Sen. Bernie Sanders Wins Vermont Democratic Primary, but Is Expected to Turn It Down

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Time

Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders won Vermont's Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday but was expected to turn down the nomination, as he did in his previous campaigns, and support other Democratic candidates. In Tuesday's Democratic balloting, Sanders defeated little-known candidate Folasade Adeluola ...

There were four little-known candidates seeking the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.
Sanders, long one of Vermont's most popular politicians, is thought to be considering a presidential run in 2020 and already is on Vermont's November ballot for Senator as an independent.

Under Vermont law he cannot appear on the November ballot as both a Democrat and an independent. In his previous U.S. Senate races, in 2012 and 2006, he declined the Democratic nomination but accepted the formal endorsement of the state's Democratic Party.

"That is what he has done in the past, and that is what he looks forward to happening in 2018," Sanders campaign spokeswoman Arianna Jones said. "As he has for many campaigns, Bernie will contribute to and participate in the Vermont Democratic coordinated campaign." Sanders campaign is donating $150,000 to the Vermont Democratic Party.

Read more: http://time.com/5367651/sen-bernie-sanders-wins-vermont-democratic-primary-but-is-expected-to-turn-it-down/

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[JoeOtterbein]

1. Bernie is a real mensch!

Please keep up your great work fighting the good fight!

[CentralMass]

2. +1

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. Yup yup... Bernie's da man!!

[Power 2 the People]

3. Vermont Democrats love them some Bernie!

Sanders' long-time political adviser Jeff Weaver said that the Sanders campaign is donating $150,000 to the Vermont Democratic Party.

That's great that he donates to Democrats to help them in their races.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

4. It sure is... thank you Bernie for your strong support of Democrats!!

[comradebillyboy]

6. BFD.

[jb5150]

7. I think it's a BFD ......

Way to go Bernie ....

[Lordquinton]

8. Big Friend of Democrats!

[Eko]

9. I dont get why he does this.

I mean why run as a Democrat, I mean why not run as an indep,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, huh. I tried looking to see how much money the Vermont Democratic party has given to Sanders when he does this and cant find anything. Anyone?

[Voltaire2]

10. It is to keep a rat fucker off the ballot.

By running in the primary Sanders keeps a vote splitting rat fucker off the ballot in the general election and keeps the seat safely on our side.

[Igel]

11. Well, he keeps a (D) from running in the general

and from being senator, while making use of the (D) party to gain that position.

In return, he caucuses with (D) while apparently retaining his integrity by not being called one.

The only party-relevant thing that can be said is that he gets (D) votes.

[heaven05]

13. ++++this nt

[Voltaire2]

14. No. Any Democrat can win the primary.

But if you’d like to give this seat to the Republicans perhaps you can convince the VDP to follow your advice.

[Hortensis]

16. You're calling genuine Democratic candidates "rat fuckers"

and congratulating yourselves on a maneuver that blocks a Democrat from running against an independent in the general election? Democrats even get to pay for it. Do 100% of all VT's Democrats want Sanders, or are a bunch of VT's Democrats getting screwed here?

Are there no questions of ethical violations and suppression of the democratic process here? What am I not understanding?

This is reminding me that Sanders' voters in VT apparently approve Sanders' role in dumping their own light radioactive waste in other peoples' back yards far, far away, problem transferred, never to bother VT again. Most of us have no problem recognizing big moral questions there.

[Voltaire2]

18. Nope. Nice try though.

Your “genuine” Democratic candidates are welcome to compete in the Democratic Primary, which they did, and got crushed by your bogeyman Bernie.

What the VDP and Sanders don’t want is a three way race.

[TomCADem]

21. Wow, Celebrating Genuine Democrats Getting Crushed?

Are you sure you are on the right board?

[Adrahil]

17. He COULD just ACCEPT THE FUCKING NOMINATION.

No Rat-fucking involved.

Apparently he's too good to be a Democrat.

[left-of-center2012]

12. Vermont Democrats voted for him

They like him.

[Voltaire2]

19. Yes. The VDP and Sanders have a great relationship.

This is pretty much only an uproar among Democrats who are determined to frame Sanders as the enemy, and of course right wing trolls helping that along.

[TomCADem]

22. Sadly. He Won't Accept Their Nomination.

I do not think you are saying that Vermont Democrats would reject Bernie. To the contrary you seem to be arguing that they want him to be their Senator. Unfortunately, he refuses to accept their nomination.

But, hey, if they consent because they have no choice, then its okay. We know that Trump says that a lot.

[TomCADem]

20. This is the Big Difference Between Him and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez...

...besides their stance on immigration issues. AOC is actually a Democrat who is running to move the party in a progressive direction. Bernie repeatedly rejects the party, because his schtick is to run against Democrats and Republicans as an outsider. To be successful, he has to paint both parties as the "establishment," thus he will never actually join the party.

This is why you have to give credit to folks like AOC who moving the party in a progressive direction, rather than rejecting it. To build a coalition, you have to be a part of it. Otherwise, you are just being a gadfly.