2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: 33% of Bernie Sanders Supporters Won't Back Hillary in the General [View all]cloudythescribbler
(2,586 posts)and it is one thing that people like me need to do to insist that, if Hillary is the nominee, as many Sanderistas support her as possible
I would say that all the snark and trashing of Bernie and of Sanderistas on DU doesn't make the abovementioned task any easier should it become necessary
If Hillary is the nominee, it is very important that a LOT of specific and concrete concessions be made at the Convention to Bernie's views on many issues. The rhetoric in the campaign of trying to coopt Bernie counts for zilch. That does not mean that she will embrace "MediCare for All", but at least the Democratic platform should have measures (in addition to the positive steps Hillary already is committed to) to insist on a public option EVERYWHERE, and also to insist on legislation that would specifically allow states -- or groups of states joining together in a single plan -- to adopt single-payer WITHOUT negatively prejudicing federal health dollars to the state. Probably the Democrats should call for a return to a revamped and updated version of Glass-Steagall, recognizing that abandoning it was a mistake.
There are a lot of absolute demands that should be made regarding election process, including NO "closed" primaries or caucuses, not only ditch Debbie Wasserman Schultz but ALL those in the leadership of the Democratic Party who are similarly tilted towards the neoliberals beyond strict limits of fairness and balance. And the progressive wing of the party should demand equal representation as the neoliberals. The debates issue has to be decided upon in a more democratic way in form and content.
This could go on and on, but the point is that there are very concrete measures that Hillary -- and her supporters on DU -- could take to minimize any defection. Likewise if Bernie gets the nomination, key concerns of Hillary and her supporters would also have to be adequately addressed.
This is NOT like in 08, because unlike then, there were many more major differences in the ideology and platform of the competing Democratic candidates (and eg, on the health insurance mandate, Obama ended up doing what Hillary argued for and he against in the debates). Obama, to my disappointment, turned out to be another neoliberal rather than at least straddling the two wings of the Democratic Party and being a cagey progressive at heart. Perhaps it was delusion even to hope that that degree of progressivism would be allowed in the White House, but anyhow ...
This election year is very different, and the split between the two wings of the Democratic Party is much clearer -- and needs to be addressed at every level so we don't end up with ANYONE like Trump in the White House
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As I am doing on EVERY thread where I post on the primary race b/t Hillary and Bernie, my reminder that DUers should devote at least 20% of the time and money devoted to the presidential primary fight to Congressional concerns, getting a Democratic senate and as close to a Democratic House as possible -- no more GOP House "gerrymandority".