Why Hillary Clinton Is Not Entitled to Bernie Sanders’ Supporters

[dana_b]

Written by Dominica R. Convertino (Graduate of the University of Michigan, Dearborn, with a degree in Political Science and Pre-Law, and minors in Philosophy and Women and Gender Studies. Since graduating, I have decided to create my own progressively-minded opinion editorial, through which I can publish opinion pieces on the modern American political system.)


Throughout the last few weeks, mainstream media outlets and political pundits alike have incessantly derided the many supporters of Bernie Sanders who claim that they will not be voting for Hillary Clinton in November, should she win the Democratic nomination. Pundits argue that if they effectively fail to rally behind Hillary, Bernie’s supporters will be to blame in November if Donald Trump is subsequently elected. Here is why the pundits are definitively wrong, and why this rhetoric is not only misleading, but incredibly offensive to the democratic process:

First, let me preface this argument by pointing out that this entire debate over whether or not Bernie’s supporters should throw their weight behind Clinton in the general election is (intentionally) misleading, as it maintains an underlying assumption that Hillary Clinton is the inevitable Democratic nominee; an assumption that we have been force-fed for years by both the media and operatives of the Democratic Party. Despite the incredible efforts to push this narrative, millions of Americans continue to outright-reject the “inevitability” of Hillary Clinton, and have been doing so long before Bernie Sanders (who is undoubtedly an inspiring alternative to Clinton) stepped into the race. By focusing on whether or not the supporters of Bernie Sanders would be willing to vote for Hillary Clinton as a potential-nominee not only sets the stage for the media to act as if the primary race has somehow been decided, but it forces progressive figures (who otherwise wholeheartedly support Bernie Sanders in the primary) to needlessly pledge their support to Hillary Clinton for the general election, effectively shifting the narrative.

http://politicallydc.com/2016/03/13/why-hillary-clinton-is-not-entitled-to-bernie-sanders-supporters/
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She goes on to explain many of the things that we have said here at DU such as not all of Bernie's supporters are staunch Dems and they don't follow Dem rules; that telling Bernie supporters to vote for Hillary presumes that the two candidates advocate for the same things; and finally that "perhaps we should instead flip the script and ask Hillary Clinton supporters to grant their support to arguably the best Democratic candidate in modern political history".

She's very smart and in tune. She should have a brilliant career in law and politics.

[Maedhros]

1. Hillary should only get the votes of Bernie supporters if she earns them.

I'll leave it to individuals to decide if she has done so.

[warrprayer]

2. K&R

Thanks, Dana!

[Jackie Wilson Said]

3. Maybe we do need to see millions rounded up, beaten and deported before

people will care, but even then maybe they wont.

Maybe if nobody they know is being beaten or deported or prevented from reproductive healthcare, maybe not even then.

[dana_b]

5. omg - I sincerely hope not

Nightmares and destruction for so many lives. I think that would tear this country apart.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

6. Seems to be hundreds of thousands maybe millions of Bernie

people who if they cant get what they want, will just say to hell with it.

I ran into one a personal friend, way too smart and knowledgeable, this one actually said if it is Trump vs Clinton he votes Trump.

[Downwinder]

10. IMO a quick death is better than a slow one.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

16. Glad you have decided that for everybody else.

And your response and attitude are horrible, I dont know any real liberals that say that.

[Downwinder]

17. Try facing down the grim reaper for 35 ears. I don't

decide for anyone else and no one else decides for me. Austerity kills.

[malokvale77]

18. Thing is...

I don't know any liberal that sees Hillary as a better alternative to the GOP.

How has the Democratic Party come to this?

When it comes to greed, there is no difference between the two parties.

[LAS14]

22. You must have a very small circle of acquaintances. nt

[malokvale77]

23. At my age the circle is wide.

Point to me any real difference between Hillary and the GOP.

[tk2kewl]

11. If he doesn't want to vote for Hillary maybe you can convince him

That Jill Stein is a better choice than Trump

[Scootaloo]

29. Tell me if this is an apprealing message to you

"YOU WILL DO AS YOU ARE TOLD, YOU FUCKING PEASANT. WHO ARE YOU TO HAVE THOUGHTS, OPINIONS, OR NEEDS THAT DO NOT MATCH OUR OWN! YOU WILL TAKE WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN AND YOU WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP AND ACCEPT IT. GET IN LINE OR ELSE! WE ARE THE MASTERS OF THIS HOUSE, YOU COME WHEN WE CALL!"

Do you want to vote for that message? Does that fire you up to get out of the house and vote for the person telling you that?

What do millions of Bernie supporters want? Solid progressive ideas. What, suddenly Democrats have an abhorrent fear of campaign finance reform or serious health care reform? Democrats are shocked and angered by a push for anti-poverty action? Wanting to adjust foreign policy away from an imperialist and racist effort to control the world and destroy those who will not be subjugated is now anti-Democratic? 'Cause these are the things we want, and are being told we have no right to ask for, much less expect.

We are not obligated to the Hillary clinton Party. we do not owe the Hillary clinton Party our loyalty. She is not a god, she is not a savior, she is not a hero. She has achieved nothing to earn even the thought of the obeisance she and her ugly goon squad demand. Like any other politician, she has to earn the votes she needs.

If that is an abhorrent thought to her and her admirers, then I see no reason why they pretend to have any problem with a Trump presidency. 'Cause when you act like a howling pack of fascist thugs, and demand the right to dominate and abuse those you consider "below" you, and are violently against progressive ideas being added to your celebrity candidate's vacuous platform...

[delrem]

30. There is already a million dead in the ME wars,

millions more fleeing as refugees.
Hospitals and schools bombed. The electrical grids of whole countries wiped out. Desert irrigation projects eradicated.

And Hillary is proud of her role and promises more.

Yet what I hear from Hillary's supporters is that discussion of that is nothing more than a distraction.

[guillaumeb]

4. No politician is "entitled" to a vote. But when deciding to vote,

sometimes the best available choice is not what an individual voter may feel is the best overall choice. And deciding to vote based on whichever candidate is better is also a viable decision.

[fasttense]

7. If ever the Hillary is in a position that she wants/needs Bernie supporter's votes

She will not be entitled to them just because she's the Hillary or the Democratic nominee. I may be a liberal but I do NOT have to give Hillary my vote.

I voted for her in 2008. We needed someone like her or Obama then. Though Obama was a liberal talker, I didn't trust him because he had a very short record. They are both happy to embrace corporate control of the US through the TPP and other corporate giveaways. They were both free traders. But now it's time for corporations to lose control and for the people to take over.

Now is the time that liberals start walking like adults, with big ideas and dreams. Now it's time to stop with all the baby steps.

[All in it together]

9. Hillary should be out working to defeat the TPP and Citizens United and release her speech

Transcripts if she wants us to get behind her in the general. The primaries aren't even over, so Go Bernie! He can still win the nomination and presidency.

[LonePirate]

12. By walking like adults, do you mean doing the responsible thing

Which is voting for the candidate with the best chance to defeat the Republican nominee?

Primary season is when we can follow our dreams and be idealistic. The general election is when we need to be realistic and practical.

[dana_b]

13. "The general election is when we need to be realistic and practical"

Here's the thing - I respect what you are saying because of what we are facing on the Republican side. However, as progressives, we have heard that same refrain OVER and OVER and OVER again every election cycle and things never get better. The Democratic party keeps going to the right because they know that they can. They pull some horrible, contemptuous stuff themselves and although it may not be as blatant as Trump's shit, it's still there. Like DWS and Clinton herself deciding initially that there would only be 6 debates on Friday nights and the Thanksgiving weekend. That is a small thing in comparison to some of the stuff that they pull but it's a good example. And we are supposed to support that?? Yes - Trump is a bigot - an out and out bigot! But I do think that Hillary has her prejudices too. They are more subdued and seemingly innocuous but when she gets caught it's "oh, I misspoke" or "that's not what I meant" and she blames the OTHER guy for "misconstruing" her words.

So now the right is close to nominating this utterly detesable evil, hateful creature named Trump. And the Dems are saying "who you gonna vote for, Trump??" - wtf?! REALLY?! They think that we would vote for that?? But if we vote for Hillary, things go further and further to the right. It's a horrible decision to make and I hate to say this out loud (but I'm gonna!!) but I almost feel like it's all a setup. That they know that enthusiasm for Madame Secretary is at an all time low so they run this loud mouthed, hateful yob in order to get our votes. I know that sounds crazy but something about this whole season seems off to me.

Anyway, I'm rambling. And as far as the "responsible" thing to do?? I still don't know. I go back and forth and back and forth.

[LonePirate]

14. So basically your love for your ideals exceeds your love for your country?

I guess I don't understand the logic of detesting what you perceive to be a rightward shift by voting for Clinton but if not voting for her helps Trump get elected, the country will shift even further to the right and more ground will need to be recovered in the future.

Does the country really need to suffer 4 or even 8 years like we did starting in 2000 when Nader voters were saying essentially the same thing about Gore and Bush?

I hope we have the opportunity to vote for Bernie atop the Democratic ticket in November. If not, then the choice is an easy one for me as there is simply too much on the line if the Republican wins.

[dana_b]

15. this country is already suffering and will continue to suffer under Clinton!!

She is to the right of Obama who I barely trust as it is. Trump vs Clinton - shit or crap??

That's where I'm at. I don't see it like you do. I just don't.

[malokvale77]

20. Shit or crap...

is a perfect analogy when it comes to Hillary vs the GOP.

It's all the same no matter the label.

I'm working for Bernie because I see him as the only hope for my children, grandchildren and community.

[Ed Suspicious]

24. What is this country if not a love of ideals? Without the love of ideals, we cease to live in a

country worth loving.

[Donkees]

8. My vote is my voice

[swilton]

19. 1,000 Recs

[LAS14]

21. The question is not whether Hillary deserves...

... Bernie's supporters, but whether Donald Trump deserves the White House. It's not smart to assume he can't win. Remember when we assumed he couldn't get the nomination?

[onecaliberal]

27. Did you even read the link?

[Ferd Berfel]

25. But but it's her turn

you HAVE TO.

It's your obligation to fall in line and betray everything you stand for, because it's her turn and because .... the boogie man

[Jenny_92808]

26. I couldn't agree more

with what she wrote.