Leader: A person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country
Parasite: Person who habitually relies on or exploits others and gives nothing in return
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday night that he still does not consider himself a Democrat despite taking part in a Democratic National Committee (DNC) unity tour with the party's new chairman, Tom Perez.
"No, I'm an Independent," Sanders said when asked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes whether he now identifies as a Democrat.
Sen Sanders has a choice to make. If he wants to transform the Dem Party into a liberal powerhouse, he has to join the party and transform from within. The days where he can stay as an Independent and piss into the tent SHOULD END. Negotiate to his heart’s fill; demand policy positions aligning to his requirements, but the bottom line is this — either you are a leader of the party and there by utilize the apparatus & infrastructure or else, you are glad to start your own party and invest in your infrastructure.
"If the Democratic Party is going to succeed — and I want to see it succeed — it's gonna have to open its door to independents," he continued. "There are probably more independents in this country than Democrats or Republicans. It's got to open its doors to working people and to young people, create a grassroots party. That's what we need.”
This is Grade A BS that Donald Trump will be proud of. How have Dems not welcomed Independents? To say that Dems haven’t welcomed independents is to insult the work of the party over the last few years in the face of electoral sacrifices. I don’t considering it to be too high an ask for independents wanting leadership position in the Dem Party to do the minimal task of joining the party. If folks are fiercely protective of their ‘Independent’ status, i am sure that the Dem party will respect them, engage them in conversations but no anointing them as leaders of the party. That’s a slap in the face of every long time Dem grassroot campaigner i met during the 2012 & 2016 election.
To people saying that this shows that the Dem Party is unwelcoming to Independents, i respectfully disagree. The Party is welcoming of independents. I don’t think it is too much to demand that they join the party to set it’s agenda.
UPDATE: Editing Title. Irrespective of how i feel about Sen Sanders’ wanting the cake & eating it as well, i recognize that the title is offensive.