I am really tired of being told I am not a Democrat. And more tired of the sexism thrown at me.

[jillan]

I am a senior citizen. I have voting in every election since I cast my first vote for Jimmy Carter.

Just because I support Bernie and am not a fan of Hillary, I am constantly accused of not being a real democrat.

I am also a woman, a mother. I am NOT a Bernie BRO

It's not just here, it's everywhere. Facebook, other discussion boards.

This has got to stop. If anything it's pushing me further away from Hillary.
I've only been online for about 15 minutes and have already twice been told I am not a true democrat.

Am I the only one that feels that way?

[Sherman A1]

1. I agree, however

There are only about 3 people who's opinion of me really makes much of a difference to me, so those who might post their opinions of my political beliefs can pretty much have s nice day, because I could care less.

[Jarqui]

2. "Am I the only one that feels that way?" No

For me, Bernie's policies resonate as more representative of the Democratic party. I go back to the Kennedy years when I first got involved in politics (well before my first vote).

Hang in there.

[PJMcK]

3. Don't let it get to you

There are plenty of keyboard warriors who want to silence or marginalize you. It's just the internet so let it slide.

Although we support different candidates, the only measure that matters is that we vote for the Democratic candidates in all races on November 8th.

My first vote was also for Jimmy Carter, a great man and president. But I don't feel I'm a senior citizen!

[valerief]

4. I'm an old broad, too. (I know this'll be hidden for using my noir-favorite noun broad.)

Everything Bernie says is democratic.

Party platforms are only as good as the people who run them, so I'm not interested in ever-changing party platform of the Democratic Party, especially when it continually tilts right. "Let's talk about cutting Social Security! Let's put cutting Medicare on the table!"

I prefer democracy (the real kind, not the media/govt/military lip service "bomb 'em into democracy" kind), so I prefer Bernie.

[jillan]

7. If this gets hidden because you used the term "broad" and posts that say lifelong Dems are not

really Dems at all because Hillary, then I quit

Proud Old Broad here

[valerief]

8. You're a helluva dame, too!

[jillan]

10. Ditto chicky babe.

[840high]

27. Thank you from an old broad.

[OnionPatch]

54. Another old broad here.

(I'm a Valerie, too, )

I feel the same and I could have written the OP.

[valerief]

59. To us old broads who know the real deal when we see it!

[RoseMead]

5. You're not the only one.

I feel exactly the same. Woman, mom, registered and voted Democratic since 1988. But now, I'm a sexist, racist, freebie grabber.

[OwlinAZ]

49. They are on ignore.

We old Democrats from the Kennedy era will keep the faith.

[LiberalArkie]

6. The Clinton Democratic Party better hope that the kids don't decide to form their own party.

I feel that party might be to the left of Roosevelt in many ways and to the right of Trump in many ways.

[1monster]

9. Ignore is your friend! Anyone making nasty or personal comments who

just joined DU in the last three months goes on my ignore list.

It helps alleviate some of the righteous indignation at the slurs and insults of those who come here simply to rile us up.

[SandersDem]

11. imagine

my horror as a middle aged older white guy whose first vote was also cast for Jimmy Carter, a lifelong Democrat, (previous) active member of my Legislative District, served as Treasurer, then on the State Committee. Ran for Statewide public office once as a Democrat in a Red State....

now here is where the horror comes in:

Because I profile right into the wheelhouse of many Trump supporters and look like most republican elected officials, I am often accused of being a right winger. Not even close and I can shoot that down pretty quickly just by opening my big mouth, but then...

to have my fellow Democrats accuse me of not being committed, being a "Bro" when I am almost 60, telling me that I should not let the door hit me in the ass if I am not happy with the direction of the Party, that I am a "socialist" by others who truly have zero clue that Socialism is on the opposing end of Capitalism on an economic scale and that Democratic Socialism such as is practiced in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries is not "Democratic"....

well.

I can honestly feel the OPs pain, just from a different gender's perspective.

I have been so Broccoli'ed that I honestly in this moment have no intention to ever vote for a couple of people I will not mention, but think you all can guess.

[1monster]

39. And that is why I use "ignore"... who needs the aggravation?

[valerief]

12. I probably have @ 500 people on Ignore. I clean out my Ignore every year or two, too.

So I don't see a lot of the shit other people see.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. after a year of throwing every attack at him and us, that is all they have

And they are hella scared.. the dribble of the emailserver has become audible in the msm, and she's obviously down in Cali or she wouldn't be rescheduling.

[leftcoastmountains]

14. I plead guilty.

I am not a true Democrat! I've been a No Party Preference my
entire life except for a short period where I first registered back
in the 70s as an Independent. I started getting incredibly right
wing material in the mail. So had to change to NPP!
I usually vote with the Democrats but not always. I've visited a couple
of their meetings and found them to be unfriendly and paranoid that somehow
I was a 3rd party person when really I was trying to decide if I should change.
But they pushed me away. I'm not really surprised with the behavior of the HRC
group. In fact I guess I'm not surprised at the Dems nationally. Bernie is trying
to bring more people in but let us be frank they don't want them. I don't care
how much they claim they want more people/Bernie's people. They want the numbers
for their "great election" but nothing more!

[jhart3333]

15. They're scared and lashing out. Pity is what I feel.

[dragonfly301]

16. Everyday I check the usual spots FB, Twitter, DU

to see what the Clinton meme of the day is - it never fails to amuse me how transparent they are in their attacks on Bernie and his supporters - if only HRC could be that transparent in her own political life... recently they are trying to paint all Bernie supporters with a wide brush of youthful impetuousness - gives this 59 yo woman the giggles.

[lmbradford]

17. Nope, me too

46 yr old mother of two. My husband and i both cast our Democratic votes for Bernie. Ill die before i vote Hillary, ever.

[Triana]

18. You are not the only one who feels this way

I've gotten it too - for MONTHS.

[Bjornsdotter]

19. Jimmy Carter was my first vote also

....a woman, a mom, former teacher here.

Yeah...it's been happening to me also.

[Sweet Freedom]

20. Yes

I'm 45+, woman, single mother, lifelong dem who has voted in every election since I turned 18.

[Buddyblazon]

21. Those assholes have it backwards...

WE are what's left of the the true democrats. The FDR democrats. They can all go suck an egg, Jullian.

[democrank]

22. Stay strong, jillan.

You know who you are and what you believe in.

~PEACE~

[janlea]

23. Yeah

64 yr. old broad here.... remember " sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?" I just try to remember bullies can't take it, they can only dish it out. I have always voted Democrat. This will be the first year I may have to sit the election out. To say I'm not a fan of Hillary would be an understatement, but, it's not just her. The whole process of the DNC this primary season makes me ill with worry about what we may end having to live with for the next 4 years, or more.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. Retired woman here - first voted for Jimmy Carter.

I first met Lyndon Johnson and shook his hand when he was Vice-President in 1963. He gave me a pass to the Senate Gallery. I still have it. I also met Governor John Connally at the same time. This was in a hotel ballroom with no security evident. People were packed in so closely my dad had to pick me up and carry me on his arm so I would not get squashed, since I was a little kid.

I pushed cards for Frances (Sissy) Tarleton Farenthold when she ran for Governor of Texas in 1972. I wasn't old enough to vote then. I was very active in the Harris County Democrats along with my parents. I have been a delegate to the State Democratic Convention three times.

I am sick of all this nonsense addressed to Bernie supporters.

Bernie is a REAL New Deal Democrat. You'd have to be almost 80 to know what those were in office, since Roosevelt died in 1945. Now the Democratic Party is full of corporatists who are just as bought off as the Republicans. I'm sick of it and my parents would be red-lining the marble tachometer if they knew.

My dad got very angry when Ronnie Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. He stood up and angrily said, "The first shot of the Reagan Revolution has been fired, and it's union-busting." He was a union organizer and he was right.

I'm sick of all the people calling Bernie a bitter, hateful old man and his followers sexist and deluded, among other things.

[IdaBriggs]

25. Preach it.

[JonathanRackham]

26. Go for it.

[img][/img]

[Land of Enchantment]

38. When you come to a fork in the road, take it. --Yogi Berra....nt

[Bernin4U]

28. Just as we weren't "Real Americans" when we strongly opposed the Iraq invasion.

Such accusations say a lot more about the accuser than the accused.

[merrily]

29. Tired of it? I have just the prescription for you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280204748

[larkrake]

30. You are not alone my sister

I dont think of Hillary as a woman at all. Her bots are just as vicious as she is. It is she that is not a democrat and her fanatics are blind, so put them on ignore and dont read anything from the Hillary group, the ulcer will go away

[cui bono]

31. Most of the people saying that don't know the history of the Democratic Party.

You'll notice they are usually the same people who think Obama and Hillary are liberals. They are either too young to know - and obviously don't care to learn - or they are in denial or they are purposely spreading a false meme to try to fool people (perhaps themselves) and to try to redefine what it means to be a liberal. They think that if they call centrists/corporatists liberals then less informed people will just believe the 'liberal' tag and not know that in reality, Obama and Clinton are not liberal at all.

The Bernie Bro shit is juvenile and ugly. Anyone who uses it or refuses to hide it is an immature asstroll. (Yes, asstroll. sometimes I'm immature too.) It's the same tactic they used against Obama supporters. And yes, it is sexist, which is ironic coming from the camp that cries 'sexism' when it is not at all warranted.

Don't let the bastards get you down!

.

[Uben]

32. What? Some people here call people names? Well, I never!

LOL! No worries Jillian, let it go in one ear and out the other. You've been here long enough to have a pretty thick skin, so pay no attention to the name callers. I laugh at them and their stupidity. I'm not necessarily a Sanders supporter, but I am a life-long democrat and a 15 year member of this site. Absolutely nothing I read here affects me whatsoever. Stupid is as stupid does.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. Me, too. My first vote was for George McGovern.

I campaigned for Gene McCarthy in college. I've voted for Democrats in every presidential election ever since, as well as in every state and local election. I am also a woman who has experienced first-hand the sexism that was so rampant during the '60s and '70s. Don't tell me I'm not a "real" Democrat, and don't tell me I'm a sexist or someone who doesn't "get" sexism. And fuck all you people who claim Hillary is the only proper choice for a real Democrat and that failure to support her is evidence of sexism.

[virgdem]

34. Don't let the idjits get you down...

no Bernie bro here-64 year old woman who has been a democrat since birth, first voted for Jimmy Carter in 76. We are collectively what is left of the FDR democrats before the third way took over in the early 90's. Just ignore them and carry on. Vote your conscience in November, whatever happens with hrc.

[davidpdx]

35. I think it doesn't matter what demographic you fit, if you don't support Clinton

they are going to paint you as a sexist misogynist pig. It is the easiest way they can back people into a corner and try to make them feel guilty for not supporting (or anointing) their candidate.

Then once it is over they are going to try to bully you into supporting Clinton. Don't expect them to suddenly turn all sweet for party unity. They act like psychotic people screaming down anyone who opposes them (both on DU and on Facebook).

Fuck it, I personally don't care anymore. I have already decided how I will vote in November if Sanders is not on the ballot.

[Nanjeanne]

36. I feel the same way. Also a senior citizen. Also a Dem all my life. But the truth is

I won't choose or not choose my candidate by the crap Clintonistas throw at me - just like I wouldn't want anyone to choose Bernie or not by some of his less than stellar supporters.

Not a real Democrat? If someone can explain to me what a "real" Democrat is maybe I'd understand that. Is it a sheep? Is it a corporatist? Or is it someone who believes in the party of the working class? Cause I know what kind of Democrat I am.

Only Hillary can get me to vote for her. And she's pushed me further and further away from that possibility as well. I thought she was a crappy candidate in 2008 and hated the idea of having to vote for her. Thank goodness I didn't. Then when she started running I thought maybe she would surprise me - learn something - create a vision I could be enthusiastic about. But she didn't. Then Bernie got in - and I was thrilled. Even at the beginning I thought if he doesn't make it, it's ok - I can vote Clinton. The more she ran - the more I remembered 2008 - the more I read and listened to her - the more I really looked at her policies and tried to understand her vision - the more I learned - the more I distrusted and where I am right now is on the side of not being able to support her if she's the nominee. I live in a decidedly blue state - so I have that luxury. I say, Hillary Clinton has until November to convince me otherwise . . . the ball is in her court.

[Joob]

37. No, as someone who voted for the first time. You're not.

I've always considered myself a Democrat though and wrote it down whenever asked.

But Bernie woke me up got me paying attention, thankfully.

I'm not familiar with being this involved in politics but what's happening is demonizing democrats to me.
I no longer trust the party, I no longer say I'm a Democrat and proud.

Because how can I be when I'm called sexist for calling out corruption?
Hillary has gotten away with so much everything is a conspiracy to her supporters.

I've seen many long time politically active Democrats like you pissed and quite frankly probably sad to see this party how it is... And I'm on the other side of the spectrum, a first time voter.

I cannot ignore the corruption I am witnessing though, and it shouldn't be.

If Hillary wins nomination I will not vote for her, I will continue to try and stop corruption.
Any loyalty I thought I had to the party is gone.

[stage left]

40. My first vote was also for Jimmy.

And I've never even thought of voting anything but Democratic. In my opinion Bernie Sanders is more a true Democrat than any of the rest of them. FDR would be proud.

[mmonk]

41. You are not alone.

[Eleanors38]

42. Very unfair treatment. But those insults are just starters if you favor the Second Amendment.

[Land of Enchantment]

43. Voted for McGovern in '72. I have always showed up and voted even for the shitty

candidates they shoved down our throats. This it it for me. I have waited my entire lifetime for a Bernie to emerge out of the usual cesspool of candidates who run for office to fulfill their OWN agendas without giving a frack about the American people. The antagonists on DU 9and other places) have no regard or respect for others' opinions because they are shallow and self serving.

What astounds me are the HRC supporters who are voting for her because she is a woman. They don't realize how incredibly SEXIST that in itself is because they fail to see it for what it truly represents.

Those who intentionally offend the rest of us are going to have their chickens come home to roost--soon. After I cast my vote for Bernie on Tuesday I will change my registration to Independent. I've had enough. 44 Years of voting democratic and for what? I have never seen the party in worse disarray.

[CharlotteVale]

44. I'm female,McGovern was my first vote, and I feel exactly the same way you do

[CrispyQ]

45. I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me.

They got to keep the name, though, so I think it's caused all sorts of confusion!

[abelenkpe]

46. Same

I've always voted for democratic candidates. This has been an ugly primary.

[Scuba]

47. Being a "true Democrat" circa 2016 means being ...

Pro fracking
Pro TPP
Pro death penalty
Pro international corporations
Pro H1B visas
Pro Monsanto
Pro private prisons, hell privatize everything





It also means being the opposite of everything that made the Democratic Party successful for decades, before the DLC/Third Way sold the soul of the party.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

48. Exactly what I am experiencing also!

My first vote went to Senator McGovern and I have voted for every Democratic candidate for president since then. In my opinion Senator Sanders is the truest Democratic running and I wholeheartedly support him. I am dropping out of the party as soon as I can (unfortunately in Ohio can not until the next primary) and also did not renew my membership this year. The only money I have donated this season has gone to Democratic candidates I personally hand picked and from now on I will be an Independent and choose my candidates much more carefully.
So maybe they are right...I am not a "true democrat" by their standards, I am an "enlightened democrat".
An furthermore as a Woman, mother and grandmother I am tired of being called sexist for not supporting the woman candidate.

[bluethruandthru]

50. Agree...and I'm also tired of being told that Bernie is tearing the Democratic party apart!

IMO, Hillary is tearing the party apart by shoving the party further and further to the right! I've been a Democrat my whole life and ever since Bill and his Third Way...the party has made a sharp right turn and with Hillary at the helm, it will stay on that same course.

[Laffy Kat]

51. Well, it has yet to been seen, right?

If you vote for the Democratic nominee then you're a Democrat. I'm a Bernie support, but will end up voting a straight Democratic ticket, as always. Even though I support Bernie, I DO NOT like the way Hillary has been treated or talked about. I am a woman, a feminist, and do feel defensive for her.

[Vote2016]

52. It does get tiresome being called a non-Democrat for defending FDR's values against neoliberalism

[riderinthestorm]

53. I'm with you jillian. Its very offensive nt

[Bettie]

55. I'm right there with you

Waiting until I turn into an imaginary, young, dude...still hasn't happened but I'm told that all Sanders supporters are young dude-bros.

Yet, here I am still an almost-50 woman with three kids.

The continual vitriol by Clinton's supporters make me want to dig my heels in and say "never".

What is funny to me is that they seem to think that they have not been horrible the whole time, from the moment they were horrified to find that someone dared run against their chosen queen.

But, apparently, my years of voting for Democrats and being a member of the party since age 19 means that I'm not a "true" Democrat.

Just checked: still not a young dude.

[lostnfound]

56. My first vote was for jimmy too, but it didn't count cuz I was in 9th grade...

But I was clear about who I wanted.
Yes, I am with you. And female. And a mother.

[disillusioned73]

57. Well.. I can't help but wonder if "they" are correct..

to a certain extent (about me anyway)... the party has shifted to the right so much that I changed my affiliation for the first time after my primary here in PA.. So yeah, I am not a corporate, pro war, pro-outsourcing jobs Democrat type - and proud of it..

I am not a "fan" of a party/politician ( I leave that distinction to my sports teams).. I support and advocate for those that support me & those around me - the middle & lower class.. principles put forth by FDR and others of the Democratic party I joined 20+ years ago..

Long story short - the "party" left us jillan..

[Patiod]

58. And I'm tired of being told that because I support Clinton

I'm a menopausal woman who needs Depends. Or only supporting her because I have a vagina. Or I'm a "slit", as Hillary supporters were called on one Facebook thread I was in last week. So yeah, I hear ya.

And I never call Bernie supporters "Bros". I stick with Sandernistas.

[libodem]

60. Similar demographic here

Midcentury modern, type, feminist, anarchist, and I back Bernie.


While in line for our caucus, there were three women, around my age, whom were passing out Hillary placards. Almost nobody wanted one. I felt kind of sorry for them.
I thought if were weren't in this race they would potentially be my type of friends.

Idaho is very conservative. I figured our Dems would be, too. Bernie tromped Hillary here. I completely expect the same thing in California. I think Nevada was tampered with.

[Silver_Witch]

61. I feel that way!

[ladyVet]

62. Not the only one. I don't get the namecalling, because I have so many on ignore.

I was slightly too young to vote for Jimmy Carter, and I wasn't really political at that point. By the time I'd had a few years in an abusive marriage to a fundie freak, that changed. My first vote was for Mondale, and I voted for every Democrat after that, no matter how awful they were.

No more. I'm voting for someone this time, not against the lesser of two evils. If that makes me a non-democrat, then so be it. The DNC can go screw themselves. I'm not playing along anymore, and I'm not the only one.

Feel the bern!

[SpareribSP]

63. I am a young white male

I feel pre-judged before I say anything, and I thought a bit about lying about my age to avoid some comments. The rhetoric feels incredibly divisive.

[lasttrip]

64. No. Thanks for the thread jillan.

Peace.
LT

[Lifelong Protester]

65. Old enough to have seen the Goldwater commercial!

And yes, I'm another "old broad" for Bernie, and tired of the non-democratic mud-slinging. I'm a progressive, and it DOESN'T mean I'm for tRump.