This is a followup to streiff’s breaking post on the subject. Here’s the executive summary: the DNC is maintaining – as best as it can, seeing as the organization is in fact kind of broke* – a database full of numbers and voting records and whatnot. The Bernie Sanders campaign clearly considers this database to be absolutely vital for its future survival as a campaign**; and then something happened that caused the DNC to shut off the Sanders campaign’s access to the DNCs voter database (more here at CNN).

Exactly what happened is disputed.  The DNC claims that the Sanders campaign went and data-dumped private and proprietary (i.e., the Clinton campaign’s) voter information, giving them no choice but to lock out Bernie Sanders. The Sanders campaign claims that the DNC is thoroughly in the tank for Hillary Clinton, and is trying to strangle the Sanders campaign on her behalf by making these charges.  Sanders is, in fact, threatening a lawsuit; and that’s a great piece of news with which to end a week, huh?

There are two things to take away from this. The first is, of course, that there’s really no reason to not believe both sides.  The Sanders campaign could very well have improperly grabbed Hillary Clinton’s information, and the DNC could be leaping at any excuse to rid themselves of this meddlesome candidate.  There doesn’t actually need to be any good guys in this scrum; indeed, the Democratic Establishment (which definitely includes Bernie Sanders, despite his protestations) might feel confused if there were.

But the second thing to take away from it?  None of this will matter in tomorrow’s debate.  Bernie Sanders can have the campaign accuse the DNC of being in the tank for Clinton all he likes; and Sanders probably likes doing that a good deal.  But there’s no way that Bernie Sanders will look Hillary Clinton in the eye and say You are standing by and doing nothing while your lickspittle sycophants and toadies are busily abusing their positions.  This entire process is a farce, and you are a coward and a weakling for enabling it.  Bernie Sanders will never, ever say that to Hillary Clinton, despite the fact that he so obviously is thinking it, for a very simple reason: Bernie Sanders is afraid of what Hillary Clinton will do to him afterward.

So… expect fireworks tonight, and cowardice at tomorrow’s debate. Because Bernie Sanders isn’t in it to win it. He’s in it to keep the whole thing from smelling too bad.  Simple enough.

Moe Lane

PS: If you’ve given money to Bernie Sanders, rest assured: you’ll be hearing from Hillary Clinton, once she’s gotten the nomination. Bernie Sanders will hand over his lists without a murmur. Also: you’ll be expected to max out! …Because only dirty misogynists wouldn’t give Hillary Clinton money.  You’re not a dirty misogynist, are you? Of course you’re not… which is why you’re going to give Hillary Clinton your money. Convenient how that works out, yes?

*And no, there’s no real backup to it. Particularly not Obsequious For Obama, or whatever the acronym stands for these days.

**It’s all very Glengarry Glen Ross.