DNC panel adopts rule requiring candidates to run, serve as a Democrat

[BlueMTexpat]

88. Well, I knew about the PUMAs, of course.

They made more noise than sense and were definitely in the minority. Of course, those who were making noise got the press coverage and attention.

As for your examples from The Google with "percentages," people can - and do - say anything after the fact. Just because they say it doesn't always make it true. So I don't take those stated percentages to heart, especially given the broad-based coalition that supported BHO in 2008, nor do I take to heart the stated percentages of Bernie primary voters who did not support HRC in the general in 2016.

I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of Bernie primary voters DID support HRC in the GE because they understood the consequences of electing Trump, if nothing else, just as the overwhelming majority of 2008 voters understood the consequences of McCain-Palin. But we all know the loudest and most attention-seeking of those who did not and who, like the 2008 PUMAs, unfortunately got - and continue to get - most of the press coverage.

It's also interesting because whenever there are "open" primaries (which I personally abhor), people of either/any party can participate in the primary voting. At least some who were not Dems likely supported HRC over BHO in the 2008 primaries, partly in hopes that she would be defeated by any GOPer male in the GE if she were the candidate.

They had the smears all ready for her then and cranked them out again in 2016, along with new ones. Too many fell for them, especially many who should have known better.

To me, the bottom line points about both experiences are these:

- ANY voter who voted for Hillary in the 2008 primary and then voted for McCain in the GE was NOT a true Democrat, no matter how they style/d themselves now or then. After all, McCain chose the worst candidate ever (until Trump) as his VP and she was - and is - every single thing that Hillary is not. There was more racism at play relating to "PUMA" votes in 2008, just as your excerpt suggests.

- ANY voter who supported Bernie in the primaries (as was their privilege and absolute right) but then did NOT vote for HRC in 2016 was NEITHER "progressive" NOR a Democrat, no matter how they style themselves. HRC also did not get the same GE coalition in 2016 that supported BHO in 2008. But in 2016, misogyny played a huge part, just as it would have in 2008 had she been the GE candidate. More white males supported Trump than did any other demographic group.

We need no more "opportunist" Dems - either as candidates or as voters.