Who said this: "“I am not now, nor have I ever been, a liberal Democrat”?

[CajunBlazer]

From Politico:
Can Bernie Sanders Win the Love of a Party He Scorns?
The long, troubled history of Bernie Sanders and the 'ideologically bankrupt' party whose White House nod he now seeks. By Michael Kruse and Manu Raju

You don’t change the system from within the Democratic Party.”

“My own feeling is that the Democratic Party is ideologically bankrupt.”

“We have to ask ourselves, ‘Why should we work within the Democratic Party if we don’t agree with anything the Democratic Party says?’”

(snip)

In that summer’s issue of Vermont Affairs magazine, he called the Democratic Party “ideologically bankrupt,” then added: “They have no ideology. Their ideology is opportunism.”

(snip)

At the Socialist Scholars Conference in New York City in April 1990, he asked, “Why should we work within the Democratic Party … ?” He said at the gathering he was running for Congress that year again as an independent because it would be “hypocritical” of him to run as a Democrat considering the kinds of things he had said about the party.

[SheenaR]

1. Are we the same party of the 80's? n/t

[Betty Karlson]

3. In Clinton's mind, we are. That woman is stuck in the 20th century.

And so is DINO-Debbie and the rest of the Clinton campaign team.

[CajunBlazer]

6. I was a Democrat then and I am a Democrat now

How about you?

[SheenaR]

10. Didn't ask that n/t

[Nanjeanne]

49. I stopped giving to the Democratic Party a long time ago. I stayed registered to vote in primary

But I've been disappointed in the Democratic Party for a very long time. It's only that the Republicans are so much worse. But that's no recommendation for the majority of the corporatist Dems.

[thereismore]

2. The thing is, something like that is music to the ears of people who are to the left of the party as

a whole. You can score points with this among centrist or corporate Democrats.

[Bjornsdotter]

7. Absolutely!!

I am right there with Bernie on every statement. It actually makes me like him more.

[DanTex]

12. The problem is, not to most voters.

[jeff47]

25. More voters than Democrats.

Democrats are only 30% of the electorate. Independents are 40%.

[DanTex]

30. Not sure where the idea that indies are more liberal than Dems comes from.

Is that belief based on a fabricated quote maybe?

[jeff47]

34. Independents are all over the left-right divide.

From actual communists to neo-Nazis.

They are lumped into the middle by lazy pollsters, because treating independents as a single group effectively averages the views of communists and neo-Nazis (and everyone in between).

[DanTex]

38. Last I saw, the electorate is about 25% liberal, 35% moderate, 35% conservative, self-described.

Do you think anyone outside the 25% of self-described liberals (or even a lot of people in that group) are going to be excited about a guy who proudly denounced liberal Democrats for not being liberal enough?

[jeff47]

42. Yeah, the goalposts were clearly in the wrong place.

are going to be excited about a guy who proudly denounced liberal Democrats for not being liberal enough?

Well, that would be the reason Sanders talks about policy and not self-applied labels. 'Cause a whole lot of "liberal" policies are actually supported by people who claim to be moderate, or even conservative.

[DanTex]

47. Sanders doesn't talk about labels? Are you kidding? So that bashing Hillary for being "moderate"

wasn't a label?

[thereismore]

33. About 1/2 of the Dem voters. You see, Hillary really is a centrist therefore everybody

to the left of her, which is 1/2 of the party, is progressive. That's why we had a 50-50 outcome in IA.

1/2 cannot be easily marginalized.

[DanTex]

35. In Iowa. And what I don't get is, why is it OK to "marginalize" the Hillary half

of the Iowa voters and not the Bernie half.

[thereismore]

39. You jumped to a certain conclusion, DanTex. I don't want to marginalize

either 1/2. I am sorry you feel that way. It's a good thing we can speak freely, you and I. It's a good thing!

[workinclasszero]

4. That would be that great democratic lion (of a couple of months)*cough* Bernie Sanders*cough*

And my siggy LOL

[HERVEPA]

5. Jesus H. Christ, find a new meme will you. That bogus one's been beaten to death.

[CajunBlazer]

9. If you can't respond, deflect

[elias49]

11. Meh. I prefer to

[HERVEPA]

14. It's been responded to a million times already. Uh, and your response was a deflection.

[MoonRiver]

15. So Bernie, and his minions, want Hillary held to the fire for her statements,

but we're supposed to give Mr. Sanders a pass for his? Nope, not going to happen.

[workinclasszero]

20. So Bernie, and his minions, want Hillary held to the fire for her statements,

but we're supposed to give Mr. Sanders a pass for his?


Thats right, seems fair eh?

[beam me up scottie]

18. Nailed it! Must be recycling day again.

[jeff47]

26. Well, we do have "Sanders loves the NRA" posts, and "Sanders supporters hate women" posts

today on DU.

Guess they're back to fishing for something that might stick.

[beam me up scottie]

32. When you can't discuss issues you head for the compost pile.

Dig around for something rotten and serve it up on a platter.

In other words, it's Thursday.

[Ron Green]

8. I'm fine with this, if it means Bernie's candidacy and election

can reorient the Democratic Party to its position of balance against corporate hegemony.

[Motown_Johnny]

13. Good. The Democratic Party is not liberal enough for him

and I support that position.


Maybe if we can move the party left, he will be.

[randome]

17. Then he should probably start his own party.

Not invade another's territory and proclaim he's fighting for our...wait, what does this remind me of? Something to do with...Oregon, I think...
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers, it's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[Motown_Johnny]

23. It is a 2 party system and he is working within the rules.

Hillary does things that are just barely legal and no Clinton supporter seems to care.

Bernie running as a Democrat is not a problem for most of us.

Your assumption that there is some type of ownership of the Democratic party that is being violated is simply wrong. Bernie is allowed to run as a Democrat, unlike taking over government buildings in Oregon.

The very fact that you equate the two shows how far from reality you are.

[jeff47]

36. Casually throwing away half of the Democratic party is not smart electoral strategy. (nt)

[Admiral Loinpresser]

41. That's why Hillary can't win. n/t

[Hiraeth]

37. too late. he didn't. deal with it.

[Autumn]

16. My candidate Bernie Sanders

[beam me up scottie]

19. Mine too!!! A true progressive!

[Autumn]

21. Yes he is

[beam me up scottie]

24. ...

[Autumn]

27. I love that!

Gonna steal it and put it on FB

[VulgarPoet]

22. The system has no room for two ideologically bankrupt parties.

Evolve, or get sheared is what I say.

[frylock]

28. This is a feature, not a bug.

[Vinca]

29. Poor Bernie.

The Democratic honchos hate him so much they would rather he not run as a Democrat which would guarantee a Republican president.

[NurseJackie]

31. Wow! Very disappointing. But it certainly helps to explain a lot.

[HERVEPA]

45. Shirley you must be kidding? Acting like you never heard this before?

Do you share some traits with your TV counterpart?

[CajunBlazer]

51. You're pretty much Johnie One Note

[HERVEPA]

52. Shirley you jest

[Skwmom]

40. He is a PROGRESSIVE. n/t

[whatchamacallit]

43. Who said this: "I think a marriage is as a marriage has always been, between a man and a woman"?

[Z_California]

44. I agree with him wholeheartedly

And I hope this is the beginning of the repair of the party.

Thank you Bernie for not running as an Independent and splitting the vote allowing the GOP to win. If he doesn't win the Dem nomination he will endorse the Dem nominee because he cares about this country and doesn't want to see the Republicans gain uncontested control.

If the OP suggests these statements somehow disqualify him I say this: I disagree.

[BillZBubb]

46. I have no problem with this.

For a long time, the Democratic party has been floundering. There hasn't been much "this is what the Democratic party stands for! This is what the Democratic party will fight for! This is what the Democratic party will not tolerate!".

Back then, Sanders didn't think it was possible to change the party. That didn't stop him from caucusing with and voting with the Democrats in congress. Having an opportunity to become the head of the party will afford him the opportunity to change the party. The situation has changed and like all intelligent people he reassessed his position.

[arely staircase]

48. That's going to leave a mark nt

[CajunBlazer]

50. Enough of this baloney that Sanders's represents half of the Democratic Pary

In Iowa, yea, probably. In lily white New Hampshire, probably more than half honestly. But in South Carolina and the rest the Southern states, not even close. In fact, nationwide only about 11% of voters describe themselves as very liberal and I can't imagine how few describe themselves as "socialists".

Bernie's political career as an independent could have been successful maybe three states, Vermont and New Hampshire among them. He could not have been elected dog catcher at the time he started running for office in his native Brooklyn.

I know you guys don't believe this, but you are going to see how little Bernie's message resonates in the rest of the country once the primaries have left New Hampshire behind.

[Cheese Sandwich]

55. Bernie is not a liberal. That's true. He's a democratic socialist.

Liberals support all kinds of daft shit like free trade with China.

[CajunBlazer]

58. And a Socialist has zero chance of being elected President

Bernie supporters don't even make up half of all Democrats

Look around DU for instance; many of your Bernie brethren aren't even Democrats. They are only here because of Bernie and when this is over they will go back to voting for the Green Party, the Socialist Party USA, etc. or not voting. Look at the polls of all of the states following NH where Bernie is 20% to 53% behind Hillary. Oh yea, you will say Bernie will convert them, but where are all of your Democratic Bernie brethren in those states right now?

Then consider those those self identifying as Democrats make up just 31% of the voting public, so obviously we are going to need the help independents who make up 42% to win the General election.

You know if Bernie wins the election the GOP spin machine is going drive the Bernie's socialism into the ground. So how do you think independents answer the question: "How would you feel about a candidate for president who described themselves as a socialist?" right now? YouGov Poll: Enthusiastic - 5%, Comfortable - 23%, Somewhat Uncomfortable - 35%, Very Uncomfortable 37%.

So how in the heck is Bernie going to win the general election when 72% of the independents are "Somewhat Uncomfortable" or "Very Uncomfortable" with a Socialist as President. And keep in mind this is BEFORE the Republicans start their attacks on Bernie.

Just wait until all of those independents learn about Bernie's plans to tax the middle class and the Republicans start to drive that home. The wait until the independents learn about Bernie's plans to turn the US into another Denmark. Most Americans will tolerate change, but the run from sudden change.

Forget all of the one on one polls, they mean nothing until the two nominees are selected and vetted and are actually compared to each other by the American people. Then understand that Bernie's chances of being elected President of the United States are essential zero.

[Cheese Sandwich]

59. Bernie is more electable than Hillary in a general election

Source: polls .

[NurseJackie]

53. ME: "Honey? Who said 'I am not now, nor have I ever been, a liberal Democrat'?"

MY HUSBAND: "Oh hell, I don't know. Richard Nixon?"



He wasn't trying to be funny, so he really didn't understand why I was laughing so hard at him.

I love him!





Note to Jury: This is just a story about something funny that happened. I'm not comparing Sanders to Nixon. I'm laughing at my husband's response and sharing it with others in the hopes that they might think it's amusing too.

[AtomicKitten]

54. Your mom? (AKA who gives a crap?)

[grntuscarora]

56. He has been saying, since forever, that the two parties have drifted closer together, to the point

there is very little daylight between them.

I agree with him.

I'm an Independent that has joined your party so I can vote for Bernie in my primary. The D Party needs to take a cold, hard look at itself and be honest about what it has become.

He's running as a Dem so as not to be a Nader spoiler. However, he is the best thing that's happened to the Dem Party since FDR.

But, hey, I'm just a "guest in your house", so what do I know.