A chink in Bernie's armor?

[kstewart33]

The American Legion, AARP, and the League of Conservation Voters have expressed concern about Sanders using their logos on campaign literature (e.g., fliers and letters). None of these organizations have endorsed Sanders or have given his campaign permission to use the logos. In fact, the League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Clinton.

The latest, from the American Legion via the Associated Press:

"The American Legion has asked the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to "cease and desist" from using the organization's emblem in campaign fliers.

The American Legion wrote to Sanders' Senate office that it did not have permission to use the emblem in his campaign fliers.

Sanders' campaign didn't immediately return a request seeking comment.

The American Legion has twice complained to Sanders officials since Jan. 22 about the use of the emblem in campaign materials. A Feb. 1 letter from the American Legion obtained by The Associated Press warns that "any further communication about it will be through our trademark attorney in the appropriate forum."" Link: talkingpointsmemo.com

About AARP and League of Conservation Voters:

"This week, the Vermont senator’s campaign included the logos of the AARP and the League of Conservation Voters in mailers it sent out to Iowa voters, without the groups’ permission. The AARP is non-partisan and does not support specific candidates, and the League of Conservation Voters has actually endorsed Sanders’ rival, Hillary Clinton.

“AARP did not authorize the Sanders campaign to mention AARP or use the AARP logo, and we did not participate in its production,” the organization said in a statement." Link: quartz.com

[Xipe Totec]

1. Links? nt

[kstewart33]

5. Here they are. (they're buried in the post - sorry).

talkingpointsmemo.com

quartz.com

[aidbo]

8. the quartz.com URL has to be a mistake unless you're..

..in the business of selling fused quartz tubing and rods.

[kstewart33]

16. Try qz.com

[aidbo]

44. That is indeed another website.

But generally, it is incumbent upon the one doing the quoting to furnish links to the reference material backing up the quotes.

Here is a link to a post which can help with putting html reference links in your posts.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1256&pid=1674

[tecelote]

2. How does this affect the issues?

[AtomicKitten]

3. It doesn't. It's designed to distract from the issues.

[tecelote]

6. Exactly.

But, let's not forget about BernieBros!

[AtomicKitten]

7. #BernieBroSoMean

[bravenak]

11. I agree

[kstewart33]

10. Atomic, let's be honest about this.

If Hillary had put the logo on her campaign literature of an organization that had endorsed Bernie, all heck would break loose. 'Hillary's a liar, she's a cheater,' and on and on and on.

I read a post on a blog that the American Legion is ready to sue Bernie if he does not remove their logo from his literature. But I've yet to read it reported in the media so who knows.

However, the Legion's membership is wartime military veterans, and they are probably well aware that Sanders applied many years ago for conscientious objector status. So I wouldn't be surprised if they are mad as heck.

[AtomicKitten]

15. It's ankle-biting, completely blown out of proportion to distract.

Hillary wants to fight this on the plane of cult of personality rather than on the issues.

[Hortensis]

21. Agree not a big huge deal, but if

Hillary had done it? Flames!

[AtomicKitten]

25. Nobody cares about that. Does it address my son's oppressive student loan debt? Hell no.

[MrMickeysMom]

28. Ankle biting is a good way to describe it, alright...

GOD! I wish that every time I respond to ankle biters by inviting them to talk about the issues, I got a response.

All we seem to get is silence, then we scratch our ankles.

[AtomicKitten]

32. The Treasury Dept found an old tiny student loan residual of mine from 1983 & added $13,000 to it.

My Social Security is being dinged 15% every month.

And they think we give a flying f#ck about this nonsense? The tone deafness is epidemic.

[MrMickeysMom]

38. Garnishing Social Security that you paid into, and they get to borrow for 0%?

Fuck them! (not you... I wouldn't shtup them with their moms genitals)

[Fawke Em]

63. And, you can thank Joe Biden for that.

Sigh.

Is it any wonder so many people are tired of Establishment Politics?

[mythology]

62. It shows either the Sanders campaign

is inept on this stuff (and if you're bad on small stuff, it's hard to trust on big stuff) or they don't care about the rights of others. Neither says much good for the Sanders campaign with as frequently as this happens.

[AtomicKitten]

67. It shows a minor mistake that was corrected. Period. Next.

[left-of-center2012]

19. "Sanders applied ... for conscientious objector status"

While Hillary voted to send thousands to die in Iraq.

[kstewart33]

27. Interesting response.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with applying for conscientious objector status. You seem to be defending it when there is no need to do it.

[liberal_at_heart]

34. So why in response #10 do you imply that the American Legion are angry at him for being one?

[kstewart33]

52. They are angry.

But what does that have to do with it? I'd expect that they would be angry - they are wartime vets, for geez sake. But in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with it, and it really needs no defense on this site, does it?

[Vattel]

75. The Legion mad at Bernie?

They gave him their Patriot Award for his work on the Veterans Committee.

http://www.legion.org/veteranshealthcare/224431/sanders-miller-receive-legions-patriot-award

[LWolf]

17. Because

the Clinton campaign and her supporters are desperately, frantically, searching for a "chink in his armor," something they can exploit to bring him down, and they are reduced to this.

Which isn't going to work, either.

[AtomicKitten]

22. It's a tone deaf Hail Mary Pass de jour.

[bettyellen]

43. like lumberjack shirts, I guess.

[frazzled]

24. It speaks to a candidate's ethics

Repeated use of dirty tricks (and yes, using logos of organizations without their permission in order to lure in unsuspecting voters; and putting out ads--till you're caught--suggesting a newspaper that didn't endorse you did) doesn't speak well of a candidate or their campaign. Having to apologize for all this, not to mention making a national apology because your campaign staff copied the opposing candidate's voter data ...

I think the way in which a candidate runs a campaign is extremely important in viewing how they would govern. So far, Sanders isn't doing very well in this regard, imo.

You guys can make excuses and laugh it off as being insignificant, and maybe such dirty tricks will work. But it's the height of both blind cult of personality and hypocrisy to defend it.

[zalinda]

40. You do know that

Bernie doesn't handle every piece of paper that comes in and goes out of the campaign, right? It is probably some over zealous volunteer who put the logos on the pieces. There should be someone handling the mailing promos, that is the correct person to contact. I haven't seen any of the mailers, so I can't judge.

Z

[kstewart33]

51. All campaign literature is approved by someone in charge of approving campaign literature.

No self-respecting campaign would hand over the content of its literature to an over zealous volunteer. Bernie likely or at least should have a staff member in charge of inspecting every piece of literature before it is released. This is not kids play; it is a presidential campaign.

[notadmblnd]

56. Want to see someone speak to a candidates ethics?

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[okasha]

60. Or lack of ethics,

or maybe just intelligence.

This is what? The fourth or fifth time they've been caught in this type of lie, and they don't learn?

Camp BurningPants soldiers on.

[liberal_at_heart]

4. AARP can go screw themselves. Bernie wants to expand SS and wants Medicare for All.

[kstewart33]

14. Folks over 55 are a huge voting group.

If there's one thing that the elderly do, they vote. AARP is one of the most powerful special interests groups in the country. So ignoring them is not such a great idea.

[liberal_at_heart]

18. Ah, power being the magic word here. Also establishment comes to mind and the voters

are not happy with the establishment right now. Many powerful and establishment organizations are supporting other powerful and establishment people and organizations and not really representing the people. That is why voters are in a very anti-establishment mood right now. Older people are paying very close attention to frozen COLAS and other possible cuts to SS. They are paying attention to who really supports the people and who really just supports their own self interest.

[bettyellen]

46. So why are his campaign people adding "establishment" logos on his flyers if it is so bad?

That makes zero sense.

[azurnoir]

37. lol I'm nearly 60 and everyone I know in my age group is voting for wait for it..........

Bernie oh and AARP well they're good as an insurance vendor and little else

[Armstead]

9. Arrest him! He is unfit to be around decent people

In 2008, staff and volunteers for Clinton were responsible for spreading embarrassing pictures and talking points to imply that Obama is a Muslin who was born in Africa.

Unless you want to blame Clinton for that, I'd be wary of criticizing Sanders for every action of his supporters.

[kstewart33]

13. The literature officially is from his campaign, not from his supporters.

As difficult as it may be to question anything about Bernie and his campaign, this is not a positive for his campaign especially if the American Legion sues him.

[Armstead]

20. They were poor judgement by someone. Never happens in any campaign. Nup.

[stonecutter357]

12. AARP did not authorize the Sanders campaign to mention AARP or use the AARP logo.

[NurseJackie]

23. People are beginning to notice.

[MrMickeysMom]

29. Really?

I think what they notice is a total lack of GOOD LONG THREAD ON THE ISSUES...

Want to start one of those? I think people would stand RIGHT UP and notice those.

[Databuser]

30. I've noticed...

That some folk here are startin' to sound like FAUX Newz 'democrats'.....


"Some people say..."

[NurseJackie]

33. When the AP picks up the story, it's more than "some people"

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. 28 people on DU are beginning to notice.

LOL

[Motown_Johnny]

26. Isn't this 10 days old and fairly well debunked? Please provide links. n/t

[kstewart33]

35. I have not seen the facts debunked by any facts and the AL story is hours old.

Google 'Sanders and AARP' for AARP's official statement.

Google 'Sanders and American Legion' for multiple stories that are hours old.

[azurnoir]

39. a whole 2 pages of them with something about Coldplay at the top of the second page

bet if you changed your title to something about the American Legion you'd make the first page

[winter is coming]

71. The online version of Newsweek posted an article about the LVM and AARP

flyers several days ago. The AARP flyer was mentioned, but it's not known who actually received one and no image of the AARP flyer has been shown. The image of the LVM flyer that was produced was obviously a Photoshop job--the LVM's logo and the sentence mentioning Bernie's 95% rating (legit) had been pasted in where the recipient address should have been, making this mailer that Iowa Dems had allegedly received undeliverable. That, coupled with earlier accounts by the Burlington Free Press and the Guardian than a unnamed Dem had approached them offering "off-the-record tips" about the Sanders campaign, made the flyers look like ratfucking, probably underwritten by one of HRC's superPACs.

This NH flyer may be a legitimate fuckup on the part of the Sanders campaign, but the earlier stuff wasn't.

[kstewart33]

77. Bernie's not used to running what is becoming a huge campaign.

So a mistake may have happened. If he fixes it fast, no harm.

[djean111]

31. I am almost 70. There is literally nothing you can drag up about Bernie that would induce me

to vote for a candidate who supports war, the TPP, increased H-1B visas, fracking, and cluster bombs.
Which, IMO, are the things Hillary would work with the willing GOP and DINOs to get done.

So - nothing not issue-oriented will change my support. And I am familiar with the issues.

[kstewart33]

47. No one is 'dragging up' information on Bernie.

But I do get the impression that anyone who posts facts that in any way questions Sanders' actions or his campaign, immediately faces a torrent of immediate denials and accusations.

I am getting the impression that Bernie's support has escalated to a fervent wave of hero worship. Hero worshipping blinds the worshippers.

[djean111]

48. You expect this stuff to negate Hillary's fondness for war, the TPP, cluster bombs, etc.?

Good grief!

[kstewart33]

64. Geez Louise, djean.

In no way do I expect that. Where did I say that?

There you go, getting all worked up with an accusation that has nothing to do with what I said.

Look, I support Bernie's platform. His ideas are ideal. But for me at least, there is absolutely no chance that any of his platform will ever be accomplished. So I will not throw my vote away simply because I support what he wants to do.

Platforms are fine, but they are completely worthless if they never see the light of day.

And there is not one iota of evidence - in Bernie's history as a legislator in the House and Senate - that suggests that he can achieve his platform when Congress will be controlled by the Republicans. Bernie is not a leader when it comes to getting very challenging and complicated things done. I have looked at his Congressional legislative record and I have not found anything. If you have any facts that contradict my thinking, please post them.

[djean111]

66. There you go - reminded me of Reagan, for some reason! :-)

Here's the thing - I would rather have years of Bernie not being able to get his platform accomplished - than to live under what I believe Hillary wants to accomplish.

And some of what she likes - war, the TPP, cluster bombs, increased H-1B visas, fracking - are what the GOP and the DINOs would be only to happy to work with her on getting 'er done. I believe she would happily cut Social Security and keep increasing the budget for war and more war.

So, for me, voting for Hillary is not only wasting my vote, but voting against my best interests. And the best interests of my son and grandson. I don't want Hillary's Third Way driven platform to be enacted. Simple as that.

I am not upset, I am just adamant.

[TTUBatfan2008]

76. That goes for all candidates

There are people who are voting for Hillary strictly because of hero worship.

I agree with you that this stuff is not good for the Sanders campaign. He needs to get this crap straightened out. He doesn't need dirty crap like this to win. He has the issues on his side.

It doesn't change the candidate's relative lack of financial corruption compared to his primary opponent or any of the corporate owned candidates in the GOP. And no, the $200,000 Hillary has attacked him for is not equal to the $200 MILLION+ that Hillary has received from corporations.

[Android3.14]

41. There is no armor, and that's what protects him

Bernie is exactly what Bernie appears to be.

You know what the chink in Hillary's armor is? Senior citizens. people like me, and people like my mother (76 years old).

That's right. Grandma and Grandpa are going to turn on Hillary, and it is just around the corner.

I don't know a mother or father who who will vote for someone who is going to leave their grandchildren with so much college debt for so long.

Even my own mother, as conservative as they come, said she is going to vote for Bernie because the Repubvlicans are just too crazy for her taste, she doesn't believe a word Hillary and Bill say, and she wants to avoid seeing her grandchildren grow up with crushing school debt like her children had to face.

I finished paying my debt at age 51. My wife is 52 years old and we are still paying her college debt.

Fuck this shit.

[kstewart33]

58. Was Hillary behind the crushing student debt?

She might have been, but I don't think I would link Hillary with crushing student debt without the facts.

I'm glad your grandparents are going to exercise the right to vote for whomever they want. It is really good to see two conservatives come around to liberal causes!

I paid off my debt in my early 40s, but my interest rates were a lot lower than they are now. The government is really screwing over today's college students.

[Android3.14]

65. Wrong question

Is Hillary behind the solution to crushing college debt?

The answer, of course, is no.

[kstewart33]

68. She's in favor of reducing college costs and lowering interest on student loans.

Her position has a far better chance of getting done than funding free college for everyone who wants to go.

No one in Congress with the exception of a few would support Bernie's plan simply because it would require large tax increases to pay for it and even then, the bill wouldn't be paid. Republicans certainly won't and most Dems won't because it will be a very tough sell in their districts. I can hear it now: "Why should I pay for other kids to go to college?"

I'm a retired college prof. I don't support the freebie because too many students shouldn't be in college and are wasting their money. There are so many kids who would do far better in life if they skipped the time and cost and took another path that would lead them to a comfortable life. So the thought of the public paying for kids who even shouldn't be there, is nonsense.

[retrowire]

73. lol It's not a freebie "professor"

It's getting paid for.

[Android3.14]

74. "In Favor" don't mean nothin' with Hillary

If you ask any candidate on the Republican side if they are "In favor" of reducing college costs, they will of course say they are all for it. It sounds good and it means nothing. It's right up there with "good jobs at good wages" and "strong family values", another bit of tripe that every politician dishes out.

I'm a college professor too, and your reasoning in your last paragraph is victim blaming bovine feces that offers nothing for anyone and only encourages a smaller middle class. You and I both know that the financial institutions supporting Clinton thrive off of rising costs in college. Your statement is misleading and nauseating.

Bernie Sanders offers the challenge of real solutions that a loud and organized populace can make happen, regardless of the Benedict Arnold's and Neville Chamberland's who urge us to accept the lesser of two evils.

Don't behave like a coward, and certainly stop encouraging people to ignore their convictions. It's un-American and antithetical to Democratic Party ideals.

[Nanjeanne]

42. The best they can come up with

Sanders used an unauthorized logo

Bernie lived on a Socialist kibbutz

Sanders raised money for Dem Senators (but he also did nothing for the Dem Party -which is actually a feat to do both)

Bernie believes in unicorns and puppies.

And the worst of all: Bernie lives in a hermetically sealed box!

[Vinca]

45. FYI, I've been getting Bernie literature every day for the past week and have seen none of this.

AARP is clearly panic stricken because they pimp for United Healthcare.

[liberal_at_heart]

49. My husband had United Health care when he was employed. We hated it.

And didn't a former CEO of United Healthcare get a huge golden parachute payment of over $100 million?

[Vinca]

50. They all get giant golden parachutes. Screw the masses and then go out in a blaze of glory.

[Gothmog]

53. There is a pattern here

[mhatrw]

55. Yes. A pattern of Clinton surrogates being capable of making any tiny trifle into FRONT PAGE NEWS.

[Gothmog]

59. Tell that to the people whose intellectual property was used without their consent

[mhatrw]

69. All logo and button use must be AUTHORIZED by the establishment!

Every logo and button is sacred!

If a Sanders supporter so much as wears a Nike swoosh without corporate permission, there will be Hill to pay!

[mhatrw]

54. We must protect the sanctity of buttons and logos!

This are the biggest issues facing American citizens today!

[kstewart33]

61. Yes, they should be protected.

Especially when they are trademarked and communicate an endorsement which has yet to occur.

[mhatrw]

70. OH MY GOD!

Some low level nobody working on the campaign may or may not have mistakenly used a logo without permission!

STOP THE PRESSES!!!

[truedelphi]

57. I wish that the AARP people would quit suggesting how they are friends to senior citizens -

they are so connected to UNITEDHEALTHCARE that I vomit every time I get ads for signing up with them. **

They also DO NOT favor having any type of competitive bidding on the pharmaceuticals that are available/necessary to people on MediCare.

** The AARP folks must be cutting down two or three rain forests a year with the amount of advertising and mailers that they do.

[Cheese Sandwich]

72. The Clinton campaign seem like copyright trolls.