So, about Bernie saying maybe we should primary Obama

[passiveporcupine]

Because this will keep coming up and I think it needs to be clarified.

Bernie Sanders was on the Thom Harmann show and was answering a question from a caller.

Here is the text of some of what was said:

Caller Brian:
(?) Country back on track. How can we get the government (that calls balls and strikes ?) and quit running the country like a for-profit machine. How do we do it?

Sanders:
Well Brian, believe me, I wish I had the answer to your question. Let me just uhhh...let me just suggest this. I think there are millions of Americans that are deeply disappointed in the President, who believe that, with regard to Social Security, and a number of other issues he said one thing as a candidate and is doing something very much else as a President; who cannot believe how weak he has been, for whatever reason, in negotiating with republicans, and there's deep disappointment.

So, my suggestion is, I think, and you know one of the reasons the President has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no primary opposition to him. And, I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing.

then he goes on to say how the tea party has put pressure on their political leaders and how they have responded to that pressure.

what he is saying here is hold Obama's feet to the fire to get him back on track. Not that he necessarily wants him deposed as President, unless of course he refuses to shift back and there is a better option for our progressive causes. When he was campaigning, Obama kept saying "YES WE CAN"...well Bernie was just saying the people need to keep saying that...YES WE CAN, and NO YOU HAVEN'T. If Hillary wins, we are going to have to do the same thing to her, because, she is not, by nature, progressive on most issues.

I was one of those deeply disappointed people. I still wanted Obama as President, but I wanted to see him move back to his progressive promises. I'm still proud of him as a President, and I deeply love the man as a human being, but he did let a lot of us down in many ways. I know I'm not the only one here on DU who had problems with his giving up on his progressive platform. Some people here seem to hate him (which I have trouble understanding, as he's done a lot of good).

Here is a link to a short clip of the discussion above, including parts I have not transcribed.

[Beowulf]

1. Thank you!

[HassleCat]

2. We all know that.

But some of Clinton's supporter's feel the need to keep it alive. Maybe they feel bad because Clinton keeps getting hassled about Benghazi and the emails. I guess if Republicans can keep Benghazi... excuse me... BENGHAZI!... alive, it's OK to keep after Sanders about speculating how some primary opposition might affect the president.

[JRLeft]

3. Obama would always negotiate from the right, and then end up further right.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. So he was putting the good of the party and country ahead of

blind loyalty to one person?! The horror!

[Paka]

5. Good points to make.

No one is beyond criticism and that includes the President. Blind loyalty is not good. Like you, I am pleased and grateful that Obama is our President, but he did disappoint on many issues. Holding his feet to the fire is our job as Americans.