Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Former Sanders campaign chairman: Don't expect email list to be shared with DNC [View all]karynnj
(59,508 posts)I would say that there were TWO main points - one that Sanders could send an email inviting people to join the main Democratic lists. The other was that there is an advantage to having this parallel outreach under Sanders name. I used the example of the Kerry list which raised a huge amount of money for candidates in 2006. I also know that in 2005, allies of the DSC tried to (unsuccessfully) publicly pressure (using Daily Kos) Kerry into giving all his PAC money to the DSC - even as they ignored that DSC head, Schumer, actually had more money in his PAC.
Sanders has supported individual Democratic candidates and there were many DU threads on that. As to my comment being wrong, neither of us have any proof that could definitely decide who is right. I would argue that it comes down to the meaning of the word "significant" and I think it is very hard to argue that the proportion is insignificant. Because Sanders did NOT become the nominee, his list never expanded to get people for whom he was not the preferred candidate. Therefore, that list contains ONLY the portion of the population who supported a candidate who was pretty far from the organized center of the party. In addition, there might be many on that list who saw the DNC as against their nominee - even before the email hack.
What is known is that - at one time - these people liked Sanders enough to sign up for his email list AND they have not yet unsubscribed. This suggests that they either want or are at least not annoyed to get emails from him. It seems obvious to me that this is a self selected group of people for whom Bernie Sanders is the best messenger of a Democratic message. Consider that in addition to the Sanders list, there are MANY independent activists groups that are also messaging people. Move on and Bold Progressives are two of them -- should they also give their lists to the DNC and disappear?
Your post seems to assume that it would be best if the DNC was the exclusive messenger to Democrats and independents usually allied with us. I would argue that more is lost by having one voice than is gained.