "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" crowd. My guess is that for a lot of other people, it's gonna get ugly, and fast. I'm kind of glad I'm not eligible for jury duty (I went off on someone who was alerted on in my response and now it is prominently displayed in my profile next to the place where it says I have a 30% chance of serving).

[SFnomad]

28. Bernie wasn't a Democrat before he ran for President ...

... and he won't continue being a Democrat after he loses the nomination. Is there any surprise that he show no desire to help the Party he wants to lead?

[Loki]

33. That's what turned me off at first light.

For convenience only. If he chooses to not support Democrats, then take away his committee positions and let him caucus with his friends in the Republican party like Sen. James Inhofe. I voted for President Obama twice, and I never held the hatred toward Hillary or his other opponents that people who support BS here have. If this is the "revolution", it seems more like a temper tantrum.

[SusanCalvin]

30. Oh it would be far from easy but I'd do it.

Hope it won't be necessary.

[Loki]

38. Elizabeth Warren will support the Democratic nominee, period.

She is much more effective in the Senate to keep the republicans from destroying this country.

[connecticut yankee]

40. If they help

get Trump or Cruz elected, they'll have no one to blame but themselves.

[Bjornsdotter]

48. Hillary is responsible

...it's up to her to win over the voters. It's her burden, not the voter's.

[Sheepshank]

46. Plenty of Bernie supporters on DU have made that perfectly clear...but

I suspect many of the more vociferous ones, are not Dems anyway. They are intimating they are to attempt to direct the dialogue for anti Dem expediency.

[Hoyt]

52. Will just add more distance from their "principles” if they allow GOPers to win.

But they can say they stuck by their ideals, I guess.

[Fairgo]

53. Stupifying Sports meme

Here's how a meme destroys critical thinking. The primary is not a winner-take-all reality show. It is the public forum upon which a party's platform is built and to which the servant of the party is then wed.

Jesus wept. The comments here belie the basic tenets of our democracy.

Bernie is the current avatar of a movement that intersects with the democratic party...reminding it of its better nature. If that movement is denied a voice in building the platform of the democratic party it proves one thing: The democratic party has been reduced to a brand that exists solely to serve the corporations that own it. Bernie points to the only path the party has to winning, not to him, but negotiations with the movement. He's trying to help.

He has no control over this. The movement is watching with two million eyes. We will know you by your works. We will respond accordingly.

[jalan48]

58. I have a feeling younger people who have been inspired by Sanders may not vote.

It's not that they don't like Hillary it's more that they see her as part of the establishment, and the establishment hasn't been doing so well over the past few decades.