Some Bernie Sanders fans want President Obama to back off

If President Obama wants to successfully encourage Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to support Hillary Clinton, he's going to have to word his pitch very carefully. Politico reports Sanders supporters are already bristling at the suggestion that Obama might try to push Sanders "to end the fight prematurely" in their meeting Thursday. "The president is not Senator Sanders' boss. We've got to get this straight here," Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator and a Sanders supporter, told Politico. "There's respect that's for the commander in chief ... But Senator Sanders is duly elected, and he'll make his own decisions."
Strategists contend Obama will have to use flattery rather than force. "They don't want to see him shoved to the side," one Democratic strategist told Politico. "A lot of love is going to be more productive than a lot of pressure. There's a strain out there that just wants to hit [Sanders] with a two-by-four and say, 'get out.' The better course is to show appreciation and engagement and show how much the party needs this guy."
Turner seemed to agree. The Sanders supporter said that while Obama should definitely "weigh in on these kinds of things," he just needs to "make sure it's not in a way that you are dictating to progressives." "It should be more of we hear you, and this is what we are willing to do," Turner said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Read the rest of the story at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
October 16 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Thursday's political cartoons include Ukrainian defense, voting rights reconsidered, and the young Republican problem
-
Cyrano de Bergerac: a ‘huge-hearted’ production
The Week Recommends This ‘playful’ and ‘poignant’ rendition brings new life to the ‘gilet-sporting, verse-spouting’ titular soldier
-
The Chinese threat: No. 10’s evidence leads to more questions
Talking Point Keir Starmer is under pressure after collapsed spying trial
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas