Will Rick Wilson, Steve Schmidt, Max Boot, etc. have a voice in the Democratic nomination process?

[Renew Deal]

The Democratic primary will be heating up after November. There are many "never-Trump" type conservatives that have been vocal about beating Trump in 2020. Will Rick Wilson, Steve Schmidt, Max Boot, Jennifer Rubin, etc. have a voice in the Democratic nomination? Are Democrats prepared to deal with that?

[NewJeffCT]

1. Unless they join the Democratic Party

They should not have a voice.

I hope Democrats can have all 50 states using closed primaries only.

[Cary]

26. Hasn't Steve Schmidt joined Democrats?

What's to deal with? I think you are absolutely right.

And certain people who aren't Democrats, the answer there is clear too.

[OnDoutside]

28. Richard Painter has iirc.

[shanny]

31. Don't think so. But he definitely left the repuke party. nt

[NewJeffCT]

33. He left the Republican Party and is voting for Democrats in November

as is George Will and others. However, they have NOT become Democrats as far as I know

[shanny]

34. Yup. That was my understanding.

Urging people to vote for Democrats, but not becoming one.

Which makes sense. He still holds with Republican policies, just not with Dolt45

[hlthe2b]

2. Anyone can have a voice.. You choose who to listen to.

I have no problem hearing from them. That doesn't mean I will be influenced by them.

[emulatorloo]

3. Why would they? They are pundits.

I know Steve Schmidt for one has said he will be voting for Democrats. I suppose that’s a “voice” but it is the same voice you and I have.

[hlthe2b]

7. I interpret a voice as an opinion... Apparently some are construing it as veto power...

Hell, even Obama is not going to have that kind of determining influence, though he'll undoubtedly express his opinion (along with HRC) publicly or privately.

[Renew Deal]

8. They are activists in one way or another

I believe that Wilson still works on campaigns.

We seem to like these people now. Will we like it when they say we should pick Harris over Booker or Hickenlooper over Biden?

[hlthe2b]

10. Again, they are pundits and will undoubtedly express an opinion So what?

Why would any of us be concerned with their expressing an opinion?

[Renew Deal]

11. That's one way to look at it

People are influenced by opinions. Many Democrats have listened to these people over the last year, and particularly Wilson. So do Democrats listen if Wilson talks?

[hlthe2b]

15. Boy, I have a lot more faith in DEMS being independent thinkers. I don't see any pundit having that

kind of influence in the primaries. Maybe an Obama, HRC, or Sanders, but mere pundits? I don't think so

[emulatorloo]

12. Do you believe DU'ers blindly follow pundits? I don't.

I get that you wanna shit on the never Trumpers for some reason. But I think you are instead inadvertently shitting on your fellow DU’ers.

[Renew Deal]

16. Not sure how you "get" that?

Take what I posted at face value. I'm not one of the people out here ranting about Mensch, Wilson, Boot, Rubin, etc. I think it's legitimate to consider how people will accept "helpful" advice from temporary allies.

[emulatorloo]

17. You seem to think DU'ers are stupid and will do anything a pundit tells them to do

I post Rick Wilson’s criticism of Trump and Trump-lovers here now and again because it is scathing, sarcastic and hilarious.


However I will pick who I support in 2020 based on my own research and judgement as I always do. I believe that is how most of us arrive at our decisions.

[Renew Deal]

19. No, I don't.

Think about this... How will DUers react if Rick Wilson endorses someone? And... Does a Democrat endorsed by Wilson appear at a rally with him?

[JHB]

22. Personally, I won't give a rat's ass about Wilson's endorsement

I will have made my own assessment, on my own criteria. I would advise fellow Democrats to do the same.

Any endorsement by Wilson will be for the purpose of furthering his decidedly conservative goals, and thus be highly suspicious and unlikely to ultimately be to Democrats' benefit. But it's always possible he'll be a stopped clock.

[Renew Deal]

25. Correct

Bye Byeee

[tazkcmo]

23. As a DUer

I could give 2 F's who Rick Wilson, Joe Biden or my dear and Sainted Mother endorse for President. Wilson is hilarious when he's going off on Shitgibbon, Biden is terrific and my Mother is a Saint. None of them factor in my decision of who I vote for.

[SpicyBoi]

24. You're on MSNBC daily too?

[Bettie]

4. A voice? Nope

They can, of course, offer opinions as they are all pundit types.

[0rganism]

5. they can register as Democrats and vote in the primaries

just like any other citizen over 18

sure they can have a voice
just like you and I have our voices

[Bradshaw3]

6. I very much dout it

They are conservatives with a conscience. All three of them I believe have said to vote Democratic in November to end this nightmare. I could see the nevers starting a new party.

[Renew Deal]

9. Wilson has already been out there saying that he likes or dislikes some candidates.

I think this is going to be difficult for some people to deal with.

[Bradshaw3]

14. I know some people hate these guys

But I'm glad they are speaking out and respect them as doing the patriotic and decent thing. Do I look to them for my choice for Democratic nominees? No, and I probably would get irritated if they started getting involved in Democratic politics.

[LanternWaste]

13. I see zero evidence pointing to that particular end.

If you're talking about the formal process.

If you're merely referring to the national conversation, of course they'll have a voice, as do you and I.

[Renew Deal]

18. I am referring to the conversation

Beyond that, I would think that they would have to make a more permanent commitment to the Democratic Party.

[LanternWaste]

21. As you're referring to the conversation, it then begs the question:

why *wouldn't* they have a voice?

Or maybe I'm simply missing your fundamental concern, as I'm unaware of any agreements or quid-pro-quo compelling them to state anything other than their own opinions, regardless of what one or another party wants.

[PoorMonger]

20. Well,

A guy like Wilson can be useful if he chooses to use his experience to write ads against Trump and his worst lackies. I would actually like that. But in terms of consulting on Dem candidates and pitting them against each other he isn’t about to influence my thinking... Dems shouldn’t let him do that - but he does know how conservatives think and if he can help turn some of them to at least a brief moment of rational voting ( not voting R ) I won’t stand in his way

[vi5]

27. Should they? No

But given the amount of weight and importance our folks in position of power give to pundits and cable news talking head types, unfortunately I'm sure they will be given an inordinately outsized voice in our proceedings.

The same way these mythical, unicorn-like "independent moderates" and "centrist Republicans" are given an outsized voice in who we nominate, so far as the "Oh no!! What will the heartland voters think?!?!?!? bullshit goes.

[OnDoutside]

29. Rick Wilson did a very interesting twitter video back in July, see here

Link to tweet

The whole lot is well worth a watch but from the 25 min mark is good too.

[Renew Deal]

30. I saw it when it was posted at the time

That’s what I was thinking about when I posted this thread. He has negative opinions about some people, but he wants our person to win. Interesting dilemma for Democrats.

[OnDoutside]

32. They all know each other, I wouldn't doubt he is helping in some way or another. I thought his

insights were definitely worth listening to.