Ok, this is a short diary entry, but I would like to see the following question answered:
Why is Bernie Sanders still not a Democrat?
In the aftermath of the strong Labour showing, numerous voices have advocated that the Democrats need to nominate someone with policies more in line with Corbyn’s.
See: www.theguardian.com/…
Sanders has himself stressed his enthusiasm for Corbyn: www.independent.co.uk/…
There is, however, independent of policy, one glaring fundamental difference between Corbyn and Sanders. Corbyn has been a member (since the 1970s) for decades of the party he now leads.
Sanders, in contrast, even after seeking and almost winning the Democratic nomination for President, refused to join the Democratic Party. For a recent statement see:thehill.com/…
In taking this stance, Sanders, whatever he may say, weakens the Democratic Party, and fragments opposition to the current occupant of the White House. Of course, I can easily imagine Sanders supporters chiming in with a long list of reasons why they don’t like the Democratic Party, but Jeremy Corbyn was hardly a fan of Tony Blair (www.bbc.com/...) Nonetheless, Corbyn, unlike Sanders, actually sought to build a political party.
In writing this post, I cannot say that I endorse all of Corbyn’s positions, but I at least have to respect him for joining the Labour Party, staying in the Labour Party, and working for decades for the positions he espouses, in the Labour Party. That kind of dedication, commitment, and broad sense of purpose is refreshing.