Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "Sanders is not a Democrat"

[left-of-center2012]

Wolf Blitzer interviewed Debbie on CNN yesterday.
While claiming she's neutral 'cause she's head of the DNC, she repeated a Clinton talking point,
reminding voters Bernie Sanders is NOT a registered Democrat.

[Merryland]

1. She must be sweating bullets about now...

[HassleCat]

80. Her head is on the chopping block

If Clinton does not win the presidency, Wasserman-Schultz is gone from the DNC.

[napi21]

177. I am a Bernie supporter but will vote for Hill if she's th nominee, but having said that,

I STILL want to see DWS GONE! She's done a very, very poor job and should be fired just for that!

[thesquanderer]

222. Certainly if Sanders wins, that's the case.

As I understand it, a Dem president usually selects the DNC head (and DWS was Obama's choice).

[MohRokTah]

2. She's right, he his NOT a registered Democrat. eom

[cali]

4. Pat Leahy is not a registered democrat. Gov Shumlin is not a registered democrat.

No Vermonter is a registered democrat.

10 pounds of shit in a five pound bag.

[azurnoir]

74. Paul Wellstone, Mark Dayton, Al Franken, Walter Mondale aren't registered democrats either

because you don't have to register under a party in MN either-frankly my first instinct is such a thing is an invasion of privacy

[Ed Suspicious]

204. Russ Feingold and Tammy Baldwin as far as I know are not registered Democrats.

[Goblinmonger]

213. No, they aren't. You don't register by party in Wisconsin.

You just pick one ballot when you get there.

[FuzzyRabbit]

160. Senator Patty Murray, D - Washington is not a registerd Dem either.

Neither is Senator Cantwell nor Governor Insley. There are no registered Dems in Washngton state. Never have been. We don't register to vote as party members. Never have.

[bravenak]

10. I think he's still running for his Senate seat as an Indy

[MohRokTah]

16. Yep, he's nothing but a DINO. eom

[bravenak]

21. Just wants to borrow the Democratic party machine. EGO.nt

[MohRokTah]

25. IMO, Sanders' ego makes Trump seem positively humble. eom

[bravenak]

29. Damn straight.nt

[Ron Green]

31. Yeah, that's right.

[Lizzie Poppet]

69. Please post pics of your goatee.

Since you're obviously operating in that alternate Star Trek universe...

[2pooped2pop]

82. Lol

Thanks for that chuckle

[6chars]

114. ?

[cali]

41. Just didn't want to play the role of spoiler.

YOU would be screaming Nader if he had run 3rd party.

[bravenak]

42. Oh bull. Ego

[cali]

57. Codswallop. I'm a Vermonter. You know little about him.

And you got zip, but I enjoy watching your anemic attempts. It's so transparent.

[bravenak]

66. I know he is not sufficient

[2pooped2pop]

83. We know, we know- NOT GOOD EOUGH BERNIE

But I was going to vote for him.lol right? Right?

[bravenak]

143. I WAS

Now that's a NEVER EVER EVER NO NO NO

[2pooped2pop]

146. Lol

I'll give u one thing; you always make my day with a few chuckles.

[Kentonio]

87. Yet it seems perhaps sufficient enough to beat your (supposedly) preferred candidate.

[bravenak]

90. Not really

I already said my Preferred Candidate is Jill Stein, but I'll take Hillary since Stein is not a Democrat. If she was the one running instead of the Bern, She's have my vote guarunteed. Although she is to my right, she has integrity

[Kentonio]

95. I do like Jill Stein.

[bravenak]

99. High five!!!

[Kip Humphrey]

127. fascinating given Hillary is a 3rd-Way conservative and a consummate liar.

[bravenak]

128. Why ar you telling ME this?

[cali]

136. Sufficient? Bwahahaha

[bravenak]

141. I do that too when I hear he's gonna win.

I say 'bwahaa haa haa, stop, can't breath, bwahaahaa!!'

[Lizzie Poppet]

173. To swelling Wall Street coffers? No, he isn't.

That's kind of the point...

[bravenak]

175. To black voters

[BillZBubb]

202. You own the market on BULL.

Hillary's ego is astronomical. Sanders is infinitely modest in comparison.

[bravenak]

210. Yeah right

[awake]

40. Not, his Senate seat is not up till 2018

Bernie is running for POTUS this year and he will resign his Senete seat after he has been sworn in in Jan. 2017

[bravenak]

45. Yeah right.

He will be running for his seat as an INDY in 2017. Period.

[awake]

51. I did not know that POTUS could hold a seat in the Senate at the same time

The only way he is in the senate is if Hillary becomes our parties candidate meaning that Trump will be the POTUS and we will all be fucked

[bravenak]

54. He would need the black vote to be POTUS

He does not have that. Cannot win without it. I am not concerned that he will be POTUS cause he never ever ever ever will be.

[awake]

59. I love the way that Hillary's supporters think that they "own" the black vote

How "white" of you I have some news for you Hillary does not own anyone it is the Banks that own her

[bravenak]

64. I'm black, nothing 'white' about me

Never said she owned anyone nor mentioned Hillary. Sorry she is on your mind so much.

[2pooped2pop]

89. I think he has more of the non white vote than you think.

You should branch out of your circle a little to see it.

[bravenak]

94. You have no idea what I think or what my 'circle' looks like

[2pooped2pop]

100. I think you post enough that we all know

A whole lot about you.

[bravenak]

103. Not enough

[2pooped2pop]

130. Lol

Way too much. Lol

[bravenak]

138. You only know what I say

[cali]

139. Your circle is irrelevant anecdotal stuff, not evidence of anything

[bravenak]

142. That poster brought my circle up

[madville]

102. How's she going to win without

The white vote, the independent vote or the under 50 vote?

[bravenak]

107. He is not beating her by much with the white vote

Indys do what they want
Black millennials are actually polling higher for Hill then Bern
Since the youth cannot be counted on until they become likely voters, we cannot count on that anyways.
Since she is beating him regardless of her weakness with white males, I think she will continue beating him since she is the worthier candidate

[JonLeibowitz]

155. Yes, Indy's do what they want--that is precisely the point. They are 40% of RVs, and don't back her.

[bravenak]

156. They cannot vote in all primaries

[JonLeibowitz]

161. Yes, and I was talking about the General Election where she is toast. n/t

[bravenak]

162. He won't even make it that far and would get creamed after the attack ads

[JonLeibowitz]

164. Hardly the point -- I was talking about her inability to convince Independents; not about Bernie.

[bravenak]

165. She can convince Democrats

Republicans will beat themselves dealing with her

[JonLeibowitz]

166. Democrats are not enough to win a general election. That is why I was speaking about Independents.

Are we going in circles here?

[bravenak]

167. I am a democrat

So talking about catering to independents during a primary election is silly talk to me

[JonLeibowitz]

168. Only silly talk if you don't want to win a general election.

[bravenak]

169. We are in primary season

[JonLeibowitz]

171. What about the Hillary supporters saying "reconsider voting for Hillary because she's electable?"

[bravenak]

172. You should ask them

[Kentonio]

110. I do wonder about this (assuming you mean the primary not the general)

Just to avoid any misunderstanding, I think any candidate for the Dem nomination certainly SHOULD win at least a substantial proportion of the black vote, and the same for the Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians, because being fully representative of the nation is hugely important. If at the end of the primaries the nominee had only pulled in say 20% of the black vote that would worry me greatly.

That said, the assumption that its not possible to win the nomination without the black vote doesn't seem to really stand up to the numbers.



South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Lousiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland (the states with more than 25% of black Democratic primary voters) COMBINED deliver fewer delegates than just California and New York. The idea that you cannot win without the bulk of the black vote seems to assume that candidates will pretty evenly split the white and latino votes.

NOTE: I genuinely hope this is something we can discuss here without the heat of the primary making people think there's any attack involved. I'm certainly not trying to reduce the importance of black voters and issues here, I'm just genuinely interested in how the numbers break down.

[bravenak]

124. Oh

Ok. This is why. Black voters voted at a higher rate than white voters in the last two cycles, black women most of all. We vote higher than our share of the population.
And it's no just black voters he is struggling with, he is also struggling with the latino vot as well, although the actually vote less than their share of the population.
If you look at the states where he does well, you can see that those states have a democratic electorate that is far more liberal than the rest of the nation. Even my state, the conservatives are VERY CONSERVATIVE, but we liberals are VERY LIBERAL. It's all hippies and oil mongers. We will go Bernie. Very few blacks here.


If you look at the margins of the percentages in the states that she is beating him in, you notice something interesting, he is only winning in very few states with very few delegates, the states she is beating him in, which include california and new york and texas, we might not make up a larger share of the pop, but there are many of us there and we are the margin. If they split on white voters, but she wins withminorities by large margins, the state goes Hillary. And that is why you need the black vote. We are loyal. And we actually do comiserate and decide who to vote for almost as a collective, what is best for US is what we ask ourselves, not what is best for me. Our wealthy blacks do not vote republican, the vote in the best interest of all blacks for the most part.

Often the white vote is split, but the black vote goes on wa or the other which makes it imperative to get black voters on your side. I'd say I think hispanic voters have similar ways of voting too, what is best for the entire group, rather than just what is best for them personally. Black votes get you over the top. Ignore black voters and watch losses pile up in state after state.

[Kentonio]

132. I definitely don't think you should EVER ignore black voters.

It's an interesting point about loyalty and turnout, I'd heard that older black women were basically the most reliable demographic in the entire nation for voting.

On the liberal/conservative thing though, despite the seeming contradiction I can see him appealing to a lot of quite conservative people. The FDR call is something that does resonate with those guys and the consistency of his message taps in to the conservative mindset in some ways.

Regarding the large states though, I think its just too early to call. His strategy has been by necessity to try and build up steam and hit each round of new states with the momentum from the previous so I think polling in places like California could change quite rapidly. Of course if his momentum stalls then its all over, but there's plenty of time to go yet. I think the key challenge for Hillary is not just holding her numbers with the black and latino communities but ensuring she doesn't slip any more with the over 50 demographic as a whole.

[bravenak]

137. That's pretty much it

If he starts losing steam after the swing thru the south and super tuesday, it's a wrap. Peope lose confidence, lose interest. Her voters been waiting since 2008 to vote for her. She can slip a bit more, but still get enough delegates to win. He cannot have a bad super tuesday or even fail in both SC or NV. Fail there and th momentum goung into super tuesday is all hers. That's why it was a bad idea to wait to appeal until now. We like totally notice he waited until now.

[Kentonio]

144. Agreed.

I think the Nevada result will be extremely vital in terms of how the media shapes the narrative for the final week before South Carolina. I've never expected him to win SC, but if he could somehow make it within 10 points then I'd be very confident moving into Super Tuesday.

[bravenak]

145. Yep. I'm watching with excitement

This is the real test for both candidates. I woke up early as hell today just so ready!

[MohRokTah]

73. His Independent Campaign Committee is already raising money for an independent run. eom

[Rocky the Leprechaun]

91. Link? Proof to the FEC reports?

Awaiting, fellow Coloradan. I'm not seeing one single crap of Clinton literature anywhere in Denver.

Her Colorado HQ must be in an invisible area.

[MohRokTah]

108. .

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/campaigns/bernard_sanders-senate.asp?cycle=16

[left-of-center2012]

184. "... he's still running for his Senate seat as an Indy"

He's not up for re-election until 2018

[bravenak]

188. So?

[Perogie]

15. I've checked the Democratic rules and regulations

All one has to do to be a Democrat is declare they are one.

Bernie declared he was running as a Democrat so that makes him one for this purpose. Doesn't matter what he was before that.

Check into it.

[2pooped2pop]

88. You know who is not acting like a dem?

DWS

[frylock]

211. What? You don't have to have blood drawn and sit through a 3-hour oriention?

Imagine that. All it takes to be a Democrat is to declare that you're a Democrat. You listen to some people around here, and you'd think there was some specific criteria required to be a member other than checking a box on a form.

[pangaia]

208. Looks like you may have lost this round.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

3. pssst.... hey debbie....

NEITHER ARE YOU.

[daleanime]

32. Which makes her the perfect judge of this things....

[Octafish]

191. Ironic.

In a cash and carry economic way.

[Le Taz Hot]

5. So why did SHE allow him to run on the Democratic Party ticket?

SHE gave the OK!

[question everything]

17. Because she is beigger than the Sandersitas? (nt)

[cali]

23. She is a picture of a horrible democrat

This is a woman who supported her wingnut rethug pals in the house over democratic candidates. This is a woman who vociferously supports throwing medical marijuana users in prison. There is so much more.

She is a corrupt piece of... work.

[daleanime]

35. What's a beigger?

[Le Taz Hot]

44. Then why is she whining now?

How does anyone NOT see the complete disconnect.? Seriously, I'm pretty incredulous here.

[Nay]

181. Well, exactly. The national committee(s) that decide whether a person

can run as a Democrat said they were A-OK with Bernie running. I'm assuming Clinton and DWS weighed in and were OK with it as well.

I truly believe that they thought he would be a powerless mouse whom the big cats could bat around with impunity, and then kill and eat in the Dem primary. They never in a million years thought he would catch fire and get anything like the votes he's getting. They never ever saw this coming. If they had, they would have barred him from the Dem primary.

[frylock]

214. It's because she thought he would be a footnote in August.

Like many of her ardent supporters here.

[TDale313]

22. They never expected him to get this far.

He was supposed to be the token fringe candidate to throw us lefties a bone while Hillary marched easily to the White House.

[Le Taz Hot]

47. That is exactly right.

And for her to come out now and start whining about how he's not a Democrat (is this news???) AFTER she gave the go-ahead is just, I don't even know.

[pengu]

186. I seem to recall Sanders being praised up and down for running as a Dem

They were so happy he wasn't going to do an indie run. Of course, that was before he started winning. Amazing how things change.

[BuelahWitch]

220. Didn't he have to pledge not to hit Hillary from the left

in the General if he was not the nominee?

[yourpaljoey]

30. The bloody sweats and cold regrets none know so well as she

The DNC is wishing they had snuffed Bernie before he started.
Now the fire has been lit... and they have no water.

[noretreatnosurrender]

119. Here's Why

Because she didn't think he would do as well as he has. lol She thought he could serve as a prop for Hillary to show it wasn't a coronation. It didn't go the way she expected.

[FarPoint]

6. I happen to agree with her on this point.

Mr. Sanders had 40 years to switch from Independent to Democrat...Mr. Sanders only temporarily switched in April 2015 for convenience of political backing. Power of the Democratic Party for his Independent position to run for President. I'm not comfortable with the deception.

[Le Taz Hot]

11. SHE gave the OK.

[FarPoint]

19. She obviously lacked vision on that call.

It happens. She is no Howard Dean.

[cali]

24. Howard would have made the same call. Vermonter here

And yeah, I know more about him than you.

[shanti]

206. hah!

bet she's kicking herself for that one!

[2pooped2pop]

97. Perhaps he did that so as to not split the vote and have everyone sream Nader

[dana_b]

195. exactly! He actually did the Dems a favour

by running as a Dem!

If he had run as an independent, people like me and many others would not have registered as Dems and would vote for him no matter if he ran as a communist. That would have hurt them much more than him running as a Dem does.

If he becomes President, I can't wait for her to resign or have to shake his hand and swallow those lies. I cannot stand her.

[Maedhros]

180. People with your attitude are more concerned with electing Democrats just because they're Democrats

than fixing problems and empowering people.

That is folly.

[Goblinmonger]

215. I'm sure you and the DNC powers complained when he caucused Dem.

Right?

You WANT him running independent?

[jkbRN]

7. Good

Do people (other than DU members) even care about this crap?

[Le Taz Hot]

49. Debbie seems to think so.

[Nyan]

67. Nope.

They do not.

[TDale313]

8. I keep hearing them bring this up.

And this line of attack will backfire I think. There are some for whom party trumps policy, but for many the fact that he's right on the issues and is seen as an outsider is not a bad thing. He'll do far better with independents and young voters because of that.

[CentralMass]

14. Very good points.

[CentralMass]

9. Well many of us life long Democrats think that he is the only Democrat in the race.

[stopbush]

37. And many of us think that would be Hillary

Proudly voting D since 1972.

[earthshine]

53. Just curious what you think of this ...

Unlike some other Clinton supporters, you generally try to give thoughtful responses.

Respond to this ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017331184

The Clintons, Obama, and DWS have made lobbyists into "Democractic Party insiders" with awesome sway over the party.

You support sheer corruption.

[stopbush]

78. I don't watch videos like this.

I would be happy to read an article from an unbiased source if you have one.

[earthshine]

98. The video is an interview with Lee Fang of the Intercept

This is the article. It's bit dry.

https://theintercept.com/2016/02/17/voters-be-damned/

The interview was compelling.

Thanks.

[stopbush]

113. Thanks for the article which I read.

A tempest in a teapot.

As the article points out, there are 712 super delegates that make up 15% of a winning vote count. Out of those 712, the article points to NINE delegates who it says are lobbyists. One of these supposed lobbyists - Joanne Dowdell - is VP of global government affairs at News Corp. Apparently, she's a "lobbyist" because a different division of News Corp lobbies politicians (at least it appears to be a different division from the way the article is written).

Whatever. The idea that 9 delegates who represent .12% of the D super delegates and .037% of the total delegate count of 2,383 needed to secure the nomination "might tip the nomination to Hillary Clinton" is ludicrous hyperbole.

"My ace in the hole? Why, it's that .037% of the super delegates that I know I can count on to tip the election my way" said nobody.

[earthshine]

126. There are more than that. The count grows. Apparently, it's very difficult to find out who they are.

These people have outsized influence beyond their vote.

They bring the money.

Please see the Thom Hartmann show excerpt. Thanks.

[stopbush]

135. I think who the super delegates are is set for 2016.

Otherwise, Hillary would not have been able to get so many of them to support her.

To say the number of lobbyists who are D delegates is growing is inaccurate, at least as it relates to this election cycle.

You haven't commented on my point that the lobbyist-as-delegate count is statistically insignificant. Do you still believe they have the clout to tip the election to Hillary?

[earthshine]

198. This election could be very close. It might matter. Think Iowa.

They are a product of the individual states, and their identities are largely unknown.

I didn't mean the numbers are increasing in absolute terms. (That "fix" is already in.) But, Lee Fang seems to be discovering more identities as time goes on.

Yesterday's count was up to 15.

According to Thom Hartmann, each SD carries the equivalent voting power of 10,000 people.

Again, I appreciate your thoughtfulness and civility.

[stopbush]

200. Actually, we know pretty much exactly who the super delegates are.

47 Senators, 193 House members, 20 D governors, etc.

There are 432 members of the DNC as well. We pretty much know how many they are state by state.

[earthshine]

117. Here's Thom Hartmann talking about it on his show.

I hope the format of this video is more acceptable for you. Seems better than the article.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511274866

Starting at 2:30, he talks about how the SDs include many high-powered lobbyists who are shaping party policy. Democracy dies in the Dem party.

Thanks.

[stopbush]

131. Thanks, but I'll pass on Thom Hartmann.

I have a hard time taking him seriously. I'm a science guy when it comes to evidence, and Thom is unfortunately with the majority of Americans who believe contrary to all the scientific evidence that there was a second gunman and therefore a conspiracy to kill JFK. I have studied this a lot, and I just can't see how anyone who looks at the evidence can come to such a conclusion.

To me, this is a case of allowing the conceit of one's opinion and passions to not only have the same standing as science, but to trump science. That to me reveals a world view that lacks the necessary dispassion to treat issues and even history objectively. Go down that road far enough and you arrive at religion. For that reason, I can't bring myself to consider him a reliable voice.

That's probably a shortcoming on my part, but I'm better off admitting it than lying to myself and feigning that I'm giving Mr Hartmann an unbiased shot at making his argument with me.

But thanks for providing the link.

[earthshine]

221. Thom is a pundit who is mostly right most of the time.

At least twice, Thom has completely blown predictions about the economy. Namely, that it will effectively blow up soon. I'm sure he's gotten much more wrong, as well. On balance, I'm glad to have him.

I actually can't speak to JFK issues. I've never taken a serious look at it. Maybe after I'm done unraveling 9/11, which was very close to me at the time.

I'm a high-science guy. Logical reasoning is evidence based, but if "they" effectively hide pieces of the puzzle, good analysis can only lead to wrong conclusions.

<sigh> Not a good day for team Sanders.

Thanks.

[frylock]

218. They don't want to hear it.

lalalalalalalalalala

[frylock]

217. She has the throwback jersey to prove it.

Yay TEAM!

[kath]

43. Absofuckinlutely.

[noretreatnosurrender]

123. Excellent point

I'm one of them.

[Matariki]

149. +1

Probably +millions

[hobbit709]

12. She should know, she's not a Democrat either-she's a DINO that campaigns for R's.

[earthside]

13. I am grateful for that statement.

The elite Democratic Party establishment and insider corporatists, like DWS, need to stay on message.

The progressive movement, the New Deal tradition, the 'restore the Democratic Party to a party of labor and the people' effort should not have any doubts about what we are up against.

[stopbush]

39. And yet BS knew that without that elite D establishment

he didn't have a chance at the Presidency.

[earthshine]

56. Shamefully, you are correct. But, now we have a chance to pull out of this.

If people vote for Bernie, of course.

[earthside]

92. A fundamental misunderstanding of the Sanders effort.

The primary impetus of Sen. Sanders and his supporters, in my estimation, is not about Bernie's personal ambition to become president (this is probably hard for Hillarians to comprehend).

It is about the presidency as a vehicle for genuine, progressive change for America.

It is obvious that Sen. Sanders is running for president in spite of the "elite D establishment".

And that is why the Sanders appeal is so powerful -- it is truly grassroots-based.

BTW ...
This reminds me of the condescension the Party establishment had towards Sen. McCarthy in 1968; they mocked him and his supporters as a "Children's Crusade" ... but they drove LBJ out of the race.

[stopbush]

118. Nam drove LBJ out of the race.

Simple as that.

[earthside]

148. It wasn't that simple.

However, in any event, it was a primary contest in New Hampshire in 1968 that had a name on the ballot -- "Eugene McCarthy" -- that people voted for that eventually helped make Lyndon decide that he needed to drop out of the race.

(The power of the antiestablishment sentiment was so strong that even though Johnson won the New Hampshire primary as a write-in candidate, the cause of 'Clean Gene' changed everything in 1968.)

By the way, there was a lot, lot more going on than just Vietnam that wrenched apart the Democratic Party in 1968.

[stopbush]

150. For sure. But to aver that McCarty was THE thing that caused "them"

to drive LBJ from the race as did your earlier post is incorrect.

[earthside]

152. Oh.

In our system, you beat someone with someone.

"Vietnam" wasn't on the ballot -- McCarthy was on the ballot; he conducted the campaign against Johnson.
There wasn't a 'Vietnam' plebiscite on the 1968 New Hampshire Democratic primary, there was a candidate.

I'm not sure why you want to take away from Gene McCarthy the significance of his accomplishment.

[hoosierlib]

18. She needs her ass primaried...

[madfloridian]

27. She has an outstanding primary opponent. And he's very impressive.

https://timcanova.com/

Here's his about page.

https://timcanova.com/about.htm

[jwirr]

199. And many of us have him on our donation list.

[cali]

28. Tim Canova, a solid Progressive with a great background is challenging her

[djean111]

20. I live in Florida. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is a Democrat In Name Only.

She is not actually a Democrat, as I see Democrats.
I have contributed to the person who is primarying her.
And, if I quit the party entirely, it is the likes of Debbie DINO who are responsible.
Not a penny from me to the DNC. They are just funneling that money to Hillary.

[Gregorian]

26. Bernie is the true Democrat, whereas DWS/HRC are pirates of the party.

I never thought I'd have to say that.

I was on cloud 9 when Bill won in 1992. It didn't take long before I realized I had just been bait and switched.

[AtomicKitten]

38. Agreed and what a long strange trip it's been.

I was still defending the Clintons into 2006, but I got an education here.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

70. pirates of the party

that is the nicest way it can be said

[Zorra]

33. Neutral? Oh, my.

[geek tragedy]

34. geek tragedy: DWS is an unhelpful Democrat nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

46. Everything they try backfires.

People start to wonder who is a true Democrat.

[ucrdem]

48. A little late for that. But no use crying over spilt milk.

Putting him on the Dem primary roster was an utterly and predictably disastrous decision. I still have no idea why she agreed to it.

[Firestorm49]

50. Not a Registered Democrat

I don't think that Trump was a registered Republican either. Sorry if I'm wrong.

[Robbins]

55. this is stupid

she is suspose to be neutrel.

Bernie has been alied with dems since going to congress.he votes with dems 97% of the time.he was chair of veterans committee and is ranking member of budget committee.

In 2012 debate bernie was attacked by republican opporent as not being a real independent but voting with reid and obama 97% of
the time.

[bigwillq]

58. I am really not concerned

With what candidates label themselves as or not. Or if they're an I today, a D tomorrow. Labels mean little to me. Party means little to me. I vote for candidates, and I am aware that they're are some bad Ds who will never get my vote.

[djean111]

60. Just thought of something - braying that Bernie is not a Democrat!!!!! is only going to HELP

him with GOP voters. Wasserman and her DINO buddies should just rename the DNC to the New Democrat Coalition, put their obeisance to the Third Way front and center, and then see who follows them from the actual Democratic Party.

While we are being condescendingly told that "we have to win", the DINOs who do win are all voting with the GOP.

[bbgrunt]

61. They would prefer an independent run? I am being insulted by those who

supposedly want my vote in Nov. With this kind of disrespect it is clear that they would prefer to let the democratic party die.

[corkhead]

62. Then apparently no Democrat is going to win the Democratic nomination. Who cares anyway?

Debbie, your flop sweat is showing.

[Bluenorthwest]

63. Debbie is a Democrat when being one does not offend her Republican friends:

She refused to support three Democrats, Miami-Dade Democratic Party chair Joe Garcia, former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and businesswoman Annette Taddeo,because they ran against her pals Republican Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

She has no room to talk at all.

[BlueCaliDem]

65. And she's right. He's running for re-election in Vermont - AS AN INDEPENDENT

with mostly money coming from California.

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/campaigns/bernard_sanders-senate.asp?cycle=16

[JonLeibowitz]

159. I am sure that will make enormous difference to voters.

[tk2kewl]

68. they seem determined to destroy the party

or force the left to finally abandon it

[FlatBaroque]

71. Dear Debbie Doodles: That is precisely why I support him. /

[peace13]

72. Boom goes the dynamite !

She might be surprised by how many people are not Democrats by her standards. Let's put it this way...I don't want to be what she is.

[UglyGreed]

75. I heard a rumor that Debbie been

known to support FL Republicans in the past maybe she could show some support for a Democratic Socialist. Perhaps her Bankster husband would disapprove who knows

[DownriverDem]

76. Bernie isn't a Dem

No, Bernie isn't a Dem and I have a real problem with that.

If you want to see a great primary predictor go to fivethirtyeight.com Nate Silver is very well respected for his predictions.

[Le Taz Hot]

109. Then why did she give the OK for him to run on the Democratic Party ticket?

She OK'd it. That horse has done left the barn a LONG time ago.

[Jester Messiah]

115. Do you value a label over policy positions? [nt]

[pinebox]

120. Who the hell cares. PEOPLE OVER PARTY

[backscatter712]

77. He's more of a Democrat than that quisling DWS will ever be... n/t

[Bad Thoughts]

79. I'm not sure DWS is a democrat (small "d")

She seems to be working hard to constrain popular expression in this election cycle, limiting the amount of democracy (small d) in a way that should make Democrats (large D) uncomfortable.

[lumberjack_jeff]

81. "Democrat" = "Clintonite". I have had my fill of political dynasties. n/t

[DisgustipatedinCA]

84. Filthy, corrupt Republican fixer. nt

[restorefreedom]

85. so is this the saturday talking point?

i thought it was "nevada is too white" or was it "bernie supporters starve their children"?

my spreadsheet needs to be updated, i guess.....

[hollysmom]

86. I stopped calling myself a democrat after a lifetime loyalty when the

candidates took a shift to the right.
started agreeing to take down the protections that were put up in the 40's to stop the next depression. IU figured they were in the pockets of people who had more money than I did and I earned a good living.

[oldandhappy]

93. She is not a Dem. She is a Repub! And a control freak.

[fredamae]

96. Thanks to DWS, Schumer, Rahm et al -I am no longer a

Modern era "democrat" either. She and "theirs" seem to forget, when they go after Bernie-it is "going after" the Base as well.

I find this interesting.
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-01-19/in-europe-sanders-would-be-center-right

[cantbeserious]

105. FDR Democrat Here - The Modern Era Be Damned - A Pox On Their Houses

eom

[fredamae]

112. I am too-and forever will be

The Modern "democrat" didn't build their "New Dem Coalition" structure very well and in 2016 it is crumbling faster than Americas Infrastructure.
Jigs up-no more games...

[cantbeserious]

116. Roger That - The DWS DNC DLC Third Way - House Of Corporate Cards - Be Strugglin And Crumblin

eom

[cantbeserious]

101. DWS - Predictably Spreading Establishment FUD - Meme Number 17

eon

[CincyDem]

104. DWS is missing the point.

Her response should have been "we are excited that Senator Sanders has decided to participate in the Democratic primary process and we welcome his ideas into our big tent".

The reason: imagine if Bernie decided to be a true independent and run in November against HRC and one of the clowns from the Republican car. Now...he probably wouldn't be running 25-30-35% support but if he skimmed 4-6% off (most likely) HRC...he'd be maligned like Ralph Nader for giving the election to some clown.

[AzDar]

106. Desperate Debbie Denies Dutifully...

[Jester Messiah]

111. So what? [nt]

[jillan]

121. Neither are you DWS because no Democrat would have destroyed the party like you did.

How many Democratic Governors, Senate Seats, State seats have we lost under your tenure because you refused to invest in our party?!

DWS you are the worst thing that ever happened to Democrats.

[Bluenorthwest]

122. Democrats torn between party, GOP friends

But Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their ties to the three Republicans are personal as well as professional: Both served in the state Legislature with Mario Diaz-Balart and say they work in concert with all three on South Florida issues.
This time around, Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their relationships with the Republican incumbents, Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leave them little choice but to sit out the three races.

''At the end of the day, we need a member who isn't going to pull any punches, who isn't going to be hesitant. ''It needs to be somebody who can roll up their sleeves.'' Wasserman Schultz said. ``I'm just not that person; it's just too sensitive for me."
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24478039.html

Debbie Tries to Explain:
""As far as staying out of the races in South Florida that the candidates
that are running against Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, or Mario Diaz-Balart, I will tell you two things: one is that I have not endorsed any of three Republicans nor will I....."But at the same time I am a member of Congress representing the 20th District of Florida and it is my responsibility to balance my role in Congress with my role at the DCCC and my role as a Democrat. And I think it is absolutely my responsibility to make sure that I can effectively work with my colleagues. And that's a tough balance. You know, it's like walking a tight rope. The way I have chosen to be able to, the way that I can do that is by working behind the scenes to help those Democratic candidates by not publicly coming out against my the Republican incumbents."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/21/481626/-

[pinebox]

125. DWS voted to gut SNAP & so did Clyburn

along with 89 other Dems. They should ALL be primaried!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/1/29/1273428/-These-89-Democrats-Voted-to-Cut-8-7-Billion-from-Food-Stamps

Ron Barber (AZ-02)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Ami Bera (CA-07)
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Timothy Bishop (NY-01)
Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Bruce Braley (IA-01)
Corinne Brown (FL-05)
Julia Brownley (CA-26)
Cheri Bustos (IL-17)
G. K. Butterfield (NC-01)
Lois Capps (CA-24)
John Carney (DE)
Andre Carson (IN-07)
Kathy Castor (FL-14)
Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05)
Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Susan Davis (CA-53)
John Delaney (MD-06)
Suzan DelBene (WA-01)
John Dingell (MI-12)
Tammy Duckworth (IL-08)
Bill Enyart (IL-12)
Sam Farr (CA-20)
Bill Foster (IL-11)
Lois Frankel (FL-22)
Marcia Fudge (OH-11)
Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02)
Pete Gallego (TX-23)
John Garamendi (CA-03)
Joe Garcia (FL-26)
Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01)
Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20)
Denny Heck (WA-10)
Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15)
Steven Horsford (NV-04)
Steny Hoyer (MD-05)
Jared Huffman (CA-02)
Hank Johnson (GA-04)
Eddie Johnson (TX-30)
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Robin Kelly (IL-02)
Dan Kildee (MI-05)
Derek Kilmer (WA-06)
Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01)
Anne Kuster (NH-02)
Rick Larsen (WA-02)
Dan Lipinski (IL-03)
Dave Loebsack (IA-02)
Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01)
Ben Lujan (NM-03)
Dan Maffei (NY-24)
Sean Maloney (NY-18)
Doris Matsui (CA-06)
Betty McCollum (MN-04)
Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
Jerry McNerney (CA-09)
Mike Michaud (ME-02)
Patrick Murphy (FL-18)
Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA-35)
Rick Nolan (MN-08)
Bill Owens (NY-21)
Nancy Pelosi (CA-12)
Ed Perlmutter (CO-07)
Gary Peters (MI-09)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
David Price (NC-04)
Nick Rahall (WV-03)
Cedric Richmond (LA-02)
Bradley Schneider (IL-10)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Allyson Schwartz (PA-13)
Bobby Scott (VA-03)
David Scott (GA-13)
Terri Sewell (AL-07)
Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)
Brad Sherman (CA-30)
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)
Albio Sires (NJ-08)
Mike Thompson (CA-05)
Bennie Thompson (MS-02)
Paul Tonko (NY-20)
Filemon Vela (TX-34)
Tim Walz (MN-01)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)
Pete Welch (VT)

[Doctor_J]

129. She might want to shut up if she wants the young bernistas to vote for Hillary in November

Most of them don't have a party identify yet and won't bother to vote just because someone calls herself a democrat.

[EndElectoral]

133. This woman is so biased it is unbeleivable.

[Cary]

134. Isn't it true that Sanders isn't a Democrat?

Isn't that why Sanders' supporters like him?

So why should they Wasserman-Schultz tell the truth?

[pa28]

140. Message testing.

That's what she's going to be saying if she has to block Sanders' nomination at the convention.

[Lorien]

147. Because she and her fellow DLC Corporatists have hijacked the party

and now we're going to take it back! Since the dLC has dragged the Dems reputation through the mud, Little Debbie's remarks will only HELP Bernie!

[HooptieWagon]

151. At least he was NEVER a republican.

Keep hammering back with that.

[pat_k]

153. So he doesn't have battered Democrat syndrome - good. Joining the party is an intervention.

For years we've watched members of the Democratic party cower in fear of the beating the Republican noise machine will give them if they actually take a stand. But however far they go to appease the monster, the beating still comes. They wrongly believe they'll find no support "out there" if they try to escape.

The more support Sanders gets -- win or lose -- the more Democrats will be able to see there's plenty of support outside the beltway bubble. The more support Sanders gets, the more it will demonstrate that the public is hungry for strong voices that stand up for real American values.

I say it's good thing he hasn't identified with "the party" and its fearful stance until now. And it's a good thing he's decided to join it now. I see it as an intervention that could renew the party and help it's other members grow a spine -- if they are capable of listening to reality.

[dubyadiprecession]

154. Hes not a democrat like he's not Colonel Sanders, we aren't under any illusions of who he is.

[stillwaiting]

157. He's certainly not a NEW Democrat.

He's not the type of Democrat that has been recruited and funded since the DLC radically took over the Democratic Party.

Bernie advocates for Traditional Democratic values and he has a lot of support clearly.

DWS should be ashamed of herself.

[marmar]

158. Says Debbie?

Isn't it ironic dontcha think?

[Sheepshank]

163. I agree with DWS and Dean Howard, he's not a Dem

I've never considered Bernie a Dem.

[Boomer]

170. DWS is not a Democrat either

Bernie Sanders embodies the ideals of the FDR New Deal Democratic party. THAT was my party. The party that the Clintons, DWS and their cronies swept away.

[zappaman]

174. Hillary was a Goldwater girl!

#feelmybern

[myrna minx]

176. Good lord - the panic. Does Debbie's DNC have any ability to have long range thinking or strategy?

Good grief. Even if I was a Clinton supporter, I'd think this is really dumb and short sighted.

No wonder why we've lost both houses of Congress under this foolish "leadership".

[highprincipleswork]

178. By the time DWS is done, there will be no Democrats, or not enough to win anything.

[morningfog]

179. Fuck the DNC. We are taking the party back.

[DemocraticSocialist8]

182. DWS has been a disaster for the DNC

[1StrongBlackMan]

183. He's not! ...

Hanging out with a group/organization, even supporting the group/organization, doesn't make you a member of that group/organization.

Though, he did sign an affidavit indicating that he is a member in order to run for president.

[liberal_at_heart]

185. neither am I.

[pat_k]

187. He's not the typical "battered Democrat." Joining the Party is an intervention.

Instead of rejecting him, Wasserman should be delighted that he's joined the Party. He's imparting a bit of spine. He's proof that a Democrat can stand and fight for real American values -- and win people over from across the political spectrum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511283947

[Matariki]

193. "Joining the Party is an intervention"

LOL. "Democratic Party, we are here today because we care about you and are concerned..."

[pat_k]

212. Instead of usual lobbying, we should start planning "interventions"!

I can just see a group of people meeting with a Senator (or staffer) "... We are here today...

Love the image!

[nadinbrzezinski]

189. DWS is kicking herself for wecoming Sanders to the race

and I can quote her words, about him running as a Democrat. I ma sure the intent was to give a piñata to the HRC campaign, to give the illusion of choice. She did not actually expect an actual race.

I can feel her pain. I would hate it too when the coronation turns to an actual... primary

[TransitJohn]

190. The Party bosses are just pissed

They had locked out ballot access in the states just as effectively as they had locked out access to Presidential debates, and Bernie is beating them with their own Party members, by advocating forwhat they really want. The Party bosses can't stand it that we have a candidate that we want that they didn't pick.

[kristopher]

192. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is not a democrat"

She is a shill for the corporate money stream that is currently buying US democracy.

Bernie is here to tell them their lease is up.

[Odin2005]

194. Debbie is not a Democrat.

[dana_b]

196. Tim Canova!! Tim Canova!!

Let's primary Debbie!!

https://timcanova.com/

He's very progressive and is running as a Sanders type Dem. Check him out!!

[jwirr]

197. DWS is a R-lite.

[Ferd Berfel]

201. Zero Integrity

[Ed Suspicious]

203. Why then did she let him into the race for the Democratic Party nomination?

Poor poor pitiful little Debbie.

[LW1977]

205. DWS should be removed from DNC chair, she is awful at her job!

[RKP5637]

207. DWS should know, she's not a democrat either IMO! n/t

[Bradical79]

209. Your loss Debbie

All this talk of Sanders not being a Democrat is not going to hurt him one bit. Petty party politics and having to go outside the party for someone who isn't in the pocket of big corporate money are two things the head of the DNC shouldn't be highlighting, imo. If she really wants to help the party, or help Hillary, she should just be completely silent until December. Then resign.

[Goblinmonger]

216. Does she think this will help retain the I's that support Sanders

if Clinton wins the nomination? How about the progressive Dems?

This is a HORRIBLE tactic that will come back to bite her in the ass if Clinton is the nominee.

But I'm sure she and many, many others will blame Sanders if that happens.

[frylock]

219. This is a feature, not a bug.

#fearthebern

[thesquanderer]

223. IIRC, in Vermont you *can't* register as a Democrat

because VT doesn't have party registrations.