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NYT: Sanders’s Campaign Past Reveals Willingness to Play Hardball
During the 1986 race for governor of Vermont, Bernie Sanders bristled at the popularity of the Democratic incumbent, Madeleine Kunin. Mr. Sanders, who was running against her as an independent, saw himself as a leader, and viewed Ms. Kunin as a lightweight.
“She does very well on television,” he told one interviewer. “She has an excellent press secretary.”
But really, he said another time, the governor’s appeal came down to one trait.
“Many people are excited because she’s the first woman governor,” he said. “But after that, there ain’t much.”
...
More than anything, the recent Sanders broadsides reflect a political strategy he has carried out in previous campaigns: the use of blunt criticisms, sarcastic asides and a thundering style against his opponents.
In the 1986 race, Mr. Sanders argued that he would be a strong feminist and do more for women than Ms. Kunin had. While granting that Ms. Kunin was “not corrupt,” he questioned if she had the same “courage” that he had.....
“In a tough fight, Bernie is hardly the all-positive, all-substance guy that he claims to be,” said Garrison Nelson, a longtime political science professor at the University of Vermont.
...
In Vermont, however, Mr. Sanders was known for belittling opponents at times, rather than merely challenging their ideas. During one debate in the 1986 governor’s race, Mr. Sanders was asked if he viewed Governor Kunin as “the lesser of two evils,” given his descriptions of the Democratic and Republican parties as “Tweedledum” and “Tweedledee,” and if he thought he might contribute to her political “demise.”
Mr. Sanders chuckled and then looked at Ms. Kunin, seated a few feet away.
“Governor, how does it feel to be the lesser of two evils?” he asked. “I think that really is what this campaign is about.” Ms. Kunin was stone-faced.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-history.html?_r=0
“She does very well on television,” he told one interviewer. “She has an excellent press secretary.”
But really, he said another time, the governor’s appeal came down to one trait.
“Many people are excited because she’s the first woman governor,” he said. “But after that, there ain’t much.”
...
More than anything, the recent Sanders broadsides reflect a political strategy he has carried out in previous campaigns: the use of blunt criticisms, sarcastic asides and a thundering style against his opponents.
In the 1986 race, Mr. Sanders argued that he would be a strong feminist and do more for women than Ms. Kunin had. While granting that Ms. Kunin was “not corrupt,” he questioned if she had the same “courage” that he had.....
“In a tough fight, Bernie is hardly the all-positive, all-substance guy that he claims to be,” said Garrison Nelson, a longtime political science professor at the University of Vermont.
...
In Vermont, however, Mr. Sanders was known for belittling opponents at times, rather than merely challenging their ideas. During one debate in the 1986 governor’s race, Mr. Sanders was asked if he viewed Governor Kunin as “the lesser of two evils,” given his descriptions of the Democratic and Republican parties as “Tweedledum” and “Tweedledee,” and if he thought he might contribute to her political “demise.”
Mr. Sanders chuckled and then looked at Ms. Kunin, seated a few feet away.
“Governor, how does it feel to be the lesser of two evils?” he asked. “I think that really is what this campaign is about.” Ms. Kunin was stone-faced.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-history.html?_r=0
Do you think that's just how he runs against Democrats? Or is that just how he runs against women?
9 replies
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