The stupidity of the Sanders campaign: No One is Registering Voters at Sanders' Rallies

[Freddie Stubbs]

Tad Devine is Bernie Sanders' longtime strategist. He actually had the nerve to complain that the DNC was not registering voters at Sanders rallies.

The rationale of the Sanders campaign is that it can win by appealing to disaffected voters and expanding the electorate. Devine said he told the Democratic National Committee they should set up a table and register voters at Sanders rallies. “We’re trying to get them in the door here. It would be smart for the Democratic Party to take advantage of the Sanders phenomenon. If you go to a Sanders rally now, there’s a good chance you’ll vote for a Democrat in 2016.”

So far, the DNC hasn’t taken him up on the idea. “I think they’re afraid they’ll all vote for Bernie,” he says, chuckling.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/12/bernie-sanders-s-strategist-this-is-how-we-win.html

It is a basic function of campaigns to register their supporters to vote. Where better to find supporters than a rally for your candidate?

Hillary's campaign had a rally here South Florida earlier this month and there were people with clipboards walking around registering voters.

So, why isn't Sanders' campaign doing the same? Incompetence? Losing on purpose?

I really feel bad for the people who donated to Sanders' campaign thinking that their money wasn't going to be flushed down the toilet by people like Tad Devine.

[Gothmog]

1. It is the campaign's responsibility to register voter at the campaign's events

[Bobbie Jo]

47. Of course it is.

I was kinda shocked to learn this wasn't happening.

What a missed opportunity.

[arcane1]

2. Every single Sanders volunteer group in my area is registering voters.

Your post simply says the DNC isn't doing it.

As phony smears go, this one is rather sad.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Why would someone who works for Sanders complain that the DNC isn't registering voters at

Sanders rallies?

[arcane1]

7. Because they're not, I presume.

Seems easy enough to figure out, if one tries.

[jeff47]

11. Because it's a fantastic opportunity that the DNC is leaving up to the campaigns.

In other words, the DNC is doing something really stupid. They should stop doing stupid things and hoping really hard that the campaigns make up for their stupidity.

[suffragette]

27. Great point!

[upaloopa]

38. Voter registration is a local thing

It isn't up to the DNC. Local people do registration drives. Then turn the applications to their county registrar of voters
I don't get blaming the DNC all the time.

[jeff47]

49. There's no reason to keep it a local thing.

There's a very large crowd of very excited people. Some of them are not registered.

If you let the Sanders campaign register these voters, their only connection to the election is Sanders. If you are correct and Sanders loses the primary, that connection is gone.

The DNC needs these voters to show up no matter who is on the ballot, and keep showing up after 2016. In other words, the DNC needs its own connection to these "marginally attached voters". The easiest, simplest and least-effort way to start building that connection is to get in front of these people and help them register.

[Rose Siding]

57. Maybe you could have a fundraiser so they could afford to do that

Sounds like it would be expensive.

Usually winning campaigns pay to train local volunteers to register voters but if you want to nationalize it, there would have to be a way to pay for it.

[jeff47]

59. Or we could just stop being morons.

Let's say you are correct and Sanders loses the primary.

The only connection these voters have to the general election was Sanders. And he's not on the ballot anymore. Poof! Connection gone.

The DNC needs these "marginally attached voters" to show up in 2016 no matter what. And for every election after that. And for every down-ticket race.

In other words, the DNC needs its own connection to these voters, so that they are excited Democrats, not only excited Sanders supporters.

The cheapest, easiest, and simplest way to start that is to get in front of them and help them register.

[AgingAmerican]

3. Projection FAIL

[arcane1]

9. Like I said, as phony smears go, this one is rather sad.

This one is right up there with "His net worth isn't high enough!1"

[zazen]

5. since Clinton has all of that PAC money and so few attendees, why doesn't she?

Sanders' has been overwhelmed by massive crowds and is operating with an overwhelmingly volunteer online staff in addition to his paid staffers.

Since he's got comparatively fewer resources because he's rejecting Wall Street and PAC money and record numbers of attendees, why is it on him to go this extra mile for the DNC? He's rejecting this money because he's working to reform our campaign finance system. We all want to reform it and get finance out of our electoral process, right?

Seems like the DNC could loan some staff to go to these massive events and help with voter registration.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

6. What you should all be focusing on, in this story, is THIS

told him he would need $40 million to $50 million to get through Iowa and New Hampshire

That is just to get thru those two little states?

Boy are we fucked

[WI_DEM]

8. Well, I saw that somebody posted statistics of how much better than Obama that Bernie

was doing at this point--but the Obama campaign did know to register voters at their rallies.

[NightWatcher]

10. They were registering voters at the two Sanders events here

The Sanders people have tables at several local functions and there's always a clipboard for people who have not registered and the volunteers ask if people have registered.

[NCTraveler]

14. So there are registration tables at Sanders events?

I really didn't think they were that far out of it in the Sanders camp. It would truly show outright incompetence if he didn't have that set up at his events. Incompetent isn't something I view Sanders as.

[jeff47]

16. Yes, run by the campaign. The point is the DNC could register more.

Especially since the DNC effort would only be about registering voters, and not as a side-effect of the campaign.

The DNC has a great opportunity here, and they're leaving it up to the campaigns to fill in the hole left by the DNC. How 'bout the DNC not leave it up to the campaigns to fill the hole?

[NCTraveler]

19. I think campaign events should be completely controlled by the campaigns in the primary.

Lets see the DNC show up to register voters at a Sanders event. This place would be up in arms. "The Hillary wing of the party is poaching Sanders supporters." That is all we would hear. This is becoming hilarious.

Do you think the Sanders campaign is competent enough to register voters at his own events?

If you answer yes to that, why do you feel additional resources should be used to do something so simple?

In conclusion, voter registration is being done and you are upset that voter registration is not being done. This is getting better every day. The need to stay outraged has left some unhinged.

[jeff47]

24. Oh bullshit.

Lets see the DNC show up to register voters at a Sanders event. This place would be up in arms. "The Hillary wing of the party is poaching Sanders supporters."

Yes, the one group that is busting it's ass about registration and registration deadlines is totally against registration.

Do you think the Sanders campaign is competent enough to register voters at his own events?

Yes. But leaving it up to the campaign produces excited Sanders supporters, and that's it.

The DNC could be working on turning these people into excited Democrats instead of leaving them tied to one candidate - Who you think will disappear in a couple months, taking the excitement with him.

If you answer yes to that, why do you feel additional resources should be used to do something so simple?

Because there will be elections beyond the 2016 primary. The DNC needs these people to be excited about being Democrats so that they keep voting. And a registration drive is one very small, very easy step down that path.

A step the DNC won't bother taking.

Golly, I wonder why all these voters aren't excited about all Democrats....

[1StrongBlackMan]

39. How? ...

The point is the DNC could register more.

How could the DNC register more people to vote than the/a candidate's campaign staff?

[jeff47]

48. In the immediate term, by adding more staff.

The campaign staff would still be registering people. The DNC adding more people who only register people would mean more registrations.

But the DNC has a broader and longer-term goal that doesn't match any candidate's goal - the candidates need voters for their election, right now. The DNC needs voters for all elections, from now until the end of time.

Giant excited crowd, some not yet registered. If everyone who dislikes Sanders is correct and he doesn't win the primary, the connection between those voters and the general election is gone. The DNC should be working to build its own connection so that those "marginally attached voters" come back no matter who's on the ballot, and come back after 2016.

And the first, smallest, and incredibly easy step is to try and get in front of these people to register them.

[1StrongBlackMan]

50. So ...

The campaign staff would still be registering people. The DNC adding more people who only register people would mean more registrations.

Isn't this really about freeing up campaign staff to do other campaign stuff?

[jeff47]

51. Only if campaign staff stopped trying to register people. That's not what is being proposed. (nt)

[questionseverything]

55. when a campaign is having 20 grand plus turn outs at events on a regular basis

i would think the dnc would understand some from that huge number might slip thru the cracks

more registered dems would be a good thing and i would say that no matter which campaign was drawing those crowds

no problem tho..we will keep doing it ourselves

[frazzled]

12. He must just be trying to whip up anti-DNC sentiment.

Because he can't be that stupid and uninformed.

But a lot of low-information Sanders supporters here are taking the bait. Curiouser and curiouser.

[sufrommich]

15. Yep.nt

[Aerows]

30. Because he has been devious

sly and disingenuous throughout his career, right?

[1StrongBlackMan]

42. I wouldn't say Tad Devine is/has been ...

"devious", "sly" or "disingenuous"; but rather, not terribly effective, as a Senior Advisor. (See 2000/2004)

[1StrongBlackMan]

41. Exactly ...

though I wouldn't refer to folks as "low-information" ... I think those "taking the bait" because it feeds the "the DNC is rigging the process" narrative.

[frazzled]

58. I would use the term "low-information"

Because not only should they know that the DNC does not, and never has, sent people to candidates' rallies to register voters (it would be crazy to think they could do that with 50 differing state laws)—they don't even get it after at least 30 different posters have explained it to them.

When conspiracy is preferred to facts, that's about as low-information as you can get.

[NCTraveler]

13. Sanders has brought a lot of new people into politics.

Most will be here today, and gone tomorrow. A small percentage will stick around. We need to be somewhat patient with their complete lack of knowledge with respect to politics. Right now many of them simply like the economic justice message and that is a great thing and very important for our party. That is really all many of them know politically. Don't fault them for their ignorance in all other areas of politics. They are simply new to the game.

It is hard not to laugh at people who think Sanders has no responsibility to register his own supporters. It really is kind of funny. But Sanders is new to this as well. Just like his enormous stump change after mistakes out of the gate, he will change here as well. It just takes us who have been doing this for a little longer to remind them of how it goes.

[jeff47]

18. Fucking noobs. We shouldn't let them vote at all, because they'd do it wrong.

It is hard not to laugh at people who think Sanders has no responsibility to register his own supporters.

It's very easy to laugh at people as myopic as yourself.

There's large masses of very excited people. The DNC could use that to make those people excited Democrats instead of excited Sanders supporters.

There's a fantastic opportunity for the DNC here, and they're leaving it up to the campaigns to fill in the gap. That's really dumb and short-sighted.

[NCTraveler]

25. "It's very easy to laugh at people as myopic as yourself. "

Any time I make people smile or laugh it is a good day. I would never let my ego to get too big to not enjoy others smiles. Extremely happy I could make you laugh.

[Aerows]

31. If this is the best they can come up with today

You can smell the desperation. They are frightened as hell Hillary is going to screw up during the debate tonight, and I agree with them - she will.

[sufrommich]

22. It was his campaign manager Tad Devine who questioned why the DNC wasn't

registering voters at Sanders rallies. He worked for the Kerry and Gore presidential campaigns,there is no way he can have that kind of experience and not know that campaigns are responsible for registering their supporters and if he honestly doesn't know that,Sanders supporters should be very worried.

[NCTraveler]

26. I'm more just laughing at it.

The original op brought over from another site was simply hilarious to read. Fact is, some of these new people will stay around. That is a good thing.

The exact posters trying to make this something are the same people who would yell "the DNC is showing up at Sanders events to poach supporters for Hillary." It's just becoming funny at this point.

[Aerows]

33. I just laugh and take a sniff.

"Ah, the scent of desperation."

[Luminous Animal]

28. Where do you get that the campaigns are only responsible for registering voters?

The DNC has an entire initiative for registering voters. It is called the "Voter Expansion Project".

[sufrommich]

29. Why don't you point out the DNCs past practice of registering

voters at Primary campaign rallies? The fact that so many DUers are ignorant about how primary campaigns work isn't "proof" that Sanders isn't getting something that candidates have gotten in the past. This is a stupid faux outrage perpetuated by Bernie's campaign manager who no doubt knows better.


The Voter Expansion Project is designed to fight the GOPs attempt to dismantle the Voting Rights Act in red states.It aims to protect voters in general elections and has zilch to do with primaries.

[Luminous Animal]

32. It is also designed to register voters.

At a briefing for reporters, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said: "We are not just going to be on defense anymore. The DNC is going to dominate offense. We are focused on expanding the map...

"We are very committed to making sure that we invest and work with our state parties on putting boots on the ground, on focusing on voter expansion... and making sure that everyone who wants to vote and is eligible has an opportunity to register, has an opportunity to turnout and can have their vote accurately counted," said Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chairwoman.

"Our goal is to reach people where they live, where they eat, where they play and where they pray," in order to significantly increase the typically low voter turnout rates of midterm elections, said Donna Brazile, the DNC vice chair and a prominent Democratic political strategist.

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2014/02/27/283550311/clintons-provide-firepower-behind-dnc-voter-expansion-project

The DNC's Voting Rights Institute focuses more on the protection and expansion of voting rights.

[sufrommich]

34. It's designed to register voters in the General election who live

in states where republicans are attempting to put up roadblocks,hence the focus on eligibility.

[Luminous Animal]

40. Really? If is for registering voters in the General only? I find that assertion ridiculous.

And is nowhere asserted on their website.

The Voter Expansion Project is the Democratic National Committee's hub for expanding the right to vote through legislation, voter registration, education, and organizing.

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in our democracy. That's why we launched the Voter Expansion Project. We’re leading the charge to expand the vote, because it's not enough anymore for us to simply protect against voting restrictions.

http://www.democrats.org/voter-expansion-project

[sufrommich]

43. It's for protecting voters rights in the General,the registrations are done

locally,the DNC does not register voters.The DNC is a national organization that serves as a hub for local democrats,it's focus is on expanding and protecting voters rights,local democratic organizations GOTV and register voters along with outside groups with no party affiliation.The DNC certainly does not get involved in primary efforts and never has.I'm done trying to convince those who don't want to be convinced now.

[Luminous Animal]

46. Registering voters on any level is not getting involved in primary efforts.

[madfloridian]

53. What an absolutely condescending and insulting post about those new to the party...

because of Bernie Sanders.

You said:

Most will be here today, and gone tomorrow. A small percentage will stick around. We need to be somewhat patient with their complete lack of knowledge with respect to politics. Right now many of them simply like the economic justice message and that is a great thing and very important for our party. That is really all many of them know politically. Don't fault them for their ignorance in all other areas of politics. They are simply new to the game.

It is hard not to laugh at people who think Sanders has no responsibility to register his own supporters. It really is kind of funny. But Sanders is new to this as well. Just like his enormous stump change after mistakes out of the gate, he will change here as well. It just takes us who have been doing this for a little longer to remind them of how it goes.

Volunteers DO register voters at his campaign rallies.

Used to be the party itself wanted every opportunity to build its voter base. Doesn't seem that way anymore. Seems more like a let's keep the new folks out type of thing.

[jkbRN]

17. Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed today.

[Luminous Animal]

20. At every Sanders event and near every fesitival/fair/gathering that I have been to this summer...

Bernie volunteers are registering voters.

So save your pity.

[Luminous Animal]

23. Hey Freddie, what happened to the DNC's Voter Expansion Project?

At a briefing for reporters, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said: "We are not just going to be on defense anymore. The DNC is going to dominate offense. We are focused on expanding the map...

"We are very committed to making sure that we invest and work with our state parties on putting boots on the ground, on focusing on voter expansion... and making sure that everyone who wants to vote and is eligible has an opportunity to register, has an opportunity to turnout and can have their vote accurately counted," said Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chairwoman.

"Our goal is to reach people where they live, where they eat, where they play and where they pray," in order to significantly increase the typically low voter turnout rates of midterm elections, said Donna Brazile, the DNC vice chair and a prominent Democratic political strategist.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/democrats-unveil-new-software-voter-registration#52538

[backscatter712]

35. Why is Sanders getting blamed? The DNC isn't registering voters. Talk to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Looks like another tactic to cockblock Bernie - she'd rather have the Dems lose the general election than let Bernie have the Democratic nomination.

[sufrommich]

36. Please point out where the DNC has ever registered voters

at Primary campaign events,ever. Thanks.

[Luminous Animal]

44. Registering Dem voters and re-building the Democratic Party at the local and

state levels was key to Dean's 50 State Strategy. DNC field offices were opened in many states to give guidance to regional Democratic offices. Lots of money was spent and lots of money was provided.

Howard Dean became chair of the DNC in 2005, prior to the 2008 campaign.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Dean#50-state_strategy

Bernie is drawing huge crowds in red states. The DNC is stupid for not taking advantage.

To build the party, the DNC under Dean worked in partnership with state Democratic parties in bringing the resources of the DNC to bear in electoral efforts, voter registration, candidate recruitment, and other interlocking component elements of party building. Decentralization was also a core component of the party's approach. The idea was that each state party had unique needs, but could improve upon its efforts through the distribution of resources from the national party.

The 50-state strategy was acknowledged by political commentators as an important factor in allowing Barack Obama to compete against John McCain in traditionally red states, during the 2008 presidential contest.[61][62] In 2008, Obama won several states that had previously been considered Republican strongholds, most notably Indiana, North Carolina, and Virginia.

http://www.salon.com/2006/11/10/dean_dems/

[BooScout]

37. It's really astonishing....

That a Senior Adviser to BS is this ignorant of campaign strategy regarding voter registration.

[TSIAS]

56. Kind of like Hillary

She's the one who paid Mark Penn millions in 2008, yet didn't have the basic understanding of how delegates were awarded proportionally.

[mmonk]

45. We are.

[aikoaiko]

52. They were registering voters at the Bernie rally in Charleston, SC

[peacebird]

54. The DNC is not, but the volunteers for Bernie ARE registering voters at his rallies!