Clinton was not "allowed" to be angry.

Michelle Obama was defined as an "angry black woman".

These are cultural facts that we all live with. That being said, I watched plenty of video of Clinton hitting back, with passion, over and over. So I do not agree with the basis of your argument.

He was widely criticized on this site and on MSNBC and other news outlets. He continued on in spite of the vitriol he endured.

IMHO Weaver was a liability for Sanders initial campaign of hope.

But back on topic:

Bernie was definitely allowed to be righteously angry about Republicanism on the campaign trail. And that was GREAT!

People here do have a problem with the negative language Bernie is using against the Democratic Party these days. Some people think it is fine, others don't. That's the current discussion and it is appropriate discussion for DU.

So maybe you're thinking of current discussions here.

Some of them do but for the most part we tend to respond like a calm parent when their two year old is having a tantrum. That calm facade contributes to the elite intellectual image and contributes to the perception we are insincere. Where's the righteous anger, the passion. Hell, isn't their a story in the bible about Jesus getting angry and throwing the money changers out of the temple? IMO, a little display of emotion would go a long way to making the dem party more approachable.

What could possibly go wrong?

Are you saying that a woman is not allowed to get angry or fired up because of the perceptions from misogynists?

Isn't that backing down to the misogynists? Everyone has a right to be angry.

Some political supporters who respond to sexist framing like that eat it up.

So many expectations and roles for women to be assigned to.

& Scolded for making Sessions nervous or when McConnell did the same to E. Warren. Seriously, are you not aware of how women are treated?

But I think it is better to call someone a misogynist and allow women to behave like other human beings. A woman should not have to hide her emotions because she is worried about the misogynists.

But behaved according to Senate rules. And I don't think you have any real awareness of the reality of misogyny else you wouldn't be calling out women in this way.

I see and hear lots of Democrats "swinging back". What, exactly do you want them to do?

... and those who do attack, smear, denigrate, blame and impugn Democrats and the Democratic Party are setting a VERY BAD EXAMPLE.

It doesn't help. It's divisive. It weakens the party.

It needs to stop.

I sign up for a lot of lists. There is way more Democratic activism opportunities, offered by Democratic leaders than I have time for. I get to feeling guilty, because I am limited in what I can do--but Democrats are out there fighting all the fucking time.

We talk about a lot of stuff, and it is not this. How to address the vast numbers of issues hitting us, that will kill people off.

That is the point of not getting it. I do not hear any Democrat talk like this. I am around young, old and inbetween.

I'm making an observation that the Republicans seem to hit us much more often than we hit them. But maybe it's just because they have FOX. I don't see the same kind of passion coming from Democrats in the news that I get from CNN.

has a whole other set of rules for the Democrats. There is not a level playing field. We have got to recognize that to start discussion.

And we can. I see a lot of what you ask for. I actively look for the information. If media will not provide, then it is at least, my responsibility to find it. It is out there and not hard. I have three or four strong source, and they lead to lots of other areas.

I usually don't watch news. I don't listen to talk radio. I read, watch hearings and press conferences, and follow legislation. I keep track of opportunities to serve, even if I can't make it, which is too often the case.

That being said, no, Democratic do not have an entire news company dedicated to them, Fox having turned into a propaganda outlet. Other news sources are easily manipulated, and make at least a token attempts at presenting "sides".

Right now, Democrats are hitting back as hard as they can-which is pretty damn hard--which is why I took exception to your OP

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"21. I'm not attacking the Democratic Party"
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Sigh. No, sure, of course not. It's "helping" or "telling-it-like-it-is" or "truth-to-power" or whatever euphemism is in fashion for the week.

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"I don't see the same kind of passion coming from Democrats ..."
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That's just a different way to say "weak" or "feeble" or that "Democrats don't care" ... or other such divisive nonsense. We've heard it all before.

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"... in the news that I get from CNN."
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That could be part of the problem right there.

So many cleverly funny people here. It allows a little break, in levity.

Do you want us to start lying? Do you want us to start changing our opinions to suit the present situation, even though we've stated the exact opposite in the past...publicly?

Because that's how they do what they do.

None of them can honestly relate to being one paycheck away from being homeless and tossed into the rubble of a wasteland that this country has become outside of the cosmetic facade money has painted. Do any of them really know that the avenues and path they took to get where they are, were obliterated years ago? Are they really aware that each year brings another layer of laws, like layers in an onion, stacked against people to prevent them from ever opening those once traveled paths again?

Today in this country, millions of people work tirelessly hoping their idea will be their key to success, but only a very few lucky ones are allowed to advance. And that is only if they do not get swindled out of their idea by the ruling class. The rest of the population is left to fight over scraps, where lines between right and wrong are blurred, even if they are considered. It seems everyday people have to be their own business person, selling only themselves and blaming everyone, but themselves just to survive. Moral codes are evaporating quickly and there are very few left, which has become a fight for yourself society. Those that fail to get with the new agenda are gobbled up and shit out in a wasteland that Americans use to see in third world countries. That is the real American Dream, where people are enslaved by their Masters and for what peer pressure insists they need.

Who the hell chose this way of life for the country? We know which Party pushed for it and now has their representatives having orgasmic fantasies over rotting corpses in their dreams. But the most important question that rarely gets considered, let alone dared to ask... Where exactly has the Party of FDR gone and what exactly have the Democrats done to ever take anything back that Republicans take away? It is astounding how "educated and intelligent" people at the very top cannot understand why so many Americans are swindled into voting against their own best interests... Maybe people wanted the quick strangulation over the continued slow suffocation that has been culling the American herd. Perhaps they wanted to see those who have always sold them out to finally feel the pain and suffer, as they have always endured.

If you really want to know the end game for those that control everything... Watch the movie Elysium, because this country will never see a repeat of the last Century again.

In Kansas, I will even research judges that are listed on the ballot and decide by which Party appointed them. But you didn't really ask the question, rather than just making a statement.

Thank you for knee-jerk reaction... Don't be so presumptuous in thinking that self insight is not a critical asset to have and reflect on. Again, which Party has been losing for the working class for the last 40 years? Republicans seem to be doing just fine with their destruction of it. I am NOT saying there is ANY reason to ever vote for their delusional ideals. Apparently you have never wondered why settling for less has always been better than taking back what was previously taken away from you. Republicans decided those terms decades ago, so do not blame me for the results of what happened to that Democratic win that was suppose to make history.

Apparently you really do not know the answer to a question Hillary asked in a primary debate. 'Why is there a massive increase in the suicide rate for middle aged people in this country?' You won't like the answer.

And you didn't answer it I notice.

Yet, you claim to be so different than the people that support the President of the United States. Fascinating!

By the way, when one moves their address right before the election and that person's information does not match at the polling place, in the State of Kansas (and I'm sure many other states) the minority registrant's ballot is "spoiled" from ever tainting the vote count. Go ahead, attack me for not throwing my LOYALTY behind your Dear Leader.

On a final thought... Keep wondering why the Democratic Party suddenly found itself in such a minority, because I do not have the time or patience to explain what has always been right in front of you. And with that, I only see the same type of people trying to bully others into being LOYAL to their Dear Leaders on this site, which is no different that what you claim to oppose. So this conversation is over and I must reconsider my error in joining this site. Please do enjoy the view of all the trees.

The Democratic Party has progressively moved us forward, for decades. We have had the most stable economies, working down debt, unemployment, high Dow, working for the people, while addressing civil rights. Seriously? The Democrats have "let" you down?

Creating a dystopia and blaming it on solely on Democrats.

Welcome to DU

Just a thought.

when Democrats do hit back and defend their issues, it often does not get coverage - going back to the late 1980s, Republicans have dominated the influential weekend "Talking Head" political issue shows: Republican guests outnumber Democratic ones no matter who controls the presidency or Congress, even if Democrats control both. And, Republicans are far more likely to be an "only" guest on these shows with no opposing viewpoint.

Democrats not only hit back a little harder, but go on the OFFENSIVE and stop letting the republicans back us into a corner every time where we are always on the defensive. There is so much we can hit them with, but it seems like we are always explaining ourselves instead of going after them.

Yes, we need to stand for something - and I think we do - and we need to get that message out. But we also need to stop being so damn polite and passive.

Sometimes DU pisses me off because there are people here who see ANY criticism at all of the party as an indication that one is not a real democrat. We are not republicans. We don't march in lockstep. We are critical thinkers and that is why there are so many diverging opinions.

I think we need to come together and be cohesive, but we need a little more fire. We need to inspire people to get out and vote and when we are always letting republicans run roughshod over us, it doesn't really motivate those who have been disillusioned with the whole political process.

Yes, it served *him*. You got that part right.

exactly

black folk and other POC are called UPPITY

only white men are ALLOWED to be angry

does that need to change? hell yes - I say GET ANGRY, PEOPLE, WE ARE THE MAJORITY - WE HAVE MORE REASON TO BE ANGRY THAN *ANYONE* ELSE

So true.

Saying rather vague things that are demonstrably false such as "Democrats never swing back" is not a valid criticism. Saying "Democrats should attempt to have an interview on meet the press as often as possible to counter the Republicans narrative, because our message is slipping away from us in the white middle class demographic" is valid, and it offers an idea, albeit one I just pulled out of my...head.

Saying "Democrats need to stand for xyz like FDR did" is not a valid criticism because it completely and thoroughly ignores history from BEFORE FDR to the present time. It also completely ignore the Democratic Party's entire platform In other words, it's bullshit.

we can have a serious discussion about moving forward.

Nobody here believes the Democratic Party is perfect. So you're presenting a strawman. And imho yr projecting a lot.

Bernie supporter here. He's human like you and me. Therefore capable of mistakes and mistaken opinions. I support most everything he stands for. He's a huge asset and an incredible fighter.

I also think he says dumb things too. Every human does.

As to why Dems lost in 2010, it is because they voted for healthcare and to save the economy. Huge wave of anti-Obamacare lie-ads from darkmoney groups like the Kochs. GOP voters come out in droves in midterms.. Dem voters don't.

New York Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice said "It's time for Nancy Pelosi to go, and the entire leadership team."

Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton said "This is certainly something that we have to discuss because it's clear that, I think, across the board in the Democratic Party we need new leadership. It's time for a new generation of leadership in the party."

Ohio Democratic Rep Tim Ryan said "I think that in certain areas, like in some of these special election districts, it doesn't benefit our candidates to be tied to her. "

He said that because Republicans had launched so many ridiculous attack ads against her. Abandoning her because she is getting attacked by ridiculous republican ads is not swinging back.