It started early March with Howard Dean:
It continued after yesterday's Washington win with Congressman Rick Larson (D-WA):
Let's not forget Senator Brian Schatz:
In the wake of Bernie Sanders changing his election strategy to courting superdelegates, a disturbing pattern is emerging: Bernie Sanders supporters taking to the internet to bully superdelegates into changing their votes via their social media channels. The argument seems to be that superdelegates that come from states that Bernie has won should respect the "will of the people" and give their vote to the winning candidate (despite that not being how superdelegates work). But, as we're seeing, even uncommitted superdelegates and those that do not represent specific states are getting it, too. Just ask DNC Vice Chairwoman and CNN mainstay, Donna Brazile:
And Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona (a state that Hillary won):
Then, clearly, the argument changes.
An extreme sect of Bernie's supporters acting a damn fool online is nothing new. But with Bernie's campaign openly stating their intent to put pressure onto superdelegates to "reconsider" their positions with superdelegates, it seems that his supporters have taken up the charge to do the very opposite of what would help Sanders achieve that goal: harassment.
And in this election season, where the Republican frontrunner has had to be chastised into openly and forcefully condemning the actions of some of his most ardent supporters, is it time for Bernie Sanders to consider doing the same? After all, lightly slapping his supporters on the wrist didn't help him in Illinois. Allowing his supporters to go after supers might not help either.
It continued after yesterday's Washington win with Congressman Rick Larson (D-WA):
Let's not forget Senator Brian Schatz:
In the wake of Bernie Sanders changing his election strategy to courting superdelegates, a disturbing pattern is emerging: Bernie Sanders supporters taking to the internet to bully superdelegates into changing their votes via their social media channels. The argument seems to be that superdelegates that come from states that Bernie has won should respect the "will of the people" and give their vote to the winning candidate (despite that not being how superdelegates work). But, as we're seeing, even uncommitted superdelegates and those that do not represent specific states are getting it, too. Just ask DNC Vice Chairwoman and CNN mainstay, Donna Brazile:
And Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona (a state that Hillary won):
Then, clearly, the argument changes.
An extreme sect of Bernie's supporters acting a damn fool online is nothing new. But with Bernie's campaign openly stating their intent to put pressure onto superdelegates to "reconsider" their positions with superdelegates, it seems that his supporters have taken up the charge to do the very opposite of what would help Sanders achieve that goal: harassment.
And in this election season, where the Republican frontrunner has had to be chastised into openly and forcefully condemning the actions of some of his most ardent supporters, is it time for Bernie Sanders to consider doing the same? After all, lightly slapping his supporters on the wrist didn't help him in Illinois. Allowing his supporters to go after supers might not help either.
