The people don't want a phony Democrat

[BrotherIvan]

Lest we start to believe the myth that "Bernie can't win" here's a famous quote from Truman. Standing up for liberal/progressive ideals is a *winning* strategy.

"I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the Fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign."

Bernie Sanders is running as a Democrat, but he didn't need the D after his name to stand up for liberal principles. He stands up for the New Deal and the Fair Deal. Fight on, Senator Sanders.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. Will make it acceptable for Hillary or for that matter ALL dems in house and senate to

fucking stand behind our accomplishments that help average Americans

[BrotherIvan]

3. Or fight for them

The Republicans have taken so much ground with their hateful, racist, misogynitic, bigoted agenda. It's time to FIGHT BACK. When your opponent has declared war, the negotiations are over. Moderation only slightly stalls the terrible drag to the right.

[Nite Owl]

2. I can't see Bernie letting

himself be put on the defensive.
Most people don't know him yet but once they hear what he is about they will love him. He's real and they will see that.

[BrotherIvan]

4. The Real Deal

[Nite Owl]

5. Would make

a good poster or handout.

[BrotherIvan]

6. It should be his nickname, like Fear the Beard

He needs a boxing robe with it on there.

[dflprincess]

10. Continuing a tradition

The Square Deal - Theodore Roosevelt
The New Deal - Franklin Roosevelt
The Fair Deal - Harry Truman
The Real Deal - Bernie Sanders

[BrotherIvan]

14. I like it!

[Mnpaul]

9. I don't see how they could do it

You have to have something negative to be defensive over. Bernie usually is on the correct side of the vote whenever bad legislation passes. He is not pretending to be anyone but himself and represents the people who elected him. He has probably written more bills to benefit veterans than any Republican.

[pocoloco]

12. Being from a gun friendly state won't hurt either.

They can't call him another dem "Gun Grabber"!!

[Jester Messiah]

17. Since when do they let facts get in the way? [nt]

[larkrake]

7. If he doesn't go D, he would split the D vote.

No, he has to beat Hill in the primary to have the path to beat the Repug in the general

[BrotherIvan]

8. He has declared as a Democrat

If he wins the primary, he will win the general.

[Fuddnik]

11. And my wife and myself are changing our registration back to "D" tomorrow.

Two more votes for Bernie in the primary.

[BrotherIvan]

15. Right on, thanks!

If he can win the primary, he can win the general.

[George II]

13. Who is the "phony" Democrat you're referring to?

[BrotherIvan]

16. This thread is about the eponymous candidate of this group

Hint: there's a big picture of him too.

[Autumn]

18. The "phony" Democrat is the one Truman is referring to, as highlighted in the OP

"I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the Fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign."

[George II]

19. But the implication is that there is another "phony Democrat" now, otherwise what Truman said...

...is just 60 year old news.

[bvar22]

20. Nope.

Despite the best efforts of Republicans and "Centrist" Democrats,
the New Deal is still with us, thought the aforementioned are working furiously to dismantle the remnants.

Bernie wants to protect the New Deal,
and so do I.

Truman defined the "phony" Democrats:
"When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the Fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose."

[BrotherIvan]

21. Nailed it

[Autumn]

22. I consider it a 60 year old truth.

[George II]

23. So who is this year's "phony Democrat"?

[Autumn]

24. Is there someone specific you want it to be?

I think it's any Democrat that doesn't stand up for liberal/progressive ideals, and there are some. And then there is Bernie who does stand up for liberal/progressive ideals.

[George II]

25. I don't think there are any, but people keep defining it, redefining it, etc. as though there is one

Otherwise, why bring up Truman's 60 year old quote?

[Autumn]

26. Is there a reason a quote by a great President shouldn't be brought up?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

28. Lovely sub-thread.

Way to handle it. As Bernie says,
Let the other candidates speak for themselves.

[George II]

31. No, but is there a reason why there's a reluctance to explain why its appropriate in 2015/2016?

[Autumn]

32. Truman was our 33rd President, we like the quote and we feel it has relevance

at a time when the Democratic party has moved so close to the republican party. I think it's very appropriate in 2015 and beyond. Do you find it disturbing?

[malokvale77]

33. I like the way you work. (nt)

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

27. Psst, you're in the Bernie Sanders group.

And you're definitely trying to stir up muck and put words in the mouths of Bernie supporters.

You might want to take that elsewhere.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

29. +7

[George II]

30. I know where I am now, and I'm not trying to stir anything.

When I first posted, it was in response to an OP which was on the HOME page with no indication of what forum it was in.

I'm just asking for clarification. People are talking about a phony Democrat (psst, this is in the Democratic Underground site), I'm trying to find out who they're talking about. I haven't mucked anything or tried to put words in anyone's mouth (or fingers).

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

34. I'll admit I've missed noticing the forum occasionally, despite the fact that when

you click on it from any page, the group name is displayed right in the path below the tabs. They could figure out a way to make it show up closer to the title of an op.

But the point of the article is about Bernie being 'the real deal', a person who has displayed more Democratic principles in his lifetime of of public service than basically any Dem out there. That he 'walks the walk' on pretty much every issue you can bring up.

That's what 'they're talking about'. This was not a comparison article, but simply an article about one person, talking about him in the context of him fitting a much-remembered quote.

When you say 'Bob is not a unicorn', you're not actually saying someone else IS a unicorn.