Sanders: Bill Clinton, "owes the American people an apology"...

[Barack_America]

...for his defense of Hillary's use of "super predators".

...Asked for his thoughts on Bill Clinton’s comments, Sanders first responded with one word: “Unacceptable.”

“We all know what the term meant in the context that it was said years ago,” Sanders said after the applause died down. “We know who they were talking about.”

“Black people,” yelled someone in the audience.

“That’s exactly right,” Sanders said, “and I think the president owes the American people an apology for trying to defend what’s indefensible.”...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/09/bernie-sanders-tells-a-crowd-in-harlem-that-bill-clinton-owes-the-country-an-apology/

Oh my.

[DemocraticSocialist8]

1. This is getting good

[Tarc]

3. Sorry, but the A-A vote will not flock to Sanders because of one misguided Bill comment

You'd have to, y'know, earn it. Thus far, Sanders has done little to appeal directly to them, so it's a bit late now...

[Katashi_itto]

4. Well so far At least Bernie (1-0) is ahead of Bill for telling A-As the truth.

[Barack_America]

5. One comment? Clearly you have forgotten 2008.

Many have not, save "leaders" for whom it was politically advantageous to do so.

[sheshe2]

67. Well they have and they built it together.

Cha~




Thanks to the adults in the room.

[BainsBane]

103. I haven't

He was a disaster, so bad that I--as an Obama supporter--wondered if he really wanted Hillary to be president.
He's been better this cycle, but if he can't control himself, he needs to go home.

[ViseGrip]

10. Oh, they will contine to "flock" (term for sheep) where they are? FLOCK? Really...

I guess you speak for all the people and they'll be "flocking" where you tell them to.....

I doubt that very much.

[NWCorona]

23. You obviously didn't watch him at the Apollo

Besides they might not vote for Hillary regardless of Bernie.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

42. one misguided Bill comment

if only

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

88. Seriously!

[noiretextatique]

56. It's just one misguided comment: it is the entire BIG LIE

This whole superpredator nonsense was not about helping black communities, it was about attracting white swing voters. Michelle Alexander broke it all down in an excellent article today. Bernie will do much better with AAs in NY and CA. I care, and so do other African Americans.

[choie]

108. If you saw the entire event at the Apollo

You'd understand why African Americans will vote for him.

[vt_native]

2. Bernie, the truth teller

with another powerful bit o' truth.

[boston bean]

6. Bernie owes the American people an apology for bloviating all over the place and never

accomplishing a damned thing.

[jfern]

7. I'm sure he'll apologize for being the amendment King of the House

[boston bean]

8. He can remain that. He will NEVER be president of the US. LOL

[Hydra]

40. You go, Nostradamus!

"Never, ever"?

[boston bean]

46. Why thank you!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. I don't think Hillary has accomplished anything much

[sheshe2]

68. Then you haven't been paying attention. nt

[Cal Carpenter]

104. Oh, she's accomplished plenty....

Helping with the coup in Honduras, destabilizing Libya, arms trading, building a giant neo-liberal foundation, the list goes on....

[IamMab]

15. He sure does like to demand apologies as if he's been voted spokesperson for everything.

I don't recall asking him to speak for me.

[morningfog]

19. Do you stand with Bill Clinton's racist rant?

I seem to remember we you posting about race issues in the past.

[boston bean]

21. I post about a lot of shit, when I feel like it.

[morningfog]

25. Do you stand with Bill Clinton's comments?

[boston bean]

32. Ask me tomorrow.

[morningfog]

35. Waiting on your answer to be provided from someone else?

[boston bean]

41. yeah..

I'm such a brainless follower. I must check in with my overlords first.

[morningfog]

47. Then why not answer now? You either agree or disagree.

[boston bean]

78. None of your business.

[morningfog]

79. It's a damned uncomfortable situation for those

who exploited race when it benefited them but can't do the same when it would go against their candidate.

It really makes you question what they really believe. No, it doesn't, actually. They make it quite clear.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[boston bean]

81. I'm not unccomfortable nor ashamed. but keep on keeping on..

[morningfog]

82. Yes you are and you know it.

You got yourself in a race-baiting pickle!

[morningfog]

87. Nice self delete but I saw it. Whether you are drunk or not

you would be able to answer the simple question if you were an honest person.

[Dem2]

89. Good thing they did too

I'm sure all 7 of us on that jury would have voted to hide it, I know I did

[boston bean]

90. LOL

[morningfog]

109. So, if you've sobered up, have you managed to develop an opinion

on Bill's rant?

[Hydra]

43. Perfect answer from Team Weathervane

Waiting for the approved message of how Bill did not totally screw this up by telling the truth?

[boston bean]

45. It could be no other reason, except I am awaiting my marching orders! LOL

have fun with this line.

[beedle]

62. Could be for some other reason, but refusal to answer

makes it look like it's the 'most likely' reason.

But that's fine you 'check into it' for us.

[boston bean]

63. It couldn't be that I don't answer to you? Do I? Are you my mommy or daddy?

[beedle]

65. Not at all ..

... we really don't need you to tell us anyway .. we know the answer already.

Here's some music for you while your deciding

[morningfog]

60. I'll just take your silence as a full endorsement of Bill's racist rant.

[boston bean]

61. my silence?? In the face of demands for answers to loaded questions... continue on.. LOL

[morningfog]

66. You felt the need to come into this thread on the topic.

You seem to be at best, taking a totally hypocritical and disingenuous position. But it is likely far worse.

I'll ask neutrally. What is your opinion on what Bill Clinton said to the BLM protester?

[sheshe2]

70. Hey bean~

You will like these.

[boston bean]

75. LOVE! Thank you sheshe!

[sheshe2]

76. You Looked like you needed a hug.

However you are awesome.

[boston bean]

77. right back atcha!!!!!

((LOVE))

[phleshdef]

72. Nothing loaded about it.

A simple yes or no works.

[Lizzie Poppet]

99. Like candidate, like supporter.

ProTip: that's not a compliment.

[beam me up scottie]

22. LMAO! You owe me an apology for wasting my time reading that post.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

51. some have no dignity in victory and fight unity with every word

you - you are so different - you should be the poster child for party unity

your actions will save the party and save the world and save the universe - forever

the great bean

[boston bean]

59. I've been pretty respectful in the face of total disrespect. But thanks... nt

[noiretextatique]

58. He's managed to win a few primaries

That's quite an accomplishment.

[Thinkingabout]

9. Where is Sanders apologies,for his crime bill votes? Seems he has overlooked his part in the

Incarceration of young blacks.

[ViseGrip]

12. Didn't anyone every tell you it's rude to answer a question with a question?

Hillary and her supporters, don't answer questions. They answer with a question back, without answering first. These personality/growing traits are usually addressed by the time a child is 7 yrs. old.

Ann Richards would tell you so too.

[boston bean]

14. Then you must be very rude, cause you just did just that! LOL

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. I prefer to just let him be

He hates to get zero response

[boston bean]

13. That vote doesn't fucking count! Can't you understand bernie is the new POPE!

LOL

[George II]

26. I thought I saw some white smoke the other day.

[beam me up scottie]

36. That was coming from Camp Weathervane when they heard about the vatican conference.

[Hydra]

44. Was it a white flag?

[beam me up scottie]

50. LOL!

Smoke coming from Hillary's and Brock's ears as they tried to figure out how to spin the news into a negative.

[leftofcool]

71. Too bad the Pope didn't actually invite him and won't be there.

[beam me up scottie]

73. Doesn't matter to her supporters, they've been fuming and obsessing over it for two days now.

[sheshe2]

80. Bwahahahahahahhahahahhaha! nt

[Thinkingabout]

27. Even Pope Francis apologizes.

[beam me up scottie]

16. He opposed those parts of the bill and he NEVER called kids "super predators"

Or said they needed to be "brought to heel".

Bernie only voted for the bill because of the Violence Against Women Act:

[Barack_America]

20. Jinx!

[beam me up scottie]

31. They are NOTHING if not predictable.

[Barack_America]

18. He has nothing to apologize for...

...perhaps you missed this?

I challenge you to watch it and tell me you disagree.

[Thinkingabout]

24. If this is your response then don't suggest Bill Clinton apologize for anything.

[Barack_America]

28. If this is your response, then please do not call yourself a "Democrat".

Did you watch the video, as I suggested?

Please, just tell me whether or not you agree with Bernie.

[Thinkingabout]

38. Don't tell me I am not a Democrat, I have years on Sanders, he has less than a year,

I can help you, no I don't agree with Sanders unless he is willing to roll off a lot of apologies on his votes.

[beam me up scottie]

29. Didn't watch it, did you?

Hint: no racist language or warning people to be scared of black kids so they need to vote for the bill.

[George II]

30. Was that before or after he voted for the crime bill and mass incarceration?

[beam me up scottie]

33. You mean he opposed the criminal parts but voted for it because of the Violence Against Women Act.

I must have missed the part where he used racist language and tried to scare people into voting for it to protect them from kids.

[Barack_America]

39. Before he voted for Bill and Hillary's Crime Bill.

Neither before nor after referring to Black youth as "super predators" who must be "brought to heel" like dogs, because he would never say such a vile and immoral thing.

[George II]

64. Well then, why did he vote for it? Or was that one of those votes where he had a convenient...

...."excuse" for voting for it that he could rationalize years later, as he's done many times already.

[Barack_America]

69. post #16 explains perfectly.

The bundled in Violence Against Women act.

Bunch of videos in this thread explaining his position if you want to inform yourself.

[George II]

74. There it is! A hidden "bundled" excuse for voting for a bill when really against it....

...which is his out for just about everything he's done in Congress for 25 years.

He voted FOR war (in 2001) even though he was against it.

He voted AGAINST war (in 2003) even though he voted countless times to fund it.

He voted AGAINST the Brady Bill several times even though he was for it.

He voted AGAINST gun control legislation even though he was for it.

And on, and on, and on, and on. Never takes responsibility for his votes, always an obscure reason why he did what he really didn't want to do.

[sheshe2]

83. Thanks George!

[beam me up scottie]

84. That's how you define saving women's lives, as a "hidden bundled excuse"?

[thesquanderer]

94. Hillary and Bernie have both had to vote for bills that were a balance of good and bad.

But you can tell what they really felt about the different parts of the bill, not in hindsight, but in looking at what they were saying at the time, and that's where you can often see the real differences between the two of them, even if they cast the same vote. Please see post #93.

[George II]

97. Sanders has had excuses each and every time.

Sanders voted for it, Bill Clinton didn't - he just signed it. Yet Bill Clinton "owes the American people an apology"? What does Sanders owe the American people?

[thesquanderer]

98. You say "excuses," I say "reasons." And Hillary, the same. (n/t)

[beam me up scottie]

86. Don't bother with George, he's been told this before, he either ignores or spins it.

Anything that doesn't fit the preconceived narrative is immediately rejected.

[thesquanderer]

93. Sanders and Clinton both voted for it. The difference is...

...Bernie is on record at the time as being against the kinds of provisions that led to more incarceration of the poor while Hillary is on the record at the time talking about super predators who must be brought to heel. BOTH of them supported the Violence Against Women Act aspect, and the assault weapons ban in it. You can't pick and choose which sections of a bill to vote for, but your statements can let people know what you agree and disagree with about the bill.

To apologize for voting for the bill would then mean he had wished he had voted against the Violence Against Women Act and the assault weapons ban. You're setting up a lose-lose proposition. Instead, he has simply honestly presented--even back in the 90s--what he was for and what he was against.

[Thinkingabout]

95. How in the hell did Clinton vote for it, neither was in Congress?

Violence against women was why Hillary supported the bill and why Bill signed the bill. Sanders may not have said super predators but was plain spoken on them.

[thesquanderer]

96. Whoops sorry, she supported it, but you're right, wasn't in office to vote for it. (n/t)

[beedle]

101. Essentially in the speech he gave the day he voted for it

He gave the reason he voted for it, and warned accurately about the problem parts of the bill was going to cause.

[Cheese Sandwich]

37. I'm glad Bill said what was on his mind. Keep him out there front and center.

[Hydra]

48. IKR?

He and Hillary must be causing their team no end of ulcers whenever they go off script

[Barack_America]

54. Just don't let the little people interrupt their message.

Horrible things happen when they are forced to interact with the unwashed masses.

[amborin]

49. what Bill said was ghastly

[beam me up scottie]

52. He should also apologize for Ricky Ray Rector.

[SHRED]

53. For more than just this.

[Barack_America]

55. This is a start. Then we can move onto the trade agreements...

...or the banking deregulation?

Your call. Hard to pinpoint which has fucked us worse.

But, yes, I believe an apology for suggesting Blacks should "heel" like dogs is a good place to start.

[SHRED]

57. He should have inhaled

Maybe he would not have turned out to be such a self centered asshole?

[Jitter65]

91. Bernie is not only getting nasty, he is becoming shameful. Who was he referring to in his speech

on the House Floor when he referred to sociopaths and then voted for the bill?

Quote from his speech. And i will add that Bill Clinton and other supporters of the bill fought hard to include provisions for midnight basketball, social services, mental health assistance and some other things that were included in the bill that address the same issues Bernie seemed to care about.

"Mr. Speaker, it is my firm belief that clearly, there are some people in our society who are horribly violent, who are deeply sick and sociopathic, and clearly these people must be put behind bars in order to protect society from them. But it is also my view that through the neglect of our Government and through a grossly irrational set of priorities, we are dooming tens of millions of young people to a future of bitterness, misery, hopelessness, drugs, crime, and violence. And Mr. Speaker, all the jails in the world, and we already imprison more people per capita than any other country, and all of the executions in the world, will not make that situation right. We can either educate or electrocute. We can create meaningful jobs, rebuilding our society, or we can build more jails. Mr. Speaker, let us create a society of hope and compassion, not one of hate and vengeance."

And then he voted FOR the bill.

[Barack_America]

92. Nice try. As for those "horribly violent...sociopath[s]"...Bankers??

Blankfein and Dimon, for example, certainly fit the bill and deserve to be "behind bars".

But, truly, "sociopath" is a medical term, so maybe Bernie meant...actual sociopaths?

so·ci·o·path
ˈsōsēōˌpaTH/
noun
a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.

[Cheese Sandwich]

100. I don't want Bill to apologize. I want him to keep talking and sharing his true opinions.

[B Calm]

102. Where's Bill Clinton speaking today? Or this week?

[BainsBane]

105. Here is the speech in which she made that comment

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4558907/mrs-clinton-campaign-speech-super-predators

Now, we can certainly argue that the concern about crime in the early 90s was overblown. The GOP had won presidential elections by insisting Democrats were soft on crime (remember the Willy Horton ads). Violent crime has gone down significantly since that early 90s, but from what I've been told by an academic criminologist, the primary factor in violent crime rates is the relative size of the population of young men. Crime rates decline with the birth rate.

One can argue there was a subtext about race, but she does not call African American youth "super predators." She talks about a kind of criminality, using the term "social predator" that was discussed by social scientists at the time. She makes no mention of race.

[rock]

106. Now how come the Urban Dictionary

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=superpredator

Doesn't metnion 'black' in it's definition? Just asking.

[rosesaylavee]

107. Yes. For that and many other things

We don't need a 3rd Clinton term.