A Simple Question? Is Bernie Sanders a Democrat??

[kentuck]

If he were to win the majority of primaries, would that qualify him as a Democrat?

Are we a big-tent Party? Would the Party unite behind Sanders, if he is the choice of the majority of the voters?

Or should we ask, what is a Democrat?

[we can do it]

1. No.

[LongtimeAZDem]

2. Nope

I'll vote for him if he wins the nomination, but he shouldn't even be allowed to run in our primaries, IMO,

[WeekiWater]

3. He caucuses with Democrats.

He runs in the primaries as a democrat. He runs in the general as an independent.

People are asking themselves. The national party is as well.

[WheelWalker]

4. He must be. The DU Democratic Primaries forum includes him

among the preferences one may declare.

[Me.]

6. He Must Know & He Says Not

[WheelWalker]

18. I agree with that. However, for purposes of this forum...

I deem him conclusively so, following the lead of the PTB at DU.

[Me.]

19. We'll See

if he signs the document as for now, I deem him not a Dem

[George II]

5. No, no, yes, won't happen, no.

[zaj]

7. Not now.. but will be for the next 2+ years

We are a large tent.

[trueblue2007]

8. bernie is NOT A DEMOCRAT, he is an Independent. For that reason, i think he should not be included

[lapucelle]

9. BS will be required to sign a document affirming that he is a member of the Democrat Party

if he wants to run in the Democratic primaries.

Page 9, Article VI.

https://www.demrulz.org/wp-content/files/2020_Call_for_the_Convention_12.21.18_w-attachments.pdf

[pwb]

10. Has he ever voted with the republics? No.

I would say he is with us.

[WhiteTara]

11. No. He says he's not and he's not registered

even today, I don't think. He didn't make a big deal of signing on to the party.

[Shemp Howard]

12. Bernie is a D if the ballot says that he is.

I find these purity tests to be maddening. In some countries, you must apply to join a political party. Maybe you'll get a party card. But then again, maybe you won't.

That's not the way it works in the United States. If someone can get on a Democrat ballot, then that person is a Democrat. Period. It doesn't matter if that person is Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, or (shudder) Dick Cheney.

One more thing. If the purists keep pushing this, maybe Bernie will go third-party. That would be a disaster for everyone involved, including Bernie.

[radical noodle]

20. Isn't this a moot point?

The DNC rules require those who run for the Democratic nomination for president be a member of the Democratic Party. So he has to be on board as a Democrat or he cannot get the nomination. I suppose technically they can't stop him from running, but he won't be awarded the nomination unless he's a Democrat.

[ehrnst]

22. The rules are that the candidate must publicly affirm that they are a Democrat

Those Democrats who have run, serve and vote as Democrats have already very publicly affirmed that they are Democrats. Those are the rules, and anyone who is not a Democrat who plans to run as a Democrat knows this and agrees to it if they run. Just as they agree to Superdelegates, caucuses and primaries as they are.

Is that clearer?

Bernie has stated that he felt it was ethical for him to run as a Democrat, because of the cost of running, and the publicity that a nationally established party nominee gets. I don't think he has changed his mind on that, as there is no third party with the money and marketing the Democrats have.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

13. The Democratic Rules include:

That a candidate must be a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishment, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrates that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States, and will participate
in the Convention in good faith.

Ouch!

Then the kicker:

At the time a presidential candidate announces their candidacy publicly, they must publicly affirm
that they are a Democrat.

The time of the announcement has passed. No public affirmation. Too late. Maybe next time!

[IluvPitties]

14. He is not.

[Gothmog]

16. Here is the rule that sanders has to comply with

This is the actual rule that governs whether sanders can run as a member of the Democratic party https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P20/2019-01-03-2020_Call_for_the_Convention_12.21.18_w-attachments.pdf

The term “presidential candidate” herein shall mean any person who, as determined by the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, has accrued delegates in the nominating process and plans to seek the nomination, has established substantial support for their nomination as the Democratic candidate for the Office of the President of the United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishment, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrates that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States, and will participate in the Convention in good faith. At the time a presidential candidate announces their candidacy publicly, they must publicly affirm that they are a Democrat. Each candidate pursuing the Democratic nomination shall affirm, in writing, to the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee that they:

A. are a member of the Democratic Party;

B. will accept the Democratic nomination; and

C. will run and serve as a member of the Democratic Party.

This requirement of written affirmation shall not supplant any necessary qualifications a candidate must satisfy at the state level, but is in addition to such affirmations required by individual states and territories. The written affirmation shall be done via an approved format by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee appended to this Call

There is an oath that sanders and other candidates will have to take
https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P20/2019-01-03-2020_Call_for_the_Convention_12.21.18_w-attachments.pdf

Presidential Candidate Written Affirmation

Pursuant to Article IV of the Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, I hereby affirm that, upon publicly announcing my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2020 election, I am a member of the Democratic Party. I will run as a Democrat, accept the nomination of my Party, and I will serve as a Democrat if elected. I understand that signing this form does not supplant any legal or Party requirement by any state or territory to qualify for ballot placement in that jurisdiction.

Further, I acknowledge that in submitting this form to the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, I am subject to the provisions of Rule 13.K of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and Article VI of the Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention that authorize the National Chairperson to determine whether a presidential candidate has established substantial support for their nomination as the Democratic candidate for the Office of the President of the United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishments, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrate that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States, and will participate in the Convention in good faith.
___________________

NOTARY AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF ______________
COUNTY OF _______________
I, ____________________________________, a Notary Public, do hereby certify that on this ____day of ___________________, 20____, personally appeared before me ______________________________, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and swore and acknowledged to me that they executed the same for the purpose and in the capacity therein expressed, and that the statements contained therein are true and correct. _______________________________________________ Notary Public, State of __________________ Name, Typed or Printed: __________________________________________ My Commission Expires: ___________________________

I am looking forward to seeing sanders and the other candidates comply with rule.

[guillaumeb]

17. If he votes like a Democrat,

and caucuses with the Democrats,

and is among the more progressive Senators,

I would say he is a Democrat in spirit.

[Honeycombe8]

24. Democrats are not necessarily progressive.

That's not one of the criteria for being a Democrat. There are Democrats from very far left progressive to moderate. They all subscribe to the Party Platform https://democrats.org/about/party-platform/ , and they all recognize Schumer and Pelosi as their leaders in the Senate and House.

Claire McKaskill was a Democrat from a conservative area. So she was moderate, but very much a Democrat. She didn't just caucus with the Democrats. She signed on to the platform and recognized Schumer as her party leader. She also was a Democrat day in and day out, year after year.

So it's pretty easy to know if someone is a Democrat.

[NurseJackie]

32. I have higher standards...

I can't abide by anyone who calls the Democratic party "an absolute failure" and "corrupt" and "feeble". Nor can I remain silent and not speak out against the lies and insinuations that there's "no difference" between the Democrats and the GOP. It serves no good purpose for anyone to say that the Democratic party is "the party of the elite" or "the party of the one-percent".

I would say he is a Democrat in spirit.

That's not good enough. I have higher standards and expectations. I need real commitment. Something honest, something sincere, something that won't be discarded when it no longer serves a political purpose. Loyalty is important to me.

and is among the more progressive Senators,

If you ignore the votes on gun control/safety and the votes on Russian sanctions, etc.

[Generic Brad]

21. If the party accepts him as a Democrat...

...he’s a Democrat.

[Honeycombe8]

25. Define "party" and "accept." nt

[Generic Brad]

29. I'm no longer moonlighting as a dictionary

You’re on your own

[Honeycombe8]

23. That's easy. The Democratic Party has a written platform that members agree to support.

And the Democrats recognize Schumer and Pelosi as their leaders in the Senate and House.

There isn't a platform for 2020 yet, but here's the one for 2016. https://democrats.org/about/party-platform/

[enid602]

26. George Bush

To quote GWB "“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”

[TCJ70]

27. As far as I'm concerned he is...

...even though he may not have a (D) next to his name.

[SidDithers]

28. If he's still a D in Jan 1 2021, then maybe I'll start to believe him...nt

Sid

[Quixote1818]

30. Never been one for labels. I care more about what someone stands for.

What their policies will be which are in line with Democratic Party values.

[NurseJackie]

31. Nope. I prefer the genuine article. The conditional phrase "as a" tells me all I need to know.

The same way that buttery-spray toppings are sold "as a" butter substitute... they're not actually butter, are they?

If he were to win the majority of primaries, would that qualify him as a Democrat?

He won't.

Or should we ask, what is a Democrat?

There are many answers to that, but I can start by telling you that it's not someone who accuses the Democratic party of being "corrupt" or "ideologically bankrupt" that's for sure. Nor is it someone who suggests that there's no difference between the GOP and the Democratic party with accusations that the Democrats are "the party of the elite" and "the party of the one-percent".

All I'm saying, in answer to your last question, is that an actual Democrat would be doing everything in his or her power to strengthen and promote the party... not to tear it down, denigrate and divide the party. For those who do such things it's completely fair to call them out on it.

I think every reasonable person can agree that a divided Democratic party, one that's suspicious and distrustful, is a weakened party. Sadly, that only serves to benefit the GOP, and Trump, and Russia. I just don't understand why anyone would do or say things that harm our party, and that benefit the GOP.

[workinclasszero]

34. Is Joe Manchin a democrat?

Just askin...

[NurseJackie]

36. He's a true Democrat. I have no doubts about it. Do you?

[workinclasszero]

39. One step above Trump I suppose

Nothing I would brag about

[NurseJackie]

40. I'm very proud to have him as a Democrat.

[CTAtheist]

35. I think its best to shed titles here, and just think a little first.

A Democrat is anyone who checks 1 specific box on their Voter Registration form.
That says *nothing* about their positions. Zip. Nada. Ziltch. Bupkiss.

If a Republican declares they want to run for the Democratic Nomination, and change their party registration, I could care less. If that Republican (now Democrat) is still a conservative, they simply aren't getting my vote, ever. Because their positions/policies are counter to my own.

IMHO, its literally pointless to have threads like this. We should focus only on record, positions and how they match up vs whoever is president in 2020 (Trump, Pence, Pelosi... I can dream!!!)

[Blue_Tires]

37. No, next question

[Trumpocalypse]

38. Someone who is actually a member of the Democratic party

is a Democrat. Very simple.

[apnu]

41. Bernie is not, but Party leadership will welcome him regardless

He's got a large national following. The party won't turn that down no matter what's said here or anywhere else.

[murielm99]

42. Not just NO,

but HELL NO.