Team Bernie calling on GOP supporters to register as Democrats for NV Caucus?

[Dawson Leery]

https://twitter.com/RalstonReports/status/698654987610562560

[TheBlackAdder]

1. Where have I heard this before? Oh, that's right! 2008. nt

[Kittycat]

4. +1 n/t

[wyldwolf]

2. Yikes!

[mucifer]

3. Ummm yeah! How do you think reagan won? He convinced dems to vote for him.

There are many fed up republicans voting for Bernie.

[HooptieWagon]

10. This ^.

[virtualobserver]

36. Hillary supporters only like voting in moderation

[liberal N proud]

5. Does BS have the same campaign manager as Ted Cruz?

Sneaky, slimy, low down dirty tricks.

[left-of-center2012]

22. "Sneaky, slimy, low down dirty tricks"

Trying to get GOP voters to vote Democratic is 'Sneaky, slimy, low down dirty tricks'?

[840high]

23. You meant HC.

[liberal N proud]

39. NO!

[roguevalley]

60. Bernie is unity, Hillary is for herself. Go, Bernie. Bring us

together again. Given that he doesn't compromise shit when he encourages them, the pearl clutchers need to relax.

[liberal N proud]

65. BS, the independent until "HE" needed something!

[roguevalley]

67. sad. hill vacant with a war criminal. study that.

[jfern]

40. How dare he grow the party! How dare he!

[CoffeeCat]

63. How in the world do you figure that?

Wow, that's a truckload of drama, there.

I just explained in a post that I spent three months canvassing and calling for Bernie. Part of my strategy--and the other volunteers as well, was to go after Republicans.

We didn't avoid canvassing/calling them--because we were finding support from Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents in Iowa.

This is how you win elections. It's called cross-over appeal.

I'm not understanding the need to turn a non-issue into some kind of nefarious behavior.

[HooptieWagon]

6. It's perfectly legal to change voter party registration if desired.

I'm sure there will be a flood of Democrats changing their party registration if Hillary is nominated.

[ebayfool]

38. I've been talking to Repubs @ Bernie - some are seriously taking a look!

Why would anyone have a problem with trying to bring them out of the dark side?

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

7. Shocked! Shocked I am that Bernie is asking people to vote for him!

[cyberswede]

8. And?

I read that as asking the voter if they actually support the rubes in the clown car, and if not, to consider SBS.

[Wilms]

9. You mean you haven't tried to get republicans to switch sides?

What the hell...

[stone space]

11. Here in Iowa, caucusgoers can register (or change their registration) at the door.

Not sure how it works in Nevada.

[HooptieWagon]

16. I believe Nevada can register at the door also.

But I saw a chart showing an insane number of new registrations in advance, for both parties. I think the Nevada caucuses are going to be a clusterfuck, I doubt they're prepared for what's about to hit them.

[Blue_In_AK]

17. That's how it is for Alaska's caucus, too.

[Kittycat]

12. Have you been watching the republican debates?

Because they're options are pretty sad.

[Lazy Daisy]

13. If Hillary knew

she had Republicans that would vote for her in the GE you trying to tell us she wouldn't do the same?
Don't even try it.

[kstewart33]

25. That's no excuse for Bernie doing it. Hopefully, he is not doing it. nt

[OrwellwasRight]

33. What?

Hopefully he is not convincing more people to become Democrats? I'd never hire you as an organizer. You don't even make sense.

[kstewart33]

50. Think for a moment.

Words out that Hillary is calling Republicans trying to convince them to change their party allegiance - become a Democrat - and caucus for her.

How do you think Bernie supporters here at DU would respond to that?

"That's a great idea that Hillary's got. Expanding the party."

"It might just work."


No, I'd wager that in a consensus unison with scores of posts:

"She's desperate, so desperate that she going after Republicans for geez sake!" "That's hilarious!"
"For sure, she knows she's going to lose!"

Right?

[OrwellwasRight]

64. So, you're insulting

and questioning the motives of other DUers because you *think* that's what they would say to you? Solid argument.

[Lazy Daisy]

37. It most definitely is

And you know what, if Hillary gets the nomination I hope to God some Republicans voter for her. Hell, if they want to caucus for her so they can vote for her in November I say "LETS' DO THIS".

[kstewart33]

43. Sorry, but I disagree.

First of all, it's not going to work. No bonafide Republican in his or her mind would go caucus for a Democratic socialist. Second, calling Republicans in this way seems like desperation. It's something that I'd wager many Bernie supporters would say that it's something that Clinton would do.

If Bernie's revolution would occur, it will take Republicans to join. But it won't happen. Why? Gallup polled Americans with the question: what characteristic in a candidate would make you not vote for that candidate? Fifty percent - 50% - said being a socialist.

That in part is why Bernie's move, if true, is so weird. Perhaps the campaign has becomes so enraptured with their NH victory that they actually believe that they can convert Republicans. And on that count too, weird.

[Luminous Animal]

53. I called Republicans for Obama. All campaigns do this. What this reveals to me is that Hillary

supporters who are protesting have actually never worked on a campaign.

I volunteer for every 2 year election cycle. And every 2 years I call republicans to advance whatever campaign I am working on.

Do you know that Kansas used to be a remarkable state of progress. Really, a hot bed of progressive politics. And then it became a state dominated by right wing reactionaries. This did not happen by mistake, it happened by design.

I am glad the Bernie campaign is not leaving the outcome by mistake but taking charge of his political revolution by design.

[kstewart33]

54. There's one big difference, though.

Obama is not a socialist. Converting a bonafide Republican to become a socialist is quite a task.

But who knows. This election year has been full of surprises. I just don't think that Republican conversions will be one of them.

Thanks for not flaming me!

[Live and Learn]

57. As a volunteer for Bernie, I can tell you that you are wrong.

We have been converting them. Quite easily, in fact, with facts.

[Luminous Animal]

58. Bernie is not a socialist, either. And, many of the Republicans I called said Obama was...

Have you ever done phone call outreach for a campaign? You call everyone. Everyone.

If the Hillary campaign says they are not calling Republicans then they running an ignorant campaign.

Reagan, one of the most vile presidents won from syphoning off Democratic voters.

[Glamrock]

56. No bonafide Republican in his or her mind would go caucus for a Democratic socialist

Respectfully, that isn't the reality on the ground. I know and have helped convince bona-fide republicans to vote for Bernie. Bona-fide Republicans voted for Obama too, if you remember.

As far as people who won't vote for a socialist? His policies poll at better than 50% in numerous polls. The socialist bogeyman doesn't work with millenials and a large minority of Gen Xer's. More and more people are waking up to the fact that they are democratic socialists.

[Hydra]

51. Supposedly, that's why 3rd wayers do the things they do

Because it draws in independents and moderate Republicans. The fact that Team Hill is admitting they aren't even trying to do that is really telling.

[Odin2005]

14. This is a dumb thing to be outraged about.

Unless you think poor white working class people are only to be shunned.

[bravenak]

15. Of course

[Nanjeanne]

18. Hillary only wants true Blue Dems to vote for her.

She don't need no stinkin' Independents or Republicans.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Well then she can rest easy on my account, at least.

[Matariki]

19. My Republican relatives are leaning toward Sanders

They can't stand the current clown car of Republicans and they don't like the idea of political family dynasties. They don't agree with a good deal of Sanders economic plans, but they think he's the best in the bunch between both parties. I don't imagine they are alone in this.

I don't see a problem

[Kalidurga]

21. You are just afraid that SBS will be successful in doing this.

[kstewart33]

24. Wow. If true, Clinton will run with this.

Can't imagine they are actually doing this, but if they are and there is proof, Bernie counting on Republicans to win Nevada is bad news. Hope he isn't. The Republicans are throwing enough dirt for both parties.

[Armstead]

30. UM it's called an election?

You know those things where candidates try to win over as many votes as possible?

[kstewart33]

47. Yes. And in that vein, the Boston Red Sox courting the Yankees to throw a game is plausible too.

After all, it's the World Series.

Absurd and ridiculous.

[OrwellwasRight]

35. Yes, let's prevent our party from growing.

What a brilliant idea. Not.

[kstewart33]

44. The idea of a Democrat socialist converting bonafide Republicans to the cause is hilarious.

If it weren't so absurd.

[OrwellwasRight]

46. Actually it's not. Check the polling.

There are a number of Republicans who have said that Bernie is their second choice candidate after Trump. Think about it. It's the calling out of the plutocracy that is common to both candidates and attracting people of all political backgrounds.

[kstewart33]

48. Polling source? nt

[OrwellwasRight]

68. Here's several sources.

I'm sure you can find more if you choose to look.

http://workingamerica.org/frontporchfocusgroup

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/the-lifelong-conservatives-who-love-bernie-sanders/417441/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/1/9/1467874/-Republicans-For-Bernie-Sanders

[McCamy Taylor]

26. Good grief!

[grossproffit]

27. It's 2008 all over again.

[99Forever]

28. SHOCKING I SAY!1!!!!!!1!1!!11!!!

The AUDACITY of a candidate trying to get people to vote for him!

OUTRAGEOUS!















Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.....

[Armstead]

29. Trying to win votes from the other side? Shocking

[kstewart33]

52. Republicans becoming Democratic socialists? Yes, it is. nt

[jfern]

31. That's called growing the party

[KingFlorez]

32. This is good news for Clinton

If Sanders is out there begging the GOP to switch and vote for him that must mean that Clinton is doing great with already registered Democrats.

Republicans should not be deciding a Democratic caucus or primary, period.

[Autumn]

34. I am shocked...shocked...to find that gambling is going on in here!

[mythology]

41. Yeah, that's not a bad thing

[H2O Man]

42. Good.

[beam me up scottie]

45. This thread is full of win!

?w=720

[Luminous Animal]

49. Smart politics. Every campaign does this. Apparently, you've never worked on one.

[demosocialist]

55. Yeah I dont get ppl but yeah I guess Sanders appeals to trump ppl

Neil Levesque, executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, said: “I talk to many people whose first choice is Trump and second choice is Sanders, even though they’re diametrically opposed. People feel Trump is saying what they think, and if you asked supporters of Sanders, one word they would use is ‘authenticity’. A lot of this is the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street. Those were the seeds and now the grass is growing.”


http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/23/donald-trump-bernie-sanders-lead-two-headed-insurgency-against-establishment

[cosmicone]

59. The Claire McCaskill strategy

Appeal to republicans with a carrot of a weaker and less qualified candidate so any clown in the clown car can easily win.

As long as Bernie gets his ego stroked with a win against Hillary everything is ok.

Appealing to voters from the other side is ok in the GE but in a primary, it is poison.

[NurseJackie]

74. It shows a campaign that's in DEEP TROUBLE. That's a tactic that shows WEAKNESS not strength.

Go, Hillary! We love you!

[frylock]

61. So much for that big tent.

[CoffeeCat]

62. Wow, why is this such a big deal?

I canvassed and made phone calls in Iowa for Bernie, for a few months.

I called Republicans and tried to convince them to support Bernie. Some of them did.

When I knocked on doors, I found Republicans who really liked Bernie. I heard this repeatedly from Republicans who were disturbed by the current crop of GOP candidates. They liked Bernie because he was honest and because of his commitment to income inequality and campaign-finance reform.

One of the Bernie volunteers from Seattle, who stayed with us for a week while he worked for Bernie in Iowa--was a former Republican, Rand Paul supporter.

Bernie appeals to Republicans, Independents and Democrats.

Nothing wrong with this. This is what we Democrats should hope for; a candidate with broad, cross-over appeal. Nevada has same-day registration, so it makes sense that if a campaigner stumbles upon a Republican, they may try to sell him on Bernie. Many, like myself, didn't find it to be that much of a stretch, because some Republicans do like Bernie.

Nothing nefarious about this.

[Skwmom]

66. Don't worry, if it's Clinton in the GE, the Democrats will be a nice, cozy LITTLE group.

[jillan]

70. Exactly! She has ZERO crossover appeal.

[Skwmom]

71. Not only that, there will be Democrats leaving the party. ...

[jillan]

69. NEWSFLASH some Republicans like Bernie because they too are fed up with money in politics & its

influence in DC.

You often hear of Reagan Democrats?

Start getting used to the term Bernie Republicans.

[shawn703]

72. Seems like a smart idea to me

Especially when the Republicans are running a bunch of clowns.

[B Calm]

73. We went to dinner Friday night with a republican couple. To my surprise they like Bernie. They

thought all the republican candidates were idiots.