Looking for Fascism? ..look here: Sanders supporters harassing convention delegates

[Bill USA]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/some-democrats-accuse-sanders-supporters-of-harassing-convention-delegates/2016/04/12/0dd97d60-fff4-11e5-9203-7b8670959b88_story.html

Sen. Bernie Sanders and his boosters are intensifying their courtship of convention delegates who could determine the winner of the Democratic presidential nomination, prompting some party leaders and supporters of front-runner Hillary Clinton to claim harassment.

The Sanders campaign says it has no connection to the efforts of outside supporters to lean on superdelegates, the party leaders and elected officials who can cast nomination votes for any candidate and who are seen as increasingly pivotal in the Democrats’ unexpectedly drawn-out nominating contest.

Among those efforts is a website created last week under the name Superdelegate Hit List, providing phone numbers and addresses for superdelegates and encouraging users to submit further contact information, presumably to help advocates pressure them. Site creator Spencer Thayer, a Chicago activist, described the goal this way in a Twitter message: “So who wants to help start .?.?. a new website aimed at harassing Democratic Superdelegates?”

Longtime Democratic National Committee member and superdelegate Bob Mulholland wrote a letter to Sanders last week excoriating the candidate for not calling out his supporters for their “bullying” of superdelegates.
(more)

California Superdelegate Writes Open Letter to Bernie Sanders: 'Stop the Harassing Phone Calls'

Dear Senator Bernie Sanders,

I have heard many complaints from other unbound Delegates to our National Convention in Philadelphia (my hometown), about getting harassing emails, Facebook postings and phone calls, even to one woman at 10:30 at night, from some of your supporters demanding that we support you. We would expect this type of bullying tactics from Trump supporters. Roger Stone threatened on April 5th- he will send angry Trump supporters to the hotel rooms (Cleveland) of any delegates who betrays Donald. Do you have a similar Plan?

I have seen you on TV stating (demanding to many of your supporters) that Superdelegates should vote for the candidate that won their state. Really? Where is that in the National Delegate Plan that former Vermont Governor Howard Dean must vote for you? Congressman Raul Grijalva, a supporter of yours, who represents the 3rd district in Arizona, a state that voted 58% for Clinton and Grijalva's own district voted 61.7% for Clinton has not switched. Where is your letter to Congressman Grijalva, instructing him to shift his support to Clinton? Look in the mirror- you'll see a political hypocrite! From what I hear, Congressman Grijalva, when asked if he is shifting his support to Clinton, his response- drop dead. That is his right- he is a Congressman, thus a delegate.

Society has been trying to deal with High School bullies and the same Rule should apply to your campaign and your supporters. Us active Democrats enjoy healthy discussions and debates at meetings, Caucuses and Conventions but it is unacceptable for us to get harassing communications from bullies. As a Clinton supporter, I have not received harassing phone calls but it does appear women DNC Members are getting the brunt of the threats. Professionally, campaign staff and representatives should be the ones calling delegates. A 12 year old child answering the phone at home should not be hearing threats.

Most of us DNC Members have been in the Democratic Party vineyards for years, as have the Clintons. For me it has been over 40 years. I became disillusioned with the war in Vietnam (I had volunteered for the Paratroopers and Vietnam), after being wounded in March 1968 (101st Airborne), it was the beginning for me to turning to politics. So those of us with callouses on our Democratic Party hands (something lacking with you, not even going to our National Conventions to vote for our nominees), we notice things, such as not one US Senator is supporting you. Not even Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy. We noticed what you said to Rachel Maddow (March 30, 2016) when she said that Secretary Clinton has raised millions for the Democratic Party (DNC, DCCC, DSCC and State Parties) and asked you- will you do the same? You said, "We'll see." I fell off my chair. The Koch brothers announced a $900 million dollar plan against Democrats, and we have a big ticket from Governors to Congress to races in all states and your answer- we'll see. Our nominee for President has to help raise tens of millions of dollars all over our country. We cannot afford a selfish nominee.

I would urge that you and your staff publicly state that you want all harassing communications to DNC members to stop. In 2008, I received a phone call from a US Senator, urging me to support Senator Obama - a very professional and courteous call.

Sincerely,

Bob Mulholland
DNC Member
Chico, CA

P.S. In case no one clued you in- that NY Times piece (April 4, 2016) with Jeff Weaver and Tad Devine providing "background material," is a standard practice by some consultants. They are getting very nervous. They are laying out the "DNA evidence," that the candidate (you) will lose and it is your fault, not theirs. A suggestion for you- you need to be better prepared yourself- you're coming across as shrill.

P.P.S. Secretary Clinton has received about 58% of the vote so far, thus ahead of you by 2,400,000 votes and 250 Pledged Delegates. We also notice that the Base of our Party is voting overwhelmingly for Secretary Clinton.

[Hiraeth]

1. Taking the advice of your sigline, educated by your transparency page. Bye!

[Bill USA]

4. I can't be more proud of the hides I've been given by the Repugs & others absolutely intolerant of

opinions different than their's (because they are examples of 'heresy'!) and facts that contradict their Alternate Reality.

BS supporters have shown themselves to be consummately intolerant of opinions and facts that differ from their religious doctrine of -- Hillary the anti-Christ.

I would give examples but I'm sure BS groupies and Repugnants would hide this comment! So much for open debate.

[G_j]

6. proud of violating the TOS?

[BillZBubb]

2. Wow a Hillary super delegate wrote a letter!

That proves Bernie is a fascist!

Just when you think the Hillary supporters can't get any more foolish, they trot out this crap.

[riversedge]

3. It was written to stop the harassment. Shame on the person doing the

intimidating harassing.

[Bill USA]

5. SuperdelegateS Who Back Clinton Reporting Harassment, Threats From Sanders Supporters

http://www.mediaite.com/online/superdelegates-who-back-clinton-reporting-harassment-threats-from-sanders-supporters/

Superdelegates who back Hillary Clinton have reported receiving threats and harassment online and over the phone from Bernie Sanders supporters, the AP reports.

Democratic superdelegates are free to change which candidate they support. Currently, they are overwhelmingly supporting Hillary Clinton, though she also maintains a commanding lead in pledged delegates (that is, delegates from primaries and caucuses).

One Sanders supporter created a “Superdelegate Hit list,” which broadcasts the names and contact information of Democratic superdelegates. The word “hit” was removed after the site received criticism.

While many superdelegates are party officials and government figures, others are just volunteers, like Nancy Shumacher, an administrative assistant from Elk River, Minnesota.

AP’s Lisa Lerer reports:

[blockquote style="border:1px solid #000000;padding:10px;" ]“Some of the (phone and email) messages called me names. Some of them called Hillary names. And others said I was a stupid bitch and something bad will happen to me,” said Schumacher, a Democratic committee member. “It’s kind of hard to take sometimes.”

[…] The Sanders campaign assures everyone that it doesn’t condone harassment.

Yet Schumacher says she’s received vitriolic phone and email messages from self-identified Sanders backers and doesn’t quite understand how things got quite so nasty. Eight years ago, she backed Clinton but said she “cheerfully” switched to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. She’d do the same, she said, if Sanders won the popular vote or pledged delegates from state primary elections.(more)

[azurnoir]

7. Minnesota went 62% to 38% for Bernie the supers 14 out of 17 are going for Hillary

folks here have a right to be angry, our votes are being ignored by the suppers some of whom expect our votes come next November

[Bill USA]

18. please don't rationalize threatening people. BTW Sanders has done better in Open Primaries -----

Open Primaries gives Repugnants - excuse me: "Independents" - a chance to vote for the candidate they want:

[font size="5"]GOP: Bring me the one they call Bernie....[/font]

[azurnoir]

19. I am not threatening anyone I stated a fact

that you feel that Bernie only wins because Republicans cross over and vote for him is arrogance IMO plan and simple the Repubs have their own problems to deal with, but now that you mention it Cruz won my state too does that mean Dems crossed over to keep Trump out? I doubt it and it makes very little sense in any event

[anotherproletariat]

8. Writing a letter is annoying to you? Perhaps you should look into the possiblity that you have been

brainwashed. I'm serious...the behavior of so many of the Sanders supporters here seems akin to a cult.

[BillZBubb]

10. Project much? As a Hillary cult member you should look in the mirror.

Writing a letter is proof of nothing, much less the absurd claim by the OP. This has been a Brock meme for some time.

[anotherproletariat]

11. I am clearly not as invested as you seem to be. Most thoughtful people weigh all sides of an issue

and then decide the best course of action. I am in no way violently attached to any candidate. I can change alliances if given new information. These do not seem to be traits of many of the Sanders supporters on DU.

[BillZBubb]

12. Oh sure. Your not "invested" you've just determined Sander's supporters

are "violently attached". What a laugh. Try discussing the FBI investigation of Hillary on the Hillary forum. Good luck with that.

Oh, and you do know who David Brock is and what he does, right?

[anotherproletariat]

13. Either the Sanders supporter here are all secretly repubs, or they are overly attached.

As a thinking person, who wants to have a deeper dialog, it is scary to watch. And yes, I know most of the things the Sanders people don't like about the Clintons, but again, I've looked at all the available candidates and have decided to vote for the one who has the best plans to accomplish the goals I feel are most important for the country.

[BillZBubb]

15. Right. In other words you support Hillary but your opinion of

Bernie supporters is just a neutral observation. Sure.

Like I said, test you hypothesis about Hillary supporters. Go to the Hillary forum and post a thread asking for a reason the FBI is investigating Hillary. There has to be a legal reason right? See what deep dialog you get.

[anotherproletariat]

17. No! I HATE the violence and close-mindedness of some of the Sanders supporters,

I am certainly not neutral on them. That has nothing to do with who I support. I don't think the type of behavior displayed by that group has any place in a civil process. The things I see discussed on the Hillary forum are generally addressed with much more courtesy than anywhere else.

[Sheepshank]

9. Regardless of how many times, for months, BS supporters have been told their actions are OTT

the insist on ratcheting it up a notch or two as time goes on.

Interesting, in a very stupid sort of way, that they can't figure out that this doesn't help Bernie.

[GulfCoast66]

20. I am afraid

While I think Bernie pulls wins, what happens if they lose tonight? Most of course will accept that their cause is lost and rally to support the eventual nominee. Hell, many already have.

But the hard core will go ape shit. If we are lucky it will result in lots of gbcw post, but I do not see us being that lucky.

[BootinUp]

14. That letter by Bob Mulholland is a jewel! nt

[dreamnightwind]

16. Oh this must be what Trash Thread is for, useful feature

[TheKentuckian]

21. Your definition of fascism is lacking as it is dishonest, silly, and willfully ignorant

while making light of the actual toxic ideology to score absurd points on a message board.