An Awkward Reality in the Democratic Primary (Hillary Clinton won the state’s Democratic primary)

[workinclasszero]

An Awkward Reality in the Democratic Primary
Washington voters handed Hillary Clinton a primary win, symbolically reversing the result of the state caucus where Bernie Sanders prevailed.
CLARE FORAN 12:43 PM ET

Washington voters delivered a bit of bad news for Bernie Sanders’s political revolution on Tuesday.

Hillary Clinton won the state’s Democratic primary, symbolically reversing the outcome of the state’s Democratic caucus in March where Sanders prevailed as the victor. The primary result won’t count for much since delegates have already been awarded based on the caucus. (Sanders won 74 delegates, while Clinton won only 27.) But Clinton’s victory nevertheless puts Sanders in an awkward position.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/1857/11/washington-primary-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton/484313/?preview=Sr5dG80pNO20P61h4ABEZNMQwGo&utm_source=atlfb

[tonyt53]

1. Everybody knows that only the real voters show up at a caucus.

Like only 26,000 real voters compared to about 500,000 fake voters, with 54% voting for HRC.

[BobbyDrake]

4. Caucuses: The Peer Pressure Primaries.

The lack of a secret ballot is totally democratic, right?

[Staph]

17. And it proves that Hillary will have no chance in November

when the national caucus takes place.














Oh, I forgot! It's a national election in November!

[Historic NY]

2. You can rig a caucus.

[workinclasszero]

10. You nailed it!

[Cha]

3. Yeah, that was freaking BOGUS anyway.. & everyone knew it..

As Sanders makes those arguments, he runs up against a few inconvenient realities. He trails Clinton in the popular-vote count and has performed well in caucuses, which consistently witness depressed voter turnout relative to primary elections. What happened in Washington is a painful reminder of this for the campaign: Far more voters took part in Washington’s Democratic primary than its state caucus, preliminary counts indicate. Roughly 230,000 people participated in the Democratic caucus, The Stranger reported in March. In contrast, more than 660,000 Democratic votes had been tallied in the primary as of Tuesday, according to The Seattle Times. That lopsided reality makes it more difficult for Sanders to argue that his candidacy represents the will of the people.

This is excellent, working.. just what we needed to read after Hillary Won the Washington and Nebraska Primary Vote.

Love that she has even more momentum with these Wins going into California and New Jersey, etc etc!

Thank you!

[BobbyDrake]

5. It would be cool if this election resulted in a big movement to end caucuses everywhere.

The debate over open or closed primaries doesn't even come close to the definitive voter suppression induced by the caucus process.

[tonyt53]

6. You just nailed it. Thanks!

[Cha]

8. Yeah, and where would BS be without caucuses? I hear now he's whining

that the "Dem Primary isn't a monarchy".

He's beyond sickening.

I do think Colorado is going to do away with their caucuses for the primary next time.

[Rose Siding]

7. Maybe they'll at least lay of Hillary's superdels now?

They all turned their back on Rick Larson at the convention last week. "Shunned" him they said.

[skylucy]

9. Guess that kind of destroys the Sanders campaign narrative

that the more people see of Bernie, the better they like him. I find it interesting that the media didn't report on this much at all last night. Perhaps it was because the protesters in New Mexico upended the regular MSNBC and CNN political stories. Maybe Rachel Maddow or someone will do a piece on it. I have always wondered WHY any states have caucuses.They disenfranchise many working people, people with child care or other obligations, etc. Also, caucuses go against the importance of one's vote being a personal thing-- That citizens can keep their vote private and free from the aggression of others who might not agree. I realize that nominations are actually a function of each political party, but I would think that the parties would want to show respect for the voting process that we enjoy here in America. One of the "Bernie Issues" that shows blatant hypocrisy is his insistence that caucuses are a good thing. How can he say he wants to bring more people into the process and support caucuses? (Yeah, I know, because he does better in the caucuses...but it is an insult to our intelligence when he tries to defend the caucus system.)

Hillary 2016

[Her Sister]

14. It ended late last night! Maybe that's why?

Rachel mentioned in her 9pm ET show that the primary was happening, but at that time it was still open!

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Who the f**k wants to sit in a room for hours with people who throw chairs? The caucuses are a sham.

It's a night out for bored teenagers & zealots.

[workinclasszero]

12. Drunken zealots

in Nevada.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. YES!!! n/t

[MFM008]

15. I knew we would vote this way

without a caucus.

[stopbush]

16. Caucuses are the embarrassing part of our electoral process that we keep going

the same way people continue stupid religious antics that would be embarrassing were they not religious (why do religious leaders still wear robes?).

It gives us a chance to think of ourselves as a still-young country that, oh golly, is still making those kind of naive mistakes that endear us to all those old-world populaces who got over making such silly mistakes centuries ago.

[SharonClark]

18. It is obvious the caucuses were rigged to benefit Sanders

because the Washington Democratic Party and DWS and Barbara Boxer are in the tank for Sanders.

Oh, sorry, I've read so many outrage posts on GD-P I've memorized their talking points (in reverse).