I'm just curious. What if Sanders made a GREAT speech selling Clinton at the convention?

[Armstead]

I can't predict what Sanders will do, but it seems that a lot of people are expressing outrage at Sanders for doing what he always said he would do, which is to fight for the nomination to the end. Which is exactly what Clinton did in 2008.

Suppose after the primary is officially over IF Sanders loses and Clinton becomes the nominee, Sanders gets up there and makes a powerful speech calling for Democratic unity to fight against Trump and the GOP. Suppose he gets the crowd on its feet in a rousing call for unity?

Would those who are dismissing Sanders as an awful man, a horrid "whiner" and all of the other personal attacks that are being leveled against him apologize?

[oberliner]

1. That would be awesome!

I hope he does that (assuming he doesn't get the nomination).

[tarheelsunc]

2. Better question:

Would those who have endlessly attacked Secretary Clinton as dishonest and corrupt whilst touting Senator Sanders as the perfect picture of integrity and a man who could never tell a lie listen to Senator Sanders' words and apologize to Secretary Clinton and her supporters? Or has Clinton hatred surpassed Sanders support to the point where if Sanders compliments Clinton that Sanders supporters/Clinton haters won't listen?

[pinebox]

6. Why should we apologize?

Sorry but honestly, it is what it is and she is marred and completely engulfed in controversy. She doesn't represent many of us and we see Hillary more akin to a RINO than anything else. If Bernie did that, that's on him but what you may be not understanding is that the movement is far greater than just Bernie. It's about ideals and it's about integrity and most of all it's about US. Hillary isn't about any of that and we see her in it for herself, much like Romney. Many of us have never liked Hillary and we're sick of the lying, the spin and dishonesty.

[Trust Buster]

3. I would prefer he not speak at the convention. He's hurt our chances in November enough already.

[BootinUp]

4. Some are losing confidence in Bernie to see the forest

through the trees.

[Armstead]

11. The question is about the suppositions of his future behavior

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Some? Who is 'some'? When I hear 'Some say' what I think is 'show me these people'.

Because you know BootinUP, 'Some' say lots of things. Some say racist things. Some say sexist things. And just because some say, that makes it valid? Some say the Earth is flat. Some say Adam rode a Dinosaur to work at Chick Fil A. Some say 'right' and some say 'wrong'.

Some say. Yes they do. Some say.
So what?

[NorthCarolina]

5. No because they despise Bernie for who he represents, and what he fights for. -nt-

[pinebox]

7. Bingo!

[geek tragedy]

8. I would have the same reaction I did in 2008 when

Hillary set aside her own ego and supported Obama. Pleasant surprise and greatly increased respect.

Such respect is earned.

[Armstead]

12. Good answer

IMO

[Lizzie Poppet]

9. If he actually kept a straight face during such a speech...

...he'd be the best actor that ever lived.

[Armstead]

13. Whatever he feels about Clinton, I think he despises (and fears) Trump as President

I think he could urge a blasting of Trump with a straight face.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. Out spite and hubris, she won't let him talk.

Because she is a petty, small minded, self serving venomous creature whose best facet is her vindictiveness.

[karynnj]

15. I think that Bernie can give a fantastic speech on just how much damage a President Trump could do

About a month ago, my husband and I had lunch with a friend, who lived in Burlington through the Bernie years. Burlington is a small town and she was very engaged and knew Bernie and Jane well. In speaking of the time when he would have to concede to HRC, I suggested that he would make a great speech that would argue how Clinton was better than Trump on everything Sanders cared about - economic justice, healthcare, the environment etc.

Her reaction was to slyly smile and offer a "pinkie bet" that that he would go directly after Trump on all the many many many things that they are worlds apart on and that though he might repeat what he said in the early primaries that HRC was infinitely better than any Republican, he would not shift into actively advocating for HRC issue by issue. This was before the Brooklyn debate where Sanders did essentially what she said he would.

My husband's comment to me on the way home from the lunch was that his impression of what I said Sanders would do is really closer what Kerry (had he been in that position) would have very diplomatically done, ignoring issues where this would not be believable or honest. After the Brooklyn debate, I emailed that she had won, but she graciously said it was still open until the convention was over.

After thinking about it, given the independents that have come to believe in Bernie, I actually think that a speech that is focused on Trump from Bernie would have greater impact than a more conventional one where he praises HRC effusively. A large part of Bernie's appeal is his authenticity. A speech where he is speaking from his heart and gut against Trump would resonate more than one that could be spun as him flip flopping from his criticisms of the campaign. Now there ARE issues where he and HRC are in accord - and he likely will mention them.

I think that I will lose the bet AND I think that Bernie being Bernie will be more useful to Clinton than Bernie becoming something different than the unpolished, gruff, Vermont Democratic Socialist that he has always been -- and who is loved in his state for being just that.

[Ferd Berfel]

18. I'm sure that is part of the deal he made and he will do it

It won't change how I vote at this point.

Bernie's plea will not change what I already know about her, and what I suspect we will find out about her before too long.

[Hiraeth]

19. What if we held an election in November and nobody showed up to vote?