Bernie Should Commit to Not Running as an Independent. Now.

I think Bernie Sanders should be asked, point blank, to pledge that he won’t run as an independent. Now. And he should do it publicly. And he should also publicly say he will vote for and support Hillary Clinton if she’s the nominee, and urge all of his supporters to do the same.

I know he’s done this in the past. But, under the present circumstances, where his campaign is lying about and raising money off of a conspiracy theory attacking the DNC over his campaign’s misuse of a voter file data breach, it is imperative he reassure people.

It is getting very, very dangerous right now. I want reassurances from Sanders that he’s not going to ensure the election of Donald Trump or Ted Cruz. I want assurances that he’s not going to blow up all of President Obama’s positive achievements, in a fit of pique.

His supporters will do what they want. But, as a person running for the Democratic party’s Presidential nomination, he should pledge that he’s not going to bolt the party if he doesn’t get his way over the DNC data leak.

The RNC is already exploiting the Sanders campaign’s hysterical response.

RNC's @seanspicer, trying to weaken Clinton any way possible, gets in on the fun. pic.twitter.com/njhZd0LXjf

Given that Sanders has only even been a Democrat for a short period of time, I don't think this is an unreasonable request. You are only helping the Republicans. Stop it. Reassure everyone that your top priority is to make sure your progressive goals are not being destroyed by a government completely controlled by the likes of Trumpism or Cruzism.

UPDATE: It gets worse! From a respected Iowa Democratic Campaign Staffer:

All they're doing is sowing suspicion in their own supporters that'll make it harder for Dems to come together after primary

The Sanders campaign reaction on this alone will cost Dems thousands of votes in the general from angry, frustrated Bernie supporters