Bernie is Hustling the Democratic Party

[salinsky]

Seems like if he wants the superdelegate's backing, he should at least make the case that he can bring home the bacon, but he's not even trying ...

Sanders makes it sound like Clinton is raising such obscene amounts of money for her campaign. In actuality, she’s raising money for herself, the Democratic Party and state Democratic parties around the country. Those funds would then be used to finance everything from “get out the vote” operations to phone banks and email blasts not only for the presidential nominee but also for House and Senate candidates down the ballot. In an election year in which the Republican presidential nominee could be Donald Trump, the prospects of Democrats holding the White House and possibly retaking the Senate AND the House are not remote. Having money to do this for the November elections will be essential.
....
So far, the Hillary Victory Fund has raised $26.9 million with more than $22 million of it going to the DNC and the state party committees. Clinton has a formidable delegate lead but that doesn’t mean that Sanders still doesn’t have a chance. The Bernie Victory Fund is practically dormant. But the fundraising haul of $43.5 million in February and his goal to surpass that record-breaking effort for his presidential campaign in March means Sanders is in the race until the bitter end. And if he threads the needle, he very well could become the 2016 presidential nominee.

Now, here’s where the Sanders hustle comes in. While most people still assume that Clinton will win the Democratic nomination, all that money she is raising for the DNC and state parties will go to helping said nominee in the general election — even if that ends up being Sanders. The master fundraiser who hasn’t lifted a finger to help his adopted party. The fiery campaigner who has hammered his opponent for raising the money to fortify the DNC for the general election. The person who stands to benefit enormously from Clinton’s big-money prowess without sullying his carefully crafted aura of campaign-finance purity.

If he doesn’t want to “[waste] my time going to rich people’s homes begging them for their campaign contributions,” if he really is “not even interested in” the kinds of money Clinton has access to, then he should forego all the money she has raised for the DNC and state committees if he were to become the Democratic nominee.

Sanders would need every dime of that money to fight the Kraken released on him by the Republicans. But given all that Sanders has said, wouldn’t it be the height of hypocrisy to capitalize on the money he’s so gleefully scorned? Sure would be. And not relying on it would be unbelievably stupid. Sanders is not stupid, even though his campaign rhetoric in this regard is.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2016/03/31/heres-why-a-bernie-sanders-victory-for-the-nomination-would-make-him-a-hypocrite/

[LexVegas]

1. He wont be anything but a has been in a few weeks. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

61. "Has been" walking all over Hillary Clinton's historical aspirations. Yup.

[MaeScott]

65. It's lying Capehart. Not fit for fish wrap nt

[salinsky]

67. He's lying about the numbers?

Please explain ...

[SidDithers]

2. DU rec...nt

Sid

[kennetha]

3. Bernie is a cheap demagogue

[Armstead]

20. Clinton is an expensive one

[KPN]

41. +1!

Lol.

[uponit7771]

45. Rather be told a plausible lie than a lazy, half thought through one that Sanders gives

[Armstead]

49. If you choose to look at it that way....be my guest

Personally I think Sanders is being honest. He is not saying "I will give you this" but "If you stand up for yourselves, I'll help you get what you need"

Big difference.

[uponit7771]

51. I don't, he spends a lot of time at wingerish sophistry when it comes to Clinton

[Fast Walker 52]

83. such as?

[Gwhittey]

85. Telling the truth

I mean he should be following Clinton example. You know get media to lie and call Sanders Racist. And having black community leaders endorse her then lie about same thing. That is the real way you run for office. Not this straight talk Truth crap. Dam it lie to us already, the Truth hurts us Senator Sanders!!!!

[DemocracyDirect]

4. You do realize that money he would raise for the DNC NOW will end up in Hillary's pocket

Enough said.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. That is not what the evidence suggests. Much of it will go to my party./nt

[DemocracyDirect]

11. Those victory funds are legal u-turns for donations.

Hillary and others raise money and share it with the DNC through a Victory Fund.

Then the national and state DNCs have discretion to give it any candidates they want...

... most likely Hillary.

Please ladies and gentlemen, why can't we have honest debates and discussions.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

75. I will literally bet a pinkie she wins...

The funds from there will be disbursed towards downticket Dems who understands the principles of the Democratic Party, not the Third Way Party.

There is no victory in sight for Clinton. Her path to the nomination is now closed

.




Whomever wants to take my wager we can begin working out the logistics.


#lol@atmybadself

[salinsky]

79. What are you smoking?

Bernie is lying when he says he has a path to victory.

He's has blockaded all paths and burnt all bridges, and he knows that.

[George II]

84. No it won't.

[RiverLover]

5. The Clintons have been hustling it for 40 years.

Who do you think turned our party into the anti-FDR, anti-worker, pro-Wall Street, pro-war for profit, pro-monopoly, pro-privatization, pro-deregulation party that it is today?

We need Bernie to save the party!

[Baobab]

62. Clintonian Triangulation (look it up)

Clintonian Triangulation.

[polichick]

88. Absolutely.

[noamnety]

7. I understand that this is a current talking point

and probably one that some people are getting paid by the post to make. Not saying you specifically are, but that some are.

But it's not going to be effective in swaying people here, because anyone reading DU has enough awareness to realize the DNC is actively working against Bernie in the primary, and it would be counterproductive for Bernie to raise funds to aid an organization's attempt to defeat him.

[KPN]

42. Exactly!

[Jennylynn]

58. Right on

[dchill]

76. +1

[salinsky]

8. But, he's doing nothing whatsoever for Congressional or state candidates ...

... These are not the actions of a real presidential candidate serious about advancing socialism or leftist goals.

These are the actions of a cheap hustler.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

12. this is crap and you know it

you have posted this kind of material before and in the replies you have been shown many people that are running a Sanders democrats and they are using his fund raising plan.

go to the people not the fucked system

lol

[salinsky]

18. What is crap?

I think it's a pretty straightforward analysis of how Bernie is failing to support Democrats while Hillary does so.

And, I think you may have me confused with another poster ...

... so, if you could provide evidence of the many insurgent socialists who are running as Democrats using Bernie's fund-raising plan, it would be appreciated.

What are they running for - dog catcher of Portlandia?

[SoLeftIAmRight]

23. dog catcher of Portlandia

are you into animal abuse?

do you like Alabama more than Oregon?

you have seen the huge list and have responded to it

lol

welcome to ignore

[salinsky]

31. Sooooo, ... no evidence of what you claimed? ... nt

[dubyadiprecession]

59. soleftiamright is like most of bernies people...

They have no evidence, just BS they make up.

[Armstead]

22. I'd rather see a cheap hustler who is hustling for me than an expensive one who is...

selling us all out to Big Money Interests

[uponit7771]

47. How's Sanders screwing if down ballot dems hustling for you?... Do you guys understand how congress

... Works?!!!??!!

[Armstead]

50. I understand all too well, which is why I support Sanders

[rhett o rick]

9. The Victory Fund: how to buy super-delegates, from the Clinton Class. "There ain't nothing we can't

buy, including elections."

It's the Clinton Class vs. the middle and working classes.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

10. one can only hope

lol

[MineralMan]

13. Bernie Sanders' Campaign is Not

really connected with the Democratic Party. For many of his supporters, that is a plus. However, when it comes to down-ticket candidates for House and Senate seats, it's far from a plus. The President does not work in a vacuum. He has to have strong support from Congress, but he doesn't seem to be looking for that, really.

And, frankly, he's not getting it. Every Democratic House member and Senator is a superdelegate. Every last one. The number of those superdelegates who have endorsed and are supporting Hillary Clinton is telling. Democratic Senators work with Bernie Sanders and have worked with Hillary Clinton in the Senate. They know both. They're familiar with both candidates by association with them. House members, too, have experience with both candidates as legislators.

Almost all have endorsed Hillary Clinton. A few have endorsed Bernie.

Frankly, those endorsements should be informative to voters. The goal is to get progressive legislation enacted. That will require cooperation at all levels.

That is why Bernie Sanders will almost certainly not be the Democratic nominee for President, despite his insurgent popularity, especially with independent voters. Long-time Democrats are voting for Clinton.

And there it is. That's my opinion, by the way. Yours might be different.

[salinsky]

17. "The goal is to get progressive legislation enacted."

Precisely.

I don't get why that's so hard to understand for some.

[Stallion]

60. And Progressive Legislation ONLY Gets Enacted Through a Majority Coalition

all that "dirty" stuff like Politics and sometimes even compromise and concessions (oh the horror!!!)

[Armstead]

24. The goal is NOT to get progressive legislation enacted

If it were they would have been fighting a lot harder and a lot longer to do that.

They haven't. And we are all suffering from their malfeasance.

[Stallion]

63. Progressive Legislation is Impossible Without a Majority Voting Coalition

in present environment Progressive legislation is DOA

[Armstead]

66. Is also usually DOA when Democrats have had power too

They placate corporations and the GOP whether in power or out

[Stallion]

68. There Has Not Been a Purely Liberal or Progressive Voting Coalition in a Almost a Century

just a fact-liberals and progressive have not won enough elections to push their platforms and policies through the legislative system. There have been many moments of progressive and liberal reforms like the Voting Rights Act, Social Security, LBJ's War on Poverty, ACA, Reform of the Tax Code to raise taxes on the rich by both Clinton and Obama etc. This just demonstrates that true progressive reform is hard work and involves compromise and concessions to move the Country forward. Electing Bernie will do nothing to change this reality. In fact, without a natural constituency Bernie will find himself isolated on an island because there is no voting coalition to pass Free College Education, Medicare for All, Public Option etc, Several of those in fact failed precisely because there was no majority voting coalition to pass such legislation.

[Armstead]

69. Electing Bernie is a good start and better than...

electing someone who has long been a part of the power block that has stifles progressive reform on issues related to power and money.

The whole idea is to stop the rightward movement on core issues, and begin to move the pendulum to the left.

You're correct. That is a long and arduous process. But progressives have been trying in various ways to overcome the heavy burden of systemic corruption, and Bernie's campaign is just the most visible manifestation of breaking through.

By the way, I have nothing against moderates -- as long as they are liberal/progressive moderates. It's the ones who undermine those goals that I see as the problem.

[KPN]

55. You are right about the Party not supporting him.

Other than that? Meh....

Endorsements don't carry the weight they once did. And certainly, lack of endorsements doesn't equate to non-support within the party down the road should Bernie win the GE and become President.

You may also be right that Bernie won't/can't win the nomination. We shall see on that -- I certainly hope you are wrong and believe he has a legitimate shot. If he does not, it will have been because of the Party and Clinton machine.

BTW, long-term Democrats are not voting for Hillary. Some are, probably most, but many aren't. I have voted D for more than 40 years. I'm 100% for Bernie. Am I an "insurgent"? Seems to me you minimize, and the Party marginalizes, these "insurgents" by calling them that. I think the Party will, in fact, pay for that down the road.

[hellofromreddit]

80. Bernie is doing well because of his policies.

Democrats who want the coattails effect from him should adopt those policies. Tim Canova and Tulsi Gabbard have both received windfalls of support & donations as a result of supporting his campaign. But many democrats in office think his policies are too controversial so they tend to stay mum or even oppose his positions--which is consistent with the superdelegate breakdown.

[MineralMan]

89. Let me know how Canova does in his primary, OK?

[hellofromreddit]

90. The outcome doesn't matter, he saw a swell of support.

You argue that Sanders has no coattails. I provide examples of coattails and you argue that it might not be automatic victory.

I can assure you that Hillary also does not have coattails that provide automatic victory.

[MineralMan]

91. See, if Canova is not on the November ballot,

he can't get elected. Reality matters more than symbolism. Every time.

[DemocracyDirect]

14. There's enough energy in the Bernie people for the Democratic Party to take over Congress...

... and the senate.

But first we have to fight the entire establishment to get the nomination,
including this crazy MSM propaganda.

I'm really offended by these dishonest articles.

[salinsky]

16. I've read many commenters here claim very aggressively that Bernie is the only candidate ....

.... who is pursuing a campaign which could win back Democratic Congressional majorities.

When Hillary is both winning more votes in the primaries and fundraising for Congressional campaigns while Bernie is not, how can Bernie be considered a better candidate to win back Congress?

You've been conned.

[DemocracyDirect]

95. Hillary is continuously losing support.

Bernie keeps gaining support. This support is young and enthusiastic.

Yes rank and file democratic supporters are voting for Hillary Clinton.

I think you are not seeing the big picture.

It's okay though, time will tell.

[cosmicone]

15. Bernie is as manipulative and disingeuous as can be

Some of us can see right through the lofty platitudes and don't fall for the unicorn dreams.

[Armstead]

27. But you fail to see below Clinton's demoralizing platitudes

Naw can;t do that. Leave it to "us" to get the job done.

The con job of the Demoservatives has been massively disingenuous and manipulative.

[cosmicone]

32. Reality is more often demoralizing than not

I can't afford a Lamborghini ... and that is demoralizing ... but much better than someone saying, "You too can have a Lamborghini next year if you vote for me."

[Armstead]

33. No he is saying "You can actually have a voice in government"

Personally, I'm quite happy with my Honda Civic. Gets me where I want to go, and has a great radio.

[Armstead]

19. Raising Corporate and 10 percent cash to corrupt the whole party

Nah, I prefer a candidate who is raising money from us little people

[Surya Gayatri]

21. A hustler, indeed...who will gladly accept the DNC's

largess, if by some misfortune he makes it to the GE.

"The master fundraiser who hasn’t lifted a finger to help his adopted party. The fiery campaigner who has hammered his opponent for raising the money to fortify the DNC for the general election. The person who stands to benefit enormously from Clinton’s big-money prowess without sullying his carefully crafted aura of campaign-finance purity."

A hustler of the first magnitude. His Pureness is beginning to look a bit sullied.

[GreatGazoo]

25. says the psychic with an army of strawmen

[Ferd Berfel]

26. wow - Orwellian. The Clintons tooks a democratic Party,

sold it to the Koch Brothers and turned it into a corporate organization pushing all of the Republican Party programs right in front of your eyes. And Sanders is hustling someone?

[frylock]

37. There's one born every minute.

[Fumesucker]

28. You can't cheat an honest man or an honest party

If the Democratic party is being hustled then that is its own fault for being so dishonest and manipulative.

[azurnoir]

29. so Capehart is showing his 'face' again-thanks for letting us know

[Avalux]

30. It's time for SPINORAMA!!!

Where the once esteemed profession of journalism is hijacked by big money. Thanks for playing!

[Hiraeth]

34. welcome to ignore.

[frylock]

35. Good.

Fuck Capehart.

[Politicalboi]

36. What a bunch of shit

You guys have NOTHING. You know you support the worst candidate EVER and you're looking for something to make it look better for the Queen. Clinton supporters are like abused spouses. Excuses excuses excuses.

[jeepers]

38. Hillary throws 22 million

corporate dollars into the DNC bless her heart, but is that supposed to make me feel good about my chances of being heard?

Am I for or against the corporate buy out of Amerrican democracy, I forget.

[Dems to Win]

39. Hillary's kind of money makes certain that even if Dems win, the people lose

I don't want to be a member of a party funded by WalMart and Exxon lobbyists. Even if the Dems win, they won't be able to really work for the people if they owe favors to the corporations and banks.

In 2008, Dems won big. In 2009, they passed a health care plan that is far from Universal Health Care and leaves out the working poor. WalMart workers now have 'health insurance' with a $5500 deductible, so they have no health care access at all. 1 in 5 Americans still can't afford to go to the doctor when they get sick.

We need a better Democratic Party. Same-old same-old is not good enough!

If Bernie gets the nomination, then he can encourage his followers to contribute to the Democratic Party, with confidence that a Bernie-led Party will be ON OUR SIDE.

[dana_b]

40. anything by WaPo should be put in the same category as the National Enquirer or

the Daily News Bin. They are obviously SO anti Bernie it's not news, not reporting, it's just smears and propaganda for Hillary.

[salinsky]

46. So asking why isn't Bernie raising money for the Democratic Party ...

... and state Democratic parties? ...

... but he'll gladly accept their largesse should he win the nomination? ...

These inconvenient facts are smears and propaganda?

Spin it, brother!

Blame the messenger!

[dana_b]

53. he needs every penny

he doesn't take money from Super Pacs, or haven't you heard? Also the FACT that the Dems are actively working AGAINST him doesn't help at all.

And I'm not your brother - sister.
Goodbye!

[pinebox]

43. Someone better call the DNC!

Because you know, this....from November.
I love fact free discussions, they are fun!

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2016-fundraising-dnc-215559

[Hell Hath No Fury]

44. Jonathan Capeheart --

isn't exactly neutral in all this.

[salinsky]

54. So, he's lying about the numbers?

What is it about you guys and math?

[Fast Walker 52]

64. oh it's him-- blearghhh.

[oasis]

48. Says Hillary is "begging for money". Bernie needs to get a grip.

[unc70]

52. Capehart again!! Give us a break.

Talk about manufactured talking points. Isn't he discredited enough already!

This really has become farce now. The same dozen or so Clinton supporters dutifully reposting the same topics from early morning to late at night. Getting sloppy now. Often not even bothering to make the titles slightly different. And the same things being posted all over the Internet. So spontaneous and effective - not.

[beam me up scottie]

56. Capehart who lied about Bernie's picture? My god they'll let anyone spew their propaganda at WaPo.

He's been so thoroughly discredited he's a laughingstock.

Thanks for the belated April Fool's day prank.

Capehart.

[lakeguy]

57. corporations have been hustling the party for decades

[salinsky]

70. The bottom line is ....

.... Bernie is gonna have to rely on the super delegates to secure the nomination.

His strategy of running away from the establishment pretty much renders that prospect hopeless.

He's certainly not unaware of this, so I'm left to conclude that he's running to change the conversation and winning is secondary.

Interestingly, Trump is in much the same position.

Protest campaigns are doing remarkably well this cycle.

[lumberjack_jeff]

71. Bernie sucks! He's not promising bribes, graft or anything!

Of course the superdelegates aren't supporting him!

[salinsky]

72. Alienating the super delegates will not be a winning strategy.

Bitch about the process all you want, but it's just commonsense for the establishment to support the loyal soldier who is bringing home the bacon and helping down ballot.

[lumberjack_jeff]

74. If this bribery is an inherent part of a game-winning strategy

It's time to change the rules of the game.

Here's a crazy idea... how about we allow the people to elect a nominee?

[Throd]

78. There's no profit in that.

[lumberjack_jeff]

81. There's no progress in the status quo, either.

I find some great irony that the loudest voices here, pushing for 1%-er rule, war as a policy tool, low taxes on the rich, health care rationed by ability to pay, and limiting education to the kids of already-wealthy familes...

... are the same ones who have spent the last 13 years criticizing me for being insufficiently progressive.

[snowy owl]

77. Hillary's Victory Fund might not be spent down ticket... read

Hillary's $18 Million "Victory Fund" could be spent helping her campaign
By bondibox
Sunday Jan 03, 2016 · 11:02 AM PST

Hillary Clinton has raised $18 Million for the DNC and state parties, money that is commonly referred to as a "victory fund." The assumption is that all of this money will go toward helping "downballot candidates" but that is not necessarily true.

During the primary campaign, donors are limited to $2,700 in direct contributions to the candidate. To elicit larger contributions from willing donors, a candidate can set up a Joint Fundraising Committee which allows donors to cut one check that gets distributed to the candidate as well as a state party and the national party. The first $2,700 goes to the candidate's campaign, and any additional money can go to the state party ($10,000 limit) and the national party ($33,400 limit). Clinton's campaign has so far raised $18 Million for the national and state parties.

However,

There is nothing stopping the state party from using the money to help the eventual nominee

Could that $18 Million be spent on helping Hillary's campaign? At least part of it can. I was unable to find out if that same lack of restriction also applies to the national party which receives the bulk of the JFC money.

It's also possible that some of that $18 Million could be spent on Bernie Sanders' campaign, should he win the party's nomination.

One could speculate that the closer the presidential race is between the Democrat and the Republican, the more likely it would be for these funds to go toward the presidential candidate rather than the downballot candidates. So the candidate who trails or only has a slight lead against the Republican might end up sucking away a portion of the victory funds otherwise meant for the downballot candidates. I'll leave it to the reader to interpret the polling of potential matchups and draw their own conclusions as to the various scenarios regarding the likelihood of that money being spent on the presidential candidate.

[Fast Walker 52]

82. good post-- the whole campaign financing system is so badly broken

our ridiculously long campaign season, big money politics system simply sucks

[snowy owl]

86. That's the problem. Shorten campaigns and tell lawmakers to do their jobs!

So much is out of control from big money to campaigns to our own lawmakers or should I say our own non-lawmakers.

[Yavin4]

87. Bernie's campaign is about Bernie. It's not about changing anything.

The fact that he's not supporting other Dems shows where his true intentions lie. He promises free college education, but how is he going to deliver on that without strong congressional support? And if he's not helping other Dems get elected, then why are they going to fight for his legislation?

To translate an agenda into actual legislation requires forming political alliances. Large crowds at events aint going to get it done.

[salinsky]

92. Exactly right!

He's a demagogue, not a Democrat.

[Yavin4]

93. And he's bad for the Progressive movement. Just like Ralph Nader.

Sixteen years after he cost Gore the election, have you heard anything from Ralph? Has he done anything significant?

[salinsky]

94. I tried to make that point when I began posting at DU ...

... and, was shouted down and then barred from posting in the Bernie group.

But by then I had already been banned from posting in the Hillary group for congratulating Bernie supporters on his win in Michigan, so I must be doing something right.