2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumSanders' Long Independent Streak has Come Back to Haunt Him
Sanders' Long Independent Streak has Come Back to Haunt Himby ALEX SEITZ-WALD
For decades, Bernie Sanders' independence served him well as he won election after election in Vermont, first to become mayor of the state's largest city and then to become the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history. But now, as he tries to win the first real partisan primary of his life, his complicated relationship with the Democratic Party is coming back to haunt him.
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At an MSNBC Democratic forum in South Carolina Friday, challenger Martin O'Malley accused Sanders of "trying to find someone to primary" President Barack Obama in 2012. "I'm a lifelong Democrat. I'm not a former independent," the former Maryland governor added.
Sanders called the charge that he worked against Obama's reelection "categorically false" in an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, saying he "worked very hard" for Obama.
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But Ben LaBolt, who was the Obama campaign's press secretary in 2012, told MSNBC he remembered things differently. "Most Democrats from President Clinton to Governor O'Malley were all in to support President Obama's tough reelection campaign," he said. "Others were promoting the idea of a primary challenge, which would have really handcuffed our ability to fire up the base in the run-up to the general election. Senator Sanders fell into the latter camp."
Sanders on several occasions said he saw value in a primary challenge to Obama's left, and four unnamed Obama aides told BuzzFeed News that Sanders was not helpful in the reelection.
Read more:
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-long-independent-streak-has-come-back-haunt-him-n460771
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Honestly though, I don't think it's going to hurt him that much either. What's likely to be at play is that so many people apparently EXPECTED it to be a big advantage for him, and that's not really materializing. So, a net-zero effect appears to be a loss in the face of their overall expectations.
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)record on democratic legislation than most blue dogs and conservadems.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)"I am a Democrat NOW" after signing the ballot for New Hampshire...
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)to get at?
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)I told ya'll about this for months! OH NOOOOO....I was a moron...and Idiot....didn't know what the fuck I was talking about....on and on and on. Up to and including alert stalked for saying "Bernie Sanders is NOT a Democrat just because he is running on the Democratic Ticket....BECAUSE the DNC didn't require him to be one to do so...therefore THAT did not automatically make him one.....
Unless he declared himself a Democrat....he could not legally sign that ballot form. BECAUSE N.H. DOES require him to. I also mentioned that there were AT least 4 other states that I knew of with the SAME requirement....that UNLESS he called himself a Democrat...ANYONE could have challenged him being on the ticket...and it would be legitimate....he has the history of proclaiming he is NOT one along with the disparaging remarks....it would be pretty easy to prove him NOT one.....and then he would have been found to have falsified that document as well.....that would have doomed his campaign...
Also, he could not just NOT be on all 5 tickets....that ALSO was no clear path to the Whitehouse....
His ONLY play.....was to finally after 40 yrs of proudly proclaiming "I am NOT one of those god-forsaken Democrats who are only nominally better than Republicans"
NOW he had to eat those words and become a Democrat. Now I will stop telling this story like this...when people keep trying to say that Sanders was ALWAYS a Democrat...when quite clearly....Until he said...
"I AM a Democrat NOW"
There was NO way else for his campaign to survive until the Primary....There was WAAAAAYYYY too much evidence to the contrary about whether he was a Democrat....the ONLY way to overcome that history...was to do what he ultimately did....say he is "NOW" a Democrat. It was his ONLY play.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)No Flip-Flopping Here.
Bernie is the honest choice for all Americans.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)Has mortally wounded her.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)That's pretty pathetic.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)Of a general election victory.
You're not young...you've been through many elections. You seriously think someone with her negatives polling so anemically against the current GOP clowns is going to be able to pull it out? We are looking at Kerry version 2.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)But if Bernie can't even defeat someone who's already mortally wounded in the Dem primary, then he doesn't deserve to run in the general election under the Democratic banner.
riversedge
(70,299 posts)PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)Our system breads coruption.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Might haunt Hillary. Did Obama have a primary challenger? NO! Did Bill have extra marital sex in the WH? Yes. Neither bother me, but you know Bill's past will be brought up.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)People will be bothered by THAT???
You realize that even AFTER that he left office with a 60% approval rating right???
And that is among EVERYONE not JUST Democrats....
Democrats never really gave a shit about Monica!
AzDar
(14,023 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)the Republicans....
She takes on THEM and YOU ALL too!
And SHE is still STANDING...dominating right now..did you not see her stand up to them for 11 hours straight???? That woman is a BADASS! THAT'S what standing your ground is....she is a tough cookie that woman....do not underestimate her either. You see...she is a woman....she had to work HARDER to get where she is....there is one word she makes me think of ....and I like that in a President.
Perseverance!
AzDar
(14,023 posts)that I've never seen, and never will...
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)cosmicone
(11,014 posts)ANOTHER
POLITICIAN
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)You mean, like Hillary?
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)Sanders is a weasel ... he tries to portray himself as a Gandhi or Dalai Lama or MLK Jr. but that is a complete lie and fools fall for it.
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)So classy of you.
Obviously he is not what you call him, and you know it. But you have nothing else to bring against him, so you resort to name calling.
Pretty sad.
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)who is after power of POTUS ... an honesty that even GW Bush or Rick Santorum have.
He makes it sound like it is a divine calling and annonits himself as the saint or a messiah -- THAT part is weaselly.
If he admits that he is just another politician running for president based on a niche following, I'll have respect for him.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)when his entire career...Politics!
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)and is now trying to play the outside card. That dog won't f--kin hunt.
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)Look at his voting record, he's always been true to his beliefs, and didn't flip flop like Hillary. He also didn't take financial advantage, like others did.
So yes, he is an outsider.
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)I guess that explains why he isn't racking up any endorsement from his colleagues.
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)and is still considered an outsider it means ZERO interpersonal skills.
Even fish in a fish tank develop buddies and cohorts after just a couple of weeks.
Cha
(297,655 posts)Thanks Cali!
kacekwl
(7,021 posts)is coming back to haunt me. Bunch of do nothings to promote,strengthen what I thought was the democratic party. Very disappointed.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Bernie Sanders!
kacekwl
(7,021 posts)Sanders is what the democratic party should be.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)needed TO be...after those 40 yrs and all...
kacekwl
(7,021 posts)the way it is that's where you have to be to be heard.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)it would be hypocritical to do so....so there is that!
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)who is not honest so every time you want to say the candidate is not honest remember this story. Also, Obama went and campaigned for Sanders, and then the primary remarks. I guess that is how Obama is thanked for his support.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)...challenge to President Jimmy Carter was a good idea.
This article is built on a flimsy premise that anyone who thinks a primary challenge to a sitting president is a good idea is against that president's party; a primary challenge is working for change within a party.