Anyone concerned about a republican victory has a responsibility to join our Democratic coalition

[bigtree]

Last edited Thu Mar 17, 2016, 03:44 PM - Edit history (1)

...when we eventually choose a nominee.

It's not a negotiation, it's a personal responsibility which I'd expect supporters of either candidate to live up to. You're either going to coalesce in the end with your rivals in this primary to defeat the republican nominee, or render yourself irrelevant (or an impediment) to that fight.

Just as importantly, the losers of our primary aren't in much of a position to make the demands I see popping up on this site in exchange for their votes. You don't get to demand fealty to a 'movement' which has failed to gain the support of the majority of voters in our Democratic primary.

In this primary election, Hillary Clinton is racking up a majority of votes from a good representation of the Obama coalition, which, itself represented the closest thing we've experienced in decades to a revolution of voters. The voters who achieve a majority in our primary election deserve to have see their interests take precedence as we move forward to the general election.

For everyone else, their participation will be a compromise, similar to countless of other primary elections where Democrats put aside their differences and united to defeat the republican challenge to all of our ambitions and goals. No one should need to bend over backwards persuade those who actually care about the issues they represent to join in that effort after we deliberate and produce a nominee.

[DemocraticWing]

1. We have representative government, so I expect those I vote for to represent me.

And we demand a voice. We're 45% of the Party, and we're going to show up to the convention and add that large voice to the discussions that will shape our party's future. If we are shut out, that is treason to the ideals of democracy.

[Recursion]

4. Now you're getting it. Coalition politics.

Most countries do it with a large number of parties that form explicit coalitions; we do those same coalition negotiations at the two party conventions.

So, go to your state convention and work to get delegates you want sent to the national.

[choie]

2. After we choose a nominee..

that happens in June by the way.

[bigtree]

6. fair enough.

[PowerToThePeople]

3. You don't get to demand

votes.

Nice try.

[bigtree]

5. it's your own responsibility

...I'm not demanding anything. You do what your conscience dictates.

If you give a damn at all about the issues you say you do, you'll join Democrats in defeating the republican nominee. If not, it's fair to ask just how much you really care about all of that.

[PowerToThePeople]

7. Trying to shame me will not work either

Less collateral damage is not acceptable to me.

[bigtree]

9. then take your ball and go home

...I'm not in this world to hold your hand waiting for you to do the right thing.

[PowerToThePeople]

10. Your opinion

I believe I will do the right thing come November.

[vintx]

8. Anyone concerned about a republican victory has a responsibility to not use Rovian dirty tricks

and lies, so they don't alienate half the country.

OOPS! Too late.

[840high]

11. .^that

[MoonRiver]

18. Yes, Bernie has already been there, done that.

And it really reflects poorly on him btw.

[silvershadow]

12. no more triangulation

[bigtree]

13. kick

[nc4bo]

14. We will get the government we deserve. nt

[Bad Thoughts]

15. Fear trumps hate? Not usually

We keep reading that the reason to vote for Clinton is Trump. Of course, there are Sanders supporters who will say the same if Sanders would become the nominee. However, that means having a weak hand going into the election. It creates a weak coalition of voters who are not unified in their ideas: they don't work as effectively for the election, and they have difficulty telling undecided voters why they should join in opposing "the worse of two evils." The only really good historical example is France's Popular Front, which succeeded because Fascism was associated with a foreign threat.

What needs to happen is that the various factions participating in the Primary season must come together to reaffirm the principles of the Democratic Party: increasing political participation and taking down obstacles to voting; affirming regulatory frameworks; establishing proactive environmental protections; capping debt and reducing costs in higher education; realigning the criminal justice system; shifting tax burdens away from the poor; protecting the economy from excessive lending; dismantling corporate welfare; making human rights and security, not corporate interest, as the guiding principles of foreign relations; etc.

[Bonobo]

16. The condescending tone of your message invites only one response.

And it is one that I will keep to myself, but suffice it to say it begins with a "F" and ends with a "U".

[marions ghost]

17. We have already been "rendered irrelevant"

by the Democratic party. Before Bernie threw his hat in the ring.

NOW we have a candidate.

[bigtree]

19. »

[LWolf]

20. Anyone concerned about a republican victory

has a responsibility to throw support behind the candidate most likely to beat the Republican in November. The polls are consistent on that.

[bigtree]

21. with zero republican ads up against Sanders

...and almost no mention at all from republican campaigns.

Contrast that against the slew of republican pac money spent against Hillary in almost every state in our primary alongside Bernie's bucks.

That's what the polls reflect, not the true political strength of Sanders.

[LWolf]

22. It's always interesting to note

polling bias.