For jury purposes, is Bernie Sanders considered to be a democratic public figure?

[Happyhippychick]

This discussion thread was locked by EarlG (a host of the DU Community Help forum).

I assume "no" while it is still primary season but I think I may be wrong.

[RandySF]

1. No

Just a member of the Senate.

[femmedem]

15. The jury instructions specify that the rule applies to him.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/125616194#post7

[lapfog_1]

2. I have assumed that he is not a Democratic public figure

given that his public profile lists him as Sanders(I) of Vermont

That plus his surrogates consistently attack the rest of the Party from Warren to Hillary and everyone in between

[femmedem]

12. The DU jury instructions specifically say the rule against bashing Democrats applies to him.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/125616194#post7

[dem4decades]

16. Why doesn't he obey the rules himself then?

[femmedem]

18. He's not a member of DU. These are DU rules.

And I'm not his surrogate. He's not even my candidate of choice. I'm just trying to stop the spread of misinformation about DU's terms of service.

[RandySF]

3. Oh, you mean DU juries

No

[femmedem]

11. For DU juries, the answer is yes.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/125616194#post7

[Botany]

5. No

He is out for himself.

[spooky3]

9. I see less evidence of ego problems in Steyer's and Bloomberg's actions than in BS' actions.

And they have accomplished FAR more in their careers.

[femmedem]

10. Actually, the jury instructions specify that he is included in the don't bash Democrats rule.

Please see https://www.democraticunderground.com/125616194#post7

[femmedem]

6. Yes, absolutely. It even specifies him by name in the explanation

when you're asked to serve on a jury about bashing a Democratic figure--something like Democratic figure or person who normally aligns with Democrats, such as Bernie Sanders.

[TwilightZone]

7. For DU alert jury duty, yes.

From the "Don't bash Democratic public figures" alert:

"This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders)."

[Autumn]

13. Yes he is. Have you never read the jury rules? They clearly state that he is a Democratic public

figure. It's also in the TOS.

Don't bash Democratic public figures
Do not post disrespectful nicknames, insults, or highly inflammatory attacks against any Democratic public figures. Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate, and do not compare any Democratic general election candidate unfavorably to their general election opponent(s).

Why we have this rule: Our forum members support and admire a wide variety of Democratic politicians and public figures. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but our members don't expect to see Democrats viciously denigrated on this website. This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders).

[Happyhippychick]

19. No need to be snarky

I have read the jury rules and I try to be a responsible member of the community which is why I asked. I'm not perfect and I didn't remember.

Geez.

[Autumn]

20. I wasn't being snarky. It's in the jury rules and when that alert is used that rule comes up.

I think that part should be removed though, it's rarely enforced.

[Happyhippychick]

21. "Have you never read the jury rules"

Wasn't necessary

[Autumn]

22. You would be amazed at how many haven't seen that.

[progree]

23. No I wouldn't be amazed in the slightest, nor would I be amazed in the least

It's the last sentence of the "Why we have this rule" part of "Bashing Democrats". How many people read the "why we have this rule" more than the first time or two that they encounter it? If at all? Most people already think they know why we have this rule.

And it's not in the "Support Democrats" rule at all, anywhere.

Anyway, its clear from this thread and others I've seen on this subject that the ignorance is widespread.

You are correct in #20 that it's rarely enforced.

People see a "Don't bash Democrats" or "support Democrats" alert re: a bash Bernie post, and think "Bernie is no Democrat" and vote accordingly.

[elleng]

14. Yes

[FoxNewsSucks]

17. As indicated in previous posts,

he is. And his liberal policies are more aligned with the good of the public than a number of corporate-type politicians who have official D's after their name.

[redqueen]

24. You wouldn't think so to look at the Primaries group

of which a large percentage of threads are just endless Bernie (and Bernie supporter) bashing

[Mike Nelson]

26. There is one jury guideline...

... that mentions him, specifically - but it is in the context of a General Election candidate. I look for that mention - it's near the bottom - and read/consider the entire guideline, with the General Election context in mind.

[beachbumbob]

27. unfortunately, the rules here would have us look at Sanders as a democratic figure,

always makes me laugh as Sanders has spent a career bashing democrats and democratic initiatives.

[EarlG]

28. The answer is "yes" and

I’m going to lock this now.