"unelectable"

[G_j]

Last edited Wed Apr 29, 2015, 01:15 PM - Edit history (1)

It is a tried and true tactic to repeat this about a candidate until they are saddled with the "unelectable" label.
It is very effective. Before you know it, the meme is being repeated over, and over, and cited as 'conventional wisdom'.
Why would we do this to a candidate who is only running to represent our best interests?
I'll have to admit, I am a bit suspicious of those who keep repeating this about Bernie Sanders like a mantra. What's the deal?
I am more specifically thinking of those who seem so eager to make sure they repeat this meme wherever others are expressing enthusiasm.

[onehandle]

1. That descriptor is used much more often about Hillary on DU.

What's the deal?

I mean... cough... strawman.

[JaneyVee]

10. Yup. "If we nominate Hillary we lose, if we nominate Bernie we win".

That is the DU mantra. The projection on DU is astounding sometimes.

[Voice for Peace]

31. weird, I haven't encountered that mantra once

[KittyWampus]

2. Well, I know the word "pragmatic" isn't popular for many on DU. However,

speaking pragmatically, Bernie has almost no chance of getting the nomination.

Which isn't quite the same as saying "unelectable" since that term implies not enough of voting public will pull the lever for him.

The chance of the Democratic party getting behind Sanders is very slim. I erred in saying zero earlier. But it isn't likely.

But it is an exciting development. He's going to make things move a bit to the left and that is a great thing.

IMO, Sanders deserves support for the benefits he brings to the primary process.

Pretty sure I'll send him a small amount.

[Lurks Often]

3. It's people looking at historical trends and reality

Many here are unable to objectively look at things and come to realistic conclusions that conflict with what they want or feel. And my comments can apply equally to Hillary as well, forget that Hillary is a woman and then decide if she is still a great candidate.

The average of age a President is 55 upon taking office the first time, you can sort the link by the age they were when they assumed office: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States_by_age

and most of them were either the vice president or a Governor prior to being President

And just because you and others here on DU like/love Bernie Sanders or Hillary does not mean it the rest of the country will, nor does it mean they think they are voting against their best interests by not voting for Bernie or Hillary.

My more cynical view is that the Democratic Party is NOT going to allow some Senator from Vermont, who has spent his entire career as an independent, take the Democratic nomination from someone in the Democratic party who has put their time in working up through the political ranks of the Party

[seabeyond]

9. ya. we could have looked at historical trends and reality in electing a black man, or a woman. nt

[Lurks Often]

14. There are always outliers, but historical trends are often useful

It's more then 14 months until the Democratic National Convention at which the nominee will be choosen. A lot can happen between now and then.

[seabeyond]

15. here is how i see our opportunity. we busted the glass ceiling. we are comfortable having busted

the glass ceiling, breathing fresh air. we see we can when, having busted the glass seeing.

sanders is another opportunity. i think we are more comfortable with that now. especially seeing how clinton will be there if not sanders. at this point. clinton being another that does not fall under historical and whatever else.

[Lurks Often]

23. Shrug, we'll find out soon enough, but I think you are going to be disappointed

and upset. I also think you are allowing yourself to be at least partially blinded by what you want to happen as opposed as to what is likely to happen.

Again it is more then 14 months to the national convention and just over 18 months to the election, so a lot can happen between now and those two dates.

[seabeyond]

26. hey... if you cannot even consider it, it isnt gonna happen. what is this... disappointed?

what is this upset? you try to give me. i see win win win all the way around. but, i am way ahead of that ole 8 ball.

[Lurks Often]

32. I have no problem with Bernie or Hillary or anyone else contending for the nomination

nor have I been posting anything in favor of a specific person.

The OP asked a question and I gave him what I think was an accurate answer as to why some candidates are viewed as unelectable

[seabeyond]

33. yes. i agree. and i disagreed with your presentation and stated why. that is all. nt

[Lurks Often]

35. Ok

[nenagh]

4. Slightly OT, but,

I was watching the Ed Show when Ed was talking to Bernie Sanders about Fast Tracking the TPP...

Bernie said, to the best of his knowledge, that the TPP/ Fast Track, had not been mentioned on CNN, ABC, CBS etc.

That Ed was practically the only voice to discuss the issue..

Then the show cut away to Pres Obama live...criticizing MSNBC, Ed essentially, for his negativity about the TPP.

I'm so relieved and thankful that Bernie's decision to run for Pres... will mean that as he speaks out about the TPP..that the MSM will be forced into some discussion about it..

[G_j]

5. every minute of air time Bernie gets

is a moment of truth. I am elated also.

[nenagh]

13. "a moment of truth"...I will think of that often...

Thank you

[boston bean]

6. You know how many people on this website have claimed Hillary unelectable?

Answer: MANY.

So, take it for what its worth.

[G_j]

12. it's the same thing

although quite a stretch, as her numbers say otherwise.

[seabeyond]

7. anyone that works at contaminating a candidate with whatever coating of negative, is suspect in my

book.

that is what many of us have been addressing the last couple weeks.

i agree. so, i have chosen to take action, and start proving the "unelectable" is only if we create that.

[brooklynite]

22. IMPORTANT NEW DU RULE: Only POSITIVE comments about a candidate are acceptable

Thanks for letting us know...

[seabeyond]

25. you are just being silly, right?

[MineralMan]

8. Well, some people think he is unelectable.

A lot of people have been involved in presidential campaigns over the years. They have lots of experience in understanding how voters behave. I'm one of them, and have been active in those campaigns since 1960, when I was just a sophomore in high school. I follow every election closely, and participate in campaigns actively.

Bernie Sanders has a very difficult road ahead of him, even to get the Democratic nomination. You'd be amazed at how many people have never heard his name, and that will be true throughout the campaign. At least half the population couldn't tell you who the current VP is. And then, there's campaign funding. Overcoming the inertia of voters is very, very expensive. How much money can Sanders raise for a primary campaign? I don't know, but it will make a huge difference.

We'll know what his chances are of getting the Democratic nomination on Super Tuesday in 2016. Unless he is very close in primary results to Hillary Clinton, he won't have much choice except to drop out of the race. The same is true of the other candidates who enter the primary race. It's going to be up to his supporters to help him, and the time to start is right now.

Is Senator Sanders electable? Nobody knows the answer to that, but we will know, long before the nominating convention. If you want Sanders on the ballot in November, there's a lot of work to do to make him electable. Right now, he's not, because Hillary Clinton has a huge lead in current polling. That will have to change drastically.

Start the campaign now, if you want him to win. Campaign very, very hard. It's going to be a tough pull.

[G_j]

16. I agree

It's up to us. I am just wishing people will be sensitive to the fact that saying he has "zero chances" etc. potentially discourages people from even trying. A big plus for Sanders is that the people who do know him are incredibly enthusiastic and motivated. Enthusiasm can not be overestimated as a factor. Obama was not that well known either, but he somehow managed to harness a huge reservoir of enthusiasm. As a supporter, I want to push back against absolutist statements that I've seen a lot of: "He has zero chances". For one thing, I don't believe that. It will be a tough pull for certain, but not impossible. It's up to the people.

[MineralMan]

17. I wouldn't say that his chances are zero.

Frankly, I wouldn't characterize his chances at all. If his enthusiastic supporters can win him a primary or two, his chances will improve. Lots of people were enthusiastic about Dennis Kucinich, too, but he never managed to win even a single primary. That should be job one for Sanders supporters. He will desperately need an early primary win. Failing that, his campaign will be short.

I'm not in an early primary state. Our precinct caucuses in MN are on Super Tuesday in 2016. I'll caucus for Sanders, but Minnesota will almost certainly go for Clinton in the caucuses on March 1. She's very popular here. The Iowa caucuses are going to be important, because they will have an impact on campaign financing, as they always do.

Sanders needs a primary win. Not a second-place finish with a wide margin. That won't help. He needs to win an early primary. So, that's where efforts need to go.

[G_j]

20. thanks

that is the kind of constructive input that makes DU worthwhile.

[JaneyVee]

11. I will gladly support the Democratic nominee.

Republicans present a clear and present danger.

[brooklynite]

18. You DO realize that this discussion is ONLY happening among a bunch of bloggers here?

And this this is a political blog where issues like electability get discussed?

And people who don't like Hillary Clinton say the same thing?

[m-lekktor]

19. the one that annoys me is the bringing up of the Dukakis or Mondale campaigns whenever anybody to

the left of Lieberman is suggested as a presidential candidate.

[Adrahil]

21. I wish it weren't so, but it is.

A rumpled-looking self-described Democratic-Socialist with a very noticeable Brooklyn accent just ain't gonna win a national election.

It's not fair, it's not right, and I'm afraid it's completely true.

[G_j]

27. How do we know that people aren't ready for a bold straight talker with a Brooklyn accent?

I wouldn't be so sure that they aren't.

[Voice for Peace]

30. that's how I see it as well.

straight talk, no bullshit, and authentic focus on real folks.

[randome]

24. Most of us are on the same side. 'Unelectable' simply refers to the view of the moment.

If the moment changes, the pendulum swings, the stars align, our views will likely change as well.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[Voice for Peace]

28. I don't think he's unelectable.

[Gothmog]

29. To win the 2016 election, the Democratic nominee will need to raise at least one billion dollars

I do not see Bernie being able to do this

[99Forever]

34. IMNSHO

It comes basically from two kinds of people. Tools and fools.

[LanternWaste]

36. The Old Testament Prophets of DU are much more confident with themselves than anyone else really is

The Old Testament Prophets of DU are much more confident with themselves than anyone else really is.

A bumper-sticker of one-dimensional wisdom here, a chicken mcnugget oracle there, and before we know it, Madame Marie begins falling for her own auguries.




No mountain is climbable until someone climbs it, no river is swimmable until someone swims it.