General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI think du should welcome people who voted for trump and subsequently woke the fuck up
no?
The party seems to be missing huge opportunities to pick up new people but that doesn't mean we have to
we can do it
(12,217 posts)California_Republic
(1,826 posts)elleng
(131,370 posts)Governor O'Malley. Imagine that, UNITY!
The anti-'other' threads here really irritate me.
WAKE UP, folks, and TRY to imagine winning!
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)elleng
(131,370 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Assuming that they went on to vote for Hillary in the general.
elleng
(131,370 posts)there's a huge amount of hostility around here. I suspect you notice it.
emulatorloo
(44,268 posts)Criticism of the minority of Sanders supporters is not criticism of the majority of us at DU, who supported Bernie in the primary and voted for the Dem nominee in the general.
I do agree that there are some hostile folk around here but IMHO it is just a very loud handful. Most DU'ers don't hold those views.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)A lot of people looking back to place blame,
instead of trying to unite to fight the GOP in 2018 and 2020.
elleng
(131,370 posts)radius777
(3,635 posts)papering over them does nothing for the future of the party.
Lets face facts here, the mostly white Sanders left disliked Hillary, and the heavily diverse Obama center-left liked and supported her.
Such divisions are likely to reemerge in 2020, especially with PoC centrists like Corey Booker likely to run.
Fla Dem
(23,879 posts)No one says we're perfect and improvements can't be made. Opinions for the most part are welcome until they cross the line into negativity, finger pointing and blame. None of that attitude will move this party forward. Yes we need unity to win in 2018 and again in 2020. But bringing sour attitudes, snark and sniping to the discussion is not bringing unity.
brush
(53,973 posts)Last edited Thu Aug 24, 2017, 11:58 PM - Edit history (1)
during the primaries towards Hillary and her supporters it felt like Sanders Underground around here. Sanders OPs were 75% of the posts and the BoBers were extremely hostile to Clinton supporters, alert stalking and getting posts hidden.
The recent post welcoming those who voted for Clinton in the GENERAL ELECTION is clear.
That does not exclude Sanders supporters who voted for Clinton in the general, only those who selfishly, stubbornly and foolishly did not vote for our party's nominee in the general election.
JoeOtterbein
(7,703 posts)Response to oberliner (Reply #18)
clu This message was self-deleted by its author.
mcar
(42,466 posts)Lots of Sanders and O'Malley primary supporters here who voted for the Democratic nominee. The DU Terms of Service clearly states the rules.
Maven
(10,533 posts)Stop pretending as if they aren't because we refuse to cater the holdouts and dead-enders who sabotaged our party and the country for the sake of their own egos.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)Some of them seem a little hazy on the point.
Fla Dem
(23,879 posts)HRC was the Democratic nominee. Democrats should vote for the Democratic candidate.
Hulk
(6,699 posts)Why are we splitting hairs here?
I posted and feel my post was very possibly misunderstood as well. Threads are not the best way to convey a complete thought at times, and on subjects as volatile as this, the possibility of being attacked for a misunderstanding occurs more than we might appreciate.
Demsrule86
(68,790 posts)nini
(16,672 posts)That's what is not ok.
sprinkleeninow
(20,268 posts)I wouldn't waste time trying to win over diehard republicans but definitely wouldn't close the door on any potential voters that strayed. I first voted in the Carter GE and have voted democratic (straight ticket) ever since. Others who have done the same but got caught up in the Trump-hype and either voted from him or "sat out" the election for whatever reason certainly can have remorse and I wouldn't dare shun them. It's a turn-off. A welcome mat is what they should receive instead of discouragement to come back -- it's the bases of who are as caring people.
I was really shocked and saddened that they aren't welcomed here.
MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)Just a small sampling:
Grab them by the p***y, you can do anything.
Trump and his team objected, wanting proceedings to continue, but Beck pointed out she needed to feed her three-month old daughter, pulling out a breast pump to prove it.
Trump said in an outburst: "You're disgusting."
He then walked out of the room, ending proceedings for the day.
Her father? He said: "Well, I was going to say sex, but I can't relate that to her" - pointing at his mortified daughter.
Ive known Paris Hilton from the time shes 12.
Her parents are friends of mine, and the first time I saw her she walked into a room and I said, Who the hell is that?
Trump reversed his position two hours later, with a statement saying that he would punish doctors who performed abortions but not the women themselves.
ATL Ebony
(1,097 posts)MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)Instead of welcoming people who would vote for those values, we should be securing our election process and laws so that the majority of voters are actually being represented. I do not for a minute believe that Republicans won all the seats they won last year legitimately.
I think the fact that Hillary registered 3,000,000 more votes despite the rigged machines, hacking, and propaganda wars might just show that the majority of people are actually already on our side.
ATL Ebony
(1,097 posts)would be contrary to a winning strategy.
Look I hate what happened in 2016 as much as anyone but refuse to beat a dead horse. I would rather look at future elections and how to corale or salvage those that may have strayed vs dismiss them as useless or unworthy of a dialog.
fallout87
(819 posts)That we need to flip votes in 2020 to beat Trump in the swing states? Being angry at all of them and writing them off serves no good other than to make you feel better. Let's get our message out and prove our platform is the best for Americans.
MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)All this ridiculousness about what we need to do when we did everything right and the KGOP stole it all regardless. Have you seen the recent indictment of the election official who changed vote totals in favor of Trump and other conservatives? Do you seriously think with the evidence of cyber war being waged, hacking, gerrymandering, unjust voting laws, foreign money pouring in to top Rethug senators, etc. etc., that this was an isolated incident?
Fuck anyone who actually pulled the lever for those assholes. Our fucking message was spot on. Do you really think our message was worse than Grab Them By The Pussy?
Give me a fucking break.
fallout87
(819 posts)I mean, really, why isn't it at the top of the NYT's, WaPo, and every other reputable newspaper?
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)The Democratic Party welcomes all voters.
We here on DU are people who want to talk to like minded people.
I do not come here to convince people to vote Democratic. I do that in other ways.
sprinkleeninow
(20,268 posts)reiterated.
This site is a destination where 'Democrats' submit posits to discuss all things DEMOCRATICAL!.
Here is where we of 'one mind and one accord' gather.
Ms. Toad
(34,126 posts)some of the general membership, not so much.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)They never left and have always been part of DU.
Some people need to quit fighting the primary.
Some people need to quit confusing the Democratic Party with DU.
Some people may be sad that they can"t post multiple ops a day about their preferred primary candidate.
Bradshaw3
(7,549 posts)JoeStuckInOH
(544 posts)Do they get a prodigal-son welcome reunion, too?
elleng
(131,370 posts)UNIFY and WIN, EVEN those who have been at DU since May of 2017. WELCOME.
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)You're welcoming her back as well?
lunamagica
(9,967 posts)elleng
(131,370 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)Do you now accept and welcome Hillary as an important leader of the Democratic party?
elleng
(131,370 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Come hear and preach to us when they did something completely mean spirited and idiotic politically less than a year ago. We've had a lot of good people driven off by mean spirited people, it's not worth it.
They have the rest of the web, aren't entitled to join us here. But Sanders and O Malley supporters who voted Dem are welcome here- always have been. And you know that, so I'm not sure why you're casting aspersions on DU like that. Unfounded.
elleng
(131,370 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)The primary started. Not being a member of DU does not mean they can't help Dems in other ways. This site is supposed to be for people who fully support the Dems when the shit hits the fan.
Many of the most mean spirited last year were actually working very vocally against Dems. Skinner hasn't forgotten the negative impact on Dems who called DU home, and that's a good thing. There are plenty of places with little to no standards, I'm not sure why people who dislike the standards here don't flock to them. Oh yeah, they suck- and they'd rather disrupt here. No thank you.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,134 posts)who non stop attacked Hillary.
Squinch
(51,084 posts)It is survival.
At this moment, thanks in part to those who voted for third party assholes or refused to vote for Hillary because their candidate lost the primary, the republic is hanging by a thread.
We don't have time to be courting people who see their vote as a personal expression of their relative superiority to the rest of us Democrats. We need people who can be depended on to pragmatically use their vote to oppose racism, sexism, oppressive evangelicism, corruption at the highest levels, and a general return to the middle ages.
I take my responsibilities seriously. I have no respect for those who use their vote as a tool of their own vanity.
Metatron
(1,258 posts)I completely agree.
Hard to win when turning your back on potential voters.
elleng
(131,370 posts)Hard to believe this thread has lasted this long, but I guess it shouldn't be, so many invested on turning their backs.
Squinch
(51,084 posts)particularly have any interest in what they have to say. I do not welcome them.
They are a small, stupid minority who are not likely to be satisfied with any Democratic candidate who appeals to voting segments that don't look like themselves.
We could eclipse their numbers with effective get out the vote efforts, which is where our efforts should go.
Arazi
(6,829 posts)BainsBane
(53,127 posts)in hell.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Because emails Benghazi and Wall Street
They will probably vote republican or independent next time around
Possibly could vote Dem
but probably not
JoeStuckInOH
(544 posts)Highly doubtful she runs again at her age after already losing the 2008 primary and 2016 general. I'm somewhat doubtful she even takes an official leadership role in the democratic party again either.
At this point she's more of a democratic spiritual leader... so the practical application of liking or not liking er doesn't matter. Now regardless of who someone actually does or doesn't like, so ling as they dislike trump and will vote against him, that is all that really matter. As long as they stand against trump, that matters more to me than whether they even like Sanders or Hillary, or Kamala Harris, ... or whoever. #justnottrump
lunasun
(21,646 posts)by some other BS next time.
If they just have trump buyers remorse but still think Hillary was worse , even now, they are not reality based just disillusioned by trumps term
Maybe next time those folks will vote for someone worse than Trump because (insert new fake dem scandals)
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)ismnotwasm
(42,023 posts)Anyone can join in and be a Democrat.
marybourg
(12,648 posts)We are a community of committed Democrats.
They do not fit that mold. They'll have the opportunity to adhere to Democratic principles and Democratic candidates next time there's an election. Then and only then will they have earned our attention.
I don't think they have anything to offer us right now.
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)Very well said.
Beartracks
(12,835 posts)Imagine the prodigal son returning home, the door is slammed in his face, and he hears through the wood: "Go stay with your crazy uncle!"
That kind of rejection could be enough to make him think that coming to his senses wasn't worth it, and he leaves.
================
marybourg
(12,648 posts)Local Democratic clubs, listening to and watching non-right wing media, reading non-right-wing newspapers and periodicals, history and biographies.
When they've absorbed all that middle of the road stuff and haven't started to rant about immigrants, gays and feminists again, then maybe they can be likened to "prodigal sons". But 7 months after the election, they have no call on our patience, forbearance and experience.
And I for one, have none to give them, nor do they have anything to offer us yet.
Beartracks
(12,835 posts)This may not be the best place for conversion, but rather for the converts.
============
marybourg
(12,648 posts)LuvLoogie
(7,069 posts)Of the disabled, who promises to build a racist wall, and institute a racist travel ban, because he promises you more money? My educated cousin voted for Jill Stein. (which was a vote for trump)
They can maybe cut the lawn and take out the trash, maybe wash the dishes a few times before they think about getting a dinner invite and telling me how to cook and arrange my kitchen.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)GaryCnf
(1,399 posts)BUT, as you mentioned in your comment the FBOP, no one knows how you voted. No one knows how anyone voted.
The only people who this will affect in a practical sense are: (1) those who feel such guilt that they feel compelled to do a mea culpa in which case I would recommend a priest ; and, (2) those who have no guilt and want to rub this really horrible loss in the faces of people.
As long as we are all moving forward instead of obsessing over the past this shouldn't exclude anyone who would like to see our Party get stronger.
elleng
(131,370 posts)obamanut2012
(26,181 posts)And, this thread shows why I'm glad he does.
tymorial
(3,433 posts)Ms. Toad
(34,126 posts)But it apparently didn't suit the agend of the people who quoted the first two comments to also quote his final comment.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I didn't read Skinner's statement as an absolute, merely a sentiment implying a necessary support of the Democratic platform as our unifying theme.
I learned in church many years ago that a literal reading of any text, lacking context, nuance, history and current sentiment, would result in my own lack of relevant perspective of the text I'm reading.
Though should anyone desire to engage in textual literalism, I won't try to talk them out of it...
leftstreet
(36,119 posts)People who didn't vote for HC and are vocal about will probably not feel very welcome
Same for anyone who voted for Trump and has changed his/her mind
obamanut2012
(26,181 posts)seaglass
(8,173 posts)The price of admission to DU after this election is your vote for Hillary Clinton (or your support for her if you are not eligible to vote in the United States). If you are able to vote, but you can't bring yourself to vote for Hillary, then I'm not particularly interested in listening to your bullshit for the next four-to-eight years. I don't care if you live in the bluest of blue states or the reddest of red states, if you are looking for excuses to vote for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson or god forbid Donald Fucking Trump, then this isn't the place for you. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of other places on the Internet where you can get your Hillary-hate on, and some of them are even filled with former DU members.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10137542
Ms. Toad
(34,126 posts)For those people who can't figure it out, the bottom line with regard to the 2016 General Election is this: If you were able to vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but you chose not to -- and you don't regret your terrible decision -- then we don't want you here.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1259&pid=13026
emulatorloo
(44,268 posts)my daughter is too young to vote would she be welcome at DU
Demsrule86
(68,790 posts)sprinkleeninow
(20,268 posts)BainsBane
(53,127 posts)but not people who voted for Trump, Stein, or did some other ratfuck move but aren't the least bit sorry. Those people can go fuck themselves with a Tiki torches, just like their Nazi allies in Charlottesville.
If someone's response to the GE loss was election was that the 16.9 million who voted for Clinton in the primary should have relinquished their votes to a self-entitled minority, they reveal an abiding contempt for democracy and the democratic rights of citizens less privileged and, on average, less affluent than themselves. If they then use that or anything else as an excuse for refusing to vote for Clinton in the GE, they are self-entitled narcissists whose egos and values are perfectly reflected by the narcissist in the White House. That is an evil I will not forgive, ever.
haveahart
(905 posts)Squinch
(51,084 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)and then voted for a Republican. Let's reach out.
Squinch
(51,084 posts)Mexican, the people who saw him ridiculing a disabled man, who heard him brag about the fact that he is a serial molester, who watched his campaign that was filled with nothing but racist dog whistles, and who then voted for him.
And who are TOTALLY sincere now that they stand for NONE of those things!!16!3
Uhhh.... sure.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)Just a hunch.
CTyankee
(63,926 posts)MERYL STREEP! Only the best loved actress in the world...
Afromania
(2,771 posts)Last edited Thu Aug 24, 2017, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)
long as they check the I voted for him because ________ excuses at the door. I, personally, don't want to hear any of that shit at this point. That guy has been flogging the coded racist rhetoric horse since the day they put his stupid ass in office. Anybody coming around now has long missed the boat out of that particular "forgiveness" dock.
Not only do they need to be repentant "former" trump voters need to apologize immediately. Followed by a complete repudiation of trump, republican policies and non repentant trump voters. They will also need to show easily verifiable proof of them doing so. Collaborated by no less then 3 independent non associated parties. You tell me you voted for trump and are just now figuring out what he is? Then it's simple I... do.... not... trust... you.... I'm fully expecting you to try and stab me in the back with your vote at the earliest convenient opportunity.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Some people are welcome in my home. Other people can visit and I put up with them.
I haven't served on the DU Welcome Wagon in a while. Perhaps ones who are not officially welcome just don't qualify for the fruit basket.
emulatorloo
(44,268 posts)But we are not really seeing many Trump voters who regret it yet. Will take time still. And there are some who will continue to support him no matter what, about 20 to 25% of total 2016 voters
Bettie
(16,147 posts)The people I know who voted for him still say he's doing a fine job.
He still expresses his hate for the groups they also hate and that's enough for them.
Seriously, are there any who would not vote for him again?
frogmarch
(12,161 posts)if someone here was a former trump supporter, unless the person admitted it?
DFW
(54,502 posts)I mean, sure, they MUST be out there. There must be a few coal miners in West Virginia and Kentucky who are thinking, "I wouldn't have bought snake oil from Snidely Whiplash, so how the hell did I buy those scam speeches of Trump's?"
But I haven't read any such posts by people wanting to join DU as new converts. "I see the light" seems to be a truthful statement only when restricted to people who look at solar eclipses with protective lenses. The few Trump voters I have interacted with either still think they made the right decision, or else say, "well Hillary would have been just as bad or worse," but never admit that they know better except to the person they see in the mirror while brushing their teeth, and even then only on every second Tuesday of the month.
Maven
(10,533 posts)etc? Because they had no idea that Trump wasn't for those things? Are there lots of unicorns where you live too?
Or is it just that we are opening our arms to straight white "economic anxiety" voters no matter what their other views, and damn all the core constituencies of the Dem party?
JCanete
(5,272 posts), because its not a matter of a change of heart...its a matter of new information and new perspective. You don't want to invite people to have those discoveries...you want them to pick themselves up by their bootstraps while you extend no hand in the process. Smart.
Shaming and browbeating only works if there aren't communities that they can still feel safe in. Sure, people want to be liked and accepted, but putting the bar higher than they are able to leap at this time will simply make them appreciate just how much they don't belong in your club. Instead, they'll find people of like mind who have it all ass-backwards where they can feel good about themselves. And guess what...they'll continue to fucking breed, and that bubble of ignorance is only going to grow larger.
D23MIURG23
(2,851 posts)who were 18 when they voted for Trump and are rapidly learning about the world they live in.
When I was 17 I was sad that I couldn't vote for Ralph Nader in the 2000 election. By the time 2004 rolled around I was glad that having an April birthday had saved me from dishonoring myself; W was more than enough to change my mind about whether there was "a dime's worth of difference" between the parties. Maybe if I'd been older I would have noticed during Reagan's tenure, but he was gone by the time I had any awareness of politics. My parents were also republicans and I was taught to be suspicious of Democrats when I was growing up.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)I guarantee the next right wing republican after Dump will play the race card and they will jump right back into the hate.
They live for that evil shit!
bucolic_frolic
(43,478 posts)Create a mass movement! Reformation and Penance
XRubicon
(2,213 posts)If they wake up or somehow gain 50 IQ points they will be with us anyway...
ToxMarz
(2,169 posts)They can start their own forum.
LakeArenal
(28,869 posts)Demsrule86
(68,790 posts)mdbl
(4,976 posts)they were just sitting in their own denial of the facts. They will just do it again when the most idiotic repuglican runs again.
IronLionZion
(45,633 posts)going forward. Trump repeatedly proving his unprecedented shittiness is obviously not enough. Our wins have to be large enough that they can't steal it from us. We need much higher turnout and many more people knowing what we stand for and feeling inspired to take time out of their busy workday to vote.
Their side may be salaried, but our side has a lot of hourly wage workers who lose money when they spend a few hours waiting in line in an overcrowded urban polling place.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)DU is a blog site for Democrats.
MFM008
(19,834 posts)To ruin our country ,our sanity, and the world.
They can fuck off.
Whiskeytide
(4,463 posts)... you have to be tuned into them to understand the DU thought process.
Just about all DUers are - understandably - pissed off at anyone who voted for Trump (it doesn't matter why). There will be little quarter for them on this forum because you can't rationally explain that vote.
Some DUers are especially pissed off at BOBers who voted for Trump - again, understandably - because that aided in the election of Trump. There is a special hatred for them, I think, because their claims to be "progressive" are considered hypocritical, and because they have inflicted pain on people at risk under Trump's policies. They are considered worse than someone who merely voted for Trump out of stupidity because they should have known better.
Some DUers harbor only slightly less hatred for BOBers who voted third-party because they claimed to be progressives but stupidly wasted their vote and indirectly aided Trump. They might still be able to claim progressive bona fides, I guess, but they failed simple game theory reasoning, and that was pretty dumb. Many here don't distinguish between this group and the preceding group, but some do.
And finally, some here are pissed at ANY Bernie supporter - even if they voted for HRC in the GE - because they believe Bernie supporters (actually the Sander's campaign itself) caused the rift in the party that allowed Trump to slip in. These are the posters who can't help but remind you - again and again - that Sanders WAS NOT a democrat, he WAS NEVER a democrat, and that he had no business running in the Dem primary in the first place.
Even though we're not supposed to re-fight the primary, that is all some posters here do. I have seen some very artfully re-fight the primary in a post simultaneously admonishing another poster for re-fighting the primary. I suppose it's still too recent, and it was such a devastating loss. And every shit move by Trump - which of course happens every damn day - just reinforces that resentment. It has been hard for some to let November go and re-focus on what's next.
But time will heal most of the wounds. At least it has in the past. So give it time. If 2018 rolls around and DUers are still typing "FUCK OFF" to anyone who comes here looking for guidance, direction and good advice, ... well, ... at that point we're in much bigger trouble than concerns over the diversity of thought on a message board.
.
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)there is no "waking up". and no cure for ur disease no matter how u feel it!
mcar
(42,466 posts)I'd like to see proof that even one exists.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)Look for a more mainstream GOP candidate to support? After disruptors trolled DU from the left & right last election, constantly ripping at our Democratic Party candidates, I have precious little trust of what someone claiming that status might drag with them. DU survived a hacking and a purge of many disruptors here for the sole purpose of destroying any chance of winning elections. These people gamed the system and drove longstanding respected members away by attacking democratic values and constituencies. I left for a while because of it and stayed away for a bit longer after becoming seriously ill. With that history in mind, a reminder of how important these elections are should be kept in mind and caution exercised. I would like to see considerable energy directed toward shoring up the ground game for Democratic Party candidates.
Augiedog
(2,549 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,134 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Or in 2014.
Or in 2010.
Even 2012 was a mixed bag.
We aren't in a position to turn people away.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)stonecutter357
(12,698 posts)dalton99a
(81,703 posts)leftofcool
(19,460 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)Saying publicly here that you voted for Trump is akin to putting a huge sign on your back that says "Hey I'm a dumbass and voted for the RACIST SEXIST NAZI IN CHIEF".... That person will get no end of grief over the years.
If I was a person who voted for Trump, I'd just keep my mouth shut and join the site quietly. I damn sure wouldn't be proud of it. They should be ashamed of themselves, and make up for it by dedicating their future voting careers to the Democratic Party.
pecosbob
(7,548 posts)that the Rethuglicans want to purge those they consider too far left, and the new 'Democrats' also want to purge those they consider too far left.
Weekend Warrior
(1,301 posts)No need to listen to them drone on in a year about how great Trumps process Mary opponent is. He's not Trup, after all.
Discussionist and JPR are open for business.
yardwork
(61,784 posts)There might be people who voted for Trump in 2016 who have awakened from whatever stupor they were in and now plan to support Democratic candidates. If so, I would assume that they wouldn't go around DU mentioning their ill-informed vote in 2016. In other words, if they have genuinely changed, we won't know that they once supported Trump.
If, on the other hand, they go around DU bragging about their 2016 vote for Trump or a third party candidate, I'm going to assume that they're a troll. They can go back to JPR or Stormfront.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)...of people who voted third-party, wrote in Sanders, or withheld their vote entirely in some kind of protest, or whatever, who have since become staunch Democrats is very small, but not non-existent. People can, and do, evolve politically.
Skinner's blanket statement that "This site only welcomes people who voted for HRC in the GE" does not reflect the Terms of Service I agreed to abide by as a member. I agreed to this:
Why we have this rule: Democratic Underground is an online community for politically liberal people who understand the importance of working together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government, and as such we expect our members to support and vote for Democrats at election time. Rare exceptions are granted at the sole discretion of the DU Administrators. (Current exceptions: None.)
As I read the above, if you do not advocate, and cannot foresee a situation in which you would consider voting for anyone other than a person running as a Democrat in a general election AT THE TIME you join or post, you are welcome. If your position changes, and you choose to support a candidate running under a different party banner in a general election, you should terminate your membership.
Here's the clarification I need:
Does "This site only welcomes people who voted for HRC in the GE," mean that a person who voted for Stein, or didn't vote, who, at the time they join or post, is committed to doing everything in their power to make sure Democrats prevail in future General Elections, and who has no intention to advocate voting against Democrats, is nevertheless violating terms of service by virtue of their past action?
If it means that, the terms of service need to be revised to reflect that.
And if this restriction is made explicit in the Terms of Service, it must necessarily be a blanket restriction, because the belief that underlies it is that people are incapable of evolving politically, and anyone who ever identified as a member of another party, or who voted against (or failed to vote for) the Democratic candidate is forever suspect and stained, and therefore barred from participating on this Democrats Only site. To apply the restriction to some, but not all elections, would be capricious and arbitrary. By what objective criteria would you draw the line? who decides which elections of the past many decades it was ok to vote "Not Democrat" and which it was not? Do we bar all Nader voters? Do we bar all Perot voters? Do we bar all Anderson voters? McKinney voters? Is the restriction based on results? Is the problem that Hillary lost? Would you bar all "not Hillary" voters if she had won? If the objective criteria boils down to results, it would be a rule meant to punish in a way that strikes me "nasty" and therefore inconsistent with DU principles.
I need clarification because I may well be a member in violation. In 1980, I voted for John Anderson. In 2008, in the GE in NJ (where Obama led by double digits), I voted for Cynthia McKinney. I did not advocate voting for McKinney here, but she was running on vital issues and I wanted to be counted among the people supporting them. I am not, and never have been "a Green." In NJ Obama's victory was safe. I didn't vote for McKinney because I had turned Green. It was cast purely to demonstrate support for principles and changes that, as a Democrat, I believe the Democratic Party should be stronger on. If that vote makes me a traitor to the party who needs to be ostracized, I would like to know it.
liquid diamond
(1,917 posts)Those assholes have blood on their hands. trump showed them exactly who he was during the campaign. There is no "waking up".
askyagerz
(776 posts)Is a good representation of why dems only control like 6 states at the moment. I understand keeping the assholes out but I never see a welcome mat for new recruits. Just because someone has a different idea then you doesn't necessarily make them a moron. As long as they are willing to vote democrat then their opinions should be heard without telling them how horrible of people they are. We should be here to help educate not ridicule like a bunch of elitists or immature adults. Maybe kick out the people who use fat jokes everyday not potential voters just because they might be... gasp... against abortion.... This is a numbers game not a purity test.
D23MIURG23
(2,851 posts)To put this in the context of the other threads that have been circulating on the topic.
Context also matters. I would probably rec a thread that showed up on here from a former Trump supporter writing a mea culpa and explaining their change of heart. I seem to remember a few threads like that back in the Bush years.
I would not take kindly to someone writing about how they voted for Trump as a one time thing "to teach the party brass a lesson" or some such thing. I get tired of self righteous anti-establishmentarians and their smugly misplaced fuck yous.
peggysue2
(10,849 posts)with voters who are honest and sincere, who perhaps in the moment assumed Hillary was far enough ahead that they could afford a 'vote of conscience' by not voting. Or wrote in Bernie or voted for Stein for whatever reason. As long as they admit they got it wrong because the frigging nightmare we're facing now is an existential threat. Not simply to the Democratic Party but the whole freaking country.
But then, it requires humility which sadly is in short supply these days. if you want to read a note of contrition, I invite you to read a post over at Cannonfire by a poster named Jay, someone on the Far Left who realizes how wrong he was last November. You'll find it under the headline "That Dossier (updated)" in the comment section.
I admire this poster's honesty. We're on the same page. Because we're Democrats, regardless of where we find ourselves on the political spectrum. And that's how we win in 2018.
Demonaut
(8,937 posts)and caps look like I'm yelling
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)But imho, it's still perfectly legit to ask just what in fuck's name where they thinking if their vote was motivated by anything other that Hillary hate or outright racism
Willie Pep
(841 posts)We need to reach out to as many people as possible.
Fluke a Snooker
(404 posts)There is a difference between letting in Trump voters who are still fascists, and then letting in people who voted for him but were horribly mistaken, and because of that have now become progressive. Trump is a one-off in that you will never see another Nazi like that run again. I trust our mods to make sure they stay on the straight and narrow, making sure they aren't obvious Nazi (Republican) trolls.
Keep in mind that many of these woke former Trump voters have friends who still think they like Trump, but haven't been exposed to clear, rational thought that progressive agendas mandate. Once they have been here awhile, they can start to work on their friends, particularly with the midterms coming up soon.
aikoaiko
(34,186 posts)It was so discouraging to see prominent DUers shot people out.
The "support Democrats" rule used to be a forward looking rule -- not a past test of general election voting purity of just one Democrat.
Didn't vote for Jimmy Carter -- come on board as long as you support Democrats now.
Didn't vote for Walter Mondale -- come on board as long as you support Democrats now.
Didn't vote for Michael Dukakis -- come on board as long as you support Democrats now.
Didn't vote for Al Gore -- come on board as long as you support Democrats now.
Didn't vote for John Kerry -- come on board as long as you support Democrats now.
Didn't vote for Hilary Clinton - you're dead to us.
Mr. Ected
(9,675 posts)JI7
(89,287 posts)and would have no problem with it.
JoeOtterbein
(7,703 posts)And YES we have to pick up EVERY new DEM!
Freddie
(9,279 posts)That even if you "don't like" the system or parties in generally (especially only 2), WE'RE STUCK WITH IT unless/until we go to runoff voting (like France) or a parliamentary system. Both of which things are extremely unlikely for now. So in the GE, one of the 2 major candidates will win.
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,096 posts)3catwoman3
(24,112 posts)...any such beings?
icymist
(15,888 posts)It would be like inviting Benedict Arnold back because he's now sorry. No. The only opportunities we would miss is to be trolled into division yet again.
yuiyoshida
(41,871 posts)Mike Nelson
(9,984 posts)...but this type - a Trump voter who woke up - is not a huge number.