A Bernie Sanders Supporter And ‘Rockefeller Republican’ Call To Action

[kenn3d]

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2015, 03:22 PM - Edit history (1)

I’m a Republican. I’m a feminist. I’m an anti-racist activist. I support marriage equality. I support social programs. I’m voting for Bernie Sanders. Maybe Democrats should listen up and start reaching out to the Rockefeller Republicans that actually left the party. They call themselves Independents today and make up 41% of registered voters.
I’m a Republican.
Just because morons in the GOP have clung to the Tea Party and the theocratic fascists of the fringe right doesn’t mean that I do. I admire and look up to a long history of Republicans who believed in compassionate conservatism.

http://reverbpress.com/politics/a-rockefeller-republicans-call-to-action/

Another very interesting read imo...
I believe there are a ton of Republicans and RedState Independents who will change their registrations in the primaries, just so they have the chance to vote for Bernie Sanders for President in the general election.

[azmom]

1. That's what I'm working on in Arizona

Made business cards with Bernie's website and leaving them where ever I go.

[seabeyond]

3. every one of my republican family that voted in jan brewer and allowed the racist shit

Last edited Sat Aug 15, 2015, 11:05 PM - Edit history (1)

in az is jumping for joy, for sanders.

indeed they are.

looking around to make sure i am not in twilight zone, pumping for that republican and libertarian vote.

too funny

[cyberswede]

4. Who cares why they vote for Sanders? They won't change Sanders's positions.

Sanders says what he believes, and has a track record to back it up. If voters like his message, they will vote for him. He won't pander to get votes, if that's what you're worried about.

[seabeyond]

5. i dunno, while kicked off the board i read an OP about dancin' with the people that brung 'em.

now, it was a hit on clinton, but it had me thinking. if sanders base is white middle class and upper middle class, and men democratic, independent, republican and libertarian, isnt he dancin' with the ones that brung him, too?

[dreamnightwind]

9. Except Bernie's been doing the same dance for 40 years or more

Seems that you don't know who he is. I understand your concern, but it is misplaced IMO.

[seabeyond]

11. of course he has. hence an independent. and he did it well as an independent.

now he is running in the democratic party addressing the democratic base. look what the poster added. republicans and independent will change their registration to be allowed to vote in a democratic primary. so.... sanders is an independent asking the republican, teabaggers, independent along with a small base of democrats to vote for him in a democratic primary.

lovely.

[dreamnightwind]

14. On issues, what is your problem with that? - eom

[sabrina 1]

18. He's doing it better now that he is getting his message out to Dems, Repubs, Independents,

Libertarians and mostly NON VOTERS those who gave up on the system, are coming back, for Bernie.

Hillary is trying to get the Republican women's vote. Guess she stick with her own party, no?

[seabeyond]

24. sanders base is upper middle class white republican, libertarian, teabagger,

independent, minority democratic voters. clintons base is the democratic party.

sanders needs open primaries to get his base in to vote democratic primaries.

[sabrina 1]

27. What?? 'sanders needs open primaries to get his base in to vote in democratic primaries'?????

Did you know that the Dem base has shrunk by 10% since 2008? Now only 32% of registered voters. Bernie already has over 20% of that, up from 3% before people got to know him. And rising the more people get to know him.

And where did you get the idea the Bernie's non Dem supporters, or Hillary's, she's hoping to attract Repubs as she can't win without them, cannot vote in closed primaries? Can you explain that to me?

[emulatorloo]

42. "closed primaries" means only registered Dems can vote in the Democratic Primary

And only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican Primary.

Independent voters cannot participate in closed primaries.

Therefore Republicans and Independents can't vote in the Democratic Primary in the states that have closed primaries. Unless they register as Democrats.

Closed Primary states are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota

Republicans and Independent voters can vote for Bernie in states with Open Primaries.

[leveymg]

30. Hillary's base is Wall St and Democratic apparachiks

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2015, 10:35 AM - Edit history (1)

She has negative populist appeal. Her negatives are so high she's the least electable Democrat.

[seabeyond]

32. that would be the 87% blacks, and like 92% latinos and single women you speak of?

[leveymg]

50. What is the source of those numbers? Not in line with other polling.

The closest I could find in a brief search was a June WSJ poll, and HRC is down and Sanders up from the following polling results: http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-poll-finds-hillary-clinton-tops-gop-presidential-rivals-1435012049

The survey of 1,000 adults, conducted June 14-18, found that Americans are almost evenly divided on whether they want the next president to be a Republican or a Democrat. But among many key demographic groups, Mrs. Clinton outpaces the support for her party.

For example, Latinos favor a Democratic president over a Republican by nine percentage points, but Mrs. Clinton’s average lead over Messrs. Bush and Rubio is 42 points. Similarly, she draws more support than an unnamed Democrat among women under the age of 50.

. . .

Despite her strengths among Latinos and women, Mrs. Clinton’s image has faltered somewhat among both demographic groups since late last year. Americans also split evenly on whether a Clinton presidency would leave them “optimistic” and “satisfied,” or “uncertain” and “pessimistic.”

The new Journal/NBC News poll demonstrates how deeply divided Republicans and Democrats are heading into the next White House race. The survey found profound differences on whether voters would support candidates who want to repeal the 2010 health law, raise the minimum wage or deploy U.S. troops to fight Islamic State.

[delrem]

10. That person is claiming that Sanders is leader of racists.

Evidence: From that person's personal experience.

I find it a bit sickening, and I've decided to put that person on ignore - because there's only so much of that kind of sickness I can take.

[seabeyond]

12. ridiculous. and should be a hide though it will not. poster was talking about getting AZ repugs.

Last edited Sat Aug 15, 2015, 11:06 PM - Edit history (1)

who voted for jan brewer. who implemented racist laws.
right?

factual

right?

are you arguing anything i actually said?

[delrem]

15. Your swift-boating of Bernie as being leader of racists

is as sick as the swift-boating of Kerry as being leader of cowards.

And that's almost as sick as it gets in politics - except it gets even sicker yet because your swift-boating Bernie as being leader of racists is within the *same* political party. That is plenty sick stuff.

No. I'm not arguing with you. I'm stating my opinion.

[seabeyond]

17. i stated facts. that would not be swiftboating. we cant look at the fact it is repugs, that voted

Last edited Sat Aug 15, 2015, 11:05 PM - Edit history (1)

brewer who implemented racist laws?

you can CHEER getting the az republican vote. i can remember when we had little respect for the republican in az because of jan brown and their racist laws.

but... now, we are supposed to applaud these very same people

and you say a whole lot of ugly shit about me cause you feel i am not allowed to mention that we use to think these republicans that voted in to implement bigoted laws we piece of shits....

[delrem]

22. You aren't slandering your Republican relatives,

you're slandering Bernie Sanders, who probably never met any of the misbegotten clan.

[seabeyond]

25. i am slandering my relative by saying they voted for jan brewer who implemented bigot law?

[delrem]

31. You are who you are.

[seabeyond]

34. yes. i. am. , lol

[sabrina 1]

36. Did you mean Jan Brewer?

[seabeyond]

37. ty

[sabrina 1]

19. I was in Az when Obama was running in 2008. Many of those Repubs voted for Obama. Jan had a photo op

with Obama, so I guess they felt okay about him when they saw that pic.

[seabeyond]

26. you were and are everywhere wherever our conversation lies. good for you

[sabrina 1]

29. Hillary's talking about getting Az Repubs also. Did you know that no Dem can win without

crossover votes?? Do you really think Hillary or anyone can win WITHOUT some Repub votes?

So according to you, every Dem who gets some Repub votes in Az is a racist? Really? No Presidential candidate can win a state with getting cross over votes, and you are saying that if they get those votes, they are racists.

Then why are you a Bernie supporter?

[seabeyond]

33. we would be talking about the general election and not the democratic primary, correct?

[RichVRichV]

38. If you get Republicans to vote for you in the general election

then that means your better than whoever came out of the Republican primary to them.

If you get Republicans to vote for you in the Democratic primary then that means your better to them than any candidate running for president in either party.

That's power.



You can claim he's drawing Republicans in like it's a bad thing. He's not pandering to them. He's staying consistently liberal on his message, more liberal than anyone else in the Democratic primary. And he's winning over Republicans doing it. You are seeing the reversal of the Reagan Democrats. You are seeing real change.

[seabeyond]

40. i feel he is pandering to him when he states that we should applaud that blacks have accomplished

getting a president, and women should applaud their advances, adn gays should applaud gay marriage. now... the real issue we need to focus on is economic equality. republicans put the other to the side and look at your families and see how they are doing.

this is in his speeches and in his interviews. yes. i think it is pandering adn setting the democratic base to the side.

this was the last 3 months, but we have a new sanders embracing blacks and becoming inclusive. i will have to watch and listen, to see if he is still using this in his speeches.

[RichVRichV]

44. So when Hillary uses strategy it's smart and a good thing.

When Bernie uses strategy it's wrong and bad. Got it.


When you start out way behind another individual with way better name recognition and have to separate yourself from them to gain ground, do you (a) focus on what makes you the same or (b) what makes you different? Both currently have excellent stances on women's causes, on black causes, on lgbt causes. Sure Bernie's record goes back much farther on these issues, but that doesn't mean much to voters when both have good positions on those causes now. However when you look at the economic side of things, they couldn't be much more different. It's a simple way to separate himself from her and every other candidate and gain ground. He pounded those differences. And you know what, it worked.


Now that he has his economic populous message well established he can start expanding into all the other causes that mean something to him and show how he is excellent on social issues along with the economic ones.


Bernie might be an outsider to Washington politics, but he's also a veteran politician and a very smart one at that.


And good luck waiting for Bernie to stop supporting black causes, lgbt causes, women's causes. I'm sure he'll drop the rhetoric any day now. The past 40 years have all been one big ruse to get him elected president someday.

[seabeyond]

56. i really do not bother when someone starts out in this manner. i mean, why should i participate?

44. So when Hillary uses strategy it's smart and a good thing.

When Bernie uses strategy it's wrong and bad. Got it.


i express what i feel think or know. but the above just doesnt do it for me.

[ljm2002]

53. "a new sanders embracing blacks"...

..."and becoming inclusive".

That is a textbook example of swift-boating: attacking a candidate on his strength. Bernie has a 40+ year record on civil rights, which you attempt to twist into him not embracing blacks and not being inclusive until he was forced to do so.

[seabeyond]

57. no it is not. we are talking his campaign. he exclusively spoke about economic equality.

having a record on votes for civil rights is not an issue about how he handled or handles his campaign. he abosolutely WAS exclusive when it came to the social issues and focused on the economic equality issues. HE would not argue that. it is his campaign, and he sees it as a winning way to run. i can get hwere he is coming from and respect it. and still... it is what it is. or was what it was. i understand he is becoming inclusive with blacks. you know. progressing. not changing. progressing. i will have to give him a listen, consider, process and go from there.

always evolving. and it is only about a quarter thru.

[ljm2002]

60. Your wording was very clear...

"A new Sanders embracing blacks and becoming inclusive."

It has a certain sound to it. I don't expect you to acknowledge it.

[seabeyond]

61. yes. they are very clear so why are you adding imaginary sound ect.... he is running a campaign

HE chose how he wanted to run the campaign. SANDERS chose to run a campaign on economic equality exclusively and continually brings it to that.

i THOUGHT that his campaign took a new turn to INCLUDE blacks. to become MORE inclusive. hence, a new sanders embracing blacks and becoming inclusive.

what part of that should i shy from? what part is not fact?

[Bluenorthwest]

55. You mention gay people? Let's take a look at Obama's outreach to the Right, 2008...

"The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, longtime spiritual adviser to President George W. Bush and senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, plans to campaign on behalf of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
CALDWELL IS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF METANOIA MINISTRIES, AN OUTFIT WHOSE WEBSITE ADVERTISES "A PROGRAM CREATED TO PROVIDE CHRIST CENTERED INSTRUCTION FOR THOSE SEEKING FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY, LESBIANISM, PROSTITUTION, SEX ADDICTION AND OTHER HABITUAL SINS."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4133344

Campaign is coordinating a blitz by the ‘Obamacans’
By Bob Cusack
Posted: 07/23/08 08:00 PM


Barack Obama’s campaign is talking with Republicans who have endorsed his presidential bid, seeking to coordinate a publicity blitz together.

The campaign recently held a conference call with a small group of officials who are or who have previously been identified with the Republican Party, according to sources who were on the call.

The initiative to highlight the backing of “Obamacans” is in its infancy. But campaign events featuring Republicans praising Obama are seen as an effective counterpunch to Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (I-Conn.) aggressive backing of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) White House bid.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6533203

Is it time to coin the meme "Obama Republicans" ?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7387218


Obama pandered and politiced for the votes of Repubicans, bigots, evangelicals, if it had a vote he went after it.

The double standard bothers me, because it suggests that people think it was fine for Obama to do all that he did using LGBT as fodder. No objections were raised by his fans. They defended every hate preacher and every creepy statement.

[seabeyond]

58. here is the thing blue, and i hope you can respect it.

when i talk about social issues i feel a responsibility in being inclusive and gay is part of the make up of social issues. it is not my issue and i cannot speak for gays any more than blacks. so i bring it to womens issues. but when mentioning social issues i do feel a responsibility about being inclusive and not leaving a group out. that is the only place i am coming from

as a woman, obama has not walked it perfectly either. i can point out issues.... but i think with obama we have all progressed forward. and i think obama is a part of that.

[delrem]

8. So you say that Sanders is candy for racists? How cool of you.

You rock.

[seabeyond]

2. if that person is all that, then why in the world are they republicans or vote republican?

this makes no sense, but all this

I’m a Republican. I’m a feminist. I’m an anti-racist activist. I support marriage equality. I support social programs.

means very little and the authors $ takes priority and sanders message this time sounds better than a republican.

makes no sense otherwise.

so this

I’m a feminist. I’m an anti-racist activist. I support marriage equality. I support social programs.

matters to the point of nill.

[dreamnightwind]

13. Now that is an excellent question

I read the article with that in mind. The guy seems a little confused to me, but I support a lot of what he says.

I support social programs.
It just makes sense, even from a conservative point of view. Why? Because you have to consider the second and third order effects of NOT creating and having these programs. My first example to pick is always the Nutrition Assistance Program. It comes at a whopping cost of $78 billion. I support it as a conservative. Why? Because I don’t buy Tea Party talking points and know that second and third order effects of not financing that program will be devastating and actually strain the system we have in even more costly ways. Right now poor children and the elderly get food from that program. It is how they get the nutrition they need to survive and keep a healthy lifestyle.

...

Many Democrats tell me to turn tail and jump onto their party. Many Independents tell me the same thing as well. I tell you no. If Democrats really want to win not only the Bernie Sanders election in 2016, but many state, local, and national elections as well then you need to reach out to your friends who are Rockefeller Republicans. Reach out to the former-Republicans-turned-Independents. Stop insulting and degrading them. We can be allies. Just imagine the overthrow of the power elite if the 41% of registered voters who align as independents went back to the Republican party as Rockefeller Republicans. With the numbers of Democrats and the minority of Rockefeller Republicans we could hold a majority again in many states across this nation.

We could begin reform the likes of which hasn’t been seen or felt since the days of FDR. We won’t agree on every issue, but we’re also not insane like the Tea Party.

Ultimately, it’s up to you. You can either be the arbiter of change or the inhibitor of progress.

I don't really get the Rockefeller Republican thing (maybe he believes in "fiscal conservatism"?), but I have long felt that the people have been falsely divided by TPTB, the wealthy benefit while the people bicker amongst thmselves instead of joining together and mobilizing against TPTB. I support pretty much everything the guy said in the article, so given that, I absolutely welcome him and people like him to make common cause with. We won't agree on everything. People on DU don't agree on everything, not by a long shot.

I know of a former Rockefeller Republican, running for POTUS as a Democrat, and it isn't Sanders, my guess (I don't know) is it's your candidate.

Bernie's as solidly grounded in leftist positions as any major party candidate I've ever had the opportunity to vote for, and he isn't a "finger to the wind" kind of guy, he has deep convictions and a long history to back it up. So I'm not buying your concern.

Plenty of people are starting to wake up and realize they've been lied to by both parties, who have been captured by monied interests.

[sabrina 1]

20. So you don't think Hillary should be trying to get the Republican Women's vote? And you think no

Republicans voted for Obama? I've got news for you, PEOPLE vote, they vote for their own best interests. See all the Dems who voted for Reagan. Why did they do that?

Not to mention all the Dems who voted for Bush.

Do you really think that Repubs only vote for Repubs and Dems only vote for Dems??

[marble falls]

6. Pretty impressive piece.

[delrem]

7. Ridiculous!

How can someone say "I support social programs" and "I'm a Republican" in the same introductory paragraph and yet still expect to be taken seriously? Then cue the music: "Rockefeller Republicans". Jesus H. Christ on a crutch, hopping across the street on a pogo stick.

Then claiming that "Rockefeller Republicans" make up 41% of registered voters, today. Then, in bold, I'M A REPUBLICAN.

Wow ow ow! I think I stubbed my toe!

[Ed Suspicious]

23. We already have Rockerfeller Republicans'. Their called Third Way and Centrist Dems. I don't care

who they vote for, if they want to vote Bernie, who am I to question their motives, but to hell with most of Republicanism.

[delrem]

46. The article states

that 41% of registered voters are "Rockefeller Republicans", because 41% are independent. So it effectively asserts that all independents are "Rockefeller Republicans", which is absurd - if if one could actually define what a "Rockefeller Republican" is, in 2015.

The article is absurd yarglebargle.

[cali]

47. Jim Jeffords not only said it for years, he did it, and yes, he left the party

[madokie]

48. LOL

Damn that was funny as all get outs.
Nothing as good as a good laugh based in fact and Bro'/Sis you got that one down pat. LOL

fuckmearunning my sides hurt from laughing so hard

[progressoid]

16. So why be a republican then?

[4lbs]

28. That's what bewilders me. The GOP platform has long been anti-feminist and anti-social programs.

So, how can a self-declared Republican be such while claiming to be a feminist for pro-social programs?

Also, all this talk about Independents being 41%. The vast majority of "Independents" are former Republicans ashamed to declare themselves as such. Their views are still very much in line with the GOP most of the time.

[RichVRichV]

45. Many people are Republicans because their parents are Republicans,

because the people they have spent most of their time around are Republicans, because the word Democrat was treated as the enemy and a pejorative. They identify early in life as Republican due to years of indoctrination even if their views are much more liberal. This happens a lot in rural areas. These people often become independents as they grow older and get into more free thinking colleges. They can't bring themselves to be called Democrats, or often times even vote for Democrats, because they've been taught they're evil. But when you break them down on individual stances they often heavily lean Democrat because they realize how correct the issues are.

It's indoctrination, pure and simple, and it's not easy to break.

[4lbs]

51. Unfortunately, that does seem to be the case many times. I've talked to Republicans throughout my

life, and frequently ask them if they know the GOP platform entirely. A lot of them say "Not really."

[SandersDem]

21. As far as his economic message goes, it has a lot of appeal to many

not just Democrats and it especially plays well here in AZ where the middle class was hammered not only by the housing bubble, but by the economic collapse created by W and almost everybody HATED the bank bailouts. In fact, the no bail out issues was an early Tea Party message before they were fully co-opted by the Rs and complete crazy town.

Instead, this is much more a class issue. The poor have gotten hosed for a very long time, but as much as I hate it, the poor do not vote as much as the middle classes and the wealthy. Now, the middle class, especially the disappearing middle class is very pissed off. There was a whole lot of hope that some of that would change with Obama (and I do think he has been one amazing President with a single exception and that is Wall Street) it hasn't changed and the middle and former middle class is PISSED OFF.

The people behind the economic collapse should ALL be in Jail. That message alone has a TON of appeal. I personally think that when the middle class gets hosed, they will open their votes up to lift all boats except for the gilded. The ideal match up? Trump vs Sanders. That is like the 99% vs the 1%. Probably still be close, but Bernie would win that. In fact, I believe the D primary will decide the general, I honestly do not think the Rs stand a chance.

[Skwmom]

35. My husband went over to see a family friend today who had a friend visiting.

Both Women Republicans (not Independents) and both for Bernie Sanders.

[kenn3d]

39. This seems counter-intuitive I know...

... and perhaps distasteful to ultra-partisans on both sides.
But we've witnessed the unexpectedly large and exuberant crowds cheering Bernie's message in AZ, LA, TX ...all Red States he's been to. He knows the suffering middle-class and poor which make up the 99% includes a lot of independents and republicans too.
He's said quite often, that discouraged citizens of all ages are either not voting at all, or blindly voting traditional party lines against their own interests!

I say let the Democrats return to their earlier principles, and bring forth an honest candidate that the mass working classes of all party persuasions in America can unite behind, elect, and SUPPORT, to pull our democracy back from the precipice of oligarchic rule.

[colsohlibgal]

41. More Than Counter Inuitive

Old habits must die hard. You seem left of a lot of democrats now and your Republican Party has gone off the rails to the right.

It would be like one of us democratic socialist types saying we were republican.

[kenn3d]

43. In hopes to clarify...

My OP quotes from a blog posted by another writer on ReverbPress.com whose full article was linked beneath the (indented) block quote, and above my commentary on it.

I am an independent voter who always tries to choose the best candidates regardless of party affiliation. But I certainly agree that old habits seem particularly ingrained in party loyalists on both sides... very often to the extent of unwittingly voting against one's own interest.

[tblue37]

49. You can use the "excerpt" tag to set a quoted passage off in a gray block so

people will know it 's not your writing.

[kenn3d]

52. Thanks - I'll try that now to offer some additional perspective to the theme of my OP

By Vic Berardelli, Special to the BDN
Posted Aug. 16, 2015, at 7:44 a.m.

The 2016 Bernie Sanders challenge in the Democratic Party is a mirror image of the 2012 Ron Paul challenge within the Republican Party.

Put aside political philosophical blinders because this is not a discussion about either man’s policy views but about the political process. The real question is whether the Democrat establishment will squander opportunity the way the Republican establishment did four years ago.
...
The old guard Democratic and Republican insiders have failed to grasp the alienation most Americans feel toward the two major corporate political parties. They cling to power and distrust outside reformers. Voters have responded throughout the nation by changing registration to unaffiliated independent.
...
Bernie Sanders is showing the same appeal to disaffected young people on the left as Paul did on the right. He is touching them by taking unconventional stands on issues and speaking against what he perceived as the failures of the two party oligarchies.

The question is whether Hillary Clinton’s organization will be as clueless as Romney’s was four years ago. The Democratic Party regulars can seize the opportunity to harness the enthusiasm of these Sanders acolytes and welcome them into the fold or they face the schism plaguing the GOP due to its arrogant hubris.
http://bangordailynews.com/2015/08/16/the-point/bernie-sanders-has-a-lot-in-common-with-ron-paul-what-that-means-for-democrats/

[tblue37]

54. You can also edit your OP to include the "excerpt" tag, so future readers won't be confused. nt

[kenn3d]

59. Done, and thanks again. nt

[kenn3d]

62. FWIW - Thom Hartmann is discussing this Rockefeller Republican blog... NOW

with Republican political strategist Gianno Caldwell on today's TH Program - Now

[seabeyond]

63. sounds to me the rockefeller repug has all these liberal social ustice stance, but $ trumps

in their vote.

which is exactly what the democratic base is complaining about with sanders. how middle class, upper middle class, white and men trump in focus, though there are those social justice issue that lean liberal.

hence, why sanders gets the repug vote.

the point is. repugs have been voting for $ allowing the destruction of social net as they insist the support it. that is not support, no matter how pretty it is wrapped and how big the bow is a repug puts on the package.