Hillary Clinton
Related: About this forumHillary supporters and expecting too much too fast from Sanders supporters
I have supported Hillary since she ran the first time around. I am very happy with her success in the primaries, to put it mildly. But I don't expect everyone who passionately supported a different candidate to just, one day after Hillary clinches, forget all these months of pushing for their candidate and jump on board with another one, even though that candidate is in the same party. Even Olympians are crushed when they lose to a fellow American who is on the same team. The best of them are graceful in defeat and then they retreat somewhere alone and fully experience the process of absorbing the loss. It is not easy.
Not everyone is graceful. But I think just like most Hillary fans have been quietly voting, not getting involved in the melees, there are many Sanders supporters who aren't lashing out, they are just quietly watching and going through the process of first accepting Hillary as the nominee, then actually getting to know her. There are some on this site that are really not able to process the loss on any level, and their threads are not pretty, but they're not the majority of Sanders supporters. But no matter what, everyone deserves that space and time to go through the process. That doesn't mean I let anyone shit on me. But that also doesn't mean I am baffled that all of them don't just switch gears within 24 hours and support Hillary. We've got plenty of time. Within a couple of months most of the holdouts will have completely worked through all this, and most will still be Democrats. The rest you never could do anything about anyway.
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JSup
(740 posts)...explaining this in a way that I hope people can understand.
Some of these people are going through actual grief.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)When the other person's emotions are at their peak, and both of you have said all you wanted to say and it looks like it's time to start looking to end the argument, it's not a great time to walk over and be like, you should calm down this instant and accept that I'm right.
JSup
(740 posts)...my family was very close; my mom and aunt would fight and one cousin would always side with my mom and my sister would always side with my aunt and... yeah. Not bad memories, though; <3 my family.
Always need the cooling off period.
BainsBane
(54,728 posts)I'm giving Bernie until DC votes, but many of his supporters will need longer to adjust. For two months, It's been obvious to many of us and even Sanders own campaign staff that he would not win, but his supporters believed his arguments and kept fighting, as they have every right to do.
I'm hoping most will decide to unify around the party by the convention.
That doesn't mean I'll be forgetting about the ones who have been repeatedly insulting, but that's not all of them. Many are good Dems who simply supported a different candidate. I still assert my right to call out BS when I see it, however.
Legends303
(481 posts)and we start the unifying process.
Arkansas Granny
(31,810 posts)There's too much emotion involved right now. I remember how I felt in 2008 when Obama won the nomination even though I had said all along that I would vote for the Democratic nominee.
Give them time and give them space. There's nothing to be gained by pushing them.
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)I have been emotional the last 2 days and my candidate won!
Emotions after a win or loss are powerful and real!
stonecutter357
(12,768 posts)are constantly called third way are Corporate tool, sellout and the constant hidden post. And you think Sanders supporters are the victims.
Stuckinthebush
(11,021 posts)This is the result of demonizing one's opponent. He encouraged them to believe that Hillary wasn't just the other candidate but that she was horrid.
They actually believe that she is a republican
They actually believe that she cares more about the wealthy than the masses
They actually believe that she can't wait to start a war
They actually believe that she is a criminal
They actually believe that she rigged the system and bought votes
He never disabused them of these notions. I look at GdP and talk to Bernie supporters I know and many of them are buying these lies hook, line, and sinker. How can they ever come around when the opponent is cast as such a villain? Sanders has lost his chance to mend these fences. He knows there is no hope for his nomination. Yet he continues to play a dangerous game by talking like he does. This doesn't help.
I hope we get 75% of them - the ones who are real Dems and not just independents who have never voted. I hope we do. The other 25% will sit out the general with the smug satisfaction that they made some strange principled stand.
Cha
(305,136 posts)stonecutter357
(12,768 posts)Cha
(305,136 posts)Morning, stonecutter.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)to get over the ridiculous attacks leveled at Hillary and her supporters. It doesn't really bother me too much because, well, the candidate I wanted won. But think about this- polls released weeks ago said 80 percent of Sanders supporters have already pledged support for Clinton. That means the anger you're experiencing is due to the behavior of a relatively small number of people. 80 percent are reasonable democrats. I'd say that's pretty good, especially when you consider that in 08, pre-convention, only 47% of Hillary supporters were certain they would vote for Obama.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109957/obama-gains-among-former-clinton-supporters.aspx
wryter2000
(47,368 posts)But, man, are they awful. I sat on a jury on the most obnoxious post about Hillary yesterday and almost pulled the alert lever on another one. They're delusional, and I don't think they're going to change. They're the same folk who could see no difference between Gore and Bush.
I only hope once all their obnoxious posts get hidden they crawl back under their rocks, leaving us with the rational Bernie supporters.
Hey, I'm still a Deaniac. I know about disappointment.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)And I agree, some of the threads are so detached from reality it's hard to believe anyone could see things that way. Usually the more insane the post is, the less likely I am to respond because you know it will be a complete waste of time to engage. I put a some people on ignore, trash threads, and sometimes jump into a debate if I feel like it. But now that things are over, there's no point for me anymore to engage. I'm already in a general election mindset.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)
Thank you.
drray23
(7,936 posts)The most damaging of these lies was that she rigged the system and bought votes.
What Sanders achieved by pushing or at least encouraging this meme is to make millions of young people
believe that voting does not matter since "its rigged". This does not bode well for the future. You do not advance your cause
by demoralizing the next generation of voters.
seaglass
(8,176 posts)need to process the loss of a dream, I think Hillary supporters also need space to process the vile attacks they have been subject to for the last year from members of our own community.
My choice is to recommend positive Hillary threads and stay clear of the continuing attacks against Hillary, her advocates and supporters (I'm trying). I spend much more time on Twitter nowadays than I do on DU. June 16 will be here soon enough.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)
DemonGoddess
(5,108 posts)This is why I STILL refuse to venture into the cesspit that is GDPee. Nowayinhell. It's still toxic there.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)their adjustment problems. Find a way to get Cornell West out of your campaign. Continuing to stir up hatred and bile against our Democratic nominee for POTUS up to, and right into the front door of, the Democratic Convention, is untenable.
West is a professional shit-stirrer. I don't see how he could possibly contribute anything positive at this point. It'd be one thing if his comments were grounded in true ethical convictions, but I think his actions are 100% centered around his ego and petty vengeance for perceived social slights.
DemonGoddess
(5,108 posts)BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)
liberal N proud
(60,936 posts)If he keeps campaigning and telling the Berners that the is still a path, then they will keep believing him.
Someone is selling someone a heap of bullshit.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)the future platform of the party. When you see it for what it is, it makes more sense. You talk a lot of shit before the negotiations to get leverage, then when the negotiations are made you make up. He'll be a good ally in the general.
TwilightZone
(28,833 posts)I think a lot of this is just political theater now. Everyone knows where this is headed and the various parties are just trying to put the best face on it they can for all involved. I think he drops out after DC and endorses Hillary and we all move on.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)
Nonhlanhla
(2,074 posts)Give them time. Bernie ran a scorched earth campaign against Hillary, demonizing her in such ways that it will be difficult for his supporters to turn around. Some never will, and probably never would have voted for her anyway. But already many of his supporters are turning around. Many more still will, especially as the horror of Trump in the White House becomes a more realistic picture for them. Right now they have to process the loss. Most Hillary supporters know the feeling all too well. I was an Obama supporter 8 years ago, and got annoyed with the PUMAS, but back then realized that Hillary's supporters just needed time to process what had happened. In time most did, and we ended up having 8 years of a sane, rational, and indeed quite wonderful president instead of the horror of a McCain/Palin administration. Yesterday's endorsements, and even Bernie slightly more unity voice (although he is clearly not quite there yet), gave me hope that we can do it again. Trump and whatever horror he picks for his VP cannot be allowed to go to the White House. And I think most Bernie supporters know that.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)only 47 percent of Hillary supporters said they were certain they would vote for Obama. And it all turned out fine. This is a normal process that just takes a little time.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)These are not party faithful you are talking about.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,774 posts)That being said, I'm all for giving Bernie supporters a chance to get it out of their system. I think that most sane and rational progressives don't want Trump in the WH more than they dislike Hillary. Some won't ever come around to even holding their noses and voting for Hillary and that's fine too but they probably don't represent a massive number of people.
realmirage
(2,117 posts)I think it just means that this is a normal process after a side loses. I was a bit surprised myself when I saw that only 47 fricken percent of Hillary supporters pre-convention were certain they'd vote for Obama. It's nowhere near that low this year among Sanders supporters. The circumstances are different but the anger is at the same level.
Starry Messenger
(32,375 posts)Last night I took a "risk" and posted a clip of Elizabeth Warren's speech from yesterday, and someone still deep in their feelings came in and pooped in it this morning. It's been three days, actually, since Hillary became the presumptive nominee. How much longer do we need to give them space? To keep from hurting their feelings with being excited about positive motion forward?
I feel like I have been walking on eggshells around people who are totally fragile and lashing out, and that really goes against my grain as a feminist. Tactful I can be, but I'm done taking the negativity and abuse like we deserved it for supporting the winner.
My .02
realmirage
(2,117 posts)acting this way.