I have posted many diaries and comments speaking to the tameness of the 2016 primary season relative to the 2008 Democratic primary. I’ve done this to try to advocate for some perspective and context, especially in terms of comparisons to 2008 and the eventual victory that November, and in the interest of unity for this November.
2016 Democrats are on a better pace, vis-a-vis unity, than 2008’s Democrats. I view this as a good thing, and I think we should be happy about that. Clinton’s supporters should be trumpeting her positives instead of mono-manically focusing on the Sanders campaign’s last gasps (again, it’s the usual stuff and relatively tame historically speaking). Sanders’ supporters should be fighting for their candidate, and trying to get everyone who planned to vote for Sanders’ policy set to turn out to vote in the remaining contests.
But this has perhaps led to some confusion?
I expect and hope for a strong endorsement from Sanders once the California primary is over, or at the latest once the last contest (DC) is decided.
So, to be clear...I would like Bernie Sanders’ concession and endorsement speech to come on June 8th or June 15th (or the evening before), but if it doesn’t come by the late date of July 1st:
- I will disown Bernie Sanders as a politician within the context of the Democratic primary, and also within the context of an advocate for concrete policies I care about.
- I will advocate for him to no longer be included in the Senate’s Democratic caucus.
- I will support his Democratic opponent in any future Vermont Senate election.
That is what I promise to do.
I am, of course, a nobody in terms of being a donor or power player. So, “grain of salt” time with all that for people who disagree (or agree, for that matter). But I don’t want my own views on this to be in doubt. Because I support Bernie Sanders’ campaign, I support Hillary Clinton as the nominee of this party for 2016, and I do not want Donald Trump to be sworn in as president in January 2017.
These things are not mutually exclusive. But if those views become mutually exclusive, I will choose Hillary Clinton and her effort to defeat Donald Trump. I will not choose Bernie Sanders. Because Hillary Clinton is the nominee.
Again, I am no one and this is not a “threat”, especially not a “threat” that carries any weight. But I do want to make it clear what I am doing, what I am not doing, and my desired goal for this primary season.