2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: More and more this primary has distilled down to one thing for me: [View all]LiberalBear
(24 posts)I am a long time independent because I have always been a data driven voter who is attracted to candidates that want to discuss policy and its impact instead of simply trashing the other guy. With that said, up until last night, I was planning on voting for Sec. Clinton. However, her decision to, not simply suggest, but actually assert that Bernie Sanders is not welcome in the Democratic Party as a candidate for President foreshadows for me a very ineffectual presidency if she is elected. I thought the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans was that Democrats have a big tent. I thought real Democrats were about growing the party by welcoming independents like myself into the party welcoming our ideas, energy, money and active participation. If I understand Sec. Clinton, she is clearly saying that anyone is welcome into the Democratic Party, especially, gays, women, black males, liberals, and even democratic socialists that have served honorably as a local and national public servant for decades, not to mention caucusing with the democrats at every turn. Welcome that is up to and until you challenge the powers that be in the party or if party support of your majority position,, no matter how fact based, puts the party's grip on establishment power at risk (see NAFTA, see deregulation of wall street, see crime bill, see DOMA, see student loans, see social security earlier retirement, see Bernie Sanders......and the list goes on.) So the obvious question to anyone who looks objectively at the data (insert careers of both Sec. Clinton and Sen Sanders) is who is more likely to cast off the concerns of the various under empowered voting blocks that will be absolutely required for Sanders or Clinton to win the presidency (see blacks, 18-30s, liberals, elderly working class) when political expediency demands "compromise" to the moneyed interests of the establishment. Sec. Clinton clearly demonstrated to me last night that she will be first in line to cast off the "Bernie Sanders" of the party if she perceives their policy position, no matter how correct with respect to the facts, as an obstacle to her being able to raise the money from the establishment she clearly feels she needs to get elected and re-elected. I for one am tired of seeing this repeated behavior from politicians in each party. All Sec Clinton had to say last night was, I celebrate Sen. Sanders public service, his long term indisputable commitment to progressive values, and I look forward to working with him and his supporters after I get the nomination and win the presidency. I just strongly believe I am making the best case for any candidate seeking the presidency and I will bring the most experience and knowledge of any current candidate to the job or president." But no, what we got is Bernie doesn't know what past democrat presidents have done or even who they are, and I will release transcripts of my speeches to Wall Street financial firms only after all other candidates do the same. I am feelin the Bern and it feels really really good. Better late than never they say. Now where is that website so I can send in my $27.