Bernie Sanders is nothing but a heckler

[EffieBlack]

622. That's the standard you believe should be used to determine whether someone runs as a Dem?

After all, he votes and caucuses with Dems not to support the party but because such votes are consistent with the views of his constituents. When his constituents' desires diverge from the Party, he votes with them, not the Dems.

Moreover, your standard would mean that only sitting non-Democratic Members of Congress could run as Democrats since other Independents don't have a voting record. That seems a little arbitrary.

And his votes aren't the only relevant aspect of his record. When he's not voting the interests of his Vermont constituents, he pretty regularly criticizes Democrats, individually and as a party. Shouldn't the party also take that into account? Regardless whether he votes with the party, the party should also be able to decide whether it wants to provide its support, resources and infrastructure to someone who refuses to actually join the party and spends a good deal of his non-voting time trashing the party.

As a loyal Dem, I don't want to have anything to do with him - and he clearly doesn't want to have anything to do with us other than to use our money, lists and media. Since he is so intent on being an Independent, he needs to be INDEPENDENT for real - which means, not hitching his wagon to our party if he's not going to help pull the weight.