Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

pdsimdars

(6,007 posts)
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:20 PM Mar 2016

Bernie meeting with his constituents while Hillary meets with hers.

Yesterday we saw those Yuuuuuge crowds Bernie was drawing. He keeps holding events with massive turnouts day after day.

At the same time Rachel Maddow talked a bit on her show about all the candidates and where they were holding events. Then she talked about how Hillary was the only candidate NOT out in the states campaigning with the people but was in small meetings doing a world wind fund raising campaign.

In other words, Bernie was meeting with the people he represents while Hillary was meeting with the people she represents. Very telling story.

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
2. Hillary has moved into General Election mode.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:26 PM
Mar 2016

Odds are that the die has already been cast, and she's working on a national campaign now. She'll still show up in all the large states with large convention delegations to allocate, but right now, she can focus on her national campaign and Democratic Party fundraising. She's raising money for down-ticket races on a constant basis right now, because that's going to be very important to her as President.

Bernie's fighting a comeback game. He can't really think about a national campaign at this time. So, he's out there trying to boost his chances in states where he can win. It likely won't be anything close to enough, though, in the delegate count. Momentum is now on Hillary's side after March 15.

Response to pdsimdars (Original post)

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
4. Constituents are the people you govern
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:30 PM
Mar 2016

By virtue of being elected to office. Sanders' constituents are the residents of the state of Vermont (whether they voted for him or not). The people at his rallies are supporters, not constituents.

Clinton has no current constituents because she currently holds no elective office. The residents of New York State are her former constituents.

Don't be fooled by rallies. Rallies are for "rallying" those who are already your supporters. They have no bearing on how the rest of the people, not there, are going to vote. Clinton has been wise in meeting with actual people one-on-one in smaller groups (and I don't mean at fundraisers). She makes connections. Sanders orchestrates photo ops to give the illusion of power.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
6. This is not even a response.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:39 PM
Mar 2016

Keep living in your land of rich thoughts. I'm trying to keep my feet planted in the real world of people and facts.

 

pdsimdars

(6,007 posts)
9. Their constituents are the people they are running to represent.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:46 PM
Mar 2016

Bernie wants to REPRESENT the American public and
Hillary will represent the upper 1% AS SHE ALWAYS HAS.

 

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)
13. Clinton has constituents.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:31 PM
Mar 2016

First of all, shows of power have always been part of politics, with no exceptions. One can say theater and symbolism are central to political action, especially in mass societies. Sanders' rallies are held to show people power. You can mock it all the way to the bank, I suppose. People using one of the means available to them to make it clear that they want something. Since they don't get more media time than all other candidates combined, like Trump (actually true for 2015). Rather, they get 1/20 of that time. Or less.

Clinton's work towards bombing Libya relied on the theatrical (and of course deadly) show of overwhelming force known as shock-and-awe doctrine (which is a lot older than that term). You may have a preference for this form of theater.

Second, Clinton has constituents in the broader sense of people she represents and whose behalf she will advocate. Or parts of a whole, in this case her political machine.

When she meets with donors who give millions to her, to her foundation, to her campaign and to her soft and gray money entities currently tolerated by corrupt campaign law, and when she advocates policies that happen to be in the interests of these donors (as "interests" tend to be defined in our society), then these are clearly her constituents.

More so than the people of New York. She may win a majority of votes there in another two elections this year, but there are millions of us who see her as a carpetbagger and opportunist. I speak as one who voted for her in 2000.

Hillary Clinton did not represent my state. She participated in betraying us, in exploiting a disaster to cast a politically decisive vote on behalf of a war of aggression completely unrelated to 9/11.

Never forget.

FlatBaroque

(3,160 posts)
7. Hillary's smoke, mirrors and slime strategy is going to be tested because
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:40 PM
Mar 2016

she has no more individual donors. Her donors are maxed out so she has to keep hitting up for more corporate bucks. Bernie's legions meanwhile keep sending him checks for $27. They will have to do that 100 times before they max out. But yes, they are both meeting with their constituents.

BernieforPres2016

(3,017 posts)
11. Campaigning among the little people was always beneath Hillary
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:55 PM
Mar 2016

Now that she thinks she has the Democratic nomination wrapped up, she can go back to spending her time with the upper crust that has made her and Bill and Chelsea rich.

brooklynite

(93,873 posts)
12. No, Bernie was talking TO his voters...no opportunities for questions...
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:11 PM
Mar 2016

....keep telling yourself that Clinton only meets people at fundraisers if it makes you happy. It won't make it true, and you'll be more likely to campaign unsuccessfully.

R B Garr

(16,920 posts)
14. No. What this means is Hillary is switching her focus to the GE.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:34 PM
Mar 2016

She is the frontrunner. Sanders is trying desperately to play catch-up to her. This just reflects the reality of the situation.

msongs

(67,199 posts)
16. chant at bernie rallies: "we're number 2, we're number 2". rally crowd size does not mean actual
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:46 PM
Mar 2016

votes

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Bernie meeting with his c...