I have to get this off my chest

[Robbins]

I woke up today to find bernie being called a racist since he is from small state.They ignore fact vermont voted heavily for obama In 2008 and 2012.They also ignore bernie's actual record.

In 1960's as young man he was involved in civil rights movement

He voted against DOMA which was signed into law by Bill Clinton

He voted against patriot act.a very brave thing to do

He has criticized police attacks

He opposes NSA eavesdropping program

The Hillary supporters are starting to piss me off

constantly comparing Bernie to Kucinich.Dismissing Bernie being elected statewide because vermont is small state.

bringing up age.she is only 6 years younger than Bernie.

Keep saying we should give up and get behind first female president.With stories like CLinton foundation donors got help from state department for arms we are least of her troubles.

[djean111]

1. Oh, the implied racist stuff is quite a reach, isn't it?

I would say it is all because Bernie did not have any people of color standing next to him, or because someone felt the need to check his present, nascent campaign staff for people of color, but I think that the real reason is to try and paint Bernie as racist before Hillary's missteps were brought up. Heh, they should have let those sleeping dogs lie.

[Robbins]

3. Here Is the thing

Noone disputes vermont is small state with mostly white population but calling Bernie a racist since he doesn't have a visable blacks
among his staff is just reaching.

The clintons apparently learned nothing from 2008.and despite their claims to contury resorting to this so early shows her supporters are worried.

[sabrina 1]

10. Just ignore them and keep posting Bernie's RECORD. That's all that is needed to shut down these

attempts to smear one of the best candidates we've had ON ALMOST EVERY ISSUE with the RECORD TO PROVE IT in the living memories of millions of Americans.



Right now on Social Media, there are groups from every minority working for Bernie.

People are NOT stupid, they know when someone is speaking for THEM.

Never go on the defensive when it comes to Bernie, because we don't have to!

[Robbins]

14. In arizona poll of primary

bernie has more hispanic supporters than white.this helps do away it's just a few white liberals who support him.

hell in new Q poll hillary supporters want to cite he has risen in national poll to 15% he sure wasn't pulling that high early in the year.

[sabrina 1]

17. He was at 3% in Jan. So yes, his poll numbers are steadily rising.

In Oct, when no one knew who he was, he was at 1%. And airc, those numbers were constantly used to show how even if ran, he didn't have a chance. Now he is five times better in the polls. Lol! And it's going to keep on rising as people find out about him.

[tblue37]

67. To know him is to admire him. nt

[RufusTFirefly]

18. +1,0000! Here's what Bernie believes

I'm anxious to hear what people think is wrong with it. But I'm not holding my breath. Smearing is so much easier.

What Bernie believes

Income and wealth inequality: In the United States today we have the most unequal wealth and income distribution of any major country on earth -- worse than at any time since the 1920s. This is an economy that must be changed in fundamental ways.

Jobs and income: In my view, we need a massive federal jobs program which puts millions of our people back to work. We must end our disastrous trade policies. We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. And we have to fight for pay equity for women.

Campaign finance reform: As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other billionaire families. These wealthy contributors can literally buy politicians and elections by spending hundreds of millions of dollars in support of the candidates of their choice. We need to overturn Citizens United and move toward public funding of elections so that all candidates can run for office without being beholden to the wealthy and powerful.

Climate change: Climate change is real, caused by human activity and already devastating our nation and planet. The United States must lead the world in combating climate change and transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and sustainability.

College affordability: Every person in this country who has the desire and ability should be able to get all the education they need regardless of the income of their family. This is not a radical idea. In Germany, Scandinavia and many other countries, higher education is either free or very inexpensive. We must do the same.

Health care: Shamefully, the United States remains the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all people. The United States must move toward a Medicare-for-all single-payer system. Health care is a right, not a privilege.

Poverty: The United States has more people living in poverty than at almost any time in the modern history of our country. I believe that in a democratic, civilized society none of our people should be hungry or living in desperation. We need to expand Social Security, not cut it. We need to increase funding for nutrition programs, not cut them.

Tax reform: We need real tax reform which makes the rich and profitable corporations begin to pay their fair share of taxes. We need a tax system which is fair and progressive. Children should not go hungry in this country while profitable corporations and the wealthy avoid their tax responsibilities by stashing their money in the Cayman Islands.

[sabrina 1]

19. Thanks, everything is RIGHT about it, AND he has the long record to show that he has VOTED

to back up what he says. That is a powerful weapon for any candidate. To have as long a record on Civil Rights, on LGBT Rights, on Women's Rights, on Workers' Rights, on the Environment, on Equality for all Americans as Bernie Sanders has. There is just no one in this campaign so far who can point to their record as Bernie can, to back up what they are 'saying' as opposed to what they have been doing over the past number of decades.

Eg, Bernie was FOR Gay Marriage long ago, while most other Dems had not yet 'evolved' on the issue.

That may be why there are several LGBT4Bernie groups on Twitter right now.

[RufusTFirefly]

22. Yes! When the issue is "issues" not innuendos, the picture becomes a lot clearer.

That prospect frightens some people.

[Stevepol]

50. What does Bernie believe . . .

about the electronic voting machines? Does he have any advisors who know anything about this? I doubt it.

The most recent book on the subject, CODE RED by Jonathan Simon, gives a good summary of how we got to where we are (where 98% of the vote is counted electronically on computers), where Republicans have become the most powerful party even though every demographic would indicate otherwise, and where the corporations that count the votes keep making sure that any shift away from the pre-election polls or the exit polls is always a RED SHIFT.

I'm with Bernie but I'm afraid I don't believe Hillary is his most serious obstacle to election. And even if by the grace of God he is elected, the people on the lower ends of the ballot, the Reps and the Sens, are the ones that are the most often the ones who are narrowly beaten despite showing stronger in the pre-election polls and in the exit polls. And he will have to have a Senate and a House to work with if he's to do any of the things he wants to do.

About all we mortals can do is pray I guess. The immortals are on the board at Dominion or ES&S.

[tblue37]

68. Maybe we need to blitz his campaign with our concerns about hackable voting macines. nt

[truebrit71]

24. Two words for the fans of The Inevitable One....Geraldine Ferraro...

'Nuff said...

Go Bernie GO!

[JDPriestly]

57. I'm a Bernie supporter, but what does Gerealdine Ferraro have to do with anything?

I'm serious. I'm not snarking. Please explain your thoughts on this.

[truebrit71]

64. She said some incredibly racist things whilst on Hillary's campaign....

... and Hillary didn't distance herself from the comments until she was forced to....

So Hillary fans talking shit about race and Bernie need to step carefully....

Link to a DU post discussing this in depth http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026738024#post45

[JDPriestly]

66. Thanks. I did not realize that. I was focused on candidates other than Hillary.

Horrors about Geraldine Ferraro!

[L0oniX]

37. Next: Where's his flag pin. n/t

[Jester Messiah]

51. It reeks of desperation. [nt]

[Mojorabbit]

65. Yes it does. I have nothing but contempt for people who would invent

a controversy like this.

[merrily]

70. Per renewdeal's thread, Vermont is 94% white. Wouldn't it be racist to make sure

people of color were standing next to him, if it did not happen naturally? Wouldn't Sanders have been criticized if he had done that? Hell, I would have criticized him for any attempt to portray faux diversity.

Didn't Obama once get criticized or making sure white people were standing next to him?

This is a non issue, but it sure deflects from things like Hillary's racially tinged primary campaign against Obama and being in bed with the likes of Goldman Sachs, doesn't it?

[djean111]

72. Oh, I think today's meme will be Bernie's satire that he wrote long ago.

Carefully chosen, out-of-context quotes will be gnashed over.
I don't think that "deflects" is going to be the word, I think "Ooops! brings up some bad memories" will be more apropos.

[merrily]

73. I don't expect "deflect" to be the word coming from anyone but Bernie supporters

DU's minority shouldn't be determining the discussion topics and content.

[djean111]

74. Oh, I know - it cracks me up a bit that I will be seeing titles like

"Bernie said what?!?" and "Jon Stewart Calls Bernie a Loon!" - and the context will be ignored completely. And there are so many many things that have been declared off-limits or old stuff by other politicians and their supporters. Things that have certainly not been taken out of context.
All I can do now, I think, is to just not click on any link or website that has "Hillary" and/or "Clinton" in the title.

[LWolf]

4. My thoughts

I think the suggestions of racism, or not caring about racial issues, reek of desperation. When you can't win on issues, start distracting with smears.

I'm going to leave it to those who can do so rationally to debunk; I think Cali did a fine job with a separate thread.

That thread, and any others like it? I hid it. I'm not going to kick it to the top, or do anything to keep it on the front page. If we all did that, the only way it could last long would be for it to become an echo chamber of people who have nothing of substance to offer anyway.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. You know, I heard those same arguments against George McGovern.

"I'm not voting for him because he has no clue about black people, coming from lily-white SD and all."

I think you're absolutely right about boycotting some of those threads.

I don't use the Ignore feature, mostly because I like to keep myself aware of my surroundings, but there's nothing to say I have to feed the trolls by actually posting on those threads.

I suggest that whenever some negative Bernie shit hits, we don't post on that thread, but instead start a new thread that just presents the positive information rather than chasing after the crap; just let that stuff sink & claim the home-field advantage by putting our stuff on top. We could maybe even post alerts here when a positive OP goes up.

But then again it's early, and this may be a totally stupid idea.

[LWolf]

6. I think it's a good plan.

It's one thing to join a substantive debate. It's another to kick shit.

[sabrina 1]

12. I agree, ignore such threads, then start another with the FACTS.

[Paka]

58. Good Idea.

It is up to us to keep it positive at all twists and turns of the road.

[Voice for Peace]

23. jumping in here in the middle, w/question

Because I haven't heard or read the stuff about Bernie
being racist -- am I reading in this thread that the Clinton
campaign itself has done this, or is it Hillary fans on DU?
Who is making such an inference?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. I haven't seen anything from the campaign.

Seems to be a local phenomenon.

[BrotherIvan]

44. Here is a link to the post that struck the match

But the insinuations have been all over DU for a while. It's all they have really.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=greatest_threads

[Voice for Peace]

53. thanks brother! EDIT actually it's just a link to the greatest page, not an OP

[BrotherIvan]

54. Sorry, I'll try it again

I'm always surprised when I look it up that it hasn't been deleted. Guess everyone has read it by now.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026737025

[Doctor_J]

25. That will be the modus operandi from here on out. They have found something they can

make stick, at least in the DINO bubble. Notice there is a great overlap between this group and the ones who screamed "racist" when we complained about the president offering to cut social security. I will have a difficult time voting for Clinton if these are the type of supporters she attracts

[tblue37]

69. Don't vote to spite obnoxious supporters of this or that candidate. ALL candidates will

have some obnoxious supporters--plus there will inevitably be Rovian style ratf***ing dirty tricksters deliberately dividing us.

Vote for the candidate whose positions on key issues you most agree with. The supporters who annoy you aren't going to be in his or her cabinet, after all!

[smokey nj]

7. That they've gone Rove so early in the campaign tells me

Bernie scares the shit out of them.

[RoccoR5955]

8. +1 e100 n/t

[sabrina 1]

13. There's a reason for that. I saw on Twitter today that inside Clinton's campaign they are more

worried about Bernie than O'Malley right now. The latest Qunniapac Poll shows Bernie gaining AGAIN, now at 15%, upr from last month's poll.

His numbers have been steadily rising as more people get to know him.

So we can expect the Corporate Funded, 'cheap' smears to start appearing on a regular basis. Best way to deal with them imo, is to ignore such threads, then start another with the FACTS. I will not kick lies and smears, that is the purpose of such threads.

[Voice for Peace]

30. Maybe Hillary just isn't meant to be president..

I've encountered zero enthusiasm for her among young
voters, including women -- Bernie is their guy. I think Hillary
made a fatal error some years back when she joined The
Fellowship, and started kissing everybody's butts.

[Robbins]

38. your also consently hearing stories of corrupess

inside clinton foundation.now report says clinton advisor working on libya at same time was being paid by clinton foundation.

The claims foreign donors got help for arms by donating to foundation is serious story.Liberal critism is mild compared to what
republicans will say.

One thing hurting her too is some dems are pissed over TPP and she is trying to duck it.She also doesn't have the skills bill and obama
had at selling themselves to people.

I personly think some of her support in polls is soft.

[sarge43]

9. FWIW Vermont for Obama

2008: 67.8%

2012: 66.57%

Real bunch of racists

[Robbins]

16. Vermont

also went big for obama over hillary In primary.

The racist attacks don't jibe with reality.

[sarge43]

21. The internet forgets nothing and Google is your friend.

For people who care and can type, the Big Lie doesn't work anymore.

[TBF]

11. We are seeing the right wing machine at work Robbins -

some Hillary supporters are bad, but most are not. Most are honestly supporting their candidate and think she has the best chance to beat the republicans. I served with several members of MIRT who are very strong supporters & I would defend their character any day of the week. But we also have efforts on DU to undermine any of our democratic candidates - and their posts will continue to chip away. One I dealt with yesterday kept referring to Bernie as being "84" - which was a real stretch because even if he were elected & served two terms he would be 83 when the next president took over. They'll continue to do this. It will be bad during primary season, and it will be worse when we get to the months leading up to the election. Brace yourself and hold on.

[deutsey]

15. I agree

[blm]

62. We've SEEN IT often enough here.

This is one of their favorite Dem sites to play their game.

[Robbins]

20. well

several Hillary supporters here keep trying to compare bernie to Kucinich and have dismissed it that he was sucessful mayor of laregest city in vermont and elected statewide In vermont by saying well Vermont is only a small state.

I am not surprised the corporate MSM is against him.yeah they will have him on but besides that they ignore him eather saying hillary has no challengers or O'Malloy will be her first challenger.

The msm will never write off any republican running as having no chance as they do with bernie.

Corporations are scared of bernie since he can't be bought and he isn't talking like this all of a sudden.he has long record to back up
what he is saying.

I say to those worried about general election if bernie is nominee if he can hold his own against Hillary and beat her why can't be
beat republican.

I have no doudt if bernie beats hillary at republican convention they will call him most extreme candiate for president ever and run tons of ads using socialist in them.

[TBF]

55. And people can say whatever they want -

they can have concerns until the cows come home ... BUT we still get to vote. That's where we need to focus.

Think about this - if everyone who thinks "he'd be a great president if he could win" would actually vote, then we will have President Sanders.

[blm]

61. I said the same in a post here and based it on the last few primaries

here at DU, and was completely misinterpreted. Sometimes ya gotta laugh.

[TBF]

63. Well being here since 2002 you've probably seen a lot -

although I'm sure it was more amiable in the old days when the goal was simply to get W out of Washington, DC.

[HassleCat]

27. Supporters

When people get behind a political candidate, they sometimes go "all in." It's fine to think your candidate is better, but it's not so fine to run down the opponent. I hope people will stick to praising or criticizing the candidates' stands on issues, but I'm not holding my breath. For me, Sanders is nearly perfect. His political positions align so closely with mine it's almost unbelievable. It would be a dream come true for me to see a progressive socialist run as the Democratic nominee. Hillary Clinton is not as good, in my estimation, as Bernie Sanders, but I'll refrain from bringing up the various things that might make voters shy away from her. Some of the Clinton supporters do annoy me. So do some of the Sanders supporters. They feel the need to defend the candidate with, "I know you are, but what am I?"

[smokey nj]

32. You are posting in a safe haven for supporters of Bernie Sanders.

[HassleCat]

33. I know

But I don't think "safe haven" means it's OK to post mean stuff about the other candidate. Factual criticism is fine, particularly when it concerns issues and positions, but we need to control ourselves.

[smokey nj]

35. There isn't anything mean or false in the OP.

Now kindly leave this group.

[HassleCat]

40. I was agreeing with the OP

See? This is what I mean. I am a big Sanders supporter, but I think it's not a good thing when people get all offended because there is a post that expresses concerns about keeping things civil.

[smokey nj]

42. If Bernie supporters annoy you then this isn't the group for you.

[HassleCat]

47. Some, not all

Some of them. Not necessarily you. Mostly me. I annoy myself much of the time.

[Maedhros]

41. Calm down.

Hasselcat hasn't crossed the line. I agree with the sentiment: we shouldn't turn this forum into a protected "bash Hillary" kvetchfest.

[smokey nj]

43. The OP isn't a bash Hillary kvetchfest.

And I share his frustration about the awful shit being spewed about Bernie.

[Maedhros]

45. However you feel about the OP, it's okay that Hasslecat feels differently.

Hasselcat did not in any way disparage Bernie or Bernie supporters.

[smokey nj]

46. Other than saying some of us annoy him?

[Maedhros]

48. Some of us annoy me, too.

"Forget it Jake, it's the Internet"

[yellowcanine]

28. constantly comparing Bernie to Kucinich.Dismissing Bernie being elected statewide because vermont is

is small state. bringing up age.she is only 6 years younger than Bernie. Keep saying we should give up and get behind first female president......

Funny, this is the FIRST time I have heard ANY of these reasons for voting against Bernie or for Hillary on DU.

Now granted that I might not be following all of the Bernie/Hillary discussions as closely as you. But even so, don't you think you are being just a mite thin skinned here?????

[Robbins]

29. nope

I see it all the time in General discussion.

[yellowcanine]

34. Okay but so what - they are all quite easily put to rest.

Seriously, Dennis Kucinich, the size of Vermont, age, - all gigantic so what's?
As for First Woman President - Hillary did not step aside for the First Black President so why should anyone step aside for Hillary as the First Woman President? There now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

It is a discussion board. People make stupid arguments. Ignore them or shoot them down with a few pertinent facts. Don't whine. I apologize for the cliches but life really is too short and no one likes whining.

[smokey nj]

36. And this is a safe haven for supporters of Bernie Sanders.

[yellowcanine]

39. Yes, you repeat yourself. Does "safe haven" mean "always agree"?

Give me a break. It is still the real world and it is still a discussion board. You don't want people to ever disagree with you, don't post.

[smokey nj]

49. It means we don't have to put up with HRC supporters. BTW, if this were the HRC Group,

you'd have been blocked already.

[merrily]

71. +1

[smokey nj]

31. That shit is posted in GD all the time.

Also you are posting in a safe haven for supporters of Bernie Sanders.

[blm]

52. Not all are real Dems - just like not all Sanders 'supporters' are real Dems -

For the last few primaries, DU has always been a favorite forum for RNC operatives to work their wiles.

They will attack every side they can while posing as a disgruntled Dem from the left or as a centrist.

You can't take any of it so seriously - ignore them or inform them that are being so overthetop in their accusations that you find it difficult to take them at their word. With civility, of course.

[bvar22]

56. Thats BOGUS.

Many Democrats have serious issues with Hillary, not the least of which was her support for the Iraq War. There are many other Democratic reasons to oppose Hillary.
Not everybody who opposes Hillary is plant from Carl Rove.
Ridiculous.

[blm]

60. I didn't say everybody is. I said not ALL of the overthetop posters

attacking Sanders are real Dems. Just like not ALL of the overthetop posters attacking Clinton are real Dems.

How on earth does one read what I actually wrote and call it bogus? Stick to what is actually contained in the post. Geez…after all this time, ya think one would KNOW my track record here calling out the Clintons. My posting was nothing like your claim.

[awoke_in_2003]

59. It is annoying

but I think it is just a very vocal minority of Hillary "supporters". Really, I think the ones making the most noise are from Rush's Operation Chaos. They migrated here during the 08 primaries with one purpose- to get dems fighting amongst themselves. Sure, some Hillary and Bernie supporters are probably stoking the fire, but I believe the vast majority of them are really here for one purpose- to make sure we retain the WH. Maybe I am naive, but I hope not.