# Could Sanders supporters cost Hillary the election if she wins the primary **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 11, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867 "2016-02-11T23:04:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/21 "2016-02-12T03:10:00Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > When you’re cutting their jobs, you don’t like them. Period. Pure bullshit. Truman had to scale down the armed forces a bit after WWII – did he dislike them? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/22 "2016-02-12T03:12:15Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > It does not matter if she is anti-neoliberal. Stein is a anti-military woman. No person serving in the U.S. military should obey her if she is elected president in 2016. Not as a junior-mod, but as a citizen, I ask you not to encourage insubordination and mutiny in the United States Armed Forces, and especially not in a form that signals the end of the military’s constitutional subordination to civil government. We all know where that can lead, see Turkey (periodically) and Burma and Egypt and many other examples. We do not want our armed forced becoming an independent domestic political force like the armed forces of some countries. ---
**Author:** ![FightMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71e660/32.png) [@FightMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FightMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/23 "2016-02-12T03:12:33Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > When you’re cutting their jobs, you don’t like them. Period. This is silly. I support cutting the defense budget, but I certainly feel no animosity towards the actual men and women of the military. ---
**Author:** ![GloryDays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GloryDays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GloryDays)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/24 "2016-02-12T03:15:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Pure bullshit. Truman had to scale down the armed forces a bit after WWII – did he dislike them? He probably did personally, maybe. Yes, defense spending should be cut, but not the way that\* some \*progressives like Stein want. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/25 "2016-02-12T03:31:07Z")
I think it’s quite possible, if you check less status quo, pro progressive forums than the SDMB, there are many who say they refuse to vote for Hillary to force the DNC to give Bernie a fair shake. I myself am one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/26 "2016-02-12T03:38:14Z")
The way she is coming across in the debate happening now will make any of the GOP candidates look outclassed in comparison. She is obviously far more knowledgeable than any of them on national security. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/27 "2016-02-12T10:13:54Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > The way she is coming across in the debate happening now will make any of the GOP candidates look outclassed in comparison. She is obviously far more knowledgeable than any of them on national security. And how did that work out for Obama? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/28 "2016-02-12T12:02:09Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > He probably did personally, maybe. Yes, defense spending should be cut, but not the way that\* some \*progressives like Stein want. You’re ascribing the worst possible motive to policies you disagree with. This is not reasonable analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/29 "2016-02-12T12:29:58Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > If Stein is ever president, every member of the U.S. armed forces should resign their post and show Stein who is boss. Ah, the old “You can’t fire me; I quit!” ploy. Except they can’t quit. You know, I have my own views on what makes a person anti-American, and encouraging mass insubordination, mutiny, and desertion in the U.S. military due to the election of a Commander-in-Chief that you don’t like is right up there at the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/30 "2016-02-12T12:42:00Z")
Back to the point of the thread. No, I don’t think there are enough Bernie or Bust voters in Ohio, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Colorado, or New Mexico to cost Clinton a narrow loss such as in 2000. They’ll be a tiny number of vocal types that’ll get some play on social media and 24 hour news cycle tv. There are other races and referendums on the ballot as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/31 "2016-02-12T13:13:32Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > He probably did personally, maybe. Yes, defense spending should be cut, but not the way that\* some \*progressives like Stein want. So, you advocate cutting some of those benefits you see going to minorities who join. And probably medical care for the vets who come back in bad shape. And the old vets from previous wars, receiving care at the VA for non-service-related ills–because they earned it. (Yeah, the VA could be better–but it does a lot of good work.) Please, tell us. Why did you never serve–if you’re so “patriotic.” (And what do you have against Harry Truman?) And why do you advocate treason? (At least you’ve dropped the fiction of those co-workers in Staten Island who espouse these beliefs.) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/32 "2016-02-12T13:25:40Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Especially if he’s her running mate. > [@Simplicio](#): > > I doubt that would happen for political reasons, but aside from those, it’d be kinda dangerous for a 69 year old woman to pick a 75 year old running mate when the next person down on the Presidential line of succession is likely to be a Republican. Screw that - _Bill_ for VP! _ **Bill for VP!** _ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/33 "2016-02-12T13:37:09Z")
Hillary would have to step up her all negative campaign against Bernie before any significant number of his supporters fail to vote for the Democratic candidate. She might just do that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/34 "2016-02-12T13:43:49Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > What percentage of them would have stayed home anyway, absent Bernie in the race? > > If these are people who typically vote Democratic, but will sit out this year, then it’s a big problem. If these are people who typically never vote, then their sitting home is pretty much irrelevant. This. There are probably a handful of populists who hate our current government who might be tempted to vote for Bernie or the Donald. They aren’t really democratic voters, and if Sanders weren’t in the race, it would be a crapshoot whether they voted d, r, something else, or stayed home. If there were any moderate republicans running, it might be murkier, but looking at the current pool of candidates, I expect Bernie to give his heart-felt support for Hillary should she win the nomination. (Which seems likely.) And I expect all of his liberal, democratic supporters to follow him in that support. > [@marshmallow](#): > > Most people focus on disillusioned libs staying home or voting for Jill Stein, which is possible, but there’s also the potential hilarity of them going full anti-establishment and voting Trump. Yeah, the populists who are disillusioned with government in general instead of being liberal or conservative might jump from Sanders to Trump, if Trump wins the nomination. Or if he runs as a third party. I don’t know how many of them are out there. > [@GloryDays](#): > > It does not matter if she is anti-neoliberal. Stein is a anti-military woman. No person serving in the U.S. military should obey her if she is elected president in 2016. Um, you are advocating treason. That’s kind of a big deal. While it’s true that the other participants in internet discussions don’t know who you are, the authorities could certainly find out. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/35 "2016-02-12T13:43:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Hillary would have to step up her all negative campaign against Bernie before any significant number of his supporters fail to vote for the Democratic candidate. She might just do that. You Republicans would just love that, wouldn’t you? Why don’t you work on nominating a hopeful who does not cause buzzards to gag? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/36 "2016-02-12T13:55:31Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > You Republicans would just love that, wouldn’t you? > > Why don’t you work on nominating a hopeful who does not cause buzzards to gag? Who do you think you are calling a Republican? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/37 "2016-02-12T14:04:12Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I volunteer for the Sanders campaign, and some of the people there are very anti-Hillary. They are like the Nader supporters in 2000, they feel there is no difference between the two parties and feel like anyone other than Sanders is pointless. > > So if Hillary wins the primary in 2000 (especially considering the fact that there are some criticisms of how the Iowa caucus went down and if there was foul play) is there a chance that some Bernie supporters will stay home and then swing the election? Back on topi, I think a lot depends on what Bernie does next. If he goes quiet, some of his supporters may stay home out of spite rather than vote for Hillary, particularly as his demographic skews young and [del]impressionable[/del] enthusiastic. If he throws his full support behind her and stumps for her, she’ll do very well - and if she ends up with Sanders AND Obama AND Bill working in a coordinated manner to get the left out in force, turnout should be very good. And in the unlikely event Sanders goes independent, say hello to President Rubio/Cruz/Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/38 "2016-02-12T14:07:40Z")
> [@GloryDays](#): > > Yes, defense spending should be cut… Anti-American! Anti-American! ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/39 "2016-02-12T14:58:12Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > SupremeCourt… I don’t get the feeling that Bernie’s supporters care so much about the Supreme Court. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867/40 "2016-02-12T15:10:19Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I don’t get the feeling that Bernie’s supporters care so much about the Supreme Court. Why wouldn’t they care about the Supreme Court? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-supporters-cost-hillary-the-election-if-she-wins-the-primary/745867.md?page=3)