I have been a Green all my life, but I am going to re-register as a Democrat just for Bernie.

[GreenPartyVoter]

I am not announcing this to start a firestorm, and if people are worried about me doing this just to sway the caucus/primary procedure, that is not the case. I am simply stating my intention because I am trying to make a point. Having Bernie-who-is-not-a-Big-D-Democrat in the primaries has been an issue of concern for a lot of people. I just want to offer a reassuring perspective on the situation, in that if he brings me, a lifelong (very proud to be) Green on board, who else is he bringing? Maybe including Bernie is good for the primary process?

(And I know the first question to me will be, "But will you keep your registration changed if Bernie isn't the nominee?" to which I reply that I have no idea. I am changing because I feel that I have something being offered to me at this time that aligns with who I am at my core. I have said for years and years that I would gladly be a Green-Democrat, as my current party allows for dual registration and I have voted for far more Democrats than Greens or Socialists over the years, but alas the DNC does not offer this option.

[Zorra]

1. ...

[Old Codger]

2. I have been

Independent and changed in order to be able to vote for him in our state primary

[bobja]

3. Me too!

I've been a Green since the 80's, but just registered as a Democrat so I could vote for Bernie in the California primary.

[Lordquinton]

35. Doesn't California have open primaries?

Or is that just for registered independents?

[jeff47]

40. Only open to those registered as no party affiliation. (nt)

[pinebox]

4. Same, sort of

I'm an indy myself and that's the thing Hillary supporters don't get (and that's not a slam HRC supporters) Bernie has massive cross over appeal and that is one reason why Bernie does better in a general. Heck, there's even Republicans who support Bernie.
Bernie is NOT the establishment and that is one thing I like about him, she shoots straight and tells it how it is. You know exactly what you're getting.

[Fumesucker]

9. I'm prettty sure most of the Hillary supporters do in fact "get it"

And that's why some of them obviously can't stand Sanders, not so much for how his supporters act but because of who they are.

I can think of three strong current Hillary supporters who were trashing her with very immoderate language in 2008 and those are only the ones who have been outed, I'd be willing to bet there are quite a few more who were doing the same thing.

[pinebox]

11. Yup

I've seen a few of those folks and now and then I'll screen cap their remarks and show them to them

[A Simple Game]

33. I got banned from the Hillary group for daring to mention some of their prominent members

were indeed vocally and bitterly anti Hillary back in '08.

A ban by the way that I wear like a badge.

I was an unaffiliated voter but re-registered as a Democrat this year to vote for Bernie in the primary. Not sure what I will do after the election, will wait and see, but judging by the vindictiveness of the Hillary supporters on DU I think my original decision to leave the party was the correct one.

[Decoy of Fenris]

5. Independent until very recently, now Democratic for Sanders. n/t

[PowerToThePeople]

6. I switched from indy after the 2000 coup d'etat.

Last edited Sun Nov 8, 2015, 02:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Saw a rerun in 2004. I am still waiting for justice.

[m-lekktor]

7. I remain a DEM to vote for him in the primary.

Otherwise I have no fondness for "the party" anymore.

[99th_Monkey]

8. I'm a Dem, sometimes Indy or Green in the past. My gf was Indy, just re-registered D for Bernie.

Yes, it is 'a thing' with Bernie, but you wouldn't know it from some of the whining that
goes on about Bernie not being a "real Democrat", which is laughable because he puts
most with a big "D" after their name, to shame, for being such a stellar Democrat i.e. more
like FDR not 3rd Way.

PLUS, Bernie is doing the Democratic Party huge favors every which way,
A) he's NOT running as an independent in the GE, so as to take away from the Dem. nominee,
B) He IS biggering the big tent by hundreds of thousands of indies, greens, etc. and even some
Republicans (he gets 25% of GOP voters in Vermont).

Thanks for your OP... points well taken.

[azmom]

10. Life long Dem, but will change

After this election.

[Live and Learn]

12. K&R nt

[Demeter]

14. Thank you for making the effort

It will be the crossover vote that defeats the Hillary/DSW conspiracy to suppress competition in the Democratic Party.

[Hydra]

15. Thanks for posting this!

The D party acts like they own the entire pool of non-republican voters. I'm glad we have a candidate that offers us more than that.

[Mike__M]

16. Could almost have written this myself

Just change Green Party to Justice party, and all my life to since the party was created, and sign my name.

What some big Ds may not know, is how we are reviled as sheepdogged suckers by the hard-core party loyalists we've left behind.

[pinebox]

17. heh

JUSTICE PARTY!! Hell yes! Nice to see another JP'er on here XD

[Mike__M]

18. Will I be banned?

If I whisper Rocky for VP

[pinebox]

22. lol no

You sure won't be. You're safe with that.

[ismnotwasm]

19. Threads like this always fascinate me

I had the opposite journey. Always voted socialist, never voted for Bill Clinton especially, although I remember arguing with Republicans on message boards about him, I remember the lies, the constant harassment, and most of all the hypocrisy of the Republican Party. "the contract for America" types. Still In 2000, that all changed. I knew what a destructive force Ronald Reagan was, but I never saw anything like George W. Bush coming. I paid attention, and I knew who he was. Once he became a viable candidate I was horrified. I knew there would be war (I could not, of course, predicted anything like 9/11)

It's been straight Dem ever since, with the occational socialist city council member vote.

I also became more involved the Democrats, found the party was far more in line with my politics (which are, at heart feminist politics) than any other party except, of course Socialist Feminists.

[GreenPartyVoter]

29. Crazy Repubs are what have kept me voting Dem so often, at least

at the top of the ticket.

Glad you found your way to the right party for you. I wish we had a healthier election process in this country, so that more can find the right party (if there is one) for them.

[ismnotwasm]

31. Yeah definitely!

It can be a process, keeping good information available is crucial.

[Maedhros]

20. Changed my party affiliation to Socialist after Bill signed DOMA and Welfare 'Reform'.

Switched back to Democrat in order to vote for Bernie in the primary.

Will change back afterward. The Party has repeatedly shown that it doesn't want me or my vote.

[SwissTony]

21. Good American people, help me out here.

I'm an Aussie and we don't have this "registration" business.

What does registering as a Democrat mean? What does it entitle me to do? What does it restrict me from doing?

Can i register as both a Democrat and a Green? If so, what are the consequences?

This is a genuine question. We obviously have different different electoral procedures (ours look more like the British system).

But I'm curious.

[stevenleser]

23. It only matters in the primaries. You can't vote in a party's primary if you aren't registered as

being in that party in your voter registration. And that is not a hard and fast rule.

Some states allow you to vote in the primaries and choose anyone from any party. But in most states, you cannot vote in the contest to choose who will be a parties nominee unless you are registered as a member of that party.

It has no bearing on the general election. A Democratic registered voter can vote for the Republican and vice versa or for the Green party nominee, or Libertarian nominee, etc.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

32. Not everywhere. Minnesota does not record party affiliation with registration.

Not even an option here.

In other states I have lived, it was an option but not required (in one state, you had three options: D, R or i (independent, but not the party but rather the same as unaffiliated to D or R .... but that was last in the mid-90s and I have no idea how that state does it now).

[stevenleser]

34. That's why I said it's not a hard and fast rule. Just most states. nt

[Lordquinton]

38. Every state can have their own rules

It's very confusing, and every time it comes up on the federal level it gets shut down with a strong republican "States Rights" fight.

[Aerows]

39. Exactly. It isn't true in my state, either.

Though there is some weird language that you have to be committed to voting for the party you vote in the Primary for in the General Election.

It's mind-boggling, because nobody knows what you do in the voting booth.

It's Mississippi after all. I guess it's the honor system of Primary voting LOL. I've read the law several times and still can't figure out what it is there for!

[Art_from_Ark]

52. In Arkansas, there's no party registration

In primaries, you just ask for a Democratic or Republican ballot.

[geardaddy]

51. +1

In MN, I have voted for both Socialist Workers Party and DFL in a primary.

I associate myself with the Farmer-Labor wing of the DFL.

[pinebox]

24. Sadly you can't have dual registration

Personally I think the whole voting system is a mess here and if I could I would ditch the entire electoral college system and go for popularity because to me, that's democracy.

You can only choose one party and in some states you have be a a registered member of that party to vote in primaries (another thing which needs to be changed IMHO)

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

61. No, no, NO!

Why should anyone be allowed to be a member of TWO parties? I don't want Republicans voting in my party's primary and they sure as hell wouldn't want me doing it! There have already been cases in heavily Republican states with no Rethug primary where voters have switched and voted for extremely unqualified and unknown people for the Dem nominee for Governor and Senate.

[pinebox]

62. Yes yes yes!

Because Republicans helped elect Bernie in VT.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

63. Did you read what I wrote?

So you're fine with Republicans sabotaging primaries as long as it might help your guy in the case? And do we really want to investigate WHY a Republican might vote for Sanders in a primary? I BET they vote for FUCKING MARCO RUBIO IN THE GE AND LAUGH ABOUT IT THE WHOLE WAY!!!!!!

More proof that too many Sanders supporters only care about one thing and fuck everything else. If republicans like Bernie so much they can disaffiliate and become Democrats. That should be NO problem for a Republican who has suddenly decided THEY LIKE WHAT BERNIE IS SAYING after calling Obama every name under the sun for eight years. Otherwise, they are just frauds trying to pull shenanigans.

[stevenleser]

25. You also cannot hold any position in a party if you are not registered as a member of that party.

This affects very few people and generally if you want to be a precinct or district leader of a party, chances are you registered to vote as a member of that party.

[Fred Sanders]

26. Strange how folks are even given the choice of "registering" for a party before voting, isn't it?

[ejbr]

27. I registered as Dem

for the same reason; however, I know I will switch back to independent once I vote. I will most certainly continue to vote Democrat (the Repugs are fucking nuts), but considering the number of endorsements for the status quo from the Democrats, it is clear that I don't belong within its ranks.


On edit: I know not being a registered democrat will prevent me from voting for progressives in future primaries, but the DNC already holds the cards, leaving little room for my tastes to be considered.

[blondie58]

28. Bernie is a once in a lifetime candidate.

He could Really shake up the Powers That be. I am Going to a meeting in my City for him next week! So excited.

Thom Hartmann has called him this generations FDR and I think that is true.

[Art_from_Ark]

53. Please give us a report of next week's meeting!

[blondie58]

73. I Sure will Art!

The only possible problem is that were expected to get 3-6 inches of snow. It doesn't bother me- I used to work in all kinds of weather when I was a carrier for the Post Office.
I just hope it Isn't cancelled.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

30. I've been a Democrat all my life who has voted Green before.

Now, we don't register by party in my state and I'm whatever I choose to be. And, I'll vote for Bernie if he's nominated.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. It's the old, "I didn't leave the democratic party, the democratic party left me."....

Bernie can bring those voters back home.

[PoliticalMalcontent]

37. Thank you for standing up for what you believe in.

'Who else is he bringing in?' indeed. Excitement wins elections. I can't imagine Republicans can be too happy with their candidates at the moment. It's nice to have someone who generates energy for 'the base' and even some from just outside the base.

[jeff47]

41. And keep in mind, people like you are not counted in polling.

By not being a registered Democrat in the previous election, you won't pass the "likely voter" screen.

[Sunlei]

42. Good for you! People do not have to re-register to be able to vote. Even if you register as D you c

Even if you register as D, or I or R, you can still vote any party. But just one time in a' primary' is allowed.

[kelliekat44]

43. Yes, still working to destroy the Democratic party. Isn't that how we got Bush? nt

[truebluegreen]

48. Um, no.

[Adrahil]

44. Welcome to the party.

I welcome you (and Bernie) to the party. I welcome your ideas as well. However, please actually work to advance the party. The two party system is screwed up, but it is what we have. And the reality is that if a Democrat does not win, a Republican will. Keep that in mind.

[oberliner]

45. What about Jill Stein?

What are you feelings about her candidacy?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

60. You mean "I would actually like to see Mitt Romney win, so we have someone.....

....to fight against"? - On the Sam Seder show the weekend before the 2012 election

Miss "Obama is very articulate" Jill Stein. - Same interview.

Fuck her. Of course, I'm not a green.

[oberliner]

65. Was curious to hear from the Green Party Voter on the subject

Wondering if she is less appealing this time around for some reason.

[GreenPartyVoter]

66. I didn't care for her the last time. She seems nice enough, I suppose, but not the

person I would choose to lead the country.

Where it gets tricky is the whole "split vote" issue. The reason why I vote Dem at the top of the ticket is to keep the Repubs out. That said, I would much rather vote _for_ someone than against someone. The real issue is not that people are "spoiling" races so much as that we have a system that allows for plurality voting in multi-candidate races. We definitely need to address this and the multitude of other election issues (proportional representation, publicly funded elections, election holiday, ranked voting, etc etc) which we urgently face.

[treestar]

46. Really you look at Bernie's run as the D party offering you something?

Kind of like a consumer decision? And the party is like a company producing a product.

Are there no good local Democratic candidates on offer? How many elections does the Green Party offer you a candidate for? If not, I suspect none of the Democrats are a good enough product?

I did vote Green once where the Democrats put no candidate up in a local district - we got 17% of the vote. But that at least tells the R who has the seat something. It's just that the Democrats offered me no candidate. So I bought the Green one. Without really looking into that candidate much, as of course, I cannot vote for Republicans. In prior years, the R was the only one on the ballot. Offered no candidates, I wrote in myself.

[GreenPartyVoter]

67. Many times I am fine with the Democratic candidates. I try to vote for person not party but

when it's only D vs R, it sort of becomes a party choice by default, unless you feel really great about the Republican running. (I confess to voting for Olympia Snowe in my youth because I liked her, but in the end she didn't part company with her party often enough for my taste.)

I have written my Dad in a few times when only a Republican was running. County seats, mainly, as we didn't live in the same town. Now that he is gone, it makes me happy to know that somewhere, in some accounting of these races, his name is still recorded.

[TBF]

47. I declared Dem to caucus for Obama -

and have left that in place. If Bernie is pushed out I will make the effort to change my status to Indy.

[Sheepshank]

49. Succinctly and honestly said

well done.

[cosmicone]

50. LMAO .. I love these posts hahahahahaha

"I joined the commune because I saw a giant redwood on the logo"

Bernie's ideals are not at all different from the Democratic party. In fact, Hillary and Bernie agree on 95-98% of the issues.

Thus, you're not joining for the issues, organization and people who are democrats or philosophy but you like the lofty, ultra-populist rhetoric of ONE person.

Brilliant.

[Ned_Devine]

55. And the wet blanket award goes to.....

[drokhole]

54. My best friend's wife, who has voted solidly Republican in the past, said she's voting for Bernie.

Was shocked when I heard it, to be honest. Her and her husband have always been at odds politically (my buddy has always leaned liberal), and we've all been in some pretty heated debates in the past. But, just the other day, she came out and said she fully supports Bernie. She's ashamed and terrified of the entire Republican field, for one thing. But, even out of all the candidates, she agrees with Bernie on most issues. Most important of which is that he has been consistent with his principled beliefs and calling out wrongs and power grabs directly without parsing words, and he isn't beholden to monied interests and doesn't let his opinion follow polling. It was truly an early Christmas miracle!

[cosmicone]

56. My cousin's mother-in-law's dental hygienist's dog-walker's

father-in-law's veterinarian's pooper-scooper supplier said exactly the same thing!!

Bravo!

[drokhole]

57. That's some solid digital media specializing!

[litlbilly]

58. My wife and I did the same thing in Oregon, registered as dems to vote for Bernie

[tk2kewl]

59. who let you in here?

[GreenPartyVoter]

68. Some dude just held the tent flap open!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

64. Welcome

I hope whomever the nominee for the Democratic party is, you will vote for them in the General Election as I will.

[GreenPartyVoter]

69. Thank you! I will definitely support the nominee. We don't

need the GOP running amok in the Oval Office again!

[Blue_In_AK]

70. In Alaska in 2008

hundreds and hundreds of independent and nondeclareds registered as Democrats so they could participate in our caucus. Many of them switched back after the election, but that's ok. I think the importance of party label is grossly exaggerated, and I would be happy if all primaries were open. Here there are more registered voters who are undeclared or "other" than Republicans and Democrats combined.

[sabrina 1]

71. Good decision. Lots of other people are joining you in changing their party registeration to vote

for Bernie

[Uncle Joe]

72. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, GreenPartyVoter.