Sanders supporters here never want to admit that Bernie's electability, both at a contested convention and in Nov., is limited by the reality that more Dems loathe him than love him. So I'm gonna poke the tiger and say: Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat.
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I'll go further, and say: Sanders isn't even eligible to be the Democratic nominee -- which matters, not bec. the DNC would dare declare him ineligible now, but bec. it helps explain why he has a hard, HARD ceiling, both with convention delegates and with Democratic voters.
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We all know Sanders spent most of his career dissing the Dem Party as "ideologically bankrupt," of "greed and vulgarity," proclaiming it would be "hypocritical" for him to run as a Dem. is.gd/CdFYwR
That is, until he realized he needed the party to be prez.
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That is, until he realized he needed the party to be prez.
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In 2016, he saw the light. He decided he WAS a Democrat after all! He announced he was a "Democrat for life!"
Then, as soon as he lost the nomination, he reneged and ran for Senate re-election again as an Independent.
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Then, as soon as he lost the nomination, he reneged and ran for Senate re-election again as an Independent.
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On his Senate website RIGHT NOW, he describes himself as "the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history." sanders.senate.gov/about
He brags about that. The "Democrat for life" brags about that. As he seeks the Democratic nomination.
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He brags about that. The "Democrat for life" brags about that. As he seeks the Democratic nomination.
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Under "Senators Representing Third or Minor Parties," the main Senate website lists "Bernard Sanders (VT)Independent 2007–present" is.gd/XCwCHs
(And no, don't say "but VT doesn't have party registration!" Patrick Leahy of VT is listed on the Senate site as "Dem")
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(And no, don't say "but VT doesn't have party registration!" Patrick Leahy of VT is listed on the Senate site as "Dem")
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Precisely because of Sanders' flipflop on party membership in 2016, the DNC rewrote its rules to make clear that Democrat means, ya know, DEMOCRAT.
Here's the relevant section of the 2020 DNC Call to Convention: is.gd/n3fMF7
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Here's the relevant section of the 2020 DNC Call to Convention: is.gd/n3fMF7
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To be the nominee, a candidate must be "a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishment, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrates that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party."
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Further, "they must publicly affirm
that they are a Democrat" and "affirm, in writing... that
they... are a member of the Democratic Party."
is.gd/n3fMF7
Query: does Bernie Sanders meet those requirements?
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that they are a Democrat" and "affirm, in writing... that
they... are a member of the Democratic Party."
is.gd/n3fMF7
Query: does Bernie Sanders meet those requirements?
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Was Sanders, at the same time as he openly called himself an "Independent" on his Senate website, telling the truth when he certified in writing to the DNC that he was "a member of the Democratic Party"?
Be honest. (And no, "caucusing with Democrats" isn't the same thing.)
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Be honest. (And no, "caucusing with Democrats" isn't the same thing.)
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Many Berners call Warren a "snake." They blame The Establishment. They pretend the primary process is "rigged." They attack the party. But here's the truth: the Democratic Party has let a lifelong non-Democrat -- hell, a lifelong ANTI-Democrat! -- seek its nomination TWICE.
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Democrats have allowed Bernie input into writing its platform and rules. They've bent over BACKWARDS to give him a fair shot at the nomination.
Even though he is, BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, not a Democrat.
Even though he lied in 2016 about being a "Democrat for life."
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Even though he is, BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, not a Democrat.
Even though he lied in 2016 about being a "Democrat for life."
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Democrats have given Bernie every opportunity.
But they don't need to give him their support.
THAT'S why Sanders got shellacked on Tuesday.
THAT'S why Sanders will lose the Florida primary by 2:1.
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But they don't need to give him their support.
THAT'S why Sanders got shellacked on Tuesday.
THAT'S why Sanders will lose the Florida primary by 2:1.
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THAT'S why, if Biden somehow doesn't win an outright majority, a contested convention will never, EVER award the nomination to Sanders.
THAT'S why many of us are furious that, by indulging his ego and running again instead of putting his support behind someone like Warren...
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THAT'S why many of us are furious that, by indulging his ego and running again instead of putting his support behind someone like Warren...
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... Sanders, and no one but Sanders, is to blame for the frustrating reality that we won't have a progressive nominee this year, even though America is ready for one.
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Perez won't block Bernie from playing this out, and the DNC won't interfere with his self-centered, quixotic pursuit of a prize he can't win.
But Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat, and that's why we'll end up having to settle for Biden.
Unhappy? Me, too.
Blame Bernie.
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But Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat, and that's why we'll end up having to settle for Biden.
Unhappy? Me, too.
Blame Bernie.
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