Working Families Party endorses Warren in blow to Sanders

[JoeOtterbein]

(The article was co-written by this DU poster's daughter)

[link:https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/16/working-families-party-endorses-elizabeth-warren-043727|

By IAN KULLGREN, HOLLY OTTERBEIN and ALEX THOMPSON 09/16/2019 02:21 PM EDT Updated 09/16/2019 03:58 PM EDT

The Working Families Party endorsed Elizabeth Warren for president on Monday — delivering both a victory for the Massachusetts senator and blow to her liberal rival, Bernie Sanders.

“Senator Warren strikes fear into the hearts of the robber barons who rigged the system, and offers hope to millions of working people who have been shut out of our democracy and economy,” Maurice Mitchell, the national party director, said in a statement.

“Our job now,” Mitchell added, “is to help Senator Warren build the mass movement that will make her transformational plans a reality.”

The endorsement is bad news for Sanders, a democratic socialist who presents himself as a voice for the working class. Last month, he won a rare union endorsement from the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. Sanders’ national political director, Analilia Mejia, was formerly the executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance.

more at link

[DrFunkenstein]

1. Working Families Party Is How I Vote Down The Line

I'm a bit shocked, to be honest.

[George II]

2. Even when they have candidates running against a Democrat?

[Agschmid]

21. Have you voted the "D" party line in every election you've ever participated in?

[George II]

22. I believe I have. If I'm not happy with the Democratic candidate for a particular office.....

...on the ballot, I skip that one.

[Agschmid]

23. Cool, I did vote R once but I was young and stupid.

Also for a state position not national.

[Otto Lidenbrock]

3. I said it in the other thread so I'll it here too. The Sanders fans are outraged!

[humbled_opinion]

25. Why ?

I am a die-hard Bernie fan but realistically Elizabeth Warren has got all of the energy on her side, she is starting a movement and I am all in.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Happy for Elizabeth... nice goin!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[SMC22307]

36. No we're not. At least I'm not.

I still embrace many of Sanders' ideas, but feel that Warren is the better candidate.

See how easy that was?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Hooray!

[left-of-center2012]

5. More info here ...

“Working Families Party Endorses Elizabeth Warren”
Mon Sep 16, 2019, 09:14 AM
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287282193

“Working Families Party Endorses Elizabeth Warren”
Mon Sep 16, 2019, 09:53 AM
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287282230

[comradebillyboy]

6. The article also notes that Warren built bridges and formed

relationships the Working Families Party leaders. She went out and worked hard for their endorsement and won 61% of the vote vs Bernie's 37%.

Are we about to see a big movement of progressives to Warren and away from Sanders?

[OilemFirchen]

24. "Are we about to see a big movement of progressives to Warren and away from Sanders?"

No. By most metrics, Sanders should have virtually no supporters this time around, because Warren is the putatively electable version of him. Unfortunately, she lacks a Y chromosome, a requirement evidenced by the previous Democratic Primary. That's why, as pointed out numerous times lately, Biden is the majority second choice of Sanders supporters.

[Lucky Luciano]

26. No way, really?? I assumed Warren would easily be second choice for all Sanders supporters. Wow

[betsuni]

33. According to the American National Election Studies survey in 2016,

Sanders supporters were actually less likely than Clinton supporters to favor policies like universal health care and tax increases on the wealthy. His supporters were more pessimistic about economic inequality and economic opportunities than Clinton supporters.

So since it's not about policy, Warren isn't the second choice for all Sanders supporters. Even though almost all of them said they'd vote for her if she ran in 2016.

[BlueMississippi]

7. "establishment" working families party

They have sold out to corporate interests ....

There -- I did it before Sirota

[OKNancy]

8. Honest question

Can you register in the WFP and if so can you vote in the Democratic primary?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. WFP is registered as a political party in 15 states.

Occasionally it runs its own candidates but more often it endorses major party candidates who support its positions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Families_Party#targetText=The%20Working%20Families%20Party%20(WFP,Ohio%2C%20Texas%2C%20and%20Illinois.

[OKNancy]

12. I figured that but if there is a closed primary

they couldn't vote as a Democrat no matter who they endorsed. Correct?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. I suppose it depends on each state's laws, but if WFP

isn't on the ballot in a primary I don't think it would make a difference.

[Blue_true]

31. No. The New York primary is thankfully closed.

You have to be a registered democrat to vote in primaries. But the deadline for registering is 6 months before the primary, I don't know whether exceptions are made for new residents or kids that turn 18 after the deadline, but before the primary. They may allow kids who will turn 18 to register early (I am too lazy to look it up for that state).

[Kurt V.]

9. joe i don't like the framing here. they say plenty of good things about sanders too.

[JoeOtterbein]

11. Out of respect for the publications, I repeat the headline, link, writers & 1st four paragraphs...

...when I post on the DU Dem forum.

Also, note that with most publications, the writers of the article generally do not write the headline. The editors/publishers usually do.

Please feel free to post more of the article in the comments.

[Kurt V.]

15. fair enough.

[left-of-center2012]

17. "the headline, link, & four paragraphs"

That's a requirement for the Latest Breaking News forum.

Do you do that for every post in DU?

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. He specified '1st four' - the rules are just "a maximum of four paragraphs"

You're allowed to choose which ones (which is good, since many sources use their first paragraph as a summary, so you often get information repeated in the next 3).

[JoeOtterbein]

35. I do the 1st four out of respect for the writer. I don't like to show bias for certain parts of...

...their work.

[JoeOtterbein]

34. Recently, I have. I did not know about the rules for the Breaking News forum.

But it makes sense. Of course, I don't do it for my opinion posts. I try to build as much of an argument as I can first, to be ready for the slings and arrows!

[ritapria]

14. WFP : Bark worse than Bite

WFP is really only a factor in NY …..They didn't do Cynthia Nixon much good last year ….Ditto for Bernie in 2016...… They are closer to Bernie on the issues but chose Warren because they believe Liz has a much stronger chance of being nominated ….A surprisingly political calculation from a group that is allegedly at war with the New York Democratic Party Establishment

[TwilightZone]

19. "they believe Liz has a much stronger chance of being nominated "

What's your basis for this assertion?

[ehrnst]

16. Completely understandable.

Warren has the respect and regard of her peers, and that is something necessary to accomplishing actual change.

One can yell until one is hoarse, but without accomplishments, in the end, it's just yelling.

[Nanjeanne]

18. I'm glad for Warren as I was glad for Sanders in 2016 but I don't think it has

much sway in people’s opinion or votes. Their endorsements have been a mixed bag - but it’s always nice to have. But I don’t think it’s a blow to Sanders although Politico does love trying to stir up something between the two. I’ll gladly vote for Liz if Bernie is no longer in the race when primaries get to CT.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

29. Me too!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[njhoneybadger]

27. It won't slow Bernie down, he reminds me of the Energizer Bunny

He just keeps beating that drum

[Joe941]

30. I wouldn't characterize it as a "blow"

It means next to nothing.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

32. It's always interesting to watch all camps when these kinds of endorsements are made.