Bernie Sanders First to Sign Pledge to Rally Behind Democratic Nominee

[Uncle Joe]

National progressive outfit Indivisible on Thursday launched a pledge compelling all 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to rally behind the eventual nominee. Bernie Sanders was the first to sign it, the group revealed.

The “We Are Indivisible” pledge asks for three commitments from him and any other prospective signers, as first reported by BuzzFeed News. First, Indivisible’s pledge requests that candidates “make the primary constructive” by outlining their visions while respecting their opponents.

“I’ll support the ultimate Democratic nominee, whoever it is—period," the pledge also reads. “No Monday morning quarterbacking. No third-party threats. Immediately after there’s a nominee, I’ll endorse.”

And the group also wants a commitment that every candidate will “do the work to beat Trump,” including a promise that “As soon as there is a nominee, I will put myself at the disposal of the campaign.”

(snip)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-first-to-sign-pledge-to-rally-behind-whoever-wins-democratic-primary

[A-Schwarzenegger]

1. It's a trick.

Don't fall for it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

22. Hahaha yesss!! Seriously, no surprise to see Bernie leading out on this.

But, rest assured, some will still find a reason to bash Bernie over this.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NurseJackie]

35. Why did he even feel that it was NECESSARY? With everyone else, it's a GIVEN!!

Why did he even feel that it was NECESSARY? With everyone else, it's a GIVEN!! We naturally accept the idea that the other DEMOCRATS will support the Democratic Party's nominee, and that they won't grandstand about doing something that's moral and expected.

The fact that BS feels compelled to make such a boastful declaration is completely bizarre. What good purpose is it supposed to serve?

[thesquanderer]

38. So is you complaint that he didn't let some other candidate(s) sign it first?

Because if anyone else signed it, and he didn't, I suspect you'd be on his case for that. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't? Or he has to do it in the right order?

[NurseJackie]

46. What in the world gave you that idea? Who's complaining? All I'm saying is that it's bizarre...

So is you complaint that he didn't let some other candidate(s) sign it first?

What in the world gave you that idea? Who's complaining? All I'm saying is that it's bizarre that anyone would think that such a thing is necessary at all, EVER. Why? It should be a-given that the those who didn't win the primary would enthusiastically support the eventual winner of the primary. It's just something that normal loyal Democrats would do without grandstanding about it. It's entirely possible to do the right thing without boasting or pledging in advance that you're going to do the right thing.

[TCJ70]

51. So, when he was asked the question, should he have NOT signed it?

What’s your alternative response he could have offered that would result in no suspicion from you?

Should the other candidates, since this is not something being specifically asked of Sanders, also not sign it?

[NurseJackie]

52. It's bizarre. Why would such a thing even be necessary?

Correct. It's an absurd thing to ask of anyone. Yet BS and his followers seem to think it's something extraordinary and something that sets him apart from the rest of the pack.

It doesn't. This is the DEFAULT behavior I'd expect from ANYONE who's vying for the Democratic nomination.

The whole thing is just so silly.

[Fresh_Start]

68. Bernie doesn't want them to do to him, what he did to Hillary

Bernie should sign this. He is the only one with a track record of not supporting the winner.
So it is self-serving.

[tymorial]

59. Because the rest of the candidates aren't really Democrats even though they belong to the party nt

[ehrnst]

69. THIS!!! (nt)

[Funtatlaguy]

2. All 20 had better sign this pledge. No reason not to. None.

[yaesu]

3. Good on Bernie, I know he will fully back the nominee anyway but its nice to pledge it too. nt

[PoliticAverse]

6. Nomination formerly happens at the convention. In 2016 Sanders endorsed Clinton before

the convention.

[CentralMass]

9. Don't confound the issue with facts.

[bahrbearian]

15. I remember when he flip flopped on his Iraq War Vote , 1st he was for it, then he was against it.

No that was someone else.

[PoliticAverse]

16. So in boyh 2008 and 2016 Sanders endorsed the nominee of the Democratic party...

same as he's pledged to do in 2020.

[mcar]

5. ...

[boston bean]

7. That is rich.

[mr_liberal]

8. Too bad we dont have a time machine to go back to 2016. nt

[CentralMass]

11. Or 2008 .

[ehrnst]

71. Why 2008? (nt)

[Arkansas Granny]

12. I hear you.

[Trumpocalypse]

14. Great

The real question is will he suspend his campaign if it becomes apparent that he can’t win the nomination or will he fight on to the convention allowing his supporters and surrogates attack the nominee like he did in 16?

[calimary]

61. A worthy question. VERY worthy.

[BlueFlorida]

17. What about his campaign leadership? nt

[Nanjeanne]

19. Only Bernie Sanders signing such a pledge could elicit negative responses. I say - good on him

and good on every other person running in the Democratic primary who signs it.

I'm no Biden fan at all - but I will rally around him should he be the nominee. We all have preferences in the primary - some for emotional reasons - others for policy reasons. And supporting and cheering our chosen candidates is what we do in the primaries. Some are convinced only "their" candidate can beat Trump - but truth is no one knows. The most qualified person, on paper, man or woman - to run in 2016 lost the Electoral College. At the end of the day - all the candidates are worthy to be running against the Orange Menance. And all will need our support. I'd sign the pledge - I'm glad Sanders did. I hope all will do the same.

[BannonsLiver]

30. Pledges are one thing, keeping them is another.

[NurseJackie]

31. Why did he even feel that it was NECESSARY? With everyone else, it's a GIVEN!!

Why did he even feel that it was NECESSARY? With everyone else, it's a GIVEN!! We naturally accept the idea that the other DEMOCRATS will support the Democratic Party's nominee.

The fact that BS feels compelled to make such a declaration is odd.

[BannonsLiver]

34. A great point, Jackie.

[nolabear]

49. So it can be about him.

[NurseJackie]

50. Why not just sign a pledge to promise to never push elderly people down the escalator?

Come on! Who's with me?

I, Jackie Peyton, hereby promise that I will NEVER push elderly people down the escalator. I'm the first... but I hope my fellow members on DU will join in! But don't forget, I'm first to make this pledge!



This is all so silly. Is anyone actually IMPRESSED that I promised to never push elderly people down the escalator.

Think about it: Don't you automatically EXPECT, by default, that it's a GIVEN, that I wouldn't do push anyone down the escalator?

Wouldn't it seem weird if I suddenly started boasting about the fact that I didn't push an elderly person down the escalator?

[ehrnst]

72. Or to not misuse campaign funds, or refrain from knowingly serving tainted food at an event, or

refrain from using racist terms, any other number of baseline ethical behaviors expected of a Democratic candidate.

Whatever has changed since 2016?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

78. You got that right!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Fresh_Start]

20. Has he shared his donor's list with the democratic party, yet?

because not sharing the donor's list is an act directly against the success for the democratic party candidates down ticket.

That's way more important than his signature on this petition.

[oasis]

64. Let's see what Bernie has to say about that, this time.

[Maru Kitteh]

66. Ask not what you can contribute to the Democratic party, ask what you feel entitled

to, and take it from the Democratic party.

[Hekate]

67. Bit of a burn, there

[DoctorJoJo]

21. Let's See: Berniacs Like Nina Turner Gave Us Trump! He Should Pick Jill Stain As His VP!

[Demsrule86]

23. Good for him. Nice send sanders,

[NurseJackie]

24. Ooph!

[mountain grammy]

25. Yay Bernie! No fooling!

I'm having a hard time deciding between him and Warren. Hence, undecided.

[BooScout]

27. Oh my...how impressive.

[awesomerwb1]

28. That's good.

Now what about those lovely people he's hired to handle his campaign?

More worryingly err importantly, the most fanatical of his support base? I have been having a "discussion" back and forth with 3 Bernie bros on twitter and so far:
1- Will write in Bernie
1- Will vote for trump
1- Will not vote if Bernie loses primary.

It's anecdotal, but it worries me too many of them will pull a 2016 again.

[Doreen]

29. So,

is he actually saying that if he loses again he will not have the same temper tantrum as he did last time?

I voted for him in the last primaries but he actually turned me off to him when he did not immediately endorse and encourage his followers that Hillary was then the best choice.

Despite running against each other, when the primaries are done the ones who did not win NEED to ban TOGETHER and endorse, vote for, and strongly encourage their followers to vote for the Democrat primary winner.

What Bernie did was encourage his followers to either vote third party, trump, and some not vote at all.

[George II]

32. Most, if not all, of the other candidates really didn't have to sign such a pledge.....

....they've demonstrated their support of Democratic candidates throughout their entire political careers.

Who is "Indivisible" anyway? Who are they to establish such a "pledge"?

[cannabis_flower]

37. Indivisible

I don't know anything about them other than what's here

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indivisible_movement

[George II]

39. They're an independent group, not associated with the Democratic Party.....

....with questionable roots.

[irisblue]

47. Would you explain more please. I listened to the podcasts and found them interesting.

Thanks.

[MineralMan]

33. That's a given.

I mean that's nice, Bernie, but who wouldn't? Not a benefit for him.

[Diabolixxx]

36. Unity Pledge

Kudos to Bernie for leading on the signing of the Indivisible pledge! I hope the other Democratic presidential candidates will sign the pledge as well.

The pledge agreement by candidates is a strong indication of unity which bodes well for the future of the Democratic Party.

[George II]

41. Based on past history the other candidates didn't need to make such a pledge.

[pnwmom]

40. So the #1 in the polls is the first to sign a pledge to back the winner?

That's a big surprise.

[Voltaire2]

43. So you think he's got it wrapped up?

Interesting.

[pnwmom]

45. I think HE does. n/t

[UniteFightBack]

42. It's weird that this was only needed until recently. nt

[JonLP24]

44. Rip him if he does, rip him if he doesn't

[JudyM]

62. Ya think?

[gateley]

48. Thank you, Bernie! They ALL need to do this, we're on the same team after all.

Let the party of Trump be the divisive ones, the party of hate. We'll be the party of solidarity.

[NurseJackie]

54. Nobody needs to "pledge" anything. This should be automatic, default, and expected.

This is so silly.

[AlexSFCA]

53. I am grateful he did this. It's a strong message to his supporters

that beating trump is much more important than any given policy. Everyone needs to do it. E.g., if BS wins, they all need to rally behind him 100% and, most importantly, Biden who holds the key to 10% of never trump gop voters and independent voters. He would the most critical role to play if BS wins the nomination.

[NurseJackie]

55. Shouldn't his supporters be smart enough to already know this without having to be "spoon-fed" the...

Shouldn't his supporters be smart enough to already know this without having to be "spoon-fed" the proper response to their candidate losing the contest for the nomination?

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your explanation doesn't paint a very flattering picture of his supporters. Did you mean it to sound the way you wrote it?

[AlexSFCA]

56. many of them are very extreme

look at those “progressive” youtube channels, influencers, etc. I have friends like that, who didnt vote for clinton last time (didnt vote for trump either). It is far more common that DU wants to admit. Lots of those people won’t even admit that they didnt vote for Clinton. And to this day they feel they were right cause now we can have real change. Bernicrats are the most extreme people in dem party constituency. Their purity tests are beyond appalling. If Biden wins, he’ll destroy both trumpism and BS. Trump could never happen w/o BS.

[NurseJackie]

57. ...

Thanks for the follow-up.

[AlexSFCA]

58. by the way if biden wins, warren will be his vp

he already considered her in 2016 as top choice for vp when contemplating a run so it is all but certain. In 2020, that will be a smart move as some bernie supporters like warren too and will vote for the ticket. As a former republican she will attract women gop voters and independents.

[NurseJackie]

60. There are many possible configurations that I'd be absolutely thrilled with!

[ecstatic]

63. That's not a good enough standard. It should be to drop out when it's clear you won't acquire the

delegates needed to win, and then to support the process and the eventual nominee.

[ehrnst]

73. +1000. (nt)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

79. Why not just use the standard Hillary invoked in her run against Obama?

I thought that took her into June 2008, despite not having a viable path forward. In any case, I assume most would agree, whatever standard Hillary employed, should be viewed as a reasonable standard.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[mvd]

65. Thanks for the thread, Uncle Joe

Sometimes I think Bernie gets misinterpreted, and this thread helps show how badly he wants Trump gone - as the rest of us do.

[ehrnst]

70. Interesting that a signed pledge is considered neccessary now, rather than being assumed

to be a baseline ethical characteristic of all the Democratic candidates.

Like a restaurant that proudly states that they signed a local restaurant pledge to never knowingly serve tainted food.

[Blue_Tires]

74. I'm not allowed to contrast his actions today with those in 2016

so I won't...

[Uncle Joe]

75. And I'm not allowed to rebut your potential contrast with 2016 if you did

so I won't either.

[Blue_Tires]

76. Oh don't let that stop you

you don't have the self-appointed alert cops hanging on YOUR every post...

[Uncle Joe]

77. That would be funny

if it wasn't so sad.