We here at the DailyKos have pointed out for a long time how Bernie seems to be not conducive to and interested in helping other Democrats getting elected. It is truly confounding that he seems so uninterested in helping other Democrats get elected, because were he to win the nomination the only way he could get anything accomplished from his big, ambitious agenda is if he has a more friendly Senate and House (which means, MORE DEMOCRATS in both bodies). So, we have watched with relative dismay as Bernie has time and time again not done his part in that supposed mutual “partnership”.
Ranging from his dismissive “We’ll see” when asked when he would start fundraising for Democrats, as he explicitly agreed to in writing when he signed on with the DNC to use our fundraising databases, infrastructure, monies, to never going out of his way to mention or introduce local politicians who are trying to wrestle seats in Congress away from entrenched Republicans in the various cities and states he holds his large rallies in, missed opportunities as that would help us all.
Now Hillary is saying what we’ve been complaining about as one of the biggest failings of Bernie’s candidacy, in her sit-down interview with ABC News: Bernie is not helpful when it comes to electing DEMOCRATS to Congress.
Elizabeth Warren is helpful
Sherrod Brown is helpful
Al Franken is helpful
Kirsten Gillibrand is helpful
Bernie, in this important campaign season, is missing in action when it comes to helping select Progressives, or any kind of Demcrats, to Congress.
ABC NEWS
Hillary Clinton Says 'There’s No Indication' Sanders Would Help Elect More DemocratsHillary Clinton questioned Bernie Sanders' loyalty to the Democratic Party during an interview on "Good Morning America" on Monday, saying "there's no indication" her opponent wants to help elect more Democrats to Congress.
"There's no indication there's any interest there," the Democratic presidential candidate responded when asked by ABC News' George Stephanopoulos if she thinks the Vermont senator would help the Senate go back to the Democrats.
"I am committed to electing Democrats. I'm committed to raising money. I'm already helping to fund Democratic campaigns, because at the end of the day a president can do a lot, and I have a very robust agenda with big goals for our country," she continued.
Bernie seems strangely disinterested in helping get Democrats elected, even though his extremely ambitious agenda would be most reliant on more Democrats siding with him, over the objections of Republicans and some more moderate/conservative Democrats already in Congress. It makes no sense to be so disinterested in helping that become reality, especially for Bernie.
Over the weekend, Clinton knocked Sanders, an independent, for his loose ties to the Democratic party.
"I'm also a Democrat, and have been a proud Democrat all my adult life," Clinton said during a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. "And I think it's kind of important if we're selecting somebody to be the Democratic nominee of the Democratic party."
Bernie signed a specific document when he signed up to use the DNC mechanism, to be able to use the DNC servers to mine for fundraising purposes, and receive DNC funding. That agreement was binding and specifically mandated Bernie to raise funds for down ticket Democrats. He has yet to do so. Instead he offered a sly and evasive “We’ll see” when asked about why he hasn’t done that as of yet.
Sanders responded to this critique on ABC News' "This Week" on Sunday by arguing that the fact he's an Independent is a strength in a general election campaign, because he can bring independents into the party. He also noted that some polls show him doing better than Clinton in general election match-ups -- an argument Clinton brushed off on "GMA."
"Polls this far out don't mean anything," she told Stephanopoulos. "I think what's important is not what somebody's theory is but, 'How many votes have you gotten?' That's what we determine elections based on."
During the interview, Clinton also said she is "confident" she will debate Sanders before the New York primary on April 19, and agreed to attend a debate hosted by "GMA" on the morning of April 15.
"I'll be there," she said.
No, Bernie, RIGHT NOW you are NOT an Independent. Right now, you are a DEMOCRAT. Temporary as it may be, you have signed onto it, have submitted papers to that effect with all the states. You are NOT an Independent right about now, you are vying for the DEMOCRATIC nomination, and you are taking part in the party goodness by using the DNC structure.
The issue of Bernie being less than helpful to Democrats needs to be brought up in the next debate. Bernie can still do the right thing and divert some of his considerable funds to down ticket Democrats, or at the very least start asking his supporters at rallies and in fund raising letters to acknowledge the existence of good Democratic candidates (heck, he can just highlight the many great candidates who are strong Progressives in the varying states and ask his supporters to pledge to them). But, it is probably not going to happen. Bernie has no interest. With Bernie “We’ll see” likely means “Never”.