The Democratic Party will survive the 2016 Democratic primary elections.
It will survive them just fine. Lots of people claim to be part of the "base" of the party. Many of those claiming to be the "base", however, are only members of the Democratic Party when it is convenient for them. If they don't get their way with nominees and the like, they disappear and are nowhere to be found.
Many of those who claim to be the "base" are never seen at local party organization meetings. They often believe that they cannot fight against the "establishment" of the party. They don't actually like the Democratic Party, really. They want to remake it in their own image and take over without any effort on their own parts. If they don't get instant agreement with their positions, they leave and are never seen again.
I know the people who are the real "base" of the Democratic Party, or DFL Party, in MN. They're ordinary people who happen to think that political activism means doing a lot of hard work in organization and election work. They actually show up for really, really boring meetings as committee members, board members and precinct leaders. They plan the caucuses. They publish announcements and maintain websites. They're spending time during those periods when there is no looming election, keeping things going and planning for the next election. They're talking to potential candidates for office and helping them plan their run. They make the Democratic Party a viable, continuing organization.
They're young, middle-aged, and older. Most are well-educated and all are dedicated to political work. They're unpaid, unthanked, and unappreciated. They are the "base" of the party. So are those Democrats who show up at the caucus meetings, vote in every primary and odd-year local election, after checking to see who the DFL-endorsed candidates are. Many will volunteer to be delegates at the district conventions, which never have as many delegates as are possible from the precincts. Many of them will donate to the local party organization or the state party, and some will show up to do canvassing, man the phone banks, distribute yard signs and organize public events where candidates can meet the voters. All of the people who make up the "base" can be counted on to show up on every election day and vote for every damned Democrat on the ballot. They'll also bring others with them to add to the vote count.
The "base" of the party works its ass off to make things happen. Without them, nothing happens. No registration drives. No people driving voters to the polls who have transportation issues. No people calling on election day to remind people to turn out and vote. No people to help new candidates who want to run get the papers filed and all of the details handled.
People who limit their participation to just voting when they like the candidate aren't the "base." They're important, but they're not the "base" of the party. The "base" works hard to try to get them to the polls. Sometimes they go and sometimes they don't, based on their own opinion of who should be running or who shouldn't be the candidate.
The Democratic Party has a "base." Not everyone who thinks they are part of that "base" actually are, though. Those who work, year after year, to make the Democratic Party a major political party know who the "base" is. They know who it is not, too.
That's the "base." The "base" is at work right now getting ready for the 2016 caucuses, primaries and everything connected with the things that make elections and the party itself an important part of the political process. The "base" hopes everyone will show up and vote in the primaries for the candidate they prefer. After they do, the "base" will help the one who wins prevail in the General Election. Hillary? Bernie? Walter? The "base" doesn't care. You decide who you want. We'll help that person win.
That's the real "base" of the party.
= new reply since forum marked as read
