Sanders' Long Independent Streak has Come Back to Haunt Him

[Cali_Democrat]

Sanders' Long Independent Streak has Come Back to Haunt Him
by ALEX SEITZ-WALD

For decades, Bernie Sanders' independence served him well as he won election after election in Vermont, first to become mayor of the state's largest city and then to become the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history. But now, as he tries to win the first real partisan primary of his life, his complicated relationship with the Democratic Party is coming back to haunt him.

<...>

At an MSNBC Democratic forum in South Carolina Friday, challenger Martin O'Malley accused Sanders of "trying to find someone to primary" President Barack Obama in 2012. "I'm a lifelong Democrat. I'm not a former independent," the former Maryland governor added.

Sanders called the charge that he worked against Obama's reelection "categorically false" in an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, saying he "worked very hard" for Obama.

<...>

But Ben LaBolt, who was the Obama campaign's press secretary in 2012, told MSNBC he remembered things differently. "Most Democrats — from President Clinton to Governor O'Malley — were all in to support President Obama's tough reelection campaign," he said. "Others were promoting the idea of a primary challenge, which would have really handcuffed our ability to fire up the base in the run-up to the general election. Senator Sanders fell into the latter camp."

Sanders on several occasions said he saw value in a primary challenge to Obama's left, and four unnamed Obama aides told BuzzFeed News that Sanders was not helpful in the reelection.

Read more:

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-long-independent-streak-has-come-back-haunt-him-n460771

[NurseJackie]

1. It's certainly not helping him very much.

Honestly though, I don't think it's going to hurt him that much either. What's likely to be at play is that so many people apparently EXPECTED it to be a big advantage for him, and that's not really materializing. So, a net-zero effect appears to be a loss in the face of their overall expectations.

[darkangel218]

2. Wishful thinking!!!!

[GoneFishin]

3. You mean how he caucused with them forever. I would be surprised if he doesn't have a better

record on democratic legislation than most blue dogs and conservadems.

[VanillaRhapsody]

9. STILL wasn't one...which is why he was forced to say...

"I am a Democrat NOW" after signing the ballot for New Hampshire...

[GoneFishin]

22. So are suggesting he should have run as an independent and split the vote? What are you trying

to get at?

[VanillaRhapsody]

24. I am just telling you how it IS!

I told ya'll about this for months! OH NOOOOO....I was a moron...and Idiot....didn't know what the fuck I was talking about....on and on and on. Up to and including alert stalked for saying "Bernie Sanders is NOT a Democrat just because he is running on the Democratic Ticket....BECAUSE the DNC didn't require him to be one to do so...therefore THAT did not automatically make him one.....


Unless he declared himself a Democrat....he could not legally sign that ballot form. BECAUSE N.H. DOES require him to. I also mentioned that there were AT least 4 other states that I knew of with the SAME requirement....that UNLESS he called himself a Democrat...ANYONE could have challenged him being on the ticket...and it would be legitimate....he has the history of proclaiming he is NOT one along with the disparaging remarks....it would be pretty easy to prove him NOT one.....and then he would have been found to have falsified that document as well.....that would have doomed his campaign...

Also, he could not just NOT be on all 5 tickets....that ALSO was no clear path to the Whitehouse....

His ONLY play.....was to finally after 40 yrs of proudly proclaiming "I am NOT one of those god-forsaken Democrats who are only nominally better than Republicans"

NOW he had to eat those words and become a Democrat. Now I will stop telling this story like this...when people keep trying to say that Sanders was ALWAYS a Democrat...when quite clearly....Until he said...

"I AM a Democrat NOW"

There was NO way else for his campaign to survive until the Primary....There was WAAAAAYYYY too much evidence to the contrary about whether he was a Democrat....the ONLY way to overcome that history...was to do what he ultimately did....say he is "NOW" a Democrat. It was his ONLY play.

[tecelote]

19. Sanders' Long Independent Streak has Shown Long Standing Convictions.

No Flip-Flopping Here.

Bernie is the honest choice for all Americans.

[ibegurpard]

4. And Hillary's career of 3rd way pandering

Has mortally wounded her.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Bernie is trailing by 25 points to someone who's mortally wounded?

That's pretty pathetic.

[ibegurpard]

8. winning the Democratic Primary is no guarantee

Of a general election victory.
You're not young...you've been through many elections. You seriously think someone with her negatives polling so anemically against the current GOP clowns is going to be able to pull it out? We are looking at Kerry version 2.

[Cali_Democrat]

13. Of course it's no guarantee

But if Bernie can't even defeat someone who's already mortally wounded in the Dem primary, then he doesn't deserve to run in the general election under the Democratic banner.

[riversedge]

11. you have a vidid imagination-full of crap.

[PowerToThePeople]

5. This is why we need proportion representation here.

Our system breads coruption.

[Politicalboi]

6. And Bill Clinton back in the WH

Might haunt Hillary. Did Obama have a primary challenger? NO! Did Bill have extra marital sex in the WH? Yes. Neither bother me, but you know Bill's past will be brought up.

[VanillaRhapsody]

10. Are you fucking kidding me?

People will be bothered by THAT???


You realize that even AFTER that he left office with a 60% approval rating right???



And that is among EVERYONE not JUST Democrats....

Democrats never really gave a shit about Monica!

[AzDar]

23. Not likely. But they should/will be bothered by her blatant dishonesty...

[VanillaRhapsody]

25. They don't seem to be bothered about all the poo you all have been flinging along WITH

the Republicans....

She takes on THEM and YOU ALL too!

And SHE is still STANDING...dominating right now..did you not see her stand up to them for 11 hours straight???? That woman is a BADASS! THAT'S what standing your ground is....she is a tough cookie that woman....do not underestimate her either. You see...she is a woman....she had to work HARDER to get where she is....there is one word she makes me think of ....and I like that in a President.

Perseverance!

[AzDar]

35. That's great that she took on the Republicans. It's the standing up to her Corporate Overlords

that I've never seen, and never will...

[cosmicone]

21. At least Bill didn't write that women enjoy being forced. n/t

[cosmicone]

12. Sanders is a weasel

JUST
ANOTHER
POLITICIAN

[darkangel218]

14. "Just another politician"..

You mean, like Hillary?

[cosmicone]

15. Hillary doesn't make any bones about it

Sanders is a weasel ... he tries to portray himself as a Gandhi or Dalai Lama or MLK Jr. but that is a complete lie and fools fall for it.

[darkangel218]

17. "Sanders is a weasel"

So classy of you.

Obviously he is not what you call him, and you know it. But you have nothing else to bring against him, so you resort to name calling.

Pretty sad.

[cosmicone]

20. He doesn't say he is just another politician

who is after power of POTUS ... an honesty that even GW Bush or Rick Santorum have.

He makes it sound like it is a divine calling and annonits himself as the saint or a messiah -- THAT part is weaselly.

If he admits that he is just another politician running for president based on a niche following, I'll have respect for him.

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. the proverbial "outsider"

when his entire career...Politics!

[Historic NY]

28. Except he's been there for decades..........

and is now trying to play the outside card. That dog won't f--kin hunt.

[darkangel218]

29. He is an outsider.

Look at his voting record, he's always been true to his beliefs, and didn't flip flop like Hillary. He also didn't take financial advantage, like others did.

So yes, he is an outsider.

[Historic NY]

30. So then you agree with the OP....

I guess that explains why he isn't racking up any endorsement from his colleagues.

[cosmicone]

36. If one has worked in a place for 40 years

and is still considered an outsider it means ZERO interpersonal skills.

Even fish in a fish tank develop buddies and cohorts after just a couple of weeks.

[Cha]

16. Yeah.. he needs to own it..

Thanks Cali!

[kacekwl]

18. My relationship with the democratic party

is coming back to haunt me. Bunch of do nothings to promote,strengthen what I thought was the democratic party. Very disappointed.

[VanillaRhapsody]

27. Doesn't seem to bother that recent convert...

Bernie Sanders!

[kacekwl]

32. Silly comment ,

Sanders is what the democratic party should be.

[VanillaRhapsody]

33. Well apparently in the Democratic Party is where Sanders

needed TO be...after those 40 yrs and all...

[kacekwl]

38. Unfortunately with the political system F-uped

the way it is that's where you have to be to be heard.

[VanillaRhapsody]

40. Well he did say....

it would be hypocritical to do so....so there is that!

[Thinkingabout]

31. Since we are talking about honesty, for those who have accused Clinton of not being honest, we see

who is not honest so every time you want to say the candidate is not honest remember this story. Also, Obama went and campaigned for Sanders, and then the primary remarks. I guess that is how Obama is thanked for his support.

[bravenak]

34. He is just a politician

[99Forever]

37. Bullshit

[Eric J in MN]

39. Ted Kennedy was a lifelong Democrat and he thought a primary

...challenge to President Jimmy Carter was a good idea.

This article is built on a flimsy premise that anyone who thinks a primary challenge to a sitting president is a good idea is against that president's party; a primary challenge is working for change within a party.