In echo of 2016, Bernie Sanders refuses to commit to conceding early if he won't be the nominee

[TomCADem]

I have been seeing several threads grouping Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders together as though they are interchangeable. They are not.

Unlike Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, Elizabeth Warren did not vigorously side with Tulsi Gabbard in her row with Hillary Clinton. Unlike Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren does not repeatedly use the right wing dog whistle of "open borders," but Bernie has repeatedly attacked "open border" policies even though no candidate is for open borders.

Unlike Bernie Sanders, who also signed the pledge the a pledge to agree to "respect the other candidates," "rally behind the winner," and "put myself at the disposal of the campaign of the primary winner," Elizabeth Warren did not immediately turn around and file for reelection in 2024 as an independent:

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/04/700121429/bernie-sanders-files-to-run-as-a-democrat-and-an-independent

Bernie Sanders filed Monday to be a candidate for the Senate in 2024 — as an independent.

But last month, Sanders filed as a Democrat for president.

It's not unusual for candidates to file with the Federal Election Commission for re-election to their current office, which allows them to begin raising money. Most candidates file shortly after Election Day, in fact.

But with Sanders, it creates the odd situation of having a high-profile presidential candidate file to run for two different offices with different parties, just as the Democratic Party is adopting rules mandating presidential candidates take something of a loyalty pledge.

Finally, speaking of pledges, unlike Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren has not dropped hints that she will fight all the way to the convention even if it were mathematically impossible for her to win the nomination:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/in-echo-of-2016-bernie-sanders-refuses-to-commit-to-conceding-early-if-he-wont-be-the-nominee-2019-06-26

Bernie Sanders on Wednesday provided a flashback to the 2016 White House race, as the presidential hopeful declined to promise that he will concede ahead of the Democrats’ convention if it becomes apparent that he won’t be the party’s nominee.

When asked by about the potential for such a concession before the Democratic National Convention in July 2020, Sanders told MSNBC anchor Katy Tur: “I intend to be the Democratic nominee.”

Tur then noted that some analysts said Sanders contributed to Hillary Clinton’s loss to President Donald Trump in the 2016 general election, because he refused to drop out of the Democratic primary despite Clinton’s clinching the required number of delegates for the nomination.

Sanders responded: “Some people say that if maybe that system was not rigged against me, I would have won the nomination and defeated Donald Trump.”

[evertonfc]

1. well

He isn't going to be the nominee so..

[brush]

26. So sick of his divisive crap.

[Skittles]

2. no surprise

[billpolonsky]

3. What a bunch of malarkey...

The race hasn't even started and you want Bernie to leave.

Better zip up your fly cause your bias is showing...

[LongtimeAZDem]

5. He should never have been allowed in. Now he's hiring anti-semites and endorsing misogynists.

[NYMinute]

48. Going unhinged out of all the anger nt

[grossproffit]

65. THIS!!!

[TomCADem]

7. Bernie Sanders filed Monday to be a candidate for the Senate in 2024 -- as an independent.

Good point. The ink was barely dry on signing his pledge to support Democrats, yet he turns around and files for reelection...as an independent. Why agree to "respect the other candidates," "rally behind the winner," and "put myself at the disposal of the campaign of the primary winner," then turn around and file for reelection in 2024 as an independent?

Does that seem the slightest bit inconsistent to you for someone who is running for the Democratic nomination to immediately turn around and file as an independent? In Vermont, Bernie repeatedly files and runs in the Democratic primary, then rejects the nomination to run as an independent. Why should voters Nationwide fall for this trick?



https://www.npr.org/2019/03/04/700121429/bernie-sanders-files-to-run-as-a-democrat-and-an-independent

But last month, Sanders filed as a Democrat for president.

It's not unusual for candidates to file with the Federal Election Commission for re-election to their current office, which allows them to begin raising money. Most candidates file shortly after Election Day, in fact.

But with Sanders, it creates the odd situation of having a high-profile presidential candidate file to run for two different offices with different parties, just as the Democratic Party is adopting rules mandating presidential candidates take something of a loyalty pledge.

[treestar]

19. Sort of goes against his certainty that he will be the 2020 Democratic nominee

He will be running for his second term as President, no?

[Pachamama]

14. Malarkey is that someone who declares himself an Independent tries to be the Democratic Candidate

...for POTUS...

[Pachamama]

34. I don't believe those voters would matter - they are Bernie or Bust

And otherwise would be supporters of Elizabeth Warren in a democratic primary.

[redqueen]

41. Oh that is so nice of you to say.

[NYMinute]

49. He wouldn't get any traction as an independent

That is why he manipulated his way in. He himself said that he gets infrastructure and money by running as a Democrat which he wouldn't have received otherwise.

[msongs]

4. some people are loners instead of team players. nt

[Doitnow]

6. Now that it can't be ignored that there is lots of spirit in Bernie's campaign, we get this kind of

talk going on. I don't know who will be our nominee, but it is SO early and this kind of Bernie bashing will get you nowhere. In fact you may be helping him win. So, keep it up. Here goes another donation to Bernie.

[TomCADem]

9. Bernie Sanders Says His Complaints About Media Coverage Are Different Than Trump's

That's the thing. We complain about Trump, but Bernie's campaign is also filled with snowflakes where every critical examination of his own words and statements are met with complaints about "bashing" and "bias." These are Bernie's own words and actions. No one forced Bernie to start complaining about the media being biased against him or complain that the election is rigged. It bears more than a passing resemblance to the actions of Trump, which even Bernie acknowledged:

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/campaign-wire-election-2020/card/1565818964

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Bernie Sanders acknowledged his recent complaints about media coverage may bear some resemblance to President Trump’s attacks -- but said that his message is different.

Asked about comparisons between his comments and Mr. Trump's language, Mr. Sanders responded that "maybe" there were similarities in phrasing. But he said a big difference is that the president calls the media the enemy of the people. Mr. Sanders said Mr. Trump "says that the media produces fake news; I don’t believe that for a second. It’s disgusting, it undermines American democracy.”

Mr. Sanders made his new comments in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Mr. Sanders said his problem with media coverage was that a small number of corporations owned the major news outlets, and that resulted in reporters missing stories he believes should be covered.

“One would be very naive not to believe that the owners of the media have an agenda as well,” he said. “It’s not just their attacks on me, that’s not what I’m talking about. It’s the issues that they allow for serious discussion.”

[BannonsLiver]

35. ...

[NYMinute]

50. What spirit?

Bourbon? Vodka?

[Doitnow]

62. Just keep watching.

[question everything]

8. Filing as an Independent for the Senate

after changing to a Democrat to compete in the Democratic primary, and then changing back to I..

[Joe941]

10. Just another biased hit piece. No votes have even been cast.

Can we get the other top candidates on record with the same question please?

[TomCADem]

11. Trump blasts NYT tax story as 'hit piece'

This is what I wonder. Does the Bernie campaign have any self-awareness about just how much their standard responses sound like the Trump campaign. The gentlest criticism sparks outraged responses of "bashing," "bias," and "hit piece." Notwithstanding the fact that the stories are filled with actual statements and quotes from Bernie?

You complain about a biased hit piece. That talking point sounds pretty familiar...

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/409623-trump-blasts-nyt-tax-story-a-hit-piece

President Trump on Wednesday accused The New York Times of writing a "hit piece" against him for publishing a bombshell report about "dubious" tax practices he used in the 1990s.

In a tweet, Trump called the story an "old, boring and often told hit piece on me" but stopped short of denying its claims.

"The Failing New York Times did something I have never seen done before. They used the concept of 'time value of money' in doing a very old, boring and often told hit piece on me," the president wrote.

Trump suggested the Times holds a grudge against him because the paper failed to predict his victory in the 2016 presidential election.

[Thekaspervote]

12. No, it isn't! He stated publicly he won't commit to supporting dem nominee

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/06/bernie-sanders-2016-rigged-wont-pledge-support-winner.html

[NYMinute]

51. That sounds familiar ...

but not from any Democrat

[ArcticFox]

13. Sorry if this chafes anyone's establishment- loving ass

But each of those points just remind me why Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that really cares about what's best for this world. He has the policies and he's advancing them by any means necessary.

GO BERNIE!!

[LongtimeAZDem]

22. I can see why you're "undecided"

[BannonsLiver]

36. Righhhht

[NYMinute]

52. bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaha nt

[nini]

57. Ok, change my mind and list his achievements...

Backing up his talking points.

[NotHardly]

15. Bernie Sanders is a Democrat when it serves his ambitions.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. Turn sound on for this

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

17. Turn sound on for this

[NurseJackie]

18. I take him at his word on this...

[Cha]

20. omg.

[R B Garr]

31. Oh dear! Bernie says right there he's a socialist and

he’s interested in starting a third party. Goodness, how could we have ever figured that out if he hadn’t told us!

[Cha]

59. yeah, we know, BS..

RB

[NYMinute]

53. Moi aussi

[LanternWaste]

37. "This is troubling for Bernie."

"Disqualifying."


(I'd think that the response I transcribed seems both vapid and pointless... because it is)

[Gothmog]

21. I would hate to see a repeat of Philadelphia again

Last edited Mon Dec 16, 2019, 01:33 AM - Edit history (1)

I was a delegate to the Philadelphia convention and saw how much damage sanders supporters did. We can hope that sanders fails to get the 300 delegates necessary to put his name into nomination. One key item is that under the rules, a candidate cannot be put into nomination without 300 delegates. https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2020-Call-for-Convention-WITH-Attachments-2.26.19.pdf

Nomination of the Democratic Candidate for President: The Permanent Chair shall receive nominations from the floor for the Democratic candidate for the Office of President of the United
States in the following manner:

a. Requests to nominate a presidential candidate shall be in writing and shall have affixed thereto the written approval of the proposed nominee and the name of the individuals who shall be recognized to make the nominating and seconding speeches on behalf of a presidential candidate and shall be delivered to the Convention Secretary at a location as specified by the Secretary no later than 6:00 p.m. of the day preceding the day designated for the commencement of presidential nominations.

b. Each such request must be accompanied by a petition indicating support for the proposed nominee signed by delegates representing not less than 300 or more than 600 delegate votes, not more than 50 of which may come from one (1) delegation. A delegate may not sign more than one (1) nominating petition for president and for vice president. Pledged and automatic delegates may sign the petition.

If sanders is frozen out of enough states due to the 15% rule and remaining non-Biden delegates are split among several candidates, there is a chance that sanders may not reach 300 threshold

[TomCADem]

25. This is the Big Difference Between Bernie and Warren

Bernie has been playing the role of victim once again, blaming the media at the gentlest bit of criticism and is attack Democrats as often as he does Republicans. While Warren has been just as progressive, she has kept her eyes on the prize of beating Trump. I don't think anyone thinks that she would try to hold the DNC convention hostage in order to get people to kowtow to her.

[Blue_true]

23. Bernie'sroutine won't work this time around.

In 2016, Trump was somewhat of an unknown snakeoil salesman politically, so some people who should not have trusted him. Bernie refusing to concede added fuel to the hatred that had built up against Hillary for 30 years. If Bernie tries a similar route with say a Biden, Buttigieg, Warren or Klobuchar, he will blow himself up and not the Democratic Party, and in the meantime, he won't help Trump an inch.

[TomCADem]

38. Bernie Benefits Politically If Biden Loses to Trump.

If Bernie does not win the nomination, then it helps him politically if he can weaken the eventual Democratic nominee so that they lose against Trump. That way, Bernie can say, "See, I would have won if the primaries weren't rigged against me" like he is doing now.

If Bernie truly want to reform the Democratic party, then he would stick with the Democratic party, and also stop taking potshots at Democrats or hold the convention hostage.

However, Bernie's statements in the OP are self-explanatory. He is telegraphing what he plans to do. In contrast, Biden has even left open the possibility that he would be willing to be Warren's running mate. Indeed, Biden himself accepted being VP to President Obama when he failed to win the nomination. Biden was a team player.

Unfortunately, Bernie's actions have spawned copycats like Tulsi Gabbard who find that if they attack Democrats from the "left" they will find a ready audience among Republicans, RW media and Russian trolls.

Finally, I think Bernie's quotes illustrate why there is a vast difference in the personality and motivation of Warren versus Sanders. Elizabeth Warren is not all about herself. She is willing to work within a larger movement.

[Blue_true]

39. Bernie not conceding this time around won't have the psychological impact that it did in 2016.

I think the Hillary made missteps in the General, like not campaigning in the Midwest big and smaller areas of Florida. But Bernie staying in as long as he did and not calming his supporters at the convention had a demoralizing effect, as well as pissed some people off so bad that they will never consider voting for him in a primary, he would have to win the primary to get their vote. Even a lot of people that supported Bernie in 2016 were really turned off when he failed to forcefully back Hillary.

Bernie's embrace of Cenk and Gabbard and another House candidate that made ear-splitting mysogonistic comments about his female opponent, to me, shows that his socalled regrets about the sexual harrassment that happened in his 2016 campaign, or the virulently anti-LBGTQ comments made by some of his strongest supporters is just a smokescreen to take political pressure off of him.

[NYMinute]

54. Of course those regrets were a smokescreen

Just read his essays from the 1970's

[aikoaiko]

24. Not committing to endorse until the convention is fair.

I certainly don't mind.

[LongtimeAZDem]

27. No it isn't; primaries raise all kinds of bad blood. It's up to the candidates to use every minute to

bring people together.

Unless, of course, they just don't give a shit about the party winning the election.

[Blue_true]

40. Wrong. The best tactic is to endorse the presumed nominee as soon as voters have

annointed that person. It is neither cute nor clever to do otherwise, instead it shows a deep disregard for the Democratic Party.

[aikoaiko]

44. It is democratic to stay in through the DC primary

If the Party is going to have primaries in June., then so be it.

[Blue_true]

46. Historically, true democrats acknowledge the party nominee as soon at that person's position becomes

obvious, it doesn't matter how far along things are in the primary process. Any person that keeps on campaigning once voters have selected the nominee is not helping the party, particularly if that person stays in through to the convention. Bernie is talking nonsense by saying that he will stay in through to the convention regardless of the status of the race. Why is that?

[aikoaiko]

56. I think because lots of Bernie supporters want him to stay in to the end.

As long as he has funding and votes, it makes sense to stay in.

Fighting for every last vote is what democracy looks like.

The party will be fine.

[LongtimeAZDem]

61. "The party will be fine" The country, on the other hand . . .

[quickesst]

28. there is no viable argument against this post...

Bernie Sanders runs as a Democrat for one reason, and one reason only. To gain what advantage he can during presidential elections. That's it. No other reason. The only proof anyone needs is to look at what he does as soon as he loses. He reverts back to the status of "Independent" which he just threw under the bus to run as a Democrat. Irony at its best.🤔

[Hortensis]

32. The despicable lawsuits against the DNC were tossed by the courts

because he had no cases, such as with that last one claiming the whole race was rigged, article below. Sanders knew that then, knew it when he made this statement, and will know it as he repeats it until he drops out because this anti-Democratic Party lie, among many others, is how he attracts and keeps his hostile base, for whom it has the strength of religion.

As do Sanders' supporting claims that the courts and press are also rigged whenever they don't find for him or report information that contradicts what he's feeding his followers.

Their deluded outrage is as strong today as it was on election day 2016, btw. And that is Sanders' fault for betraying their trust. He knew Russia released emails of private DNC conversations by people who didn't like him (of course they didn't, he made sure of that.) to overset the election, and he's been sowing the Russia-provided mischief that dislike equals rigged ever since. And he never warned those who trusted him that they were being specifically targeted by Russian lies to use to defeat their own nation.

11th Circuit tosses suit claiming DNC unfairly disfavored Bernie Sanders in 2016 primaries

A federal appeals court has tossed a proposed class action that claimed the Democratic National Committee showed bias against U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primaries. ... The plaintiffs alleged the DNC and its then chairwoman, Deborah Wasserman Schultz, improperly tipped the scales in favor of presidential contender Hillary Clinton. Yet Wasserman Schultz had made public statements about impartiality.

The lawsuit cited hacked emails from a period when both Sanders and Clinton were seeking the nomination that allegedly showed the DNC devoted its resources to Clinton. One of the emails talked about a strategy to provide a contrast between the GOP field and Clinton. Others talked about Clinton’s vulnerabilities and policy positions. The emails had been published on WikiLeaks after they were hacked by Russian military intelligence officers, according to an indictment obtained by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller. ...

The court ruled that claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, consumer law violations, and unjust enrichment failed on the merits.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/11th-circuit-tosses-suit-claiming-dnc-unfairly-favored-bernie-sanders-in-2016-primaries

[thesquanderer]

33. Geez, this old crap again? NOBODY has committed to conceding before the convention. (nt)

[LongtimeAZDem]

42. Nobody ever had to; it was standard practice to concede when numerically eliminated.

Sanders himself congratulated and endorsed Obama immediately after the primaries, even before Clinton conceded just a couple days later.

That all changed in 2016.

[thesquanderer]

43. Nope. Hillary did not immediately concede when Obama crossed the delegate threshold in 2008.

See:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24953561/ns/politics-decision_08/t/clinton-refuses-concede-nomination/#.XfldcpNKjOY

[LongtimeAZDem]

45. She conceded a whole four days later; in the meantime, Sanders said that the party

had "chosen it's nominee":

But Sanders struck a different tone in 2008, when he told his hometown newspaper, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, that he planned to “play a very active role” in supporting Obama.

“I will do everything I can to see that he is elected president,” he said at the time.

That interview was published on June 5, 2008, two days after the last Democratic contests but two days before Clinton suspended her campaign.

The story also noted that “Sanders said he held off supporting either of the Democrats because he has made it a custom not to support any Democrat for the presidential nomination until the party had chosen its nominee.”

Obama clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3, Clinton formally ended campaign until June 7.

Four whole days.

Is that "immediately"? Compared to the 34 days it took Sanders, you bet it was.

[LongtimeAZDem]

60. Sorry; forgot the link for the above post

Sanders takes different position on superdelegates than he did in 2008

[betsuni]

55. June 3, Tuesday, Obama was nominee. Hillary decided to concede Wed. Met with Obama on Thursday.

Announced that weekend.

[booley]

69. Maybe this double standard is dividing the party

Double Standards and fake controversies.

Whenever it's pointed out other candidates did what Sanders has done, its brushed off.

Sanders is running for President as a Democrat. IF he wins, he will run as a Democrat. IF he is on the ballot he will draw his voters to vote for the DEMOCRATS down the ticket. He has actively and vigorously campaigned for other DEMOCRATS.

But here's the real absurdity of this "Sanders is divisive" shtick.

IF Sanders wanted to divide the Democrats, it would be childlessly easy. He would simply run as an Independent for President.

A lot of people encouraged him to do just that. He refused and instead campaigned for Clinton, going to more events on her behalf than any other person whos the last name wasn't Clinton.

He could have run as an Independent this year too. He could have refused to promise he would run his administration as a Democrat.

The fact he isn't indicates he may not be the problem.

[NYMinute]

47. Is anyone surprised?

Ego and anger driven campaigns with nothing but slogans can never quit.

[nini]

58. Putin loves this

And bernie knows it. Hissssss

[TomCADem]

64. Here Is Bernie's Campaign Secretary Denying Russian Election Interference

We talk about Tulsi and Cenk, but Bernie surrounds himself with folks have made a career working to undermine Democrats.

https://heavy.com/news/2019/03/briahna-joy-gray-bernie-sanders-press-secretary/

Briahna Joy Gray is Bernie Sanders’ national press secretary for his 2020 campaign. She was one of 15 new hires announced in mid-March that included 10 women joining Sanders’ presidential campaign team. Sanders’ press secretary in 2016 was Symone Sanders (no relation to Bernie Sanders.) Gray is known for being outspoken about her beliefs, including her decision to vote for Jill Stein in 2016 after Sanders didn’t get the Democratic nomination.

Here she agreeing with Donald Trump:

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E780590640438603777&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F%3Fcom%3Dview_post%26forum%3D1287%26pid%3D386015

[nini]

66. To me it's obvious

I figured him out a long time ago.

Propaganda is a powerful drug.

[BlueMTexpat]

63. He may be

Last edited Sun Dec 22, 2019, 10:59 PM - Edit history (1)

running as a Democrat, but he doesn't want to follow the same rules as other Democrats.

That reminds me of someone else.

[TomCADem]

68. Bernie Sanders Hates SuperPACs so Much he Formed One

Our Revolution is headed by none other than Bernie Sander's surrogate Nina Turner. Bernie Sanders also loudly announced that neither he nor Our Revolution would support his children's political campaigns until Our Revolution then provided funding to his Carina Driscoll his step daughter.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/will-democrats-beat-gop-again-dark-money-donations-2020-despite-n1102666

Dark money groups are already backing some members of the Democratic field. There's even a "dark money" group that supports Sanders called Our Revolution that started after the 2016 election. The group raised $2.6 million last year largely in small donations.

"The idea was to try and capture some of the energy and to continue advocating for a political revolution," said Our Revolution spokesperson Paco Fabian.

Unlike other dark money groups, Our Revolution publishes a list of donors who give more than $250, but it does not say how much each donor gave. The identities of two donors who gave close to $200,000 each, for example, are unknown.

"There are some funders who wish to remain anonymous," Fabian said. "The reasons are, if you ask me, is they don't want people to hit them up for money."

[Cha]

67. kick