If Sanders isn't a democrat

[hellofromreddit]

then it's because democrats haven't got their shit together. He's been working for what they claim to believe in across his entire career--even when they opposed him.

The party platform: https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

Sanders' platform: https://berniesanders.com/issues/

Right on civil rights before it was popular: http://www.salon.com/2015/07/22/20_examples_of_bernie_sanders_powerful_record_on_civil_and_human_rights_partner/

Right on gay rights before it was popular: http://www.queerty.com/5-times-bernie-sanders-was-championed-our-cause-before-it-was-popular-20160131

Right on opposing the war before it was popular:

Right on TPP before it was popular:

Right on Keystone before it was popular: http://www.politicususa.com/2014/11/07/bernie-sanders-shatters-big-keystone-xl-lie-pipeline-oil-prices.html

Right on Panama before it was popular: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-panama-papers_us_5703c2d4e4b083f5c608d386

Right on drug price gouging before it was popular: http://www.albionmonitor.com/0007a/berniedrugs.html

Right on unions before it was popular: http://www.counterpunch.org/2006/11/15/a-socialist-in-the-senate/

Right on minimum wage, healthcare, immigration, food stamps, highways, etc.

And on and on and on.

Not to mention successfully financing a national campaign without large donors or exclusive fund raisers--showing all of us that we are needed and they are not.

Decades of video: http://www.c-span.org/search/?searchtype=People&query=bernie+sanders

Decades of public records: http://www.ontheissues.org/Bernie_Sanders.htm

If democrats are not that, then they should be.

[djean111]

1. My sentiments exactly. Thank you. And this determines how I will support and vote,

not some empty loyalty pledge.

[Nanjeanne]

2. Yeah well if he's not - then I guess I need to tear up my Dem reg card from 40 yrs ago.

[tabasco]

3. Great post.

Thanks.

[seabeyond]

4. "If Sanders isn't a democrat" Sanders is not a Democrat. He says so himself. Why won't you listen

to Sanders?

[LexVegas]

5. Brady Bill too? nt

[pinebox]

20. No, Annie Oakley XD

[RiverLover]

6. AWESOME OP!!

Thank you.

[HughLefty1]

7. Bernie speaks for me!

[morningfog]

8. Besides its a little late to start that. I know DNC didn't expect him to do well.

But that is only because they don't understand the people.

[RiverLover]

23. They didn't expect this AT ALL.

God I love it.

[Gothmog]

9. Sanders is refusing to support down ballot Democratic candidates

Sanders is not supporting down ballot candidates and shows that he is not really a member of the Democratic Party
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/clinton-sanders-differ-down-ballot-democrats

Yesterday afternoon, meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced its fundraising tally over the same period, and though Sanders hasn’t matched his rival in votes or wins, we were reminded once more that he’s easily defeating her when it comes to dollars in the bank. But the Clinton campaign’s press release added something Sanders’ did not:

Hillary Clinton raised about $29.5 million for her primary campaign during March. That amount brings the first quarter total to nearly $75 million raised for the primary, beating the campaign’s goal of $50 million by about 50 percent. [Hillary For America] begins April with nearly $29 million on hand.

Clinton raised an additional $6.1 million for the DNC and state parties during the month of March, bringing the total for the quarter to about $15 million [emphasis added].

The first part matters, of course, to the extent that Sanders’ fundraising juggernaut is eclipsing Clinton’s operation, but it’s the second part that stands out. How much money did Sanders raise for the DNC and state parties in March? Actually, zero. For the quarter, the total was also zero.

And while the typical voter probably doesn’t know or care about candidates’ work on behalf of down-ballot allies, this speaks to a key difference between Sanders and Clinton: the former is positioning himself as the leader of a revolution; the latter is positioning herself as the leader of the Democratic Party. For Sanders, it means raising amazing amounts of money to advance his ambitions; for Clinton, it means also raising money to help other Democratic candidates.

As Rachel noted on the show last night, the former Secretary of State has begun emphasizing this angle while speaking to voters on the campaign trail. Here, for example, is Clinton addressing a Wisconsin audience over the weekend:

“I’m also a Democrat and have been a proud Democrat all my adult life. I think that’s kind of important if we’re selecting somebody to be the Democratic nominee of the Democratic Party.

“But what it also means is that I know how important to elect state legislatures, to elect Democratic governors, to elect a Democratic Senate and House of Representatives.”

The message wasn’t subtle: Clinton is a Democrat and Sanders isn’t; Clinton is working to help Democrats up and down the ballot and Sanders isn’t.

Super Delegates will be taking this difference into account in deciding which candidate is best for the party

[Dem2]

10. He is overwhelmingly right on the issues

I do think the fact that he never called himself a Democrat until recently is an OK point to make, however. I personally don't care what he called himself and I'm also a registered independent, though nobody in their right mind would question my Democratic credentials.

[HughLefty1]

11. I'm currently a Dem only because my state is a closed primary..

Otherwise I would've remained an Independent. The DNC mobsters at both the national and state level disgusted me to the point I couldn't remain with the party. That doesn't make us less of a Democrat.

[Lizzie Poppet]

15. Likewise.

I registered Democrat at 18, but left the party long ago, as it's slide rightwards was all-too-evident. I flipped for Oregon's primary, to vote for Bernie. Flipping back the day after the primary. The Democratic Party doesn't want progressives like me...they've made that obvious.

[Dragonfli]

12. Such a great OP I need add nothing save a big K&R /nt

[Punkingal]

14. +1

[disillusioned73]

13. Man..

this post is on FIRE ,

talk about rapid shot points.. great post hellofromreddit, thank you

[MisterP]

16. the point isn't to win elections, it's to boil the party down so that they win their elections

without 60% of the electorate: with two parties bellowing "drill here drill now, let them die, kick their ass and take their gas, send them back," everyone sane's just gonna get up and leave and you're left with the Dems you can do anything to and still get them driving grandma to the polls on their own dime

their trolls, psychopaths, and overgrown hall monitors are part of the strategy

[HughLefty1]

21. Exactly. The sane people on both sides of the aisle have left their parties.

If you are not going to embrace their corporatist brand agenda the DNC mobsters couldn't care less if you walk. They couldn't care less that Bernie has brought so many new, young, independent, progressive voters into the tent. Less voters makes it easier to control elections.

The GOP feels the same way. Just look at how they are treating the independents(?) who jumped over to vote for Trump.

[SamKnause]

17. K&R

[ViseGrip]

18. Exactly, in fla they came out of the gate for two former repugs now running as dems

this is bullshit! THEY are not democrats. Why don't the Hillary people call them out and work on the down ticket races. I'm not voting for any repubs turned dems, supported by our party!

Example:
Grayson vs. Murphy in FLA

People are fighting the party like mad in fla cuz this shit goes on all the time! Daryl Rouson is another example.

YOU CANNOT PUT A PIECE OF PAPER BETWEEN THE PARTIES ANYMORE. BERNIE SANDERS IS STILL THERE FOR THE DEMOCRATS, EVEN THOUGH THE PARTY IN SO MANY STATES IS NOT!

[HughLefty1]

22. It's called the UniParty for a reason...

[FourScore]

19. If democrats are not that, then I am whatever Bernie is. n/t