Coworker who has always voted Republican for Pres. is liking Bernie Sanders!

[cui bono]

I've been talking with my coworker, who told me he has always voted for the Republican candidate in the presidential election, telling him about Bernie, and he came up to me today and told me that I'd like this... he's liking Bernie Sanders.



He said he watched a video clip and really liked what he said. He told me that Bernie seems to be appealing to a lot of Republicans. He is middle of the road and says he socializes with people of both persuasions.

And that's why I think Bernie can take it all the way. He can appeal to Republicans because he is speaking to the people about their real problems and issues. He is for the people. And he doesn't come with the divisive baggage that Hillary comes with, no matter if you think it is warranted or not. He is not known as well and so when people take a peek at him they have no preconceived notions and they like what they see and hear.

What's not to like?

[randys1]

1. Might see more and more of this.

The question comes down to do they value their own pocketbook more than their desire to legislate hate.

[cui bono]

4. Exactly. Hopefully they'll vote their interests.

[Populist_Prole]

41. Exactly. When it comes to actual issues and their economic interests

These types, there is hope for, as they are less likely to vote republican due to inertia/tribalism or inane single issues like guns or religion.

[madokie]

2. I'm taking the Bern all the way

[hifiguy]

3. I call that the Wellstone Effect.

A lot of people who never thought they would vote for him became strong supporters because he was always dead-straight with people. Even those who didn't agree with him on every issue respected his honesty and authenticity. They knew he would never BS them. Bernie is that all over again.

This is being grievously underestimated by the Sensible Centrist Woodchucks. Bernie sounds like a Real Democrat from the tradition running from FDR to Truman to JFK and RFK, Hubert Humphrey and Lyndon Johnson, and it has been years since anyone other than the late and much-missed Ted Kennedy has been preaching this gospel.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

12. Like I have said before.

It is time for a real progressive populist movement, but the message needs to be clear and not overly complex and it needs to be repeated over and over to drive it home into the minds of the people.

Then Bernie will win

[Mnpaul]

23. Bernie needs a green school bus

I could just see it now, driving across Iowa.

[hifiguy]

25. Actually, I can too.

[jimlup]

5. Don't get too excited

If your coworker usually votes Repuklian it means he's easily swayed by propaganda. Just wait until the propaganda machine gets rolling... then you'll see your coworkers true colors.

[cui bono]

6. I don't think so. He's not that political. He heard about Bernie because of me.

And when we would talk before Bernie declared, he would hear me blaming Republicans for things and say, "you and Republicans" but then I would point out the facts of them being to blame and now he seems to believe me.

So we'll see. I'm only going to be working with him for another 5-6 weeks though, so hopefully no one gets to him after that!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. I know what you mean....

During the height of it being obvious that the public was lied to about the Iraq War I was at a party and someone heard that I was into politics so they walked up to me and asked me, "Do you know Bush?"

"Yes." I answered.

"Is he a Democrat or a Republican?"

[jimlup]

14. Keep up the good fight!

Not against your friend but to help enlighten the unenlightened... I guess I'm old and jaded by years of banging my head against the wall in this kind of situation.

[arcane1]

27. And THAT is the demographic we need to stir up: non-political people who maybe don't always vote

If we can all convince even ONE!!

[merrily]

30. LOL! The USS Excited sailed.

Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2015, 12:10 AM - Edit history (1)

[glinda]

7. nurture nurture nurture.....

keep spreading the word kindly.

[babylonsister]

8. I have a rethug

friend who posted a Bernie meme on FB tonight. I was delighted, and think Bernie Sanders needs to keep pushing those memes. They sure have helped get him to where he is, because a lot of people recognize his name and his sentiments. Win/win!

[arcane1]

28. He is PERFECT for Facebook because his quotes are so perfectly succinct

Facebook is all about sharing photos with text on them, and you can take a Sanders quote and random and paste it on a photo and get a gazillion likes. And they DO!!!

[merrily]

31. That reminds me. I need to get "liking" again. It's been a few days.

[cui bono]

35. Remember when Romney's FB likes were dropping by the second?

I don't recall at what point that was...

[sabrina 1]

45. Bernie has nearly 2 million 'likes' on FB.

[cascadiance]

9. I think many of them even see that he's HONEST!

That he's consistent in what he stands for, and doesn't seem to be parsing what he says based on what some campaign donors want him to do.

I think that works for voters of any party, or those that avoid parties too.

They want someone who's a known quanity. If he's working honestly enough for them on things that they agree with (things like TPP, which most grass roots Americans don't want, even if their politicians do), I think they're willing to put up with some issues they might disagree with him on, if they feel that his meausured response on all of these issues works in their favor on balance. And they feel that they can at least KNOW what he's going to do.

And Bernie is a politician that listens too, as he has done on his weekly town halls with Thom Hartmann, and he does with his many constituents in Vermont, many of whom like to hunt and have the right to bear arms there, which Bernie supports in areas where it doesn't hurt others like it might in big cities. He won an election over a Republican moderate on issues like these early on in his career in Vermont.

And I remind many who feel a bugaboo about "socialism" that I talk to that those corporate politicians today taking Koch money are getting more money from an empire built on money from Communist Joseph Stalin and Fred Koch than Bernie Sanders ever has, who aligns himself more with the philosophies of those bottom up socialists like Trotsky in the older Soviet Union that Stalin murdered and squashed then with his similar top down power agenda. Though some won't listen at all, some do, and it gives them something to think about and a world that isn't as simple as they thought it might be.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

21. ^

[arcane1]

29. And it works for those that feel so apathetic about voting that they don't bother.

When we all get out there and vote, we win. Period

[cui bono]

36. Also, when speaking of socialism, the GOP has made them think that the Dems are socialist

and want to take their money to give to other people, well the GOP and corporate Dems want to take all the people's money and give it to Exxon, which makes a $25bn/year profit! But of course the media never talks about that.

[Avalux]

10. I'm seeing this too. You know what's ironic?

Bernie has never shied away from what he believes, and proudly calls himself a Socialist.

Because his message is true, he is resonating with every walk of life, no matter who they've voted for in the past, and if they've never voted at all.

[cui bono]

16. Yep, his authenticity is a breath of fresh air.

He will appeal to a lot of people who are sick of politics as usual. I believe he will energize the apathetic as well, getting people who have just about given up to get back out and vote again.

[merrily]

32. Well, he openly calls himself a Democratic Socialist, which is different from a socialist.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12806844

[Avalux]

39. Yes I know, but that word alone sets people off. n/t

[merrily]

54. Yes. Exactly why we should use the correct term and, if possible, set people straight..

[99th_Monkey]

11. If they always voted Republican you can bet

they are not big Clinton fans, odds are.

[Omaha Steve]

15. I'm not surprised

K&R!

[Wilms]

17. Same here!

And it seems like everything mentioned on this thread is part of what's going on.

[think]

18. Bernie Sanders. President for the people.....

[Mnemosyne]

22. Hear, hear! [phone] nt

[drm604]

19. I've seen this in a former coworker.

We had never really discussed politics, but he always struck me as kind of right-wing, if not radically so. He's now a FB friend and has posted some right-ish memes over the years.

A week or so ago he posted a link to a Sanders speech and said that this man is what this country needs!

[zeemike]

20. Well Republicans are people too, and not all of them are rich.

And many of them are getting worried about economic issues...and with good reason.
And they are having a hard time swallowing the Tea Party just like we have a hard time with the Third way.
So yes we have an opportunity to change thing now and we should take it.

[Puzzledtraveller]

24. I know a few right leaning peeps that say there are things they like about Sanders.

I think Bernie knows the politics of division is what ensures the status quo, keeping the two parties in positions of power pretending to fight one another while they fool us into thinking they are also fighting for us. If you could get people together on common ground, you could upset the applecart.

[cui bono]

37. Yup. n/t

[arcane1]

26. Many, many people think they're conservative but they're really not. TV tricks them into thinking so

What makes Sanders so good is he speaks past all that nonsense, all the slogans and buzz words, and tells it like it is. It's amazing how easy it can be to make them realize they agreed with him all along

And THAT is the kind of "bipartisan appeal" that he and only he has

[Jesus Malverde]

33. Penn Jillette well known libertarian

Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2015, 12:22 AM - Edit history (1)

Watched all the campaign intro videos and bernies resonated with him the most.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/11/opinions/jillette-presidential-candidate-videos/index.html

[GReedDiamond]

34. I have had the same reaction from some...

...Republics/Conservatives lately.

I encounter them in my dealings with the garment industry in Los Angeles.

Very interesting!

[DLnyc]

38. Sanders will appeal to people who are fed up with the way things are going now.

That includes a large number of Dems, Repubs and Independents. And also many of the 50% or so of registered voters who often don't even bother to vote, and many of the roughly 25% of eligible voters who are not even registered.

Elections more and more are being decided by a slim majority (or sometimes a minority) of a pool which is already way under half of the actual citizens eligible to vote. So 'conventional wisdom' about who is 'electable' tends to be based on a sample which is radically skewed away from those who are completely fed up with the current profoundly dysfunctional system.

[Enthusiast]

40. I am glad to hear this.

[TBF]

42. Yes - he appeals to the working class white males many in this party

openly mock. Many of them were slipping away to Fuck Ron Paul ... but you can tell they are not republicans at heart. Bernie is winning them back.

[Betty Karlson]

43. Reallignment? Is this man representative of Republican swing voters to be?

Is Sanders capable of that elusive phenomenon called "reallignment"?

[world wide wally]

44. I am somewhat shocked when I tell Repbublican friends that I am for Bernie and they really don't

have much to say except that they "kind of like him too".
Go figure

[Zorra]

46. People are sick of corporate candidates. They want to vote for real democrats like Bernie. nt

[Ed Suspicious]

47. "What's not to like?"

[dpatbrown]

48. Get the word out.

Don't wait, put your lawn sign up now.

[stonecutter357]

49. always voted Republican

He is a dumb ass and not to be taken seriously.

[cui bono]

56. omg... what an ignorant comment.

Way to bring people back to our side.

[wyldwolf]

50. Happens every election cycle

People have Republican friends / coworkers / family who just SWEAR they're going to vote Democratic.

[MADem]

52. And who doesn't LIKE Bernie?

He's very plainspoken.

That doesn't necessarily translate into votes, though.

I can't see anyone who is an historically committed GOP voter making that big a shift. It's a bit like the colonel voting for one of the chickens, to flip a meme.

[cui bono]

55. You think I'm lying?

[wyldwolf]

57. Never crossed my mind but, frankly, I couldn't care less if you are or not

It happens every election cycle.

[cui bono]

58. Yes, people can change every election cycle.

And I helped one do it!

[Warpy]

51. Sanders is talking about things no one has dared to talk about since the 70s

and George McGovern's trouncing. After 40 years of conservative mismanagement from both parties, people are willing to listen to them.

I'm beginning to think a good showing in the primaries will be the writing on the wall to the DNC that these times, they are a changing and they better adapt. Business as usual is not going to win them any elections.

[MannyGoldstein]

53. Bernie's "No bull@#$&" platform

should have almost-universal appeal.