# The way the Democratic establishment is treating Bernie supporters is a blunder. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 27, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263 "2016-04-27T16:50:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/341 "2016-05-03T00:03:33Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Are you guys SURE you’re Democrats? Because it sure sounds like we have two Republicans running for the Presidency this year. Are you sure Sanders is a Democrat? Look, I voted for Sanders in the primary here. But, you know, it’s readily apparent that Clinton will win the nomination. Such is life. Your argument that there is no difference between Clinton and Trump is nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/342 "2016-05-03T00:55:39Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Are you guys SURE you’re Democrats? Because it sure sounds like we have two Republicans running for the Presidency this year. I can’t think of a better example of a Democrat than Hillary Clinton. She’s very representive of the parties planks and goals as well as its flaws. The Democratic Party is choosing her as it’s candidate. To argue she isn’t a Democrat is the most nonsensical thing I’ve read here. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/343 "2016-05-03T01:33:23Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Exactly. And The People are polling well to the left of Clinton on economic matters. Yes Hillary can’t go with The People without osing the support of the Oligarchs. What will she do? What WILL she do? The people are choosing Hillary over Bernie just like they will choose Hillary over Trump. If you had the people on your side you would have more votes. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/344 "2016-05-03T01:37:48Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Because it sure sounds like we have two Republicans running for the Presidency this year. Nader made the same sort of claim, too. How’d that turn out? Oh, right, “this time it’s different”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/345 "2016-05-03T01:39:47Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Are you sure Sanders is a Democrat? > > Look, I voted for Sanders in the primary here. But, you know, it’s readily apparent that Clinton will win the nomination. Such is life. > > Your argument that there is no difference between Clinton and Trump is nonsense. I never made any such argument, and will not, except within the areas of; 1. Getting money out of politics – neither has the slightest interest 2. Ending wealth inequality – neither has the slightest interest 3. rebuilding the fortunes of the middle class – neither has the slightest interest 4. Putting a leash on Wall Street – neither has the slightest interest In terms of foreign policy and social issues they are very different. But basically, we have a Republican of the compassionate conservative vein in Clinton, and a raging fascist of the Tea Party Republican style in Trump. Neither is really a Democrat. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/346 "2016-05-03T01:41:33Z")
Clinton is interested in all these things. Unlike Sanders, she doesn’t resort to scapegoating and demagoguery in addressing them. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/347 "2016-05-03T01:42:00Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > The people are choosing Hillary over Bernie just like they will choose Hillary over Trump. If you had the people on your side you would have more votes. The people are making bad choices that are not in line with their own beliefs and definitely not with their own best interests. Isn’t the first time, won’t be the last. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/348 "2016-05-03T02:06:47Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > But basically, we have a Republican of the compassionate conservative vein in Clinton, and a raging fascist of the Tea Party Republican style in Trump. Neither is really a Democrat. Sorry. Or maybe you have a definition of Democrat so absurd no Democrat fits it. The Democratic Party might not be what **you** want it to be, but here in reality it is the party Democrats want it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/349 "2016-05-03T02:39:39Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > The people are making bad choices that are not in line with their own beliefs and definitely not with their own best interests. Isn’t the first time, won’t be the last. I said it before. But apparently it bears repeating. Political campaigns, when faced with the reality that groups of voters don’t like their candidate especially, can respond by doing something to convince those voters otherwise…or they can blame the voters for being idiots. The second way does not seem designed to win hearts and minds. I suspect these campaigns tend to lose races. And if this really what you think, it’s a lousy advertisement for your candidate. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/350 "2016-05-03T10:48:23Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > But basically, we have a Republican of the compassionate conservative vein in Clinton, and a raging fascist of the Tea Party Republican style in Trump. Neither is really a Democrat. Sorry. Why would you not think a “real Democrat” is what _most Democrats_ define it to be? :dubious: We The Democrats indeed have spoken, and quite clearly. Maybe it’s time you dropped the caricatures you have cherished for so long and made an effort to understand why the Democrats have made the choice we have. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/351 "2016-05-03T11:29:27Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > The people are making bad choices that are not in line with their own beliefs and definitely not with their own best interests. Isn’t the first time, won’t be the last. Now there is a real democrat. Can you not face the fact that some people might not see Bernie’s proposals as in their best interests? Or don’t have his beliefs? And yet they are still Democrats. They still believe in civil rights, a woman’s right to choose, freedom of religion, scientific thought, and a progressive taxation system. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/352 "2016-05-03T11:31:57Z")
They nae be true Democrats. Just the vast overwhelming majority of them. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/353 "2016-05-03T13:15:56Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Because it sure sounds like we have two Republicans running for the Presidency this year. I’ve heard that before … back in 2000. Think of how different the world would be if the other “Republican” had won. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/354 "2016-05-03T14:55:37Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why would you not think a “real Democrat” is what _most Democrats_ define it to be? :dubious: > > We The Democrats indeed have spoken, and quite clearly. Maybe it’s time you dropped the caricatures you have cherished for so long and made an effort to understand why the Democrats have made the choice we have. And millions of Democrats have spoken quite clearly. They want Bernie. I suspect that Bernie would have done much, much, better if the national and state Democrat parties had treated all of the Democrat candidates fairly, and equally. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/355 "2016-05-03T15:02:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why would you not think a “real Democrat” is what _most Democrats_ define it to be? :dubious: It’s incredible, isn’t it? For some reason there are people who believe if one isn’t a Social Democrat, they aren’t a “real Democrat”, which is amazingly absurd. The Democrats have NEVER been a Social Democratic party. If you want a Social Democratic party, START ONE. Don’t try to redefine parties in nonsensical, ridiculous ways. Though I guess that does help identify the crazies… ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/356 "2016-05-03T15:03:18Z")
And 3.168 Million more of them want Clinton. That is 15% more people. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/357 "2016-05-03T15:10:56Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > And millions of Democrats have spoken quite clearly. They want Bernie. > > I suspect that Bernie would have done much, much, better if the national and state Democrat parties had treated all of the Democrat candidates fairly, and equally. I suspect he still would have lost. If Sanders lost solely because he wasn’t treated fairly what that really shows is he sucks at politics. He’s had many more years to make friends and gain support than Clinton has had yet a younger politician can steam roll over him and no one in his party is willing to come to his defense? If he wanted to run as a Democrat with thier support he made a terrible political play. I don’t want someone who sucks at politics as president. What are they going to do cry unfairness when another world leader out plays them? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/358 "2016-05-03T15:35:02Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > And millions of Democrats have spoken quite clearly. They want Bernie. > > I suspect that Bernie would have done much, much, better if the national and state Democrat parties had treated all of the Democrat candidates fairly, and equally. I think the parties and the members of the party have a right to support the candidates of their choice. Bernie did “much, much, better” than anyone expected. To me that’s some evidence that the parties and the voters gave him every opportunity. Someone has to finish second, why not Bernie? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/359 "2016-05-03T16:05:48Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Can you not face the fact that some people might not see Bernie’s proposals as in their best interests? Sure, if they’re either deluded or in the upper 10%. Otherwise, no. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263/360 "2016-05-03T16:16:51Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > It’s incredible, isn’t it? For some reason there are people who believe if one isn’t a Social Democrat, they aren’t a “real Democrat”, which is amazingly absurd. The Democrats have NEVER been a Social Democratic party. If you want a Social Democratic party, START ONE. Don’t try to redefine parties in nonsensical, ridiculous ways. Though I guess that does help identify the crazies… So, Democrats are not the pro-union party, not the ones that push welfare, not the ones who try to fight income inequality, not the ones who push Keynes and progressive taxation, and aren’t the part of all the social justice movements? Maybe you can say it’s not “just” the Social Democratic party, but it sure seems the party for Social Democrats to me. Is it really that controversial that they are putting up the more centrist candidate because that’s what wins elections? Because it isn’t the base of either party that decides. It’s the independents and moderates. We talk about this here all the time, how Obama is fairly centrist–he just seem left because the Republicans have pulled so far to the Right. And, while this isn’t related to the above, I do want to say it: I notice that the attacks on this board from the Sanders side tend to be on Clinton herself. But the attacks on Clinton’s side seem to attack Sanders supporters. And surely it’s not controversial that you shouldn’t be attacking the supporters–the people you want to vote for your candidate? Seems a no-brainer to me. I did not expect such an OP to get this much opposition. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-the-democratic-establishment-is-treating-bernie-supporters-is-a-blunder/753263.md?page=19)