Krugman: Time for Sanders to start acting responsibly

[Landslide Lyndon]

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/feel-the-math/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Opinion&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

First, the Sanders campaign needs to stop feeding the right-wing disinformation machine. Engaging in innuendo suggesting, without evidence, that Clinton is corrupt is, at this point, basically campaigning on behalf of the RNC. If Sanders really believes, as he says, that it’s all-important to keep the White House out of Republican hands, he should stop all that – and tell his staff to stop it too.

Second, it’s time for Sanders to engage in some citizenship. The presidency isn’t the only office on the line; down-ballot races for the Senate and even the House are going to be crucial. Clinton has been raising money for other races; Sanders hasn’t, and is still being evasive on whether he will ever do so. Not acceptable.

Oh, and the Sanders campaign is saying that it will try to flip superdelegates even if it loses the unpledged delegates and the popular vote. Remember when evil Hillary was going to use superdelegates to steal the nomination? Double standards aside, what makes the campaign think that he will get any backing from a party he refuses to lift a finger to help?

[Landslide Lyndon]

So the idea that Sanders should only stay in the contest if he respects some omertà-like code of silence is ludicrous. His critique of corruption and political influence is as much at the heart of his campaign as his concerns about poverty and inequality. Thank God someone in the Democratic Party takes it seriously enough not to give Clinton a pass.

It's one thing talking about corruption in politics in general and another pushing specious arguments about Clinton taking money from Big Oil, implying that she is beholden to them.
Sanders himself has accepted money from fossil fuel employees.
Sanders also conveniently forgets that 97% of fossil fuel industries contributions have gone to Republicans, showing how ridiculous is his attempt to convince the voters that Hillary is somehow a darling of them.

[Landslide Lyndon]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/04/02/fact-checking-the-clinton-sanders-spat-over-big-oil-contributions/

The Washington Post awarded 3 Pinocchios to Sanders' campaign smear of Clinton.

Sanders has ran a fact-free campaign for months now. And of course whoever dared to criticize him has been branded a shill, a sellout and an enemy of the people.
No wonder he appeals to the same kind of voter as TRUMP.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Sanders is in a fight with Clinton for the nomination. Right now he needs to focus all his time, money, and energy on getting as close to winning as possible for reasons that are obvious.

That's not a valid excuse, though. A serious presidential contender needs to consider raising money/supporting downballot candidates as vital to his or her campaign as ad buys or GOTV efforts. It's simply a requirement if you want to implement your agenda. And starting early is crucial if you want to get liberals elected, as you need to get involved in the primaries. Clinton was raising money even before voting started and has continued to do so as best as she can while Sanders hasn't raised a dime, even when he's raising far more money than her! There is no excuse for his bs behavior on this!

Sanders just sort of joined the Democratic party to take advantage of its organization and party name, while he has done nothing for the party itself, save for possibly creating internal generational divisions. If Sanders can outraise Clinton by, what, 20 million dollars in March? He should be raising quite a bit for other races.

As I said before - There is no excuse for this. He is selfishly using the party while doing nothing to help bring in a Democratic Congress that will be needed to implement any of his policy ideas.

Honestly, I don't know if Sanders or his campaign has any idea what they are doing. They are so narrowly-focused that they are failing to see that, at least for Democrats who don't have numerous billionaire donor groups fully bankrolling state/Congressional races, a presidential race isn't just about winning your own race.

I'd argue that the fact that he's involved in a competitive primary race is the only valid reason for focusing on his presidential run at this time. I know a lot of folks are pushing the narrative that its already over, but from the Sanders camp perspective, it isn't. And thus calls for them to spend time supporting other candidates doesn't make sense right now, especially as they're presently behind. If they didn't see a shot at winning this, then you might see them still 'running' but sharing the wealth a bit more actively and dialing back their presidential efforts. But as its kind of obvious they are at that point, its kind of silly to get upset at the Sanders campaign for not wanting to divide their time and resources. You may disagree with their assessment of the state of the race, but getting upset over their difference of view here is in effect demanding that they surrender. Which is a tad silly.

Clinton too is in a competitive primary but she never stopped fundraising for the party.
But Sanders isn't just sitting on his hands, he actually attacks her for fundraising to help the national party and congressional candidates.
He is either dumb or a hypocrite, no other way to explain it.