After meeting with Obama, it sounds like Bernie Sanders is preparing for defeat

[Cali_Democrat]

Bernie Sanders didn't call his campaign quits after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday, saying he would be competing in the Washington, DC, primary next week.

But Sanders gave every indication that he'll look to unite the Democratic Party in the near future, stressing the importance of defeating Donald Trump and his intention to work with Hillary Clinton. Clinton's strong performance in several states in Tuesday's primaries erased essentially any path to the nomination for Sanders.

"I look forward to meeting with Clinton in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump," Sanders said, adding that he had congratulated Clinton on her "very strong campaign" after voting on Tuesday.

<...>

Perhaps most important is what Sanders did not say at the news conference: that he'll be lobbying the superdelegates to overturn the will of the voters and grant him the nomination. In his brief remarks, Sanders also didn't criticize Clinton or try to point out her flaws as a potential nominee, as he has on the stump recently. And when he spoke about the Democratic convention, he spoke about it in terms of "issues," not an attempt to win the nomination.

Read more.....

http://www.vox.com/2016/6/9/11894876/barack-obama-sanders-white-house

[Lucinda]

1. Good!

[HumanityExperiment]

2. convention

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/08/politics/democratic-platform-fight/index.html

owning the platform will force top to bottom DEM elected officals to a more progressive/liberal platform

this is the fight

[TwilightZone]

6. "owning the platform"

He's in no position to own the platform, no matter how many times you spam the same post.

[HumanityExperiment]

7. an HRC supporter disagrees with ya...

'Because, as you know, Bernie already has 5 spots on the platform committee -- one less than Hillary. This is five more than any other 2nd placer has ever had.'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2159856

Facts... know them

[TwilightZone]

12. "one less than Hillary"

Work on your reading comprehension.

DWS also has four members on the committee. In your world is 5 > 10?

[HumanityExperiment]

14. worked...

those massive amounts of folks that showed up at rallies, the ones that HRC supporters marginalized during primary will be a factor come convention

DEM establishment is very aware of the power of people, especially when it concerns conventions... echoes of '68 still ring in their ears...

[TwilightZone]

16. "those massive amounts of folks" didn't bother showing up on voting day

If they had, your guy might have done better.

"be a factor come convention "

Your guy is going to drop out after DC and endorse Hillary Clinton. Start getting used to it.

[HumanityExperiment]

19. I get it...

'didn't bother showing up on voting day' but they did cause DNC to do this 'Bernie already has 5 spots on the platform committee -- one less than Hillary. This is five more than any other 2nd placer has ever had'

The more he presses to get concessions and the more BErnie supporters show up at convention, keep in mind all those 'non-voters' you mentioned... are still citizens, they won't be wearing 'I DIDN'T VOTE IN THE PRIMARY' stickers for your easy identification of your point....

Wanna wager against DNC folding to Bernie's demands?

[Hortensis]

25. Hillary is not just the presumptive nominee,

she is also the presumptive leader of the Democratic Party. Every significant decision the DNC makes now will include informing her and/or her agreement.

After Hillary's substantial wins on Tuesday, Bernie does not have anything near the leverage he hoped to going in, quite the contrary, and he is in no position to make big demands and force capitulation.

The concepts of cooperation and negotiation seem to be foreign to some, but no doubt both will occur and Bernie will make some contributions he can show to his followers.

[HumanityExperiment]

28. just presumptive nominee...

agree to disagree on this point 'Every significant decision the DNC makes now will include informing her and/or her agreement.'

DNC RULES dictate otherwise... what you post is just an expectation...

'he is in no position to make big demands and force capitulation'
he's in exact position to make as many demands to force concessions to progressive/liberal ideology

DNC is hypersensitive to what happened in '68... care to make a bet on how correct I will be on the point I've made?

[Hortensis]

37. Sure. You're completely wrong. By far most of Bernie's voters

are already shifting their support to either Hillary or Trump. This importantly includes, btw, those who actually show up on election day to vote.

But enjoy the demonstration promised for Philadelphia for what it is, a statement by a passionate few. I'll be watching the coverage too and just hope they behave up to their principles and don't embarrass us.

[HumanityExperiment]

46. assumptions without proof...

taking that tact eh?

I get it, avoidance of what occurred in '68 scares ya and DEM establishment...

The fight is and will be over progressive / liberal planks in the platform, either acknowledge it now or face the consequences come convention, choose wisely

the only embarrassment is DEM shift right in idelogy, republican light isn't what DEM needs to aspire to, this convention and Bernie's movement seeks to correct that shift

[Hortensis]

48. I took your bet for something in the future.

Now you want proof that you're going to be wrong? Would you like to pay off now also?

My choice for winnings are that you read no fewer than 2 major articles from The Atlantic each month. Yes, it's a pretty middlin', not left-wing, journal, but some broadening of exposure is good for all of us.

[HumanityExperiment]

55. This should be fun...

always with the assumptions... funny that you assume my 'exposure' is limited

I'll stick to the facts so far I'm on the correct path and nothing you've replied with changes that

the concessions that DNC ALREADY has given to Bernie is enough to signal to informed folks that DNC is very aware and afraid of Bernie's supporters

Using the rally turnouts as a benchmark, it will be quite significant turnout for DNC convention.. besides... what's all those college students to do prior to their fall semester starting up? ROAD TRIP!

[Hortensis]

56. "See ya" at the convention.

[HumanityExperiment]

57. more like you'll feel the presence than just be seen.. n/t

[okasha]

61. There will be no repetition of 1968.

And here's a bit of reality for you.

Any attempt to incite a riot will embarrass Sanders and reduce his influence on the convention.

[HumanityExperiment]

62. never stated violence...

energized folks within a movement... again, the concessions DNC has ALREADY afforded Bernie speaks volumes

Those massive rally turnouts scare the bejeezus outta the DNC, you nor establishment can figure it out, you try to put a label to it, tried to marginalize it, now try to dismiss it

principle over party, it's not too difficult to sort out, the fight is to steer DEM back to progressive/liberal roots

I get that all of this confounds you, be patient, it's about to get a lot more interesting

[okasha]

63. Those massive rallies don't scare anyone.

What would have caused the DNC concern was a near tie between Hillary and Sanders. That didn't happen.

Sanders' influence will be directly proportional to his cooperation with the rest of the party.

[HumanityExperiment]

64. LOL

yeah sure...

power of motivated people out in massive numbers matters, just because you don't believe so doesn't change the impact they've already had when it comes to what the DNC has already conceded to for Bernie becuase of those motivated massive numbers of people

Buckle up, it's going to get a lot more entertaining

[larkrake]

42. not until January, if she wins the General

[yardwork]

3. Sounds good. In return, I'm sure he'll get things that he wants.

If the Democrats take back the Senate, then Bernie can expect committee chairmanships and/or other forms of power. If he helps Hillary and other Democrats get elected, he will have earned this.

[LexVegas]

4. He looked defeated afterward. nt

[hamsterjill]

13. I thought so, as well.

I commend him for his remarks, and as a Hillary supporter, I feel it was about time.

That said, I have a feeling the meeting between Sanders and Obama was pretty much a "come to Jesus" affair.

[larkrake]

43. you wish. he has made strong inroads for the people. He is exhausted, not defeated

[DCBob]

5. Good for Bernie.

[geek tragedy]

8. He's preparing for a victory over Trump.

Hillary will lead that fight, but he will be part of it.

[NurseJackie]

9. Well, good for him! That's excellent news indeed! Glad to hear it!

[Orsino]

10. He already promised to support the nominee. Long ago.

Not calling it quits means he can retain superdelegates as well as pledged, in numbers too big to ignore.

He is preparing for victory--not for the nomination, surely, but with his agenda. And we all want some of that.

[peggysue2]

11. First step

This is a first step in coalescing around the GE fight and Hillary's nomination. It's gotta be hard to get your head around after all these grueling months. I think Hillary knows all too well the difficulty of stepping aside and admitting defeat, not only to yourself but to your staff and supporters. Bernie's talking to a lot of people today. But the result is the result and President Obama's endorsement puts a period at the end of a long primary.

[Surya Gayatri]

15. That was definitely a pre-concession speech. He's convincing himself and his supporters.

[AzDar]

17. I'm sure Bernie knew the Establishment would back the Establishment Candidate...

I prefer when Obama was honest, myself...

[TwilightZone]

18. Sanders is going to drop out after DC and endorse Hillary Clinton

You might want to start getting used to the idea.

[AzDar]

21. Hillary will lose the GE... you may want to get acclimated to that.

[qdouble]

24. You seem gleeful about Trump becoming president for some reason

[hack89]

27. You can't wait, can you? nt

[snooper2]

52. How come none of you saying that want to make any bets?

Come on!

I'm giving you 3-1 odds, you pick a number!

[larkrake]

29. No, he wont

[democrattotheend]

38. Obama didn't "back the establishment candidate"

To his credit, he stayed on the sidelines the entire time. Even Bernie acknowledges this. The president waited until Bernie had no chance to win before making an endorsement. It's not because Hillary is an establishment candidate - it's because she won, whether we want to accept it or not.

[Tarc]

20. I'm sorry, but Bernie still needs to come to grips with a basic fact here;

"I look forward to meeting with Clinton in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump"

Going forward, this isn't a partnership, buddy.

[AzDar]

22. He's just being polite... she is the problem. not the solution.

[Tarc]

23. She is the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. Time to accept that and get over it.

Bernie's help will certainly be greatly desired this fall, but make no mistake; this is her show, he isn't a co-candidate.

[larkrake]

32. I accept that- doesnt make her any more palitable

and he has to conceed a race, but only the race. He comes out way ahead in power and influence. She gains a glass ceiling and a desk she cant use.

Right now he doesnt need her, but she desperately needs him, his people and his enthusiasm. She is not stupid, she will walk softly around Sanders for a long time

[Hortensis]

47. I do not think that is a realistic viewpoint at all.

And I believe it insults Sanders as a citizen and his followers as citizens. This election was never about the primary. The battle is on now.

[larkrake]

60. it is very much about both the primary and the General and does not insult Sanders as a citizen

and his fight against corruption. We agree to diagree

[larkrake]

35. its not Hills show my friend, she is not winning more minds, only Bernie can addto her numbers. It

is totally Bernies show and his loyalty is to progressives, not her. His work will be to kill off Trump, not further her. He made that very clear. He will work with her to defeat Trump, but he will not support her policies or personage.

[Tarc]

39. That's not how it works, I'm afraid

You're either on the train or in front of it.

[LuvLoogie]

49. Yup, Bernie commands his power as First Loser. Nobody tells

the touch tone revolutionaries who's the Boss.

[democrattotheend]

40. Quibbling over semantics

"Work together" does not mean as co-equals. My boss and I often "work together" on projects, but he is still my boss.

[Maru Kitteh]

33. I found that statement by him to be gracious and hopeful. Working together will benefit us all.

[Hortensis]

44. Oh, I don't agree with that at all, Tarc.

You bet it's a partnership if he will join. We need all our leaders; and the sympathy and admiration of the millions who supported this leader, even if they now expect to vote for Hillary, means he has an important contribution to make.

Yes, we could do without his help if we had to, but we sure don't want to have to.

[Turin_C3PO]

45. I think

that he'll have more say than most defeated candidates have had in the past. Certainly Hillary's agenda will be #1 but I believe Sanders will have significant input on the party platform.

[PoliticAverse]

53. I'm sorry but you seem to not know what the phrase "work together" means.

Do you think Democrats should all work together to defeat Trump?

[larkrake]

26. thats what I've been telling you all along, but you rather think he had an evil agenda

[Maru Kitteh]

30. I think your title would be much more helpful with the word "Unity" instead of defeat

[Cali_Democrat]

31. It's not my title. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

36. OK, but you can modify it. I just think it's unnecessarily provocative and divisive.

Reporters write things that way on purpose - doesn't mean we have to do the same.

Just hoping you might consider it.

[Cali_Democrat]

41. It's the title of the article I referenced. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

50. But you can choose the title of your OP. Writers traffic in divisive and provocative titles

to serve themselves.

You could place the writer's title in the body of your OP with the snippets and the link.

I'm asking you to consider serving the candidacy of HRC and the DU community by titling your OP with a less divisive, less provocative word choice. I hope you will consider it.

[still_one]

34. That's good

[Agnosticsherbet]

51. He will be an invaluable allie in the fight to defeat Trump

And his position among the Leaders of the Senate will be of benefit to all citizens.

[MFM008]

54. Lets

[Maru Kitteh]

58. + 15,729,913

[Beacool]

59. Well, he did lose.

At certain point in time he should accept that he was defeated.

[Vinca]

65. Whatever happens, I don't associate the word "defeat" with Bernie.

This is the first election in my rather long lifetime that a candidate has expressed support for my views. Obviously, given the course of the primary, my view isn't an isolated one. Bernie has dragged the Democratic Party back toward its roots and that's a great accomplishment. The party has edged to the right year after year after year as the GOP headed toward the end of the flat earth with their nutball, far right nonsense. Finally . . . and I hope permanently . . . someone has put the brakes on.