2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: We Should Only Let Democrats Choose Our Nominee [View all]24601
(3,962 posts)internal primary races. They rarely happen for altruistic reasons and more often are disruptive efforts intended to weaken the eventual candidate. On the other hand, we don't want to be exclusionary to the point that general election appeals to non-Democrats, especially those considered closely aligned, to fall on deaf ears because they have been alienated. It's all too clear that the Jill Steins, Ralph Naders and Gary Johnsons are ready and willing to welcome any & all voters in order to pursue their own agendas.
The issue is not just about voters, but about candidates. Sure enough, Senator Sanders is closely allied and will be in the Senate's minority leadership. I judge that general political agreement should be enough for the caucus membership, but it strikes me as falling short when it comes to leadership. Coalitions like we seen in European-style parliamentary systems lack the party discipline.
And when it comes to fielding candidates, I'd go further and support rules that require party membership before the 1st primary vote is cast as a condition of eligibility to run as a Democrat.
I have no doubt that these views will be embraced by Senator Sanders' supporters. But most of them are big D Democrats and he has chosen freely not to be one.