Bernie Sanders

eridani

(51,907 posts) Thu Jun 25, 2015, 04:11 AM Jun 2015

Getting real--a lot of Sanders supporters are not Democrats

The Seattle for Sanders group has a membership consisting of about half Socialist Alternative Kshama Sawant supporters. In addition there is a significant contingent of people alienated from any political participation for years. If Sanders does not get the nomination. they are not supporting Clinton. On the other hand, about half the group are Democrats, who will most likely support the Democratic candidate no matter what.

If there is going to be an ongoing movement after 2016, we need to plan right now how to point all caucus goers in a useful direction. We are considering the following pledge form. Feedback?

After Bernie, what?

Sanders may be a long shot for winning the nomination, though he stands a good chance of winning Washington State due to the caucus system. But supposing he does not win, what next? He is absolutely not going to continue to run as an independent. Many Sanders supporters will never support Hillary Clinton, but where will they go? There are a couple of options.

_____ I want to be partly inside and partly outside the Democratic Party. Please forward my information to Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy for America and Democratic Socialists of America

______ I want nothing to do with Democrats. Please connect me to Socialist Alternative and/or other left/progressive parties in Washington State

_______ I already get too many phone calls and emails. Please let me just caucus for Bernie Sanders and let it go at that.

__________________________________________________
Name

____________________________________________________
Street Address

__________________________ WA, ____________
City Zip code

_____________________ ________________________
Phone 1 Phone 2

__________________________________________________
Email address

_____________________ ______________ __________________
County Congressional district State legislative district

_________ I would like to be a volunteer.

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Getting real--a lot of Sanders supporters are not Democrats (Original Post) eridani Jun 2015 OP

As I understand it, Democratic Socialist is a movement that works within the Democratic Party. merrily Jun 2015 #1

Not every voter who likes Bernie is a Democratid Socialist. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2015 #2

Agreed on both points. But if you are a Democratic Socialist, you don't merrily Jun 2015 #3

I listed the groups that I did becaus all back an "inside/outside" strategy eridani Jun 2015 #4

Define "useful direction" TBF Jun 2015 #5

I detest this kind of form. sadoldgirl Jun 2015 #6

If what I've seen on Facebook and reddit is true, a lot of former Democrats who changed merrily Jun 2015 #7

The point is to keep momentum going after the campaign eridani Jun 2015 #8

merrily

(45,251 posts)

1. As I understand it, Democratic Socialist is a movement that works within the Democratic Party.

Reply to eridani (Original post)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 04:26 AM

Jun 2015

So, it's not either or.

Thanks for this post.

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)

2. Not every voter who likes Bernie is a Democratid Socialist.

Reply to merrily (Reply #1)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 07:40 AM

Jun 2015

And not every Democratic Socialist 'works within the Democratic Party' in the same way.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

3. Agreed on both points. But if you are a Democratic Socialist, you don't

Reply to Erich Bloodaxe BSN (Reply #2)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 07:52 AM

Jun 2015

have to choose between being that and being a Democrat. That's all I'm saying.

eridani

(51,907 posts)

4. I listed the groups that I did becaus all back an "inside/outside" strategy

Reply to merrily (Reply #1)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 05:44 PM

Jun 2015

Few Socialist Alternative members had previously heard of DSA.

TBF

(32,160 posts)

5. Define "useful direction"

Reply to eridani (Original post)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 06:31 PM

Jun 2015

If you gave me that form I'd throw it away. I'm a registered dem here in Texas (had to register to caucus for Obama) but I wasn't required to sign any loyalty oaths.

I vote for dems/greens mostly - or the least repulsive candidate (lots of local offices down here don't even put up a dem). But my primary objective is to get rid of capitalism.

sadoldgirl

(3,431 posts)

6. I detest this kind of form.

Reply to eridani (Original post)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 06:57 PM

Jun 2015

As a matter of fact I hope that a lot of Greens join
Bernie's campaign. How would or could that hurt?

merrily

(45,251 posts)

7. If what I've seen on Facebook and reddit is true, a lot of former Democrats who changed

Reply to sadoldgirl (Reply #6)

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 11:08 PM

Jun 2015

to Indie or Green are changing back to make sure they can vote for Bernie in the primary. They're also posting to tell others to make sure to do the same. It's good to see.

eridani

(51,907 posts)

8. The point is to keep momentum going after the campaign

Reply to sadoldgirl (Reply #6)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 04:44 AM

Jun 2015

People who aren't Democrats need somewhere to go locally, and Democrats who are less than thrilled with national leadership need inside/outside options.

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