Latest Snub of Progressive Base as Clinton Ditches MoveOn Forum

[JEB]

by
Andrea Germanos

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/11/25/latest-snub-progressive-base-clinton-ditches-moveon-forum

snip>

"It’s a shame that Secretary Clinton declined to participate in the MoveOn member forum," Anna Galland, the executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action, said in a statement to The Hill. "She missed an opportunity to speak directly to and energize the progressive base she’ll need in her corner not just to win the nomination but also the general election, if she is the party's nominee."

"Our forum gave grassroots progressives the chance to pose substantive questions directly to presidential candidates—exactly what democracy is about— and we’re grateful to Sen. Sanders and Gov. O’Malley for participating," Galland's statement continued.

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Seems like a tactical mistake to me, but I just a old lib out here in rural Oregon.

[NCTraveler]

1. If a tree falls in a forest, and Clinton and her supporters aren't there,....

Does it make a sound? We may never know.

[JEB]

2. 8 million trees in that forest.

From the article: In what one analyst sees as "a really bad mistake," Hillary Clinton declined to participate in a presidential forum hosted by the 8 million-strong organization MoveOn.org.

[NCTraveler]

3. I haven't seen Sanders supporters give a crap about the size of other orginizations....

supporting Clinton. They have actually pulled out some of the most anti-union rhetoric we have ever seen at du. We also know said group isn't eight million strong nor are they a monolithic group.

How many ops with respect to this are on the front page of GD: P. When this is your great hope you might want to look elsewhere.

[JEB]

4. It is 8 million members of people concerned about issues.

Why not participate in their forum?

[NCTraveler]

8. Because she isn't in the position where she has to accept every single offer made toward her.

Sanders doesn't either. This is one of the best made up issues I have seen to date.

For example, why in the hell did Sanders accept the invite to NRN? We know what has happened in previous years. This is just too funny.

[BlueCaliDem]

9. MoveOn will back Bernie Sanders. They already have 12,902 sigs out of the 15k they need.

http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/move-on-should-back-bernie

Why would front-runner, Hillary Clinton, want to participate in a forum that's clearly biased in favor of Sanders? It makes no sense.

[brooklynite]

13. This is what's known in the fundraising biz as "flypaper"

Note: By signing, you agree to receive email messages from MoveOn.org Civic Action and MoveOn.org Political Action. You may unsubscribe at any time. [ Privacy policy ]

I also note that they've conveniently established a "new goal" to keep the sign ups coming.

And am I to understand that 15,000 (0.19%) of the 8 million members get to decide on endorsements?

[Truprogressive85]

5. still holding onto a grudge

one might say she hates progressives

its pretty clear she hates Moveon since 08'

[Gregorian]

10. That speaks volumes.

Nice find bro.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. A different face for every audience.

I'll stick with Bernie, who doesn't talk about people behind their backs when he doesn't think they'll find out, but says what he says directly to folks' faces.

[BlueCaliDem]

6. MoveOn is pretty much for Bernie Sanders. I don't see much benefit for Hillary Clinton to be

there other than to be bombarded with questions that are geared toward undercutting her and promoting him, especially now his numbers appear stagnate and/or dropping in nearly all polls. Sorry.

The progressive base is already on Sanders' side. They don't like Hillary Clinton. They didn't like her in 2008 when they endorsed Senator Obama with the same kind of petition that's now pushing to support Bernie Sanders. They can't be neutral in this.

I don't see any benefit for Hillary Clinton to attend a forum hosted by a progressive group whose members are pretty much in the tank for Sanders. I really don't. Rationally speaking, do you?

[jonestonesusa]

22. Any major forum with a large number of Democratic voters is an important forum to attend

for someone running for the Democratic nomination. When else would you build support for your policy positions? Is the grand plan simply to ignore a large block of voters in your own party if they have policy disagreements with you?

I wouldn't call that leadership, at least not effective leadership.

[BlueCaliDem]

30. I repeat: MoveOn members are already in the tank for Bernie Sanders.

There is NO benefit for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, to appear on a MoveOn hosted forum. The last time she did that - and even defended MoveOn while Barack Obama steered clear of them - they turned around and endorsed him. I don't believe she's forgotten their wishy-washiness from the last time.

You might not call her ignoring them, leadership, but you're biased for Bernie, so there's no loss there. Based on her past experiences with MoveOn, she's showing leadership now. Besides, as the Democratic front-runner she's too busy to be bothered with wasting her time at a forum that's already made up their mind who they'll be endorsing. Once bitten, twice shy.

[Chan790]

27. Yes.

Because not catering to those kinds of special interests now carries the risk of a lot of progressive voices saying "Vote for Clinton? Nah, fuck it. She's snubbed us (Liberal Democrats) at every turn." on Election Day along with the smaller risks that her participation might make Sanders more viable than he is now. (He's either going to beat her or not beat her and that die is largely cast. If Sanders can pull off IA and NH sweep...he's suddenly "viable" going into SC and Super Tuesday and it's not unforeseeable that he might benefit from a "don't really like Hillary" swing...or not.)

It was basically all harm, no benefit to not participating for Clinton. But...I don't expect her to make good decisions. I think she's the most disqualified major candidate to run for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency in my 35 years of life.

[BlueCaliDem]

31. I consider myself a Liberal Democrat (although the Left around here disagree with me), and

I left MoveOn a LONG time ago. Their opinion of Hillary Clinton is already cast in stone, and they're not going to change from now till the end of the primaries even though I don't see Sanders winning any other State than his own home state.

I don't see Sanders winning either Iowa or New Hampshire, I really don't but even if he won both, he'll careen against the Democratic firewall in South Carolina and Nevada. And then it's pretty much over for him. Bookmark this post. If I'm wrong, you can take me to task. Otherwise, I agree with Hillary Clinton not to waste her time on MoveOn. I've "moved on" from them when they began attacking President Obama relentlessly when he was working so hard to pass legislation for us all, while they failed to mention that there was unprecedented obstructionism from the Republican side.

[Chan790]

32. I just meant I don't see a downside to participating...

and more downside to not participating.

At some point, if she actually expects to be elected President, she's going to have to engage a hostile, packed room. It's how one engages a hostile room that matters, it reflects how you handle dealing with people that disagree with you. I think we can be honest enough to admit that the Presidency doesn't offer the luxury of only working with people that agree with you. Move On was probably the most polite hostile room she's going to get during this primary.

Even Mitt Romney engaged hostile audiences and Romney's a twit. Sanders went to Liberty and actually got positive response. Hillary? It seems like she thinks she can run and win without ever having to face her opposition...and that's a sign of both idiocy (because you can't and still be electable; something any half-intelligent person would know...and I thought she was smart enough to know that.) and cowardice.

[Faux pas]

7. Off topic JEB

where in Oregon? I'm 2 miles north of Lincoln City

[musiclawyer]

14. Which Oregon coast town is still affordable ?

And with semi nice amenities AND with parcels above the tsunami line. I've looked but having a hard time finding someplace that meets all criteria.

And yeah Move on is going Bernie

[Faux pas]

20. Nowhere that I know of,

I got lucky. If you like a small town atmosphere, LC is great 9 months (off season) of the year. I'm tucked up on a hillside so no tsunami worries for me. Good luck to you.

[JEB]

18. Hey neighbor,

I'm in LC and have been here 36yrs.

[Faux pas]

19. Small small world!

Been here 15 yrs. Wouldn't be anywhere else. Happy Turkey Day!

[aidbo]

28. I was born in Lincoln City! In a house on the beach no less.

I haven't lived there since I was 2, so I'm not familiar with it. Bounced back & forth between Texas & oregon all my life.

Been in Eugene for 25 years now.

[Faux pas]

29. I was

conceived at the Wayside (tmi?). Born in Portland, raised in SoCal and spent most of my life trying to get back here. Oregon is the place to be imho.

[MineralMan]

11. It's the candidate's choice.

Is it a mistake? I can't say. But the candidate made the decision.

Will it make a difference? That depends on how many people whose minds might be changed are paying attention and whether what occurs is convincing. There are lots of ways people decide who to vote for. MoveOn.org may not matter much in the end. Odds are that most people who hear this event already have their minds made up.

[MaggieD]

12. MoveOn has made themselves irrelevant

Sadly. They want her there to beat up on her. About as irrationally as she is smeared here. Why would she attend?

If MoveOn wanted to stay relevant they would not do that kind of thing. So at this point they aren't taken seriously by political leaders, and that is a result of their own actions.

[jonestonesusa]

23. MoveOn still deserves credit for helping to pull the first Clinton presidency out of the ditch

it helped dig for itself with the Monica Lewinsky scandal. MoveOn was there to demand that all policy leaders focus on issues of substance, and they continue to take that approach to this day. No matter who we support, all of us should persistently ask our candidates to listen to all Democratic voters and to consider their thoughts in forming policy. Otherwise, we continue the trend of losing ground to Republicans at all officeholder levels while ignoring the opinions of our own Democratic voters, then wondering why they don't turn out.

[NurseJackie]

15. Good for her! I'm glad she did.

[jonestonesusa]

24. You're glad that your preferred Democratic candidate ignored a large block of Democratic voters.

OK then...

[NurseJackie]

25. It would have been a waste of time

... to attend a forum of little note, and one that's only of interest to people who are vehement Hillary haters and who'd never vote for her anyway ... the "Bernie or bust" crowd. Feh! Her time would be better spent talking to the 25 members of the Springfield Book Club or local Horticultural Society.

She made the correct decision. Their pride is of little consequence.

[GoneFishin]

16. "Our forum gave grassroots progressives the chance to pose substantive questions ..."

Enough said.

[Vincardog]

17. She hates LIBERALS she cannot COMPLAIN when they refuse to vote for her.

Last edited Wed Nov 25, 2015, 07:23 PM - Edit history (1)

[AgingAmerican]

21. She snubbed it because she isn't progressive

she is a 'Moderate' whatever that is.