Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Who will Sanders mostly attack in the debate? [View all]H2O Man
(76,071 posts)Bernie Sanders can't "dictate." I think that it is accurate to say that he knows that, and has no intention of dictating. Yet, he has the right -- and indeed, the responsibility -- to represent the interests of his supporters. He knows that, and Joe Biden does as well.
Unlike some here, Biden does not look at the Sanders movement as "the enemy." Such an immature understanding of politics would not only have prevented him from being so successful a politician as he definitely has been, but would be the ball & chain that would surely prevent him from defeating Trump. Like President Obama, he fully understands the benefit of uniting the party, which always is the difference between winning and losing the 50 individual state contests that unite to determine the presidential elections. Always.
I remember after Bernie won the third contest of the primary season, listening to two spokespersons for the state's Hispanic community. The man said that Bernie won the Hispanic vote because he listened to the community, rather than just talked to it as other candidates had. The woman said that Bernie won because he didn't limit himself to advocating for the middle class, but showed great concern for the poor in America. Now, you certainly have the right to believe that Biden doesn't need those two people to win. But I am convinced that Biden is far, far smarter than that.
Biden has an impressive lead now, and it looks like he will win the nomination. He has about 2/3rds to Bernie's 1/3. Obviously, that one-third cannot dictate. But Joe Biden is certainly smart enough to know that he needs that other third to support him in November. He's not stupid enough to mistake that need as Bernie attempting to dictate to him. He's far too intelligent a man for that type of foolishness.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided