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Capt. Obvious

(9,002 posts)
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:22 PM Apr 2016

Hillary Clinton: ‘I’m Not Even Sure’ Bernie Is A Democrat

Hillary Clinton is running against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for the Democratic nomination for president, but she’s not positive he belongs in the race.

“He’s a relatively new Democrat,” the former Secretary of State told Politico. “In fact, I’m not even sure he is one. He’s running as one. So I don’t know quite how to characterize him.”

Sanders, who has said he identifies as a socialist democrat, declared himself a Democrat last year when he announced his presidential campaign. Although he’s the longest-serving independent in congressional history, he caucuses with the Democrats and has served on and chaired committees for the party. He also has made key progressive issues like economic inequality central to his campaign.

Many Democrats have endorsed the Vermont senator — but Clinton is not the first prominent one to question his loyalty to the party. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) tweeted in February that Sanders “is a Democrat ‘some days.’”

....

HuffPo
39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Hillary Clinton: ‘I’m Not Even Sure’ Bernie Is A Democrat (Original Post) Capt. Obvious Apr 2016 OP
If he's not, than neither am I Viva_La_Revolution Apr 2016 #1
I was a Democrat until the Clintons swerved the party to the right. lagomorph777 Apr 2016 #5
I wonder if Hillary thinks "new" American citizens aren't as "American" as long-time citizens... reformist2 Apr 2016 #23
+1 daleanime Apr 2016 #25
Bernie's not sure he's a Democrat. Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #2
I'm not sure Hillary is a democrat. timmymoff Apr 2016 #3
I'm not sure anyone is sure about anything other than being 100% correct. Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #6
I believe that to be correct timmymoff Apr 2016 #14
ummm, psssssst.... the podium bird said keep that quite... we don't want folk to know about that uponit7771 Apr 2016 #24
Wow!!! fun n serious Apr 2016 #4
Every important vote had our Senators Akaka, Inouye and Bernie Sanders on board, mahina Apr 2016 #12
Loyalty to what the DNC and DWS or loyalty to the ideals of FDR and the "new deal" awake Apr 2016 #16
Yea, I can think of other people she wasn't sure about..it was her.."not that I know of" moment Jefferson23 Apr 2016 #7
If you judge by the platform of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, mahina Apr 2016 #8
I've never thought of Bernie as a Democrat. And in Jan went on record to voice that opinion Sheepshank Apr 2016 #9
Sanders says he is a Democrat. And Obama says he is a Christian Tom Rinaldo Apr 2016 #10
Someone could say "As far as I know" karynnj Apr 2016 #28
From what I see his views are very close to FDRs (except in regards to segregation) awake Apr 2016 #11
Has he ever been a Republican? Downwinder Apr 2016 #13
No but Hillary was awake Apr 2016 #17
That argument just jumps up and bites her in the ... . Downwinder Apr 2016 #20
Not only that, she was working for both a Democrat and a GOP at the same time. Baobab Apr 2016 #29
Someone who will work for the highest bidder not the highest ideals awake Apr 2016 #30
Well, gee, Hillary we have the same feeling about you and jwirr Apr 2016 #15
+1.nt Snotcicles Apr 2016 #19
But will she take him at his word? closeupready Apr 2016 #18
Clearly we know Hillary is not a True Democrat watch in her own words from 1992 awake Apr 2016 #21
That video of her campaigning for Bill at her old high school is VERY illuminating. hedda_foil Apr 2016 #36
I'm not even sure Hillary is a progressive. arcane1 Apr 2016 #22
Clinton: Obama is not a Muslim "as far as I know." morningfog Apr 2016 #26
+1 So disgusting GreatGazoo Apr 2016 #32
Bernie has consistently voted as a Dem-he's made Dem policies possible TheDormouse Apr 2016 #27
They have no shame only blind ambition for them selfs awake Apr 2016 #33
Hillary and the Democratic Party were perfectly happy to have him run as a Democrat, karynnj Apr 2016 #31
In 08 it was Obama not a Muslim 'as far as I know'. Bluenorthwest Apr 2016 #34
I thought Bernie registered as a Democrat... Mike Nelson Apr 2016 #35
Projection. nt silvershadow Apr 2016 #37
Bernie recently said he only ran as a Dem for the media and party resources. Lucinda Apr 2016 #38
Clinton, Sanders differ on down-ballot Democrats Gothmog Apr 2016 #39

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
5. I was a Democrat until the Clintons swerved the party to the right.
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:28 PM
Apr 2016

They took the GOP's position, while the GOP took the fascists' position.

I am going to give the Dems another chance, even if Hillary wins. But if she swings back to the right the minute she's elected, I'm done for good.

 

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts)
6. I'm not sure anyone is sure about anything other than being 100% correct.
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:28 PM
Apr 2016

And I'm certain that's wrong.

 

fun n serious

(4,451 posts)
4. Wow!!!
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:27 PM
Apr 2016

It looks like most of Bernie Sanders colleagues question his loyalty. Says a lot about his character!

mahina

(17,696 posts)
12. Every important vote had our Senators Akaka, Inouye and Bernie Sanders on board,
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:33 PM
Apr 2016

Including voting against going to war for NO REASON, for an obvious lie that even the little people like us thousands of miles from DC knew was a lie.

People all over the world marched against that bullshit war and we knew very well it was a travesty. Everyone who is a Democrat who voted for it did so because they were afraid to.

Not Bernie.

Mahalo Senator Akaka, mahalo Senator Inouye, mahalo Bernie Sanders.

Judgement. It's important.

awake

(3,226 posts)
16. Loyalty to what the DNC and DWS or loyalty to the ideals of FDR and the "new deal"
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:37 PM
Apr 2016

Bernie is for a "fair deal" for the working class not the "raw deal" that the Clinton policy of the 90s gave us.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
7. Yea, I can think of other people she wasn't sure about..it was her.."not that I know of" moment
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:29 PM
Apr 2016

about Obama.

Hillary is unsure of herself, that is clear from the events of last night.

She woke up not feeling inevitable.

mahina

(17,696 posts)
8. If you judge by the platform of the Democratic Party of Hawaii,
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:30 PM
Apr 2016

Bernie is more of a Democrat than Hillary, for miles.

Bernie is a solid progressive.

 

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)
9. I've never thought of Bernie as a Democrat. And in Jan went on record to voice that opinion
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:30 PM
Apr 2016
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251777841

I was trying very hard to give Bernie the benefit of the doubt for finally announcing that he was now running as a Democrat, and how that may have meant that he had joined to party and was now a Democrat. I'd even written a couple of posts stating such.

I was trying to be understanding of a man who doesn't like to evolve, but now walks back his earlier statements, "I am not a Democrat", " ...it would be hypocritical of me to run as a Democrat" and "I am an Independent".

But Howard Dean hedged.

For all of his Bernie support, in a pre-forum interview, Chris Matthew clearly used Bernie's own words "I am running as a Democrat" to plant a seed of doubt. And that is the bottom line, Bernie is running as a Democrat, he never joined the party to be a Democrat. Chris Matthews pressed DWS over and over until she finally and hesitatingly relented and said that Bernie is a Democrat, but Howard refused to capitulate.

Words have meaning and Bernie does just like every single politician and says exactly what he means. Not once has he said he joined the Democratic Party, not once did he say he is now a Democrat....he has said he is like a Democrat and does some things like other Democrats

I'm with Howard Dean. Bernie may be running as a Democrat. This is old news, we knew he was attempting to run on the Democratic ticket, but Bernie is still refusing to actually be a Democrat and join the party. Bernie has and will continue to act in ways that actually undermines the Democratic Party.


Since that post, he may have changed his mind and said that he was a Democrat, but if that is the case that recent pandering comes way too late in the game and lacks any sincerity, and is frankly a big fat whopping lie on his part.

awake

(3,226 posts)
11. From what I see his views are very close to FDRs (except in regards to segregation)
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:30 PM
Apr 2016

So I guess that on that bases Hillary would say the longest serving President of the United States was too liberal for the Democratic Party today. Once a "Goldwater Girl" always a "Goldwater Girl".

Baobab

(4,667 posts)
29. Not only that, she was working for both a Democrat and a GOP at the same time.
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:04 PM
Apr 2016

Which strikes me as really kind of scary. What kind of person would do that?

hedda_foil

(16,375 posts)
36. That video of her campaigning for Bill at her old high school is VERY illuminating.
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:24 PM
Apr 2016

She tells a rather charming story about her evolution from Goldwater Girl, and how her government teacher made her marginally more aware of another point of view by assigning her to do a classroom mock debate as LBJ.

But the upshot at the end is that she says she has some views from both sides rather than being a doctrinal democrat. Very interesting indeed.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
22. I'm not even sure Hillary is a progressive.
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 02:54 PM
Apr 2016

Just kidding, I know she's not

Leave it to the authoritarian candidate to convince us that labels are the most important thing, and loyalty to The Party is paramount. She'd fit in well leading a 3rd world country.

 

morningfog

(18,115 posts)
26. Clinton: Obama is not a Muslim "as far as I know."
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:00 PM
Apr 2016
&feature=youtu.be

We've seen this before and know how it ends.

TheDormouse

(1,168 posts)
27. Bernie has consistently voted as a Dem-he's made Dem policies possible
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:01 PM
Apr 2016

His voting as a Dem made it possible for Obama to have a majority in the Senate, for Harry Reid to be Senate Majority Leader, and for lots of prominent Dems who are now backing Hillary to be chairs of Senate committees, with the power to set committee agendas.

Hillary & company ought to be ashamed.

karynnj

(59,504 posts)
31. Hillary and the Democratic Party were perfectly happy to have him run as a Democrat,
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:09 PM
Apr 2016

rejecting a run from an independent party. That was when they thought he had no choice, but could hurt the Democratic nominee if he ran as an independent.

What does it say when you agree to the rules of a game, but when you are the least bit concerned of winning, you suddenly consider that maybe the rules that were agreed to were wrong. What surprises me is that she is still so far ahead, that this not all that laudable action seems not just bad, but premature ... unless she knows more than us on the status of the race.

Mike Nelson

(9,966 posts)
35. I thought Bernie registered as a Democrat...
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:20 PM
Apr 2016

...still, I see him listed as "I-VT" when I look. This has to be incorrect because he is running to be the top Democrat in the country. I've been confused about this... He should make "I am a proud Democrat!" a part of his stump speech.

Lucinda

(31,170 posts)
38. Bernie recently said he only ran as a Dem for the media and party resources.
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:31 PM
Apr 2016

Pretty much proves her point that he isnt a Dem.

Gothmog

(145,554 posts)
39. Clinton, Sanders differ on down-ballot Democrats
Wed Apr 6, 2016, 03:32 PM
Apr 2016

There is a major difference between Clinton and Sanders with respect to down ballot candidates http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/clinton-sanders-differ-down-ballot-democrats

Yesterday afternoon, meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced its fundraising tally over the same period, and though Sanders hasn’t matched his rival in votes or wins, we were reminded once more that he’s easily defeating her when it comes to dollars in the bank. But the Clinton campaign’s press release added something Sanders’ did not:

Hillary Clinton raised about $29.5 million for her primary campaign during March. That amount brings the first quarter total to nearly $75 million raised for the primary, beating the campaign’s goal of $50 million by about 50 percent. [Hillary For America] begins April with nearly $29 million on hand.

Clinton raised an additional $6.1 million for the DNC and state parties during the month of March, bringing the total for the quarter to about $15 million [emphasis added].

The first part matters, of course, to the extent that Sanders’ fundraising juggernaut is eclipsing Clinton’s operation, but it’s the second part that stands out. How much money did Sanders raise for the DNC and state parties in March? Actually, zero. For the quarter, the total was also zero.

And while the typical voter probably doesn’t know or care about candidates’ work on behalf of down-ballot allies, this speaks to a key difference between Sanders and Clinton: the former is positioning himself as the leader of a revolution; the latter is positioning herself as the leader of the Democratic Party. For Sanders, it means raising amazing amounts of money to advance his ambitions; for Clinton, it means also raising money to help other Democratic candidates.

As Rachel noted on the show last night, the former Secretary of State has begun emphasizing this angle while speaking to voters on the campaign trail. Here, for example, is Clinton addressing a Wisconsin audience over the weekend:

“I’m also a Democrat and have been a proud Democrat all my adult life. I think that’s kind of important if we’re selecting somebody to be the Democratic nominee of the Democratic Party.

“But what it also means is that I know how important to elect state legislatures, to elect Democratic governors, to elect a Democratic Senate and House of Representatives.”

The message wasn’t subtle: Clinton is a Democrat and Sanders isn’t; Clinton is working to help Democrats up and down the ballot and Sanders isn’t.

Super Delegates will be taking this difference into account in deciding which candidate is best for the party
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