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EarlG

(22,371 posts) Tue Jul 23, 2024, 09:53 AM Jul 23

503

Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee -- what this means for DU

This year, we did what we always do on Democratic Underground during a presidential election year. While the presidential nomination was still up for grabs, we were in Primary Season. Since Joe Biden had no serious opposition this year and essentially ran unopposed, we called an end to Primary Season on March 6, immediately after Super Tuesday. At that point, we switched to General Election Season.

The difference between the two seasons is subtle but significant. DU's "Don't bash Democratic public figures" rule states, in part, "Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate."

When we are in Primary Season, Democratic candidates for office are not considered "general election candidates" -- they are still fighting to win that honor -- and so DU members have lots of leeway to advocate for their own candidates and criticize their opponents as part of the primary campaign. Once the primaries are over, the winners become "Democratic general election candidates" and as such, receive a lot more protection under the rules. They cannot be bashed, trashed, or undermined once Primary Season is over.

We've done things this way for 20 years on DU because allowing people to continue to oppose Democratic nominees once the primaries are over is counterproductive, provides an obvious entry point for trolls, and is contrary to DU's Core Principles ("...to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government" ).

I don't regret sticking to the policy this year. For as long as Joe Biden remained the Democratic nominee, it would not have been right to abandon the policy, and doing so would have set a confusing precedent. For as long as he was in the race, Biden was the Democratic nominee, and he deserved to be protected in the same way that previous nominees had been protected before him. I know some people disagreed with this decision, but I believe it was the right thing to do.

As soon as Joe Biden dropped out of the race, however, we were in unprecedented territory. The logical thing to do seemed to be to return to Primary Season, since the Democratic Party no longer had an official nominee, so that's what we did on Sunday.

48 hours later, Kamala Harris has already secured enough pledged delegates to become the presumptive nominee. Therefore I see no reason at this time to remain in Primary Season. The vast majority of the Party has lined up behind the Vice President, and with enough pledged delegates to secure the nomination, it is now highly unlikely that anyone but Kamala Harris will be declared the official Democratic nominee when all is said and done.

And so, we are now returning to General Election Season with Kamala Harris as our nominee and we're ready to move forward. Thank you all for your patience while we navigated these tricky waters. Hopefully we are now ready to unite and move on to the next goal which is the most important of all -- to defeat Donald Trump this November, take control of Congress, and put MAGA out of business for good.

Thank you for reading!

EarlG, on behalf of Elad -- The DU Administrators

104 replies

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Highlight:

Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee -- what this means for DU (Original Post) EarlG Jul 23 OP

Thanks. Nt spooky3 Jul 23 #1

Thanks! GPV Jul 23 #2

Quickest primary season ever. TwilightZone Jul 23 #3

Bada bing. Bada boom. Let's go. All in. CincyDem Jul 23 #4

Yessssssss! Chipper Chat Jul 23 #5

K & R n/t malaise Jul 23 #6

Thanks, EarlG! Rhiannon12866 Jul 23 #7

Excellent. We all must get behind our candidate, Kamala Harris JohnSJ Jul 23 #8

WOOT! ismnotwasm Jul 23 #9

Thank you for everything you do at DU! relayerbob Jul 23 #10

But Joe Manchin is going to become a Democrat again! Renew Deal Jul 23 #11

No. No. No. he is waiting for Joe Lieberman to tell him what to do. madinmaryland Jul 23 #35

Manchin will have to get a ouija board and hold a seance. sop Jul 23 #63

Maybe George Santos will become a Democrat (again?) JustABozoOnThisBus Jul 23 #86

please note: the eula states that we support all dems . go maddame prez and the first husband. AllaN01Bear Jul 23 #12

Thank you. sheshe2 Jul 23 #13

Perfect! honest.abe Jul 23 #14

This is the Best Photo! Love this one, msfiddlestix Jul 23 #48

Really looks like a Madam President! honest.abe Jul 23 #52

What a beautiful picture! llmart Jul 23 #53

Ditto!! Perfection! onetexan Jul 23 #59

Okay Earl... sounds good to me!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jul 23 #15

EarlG Upthevibe Jul 23 #16

Yes, absolutely EarlG Jul 23 #20

Thank you! Upthevibe Jul 23 #65

And away we go!!! riversedge Jul 23 #17

Agreed in toto and thank you. Nt PCIntern Jul 23 #18

This also quells any wanna-be trolls. Thankyou. lindysalsagal Jul 23 #19

I am already seeing posters called out for mildly criticizing prominent Dems for NOT ENDORSING our presumptive nominee. hlthe2b Jul 23 #21

Agree claudette Jul 23 #55

Thanks Earl Bettie Jul 23 #22

You have great rules! Easterncedar Jul 23 #23

Thank you, O Great Cat-herder! Maeve Jul 23 #24

Agree, looking forward to tRump getting his ass kicked by Kamala Harris nt ImNotGod Jul 23 #25

At 77 I am thrilled that I will get to vote for a woman for POTUS. I hope I live long enough the see her get elected.... usaf-vet Jul 23 #26

Great - thanks. Let's win this thing! NewHendoLib Jul 23 #27

Thank you for all you do MustLoveBeagles Jul 23 #28

Full Speed Ahead! oasis Jul 23 #29

Noted. FalloutShelter Jul 23 #30

Thank you EarlG solara Jul 23 #31

Makes sense. samsingh Jul 23 #32

Your/DU's stance is reasonable, makes perfect sense duhneece Jul 23 #33

Good decision. Martin68 Jul 23 #34

Fastest primary ever Mountainguy Jul 23 #36

Yippee!!!!!!!! Butterflylady Jul 23 #37

Thank you! Ford_Prefect Jul 23 #38

K & R SunSeeker Jul 23 #39

Excellent ornotna Jul 23 #40

Fired up and ready to go! sarchasm Jul 23 #41

I just donated again... FailureToCommunicate Jul 23 #42

Awesome! Now we can all fight over who the VP should / will / can be. FSogol Jul 23 #43

Amazing times liberal N proud Jul 23 #44

Perfect! Blue Dawn Jul 23 #45

Thanks! Think. Again. Jul 23 #46

Well Done! Much Appreciated! Fully Agree on Every Single Point, Thank You! msfiddlestix Jul 23 #47

Thanks, EarlG! spicysista Jul 23 #49

fun and clear read Tetrachloride Jul 23 #50

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 23 #51

Does it mean claudette Jul 23 #54

Thank you, EarlG gademocrat7 Jul 23 #56

And boy, that was FAST!! AmBlue Jul 23 #57

Winner winner chicken dinner! WheelWalker Jul 23 #58

This time two weeks ago, I was totally dejected and wanted the election over. Initech Jul 23 #60

Thank you yankee87 Jul 23 #61

Thank you! Wild blueberry Jul 23 #62

Many thanks, EarlG and Administrators. Paladin Jul 23 #64

Friendly reminder most don't need it but her name is pronounced Eliot Rosewater Jul 23 #66

I need a "I'm w/her" t-shirt! :) TBF Jul 23 #67

KnR...nt MiHale Jul 23 #68

Thank you, EarlG and Elad. Dem2theMax Jul 23 #69

I've never said thank you to the administrators of this group Conjuay Jul 23 #70

Thank You!! LuvJoesPartner Jul 23 #71

YES! Peace lady Jul 23 #72

Ty, EarlG. electric_blue68 Jul 23 #73

Thank you for helping to save the country! redqueen Jul 23 #74

Cool! bluewater Jul 23 #75

Understood lpbk2713 Jul 23 #76

You rock EarlG! hibbing Jul 23 #77

Go brat DU AKwannabe Jul 23 #78

Thank you, EarlG! Silver Gaia Jul 23 #79

Thanks so much, EarlG. greatauntoftriplets Jul 23 #80

And We're Good To Go With Lightening Speed! ! Mahalo, EarlG & Elad! Cha Jul 23 #81

Yes. election season is on, barbtries Jul 23 #82

Thank you, EarlG for guiding us through these weird, wild waters. calimary Jul 23 #83

Very Glad to see this!!!!! Stinky The Clown Jul 23 #84

Full support to Kamala and DU...This election is going to be historic, and will allow us to finally Escurumbele Jul 23 #85

Excellent news! Iggo Jul 23 #87

Yeah I agree ❤️Kamala you are🔥🔥🔥 I_UndergroundPanther Jul 23 #88

thanks EarlG proud patriot Jul 23 #89

Thank you, EarlG (and thank God for DU) B.See Jul 23 #90

Well said - Thank you flying-skeleton Jul 23 #91

Yes! General election season! maspaha Jul 23 #92

Awesome! Let's unite and win! Dem4life1970 Jul 23 #93

Joe rocks as President COL Mustard Jul 23 #94

REC #450 ffr Jul 23 #95

While I will support Harris as the nominee I am disappointed that her selection was done behind closed doors hard2figure Jul 23 #96

I'm fairly new here but your policies seem well thought out. Refreshing! Especially after dealing with my HOA Ranting Randy Jul 23 #97

Repugs in disarray! Aussie105 Jul 23 #98

Is it still permitted, during General Election Season, for us to . . . AverageOldGuy Jul 23 #99

You guys are da best Hekate Jul 23 #100

100% behind her Shyguy24 Jul 24 #101

Thank you EarlG. NT akbacchus_BC Jul 24 #102

Went from worried sick on Sunday to AllyCat Jul 24 #103

we need swag! Are any stores going to be open in DU? samnsara Jul 24 #104

spooky3

(35,504 posts)

1. Thanks. Nt