DAVE ROSS

Manic day at Democratic National Convention led to this revelation

Jul 26, 2016, 9:08 AM | Updated: 9:08 am

A hectic day in downtown Philadelphia turned manic after word got out that Bernie Sanders would try and smooth things over with his supporters before he spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

Though I was unable to make it into the room where the former Democratic presidential candidate was speaking, I could hear the boos through the door as Sanders prepared his legion of advocates for what he would do later that night.

Curley: Bernie Sanders compromised with ‘the devil’

I spoke with two Sanders supporters outside who told me that defeating Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is the top priority, but the Democratic Party needs to keep moving to the left in order to keep Bernie fans happy and willing to vote for Hillary Clinton. They believe adding Bernie supporters is the only way Hillary can win the election for Democrats.

“There’s a big difference between what I will finally hold my nose and do when I go to vote in November, and what I will work on,” one Bernie supporter told me as we went back to the site of the Democratic National Convention.

The man explained that the Democratic Party has to “show a willingness to move on issues,” such as Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would cripple his web-based business as corporations become more favored. He says the Trans-Pacific Partnership threatens democracy on the internet and would put the profit interest of global corporations over his interests.

So I asked: What brought the Democratic Party to this point?

“Money and politics,” he responded.

He blames the Clinton administration in the 90s for fighting for the white swing vote and moving the party to the right. That’s no longer necessary. However, it did its damage.

“They’ve become so dependent on big money … they spend more time raising money than actually doing the work of Congress,” the Bernie supporter said.

But I wondered how Bernie followers can say the Democratic Party needs to move further to the left. After all, Obama’s administration has been compared to a Communist Party.

“It’s funny you say that,” the man said. “I think it was easier for Bernie to say he was a Democratic Socialist because we’ve already had a socialist president for eight years … according to Fox News.”

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Manic day at Democratic National Convention led to this revelation