The Democratic National Convention got off to a rocky start last week. For the first two days, the ‘Bernie or Bust’ delegation made their disdain for Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine loud and clear – by booing every time either candidate was mentioned.
After the Bernie or Bust delegates left the convention in protest, they regrouped outside the Wells Fargo Center to stage an anti-Hillary protest. Unsurprisingly, they were followed by GOP ad makers who wanted to turn the moment into attack ad gold.
The choice added to the fury among the progressives in the party, who were already fuming after leaked emails from the DNC showed a concerted effort to undermine Sanders’ candidacy. That fury was palpable outside of the convention hall where the GOP interviewed a few Democrats.
“I don’t support her, or him,” says one young woman, who is waving a No Hillary Clinton sign.
Another sandal-clad Sanders supporter says, “I feel like in a lot of ways, he’s a very lukewarm candidate. If you wanted a real progressive candidate, Tim Kaine is not that pick.”
Some of the interviewees were more than just unsatisfied – they felt betrayed. Like another lady wearing a Bernie hat, shirt, earrings and button who thinks Tim Kaine is “a slap in the face to anybody who believes in democratic progressive values.”
Democrats are betting that the Bernie or Bust voters will eventually do the same.
After the Bernie or Bust delegates left the convention in protest, they regrouped outside the Wells Fargo Center to stage an anti-Hillary protest. Unsurprisingly, they were followed by GOP ad makers who wanted to turn the moment into attack ad gold.
The Bern Unit Turns its Fire on Tim Kaine
Clinton’s short list of potential vice presidential candidates initially had a couple progressive darlings on it – most notably Senators Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown. But to the disdain of the party’s left-wing base, Clinton chose neither of those candidates and instead picked the “safe,” moderate candidate, Tim Kaine.The choice added to the fury among the progressives in the party, who were already fuming after leaked emails from the DNC showed a concerted effort to undermine Sanders’ candidacy. That fury was palpable outside of the convention hall where the GOP interviewed a few Democrats.
“I don’t support her, or him,” says one young woman, who is waving a No Hillary Clinton sign.
Another sandal-clad Sanders supporter says, “I feel like in a lot of ways, he’s a very lukewarm candidate. If you wanted a real progressive candidate, Tim Kaine is not that pick.”
Some of the interviewees were more than just unsatisfied – they felt betrayed. Like another lady wearing a Bernie hat, shirt, earrings and button who thinks Tim Kaine is “a slap in the face to anybody who believes in democratic progressive values.”
Is #DemExit Going to Be a Thing?
In the 2008 election cycle, there was a group of staunch “Hillary or Bust” voters. And although that doesn’t roll of the tongue as well as “Bernie or Bust,” the story was basically the same. Eventually, most of those voters got behind Barack Obama to help propel him to victory in the general election.Democrats are betting that the Bernie or Bust voters will eventually do the same.