Bernie Responds to Congress' $738 Billion Defense Package

[Donkees]

Dec 17, 2019

We spend more on defense than the next 10 countries combined. We need to fundamentally readjust our priorities as a nation.

[TexasTowelie]

1. Interesting...

Some Democrats were outraged by their party’s concessions, and opposed the final legislation, though a number of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates — including Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont — missed the vote.

“Call me a radical, but maybe before funding a new space force, we should make sure no American goes bankrupt because of a medical bill or dies because they can’t afford to go to a doctor on time,” Mr. Sanders wrote in a Washington Post op-ed article on Monday.

Why didn't Bernie show up and get his vote on the record? He had time to make a video, but he was too busy to vote on the legislation he opposed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/us/politics/senate-defense-bill-trump.html

[betsuni]

2. So he has not voted against all of Trump's defense budgets.

[TexasTowelie]

3. No he hasn't.

Perhaps it is because of the F-35 program and the base in Burlington, Vermont which brings a lot of money into the local economy? Meanwhile, there are plenty of residents that are vehemently opposed to the F-35 program and the noise pollution associated with it.

It was an important vote, and even though the bill passed overwhelmingly, it would be important to get on the record for the symbolism alone.

[George II]

6. And yet he made a campaign video about it! None of the other Senators who failed to vote....

...on it are using this as a campaign issue.

[betsuni]

19. Perhaps he was "a little bit busy."

[George II]

8. Not just vote, but participate in any floor debate and lobbying regarding this bill.

[oldsoftie]

4. Sanders also needs to understand that the world has only 3 superpowers.

Stepping out and leaving it to the other 2 would end in disaster for not only the US, but much of the rest of the free world. Like it or not, most countries will align themselves with one of the three; the US, China & Russia. If we withdraw from everywhere, the other two WILL have even more influence on our lives. Thats another reason why trump is dangerous; he alienates allies.
Its a sad state of affairs, but its the real world.
And as a % of GDP, we spend less than russia currently spends. Thats eye opening in itself. And if you think China is open about what THEY spend, we'd really see something. They're building & occupying actual ISLANDS.

[Act_of_Reparation]

22. lolwut

[Cuthbert Allgood]

24. Wow. Defending huge military spending on liberal Democratic discussion board.

Just when I think I've seen it all.

But, yeah, there are 3 superpowers. Add what they spend—AND THE NEXT SEVEN COUNTRIES—and we still outspend ALL 9 OF THOSE COUNTRIES.

And why is nobody doing the "hOw ARe YoU goINg To pAy foR tHAt" bullshit that we always hear about M4A?

[lapucelle]

27. Just when you thought you've seen it all...

On military industrial complex, Sanders’ actions diverge from his rhetoric

https://vtdigger.org/2019/09/11/on-military-industrial-complex-sanders-actions-diverge-from-his-rhetoric/

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Antiwar candidate Bernie Sanders faces backlash over the $1.2 trillion war machine he brought to Vermont

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/10/bernie-sanders-faces-backlash-over-war-machine-he-brought-to-vermont.html

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F-35 protests to continue outside of Sanders' office

https://www.mynbc5.com/article/f-35-protests-continue-outside-of-bernie-sanders-office-burlington/28590844

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Why Bernie Sanders is backing a $1.5 trillion military boondoggle

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/why-bernie-sanders-is-backing-a-15-trillion-military-boondoggle.html

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Bernie Sanders Loves This $1 Trillion War Machine

https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-loves-this-dollar1-trillion-war-machine

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Bernie Sanders’s Support for F-35 Jets in Vermont Angers Some Backers

https://www.wsj.com/articles/bernie-sanderss-support-for-f-35-jets-in-vermont-angers-some-supporters-11566310652

[oldsoftie]

28. As a % of GDP, we are not #1. Russia spends more than we do.

The only REAL way to measure spending. A dollar isnt equal across the globe.

I'm not saying we cant have cuts; we have 1000 bases overseas & I believe we could accomplish our missions with far fewer of them. That savings could go towards a lot of things. We could also actually listen to the Generals about whats needed and NOT the Congress members who want the defense pork in THEIR districts. Many times the military itself has proposed large cuts in certain systems that would save billions, only to be overridden by Congress.

And both Russia & China are also weaponizing space. If we ignore THAT as well, we put at risk every satellite we have and we all know what those control. Do we need a totally separate "space force"? I doubt it. It could be handled by the USAF.

What I stated is true; the 3 powers are the 3 who influence most of the rest of the countries. You may not like it, but thats they way it is. And to remove ourselves from the sphere of influence would result in disaster for a lot of people down the road. We've seen it before; the last time we decided to become more isolationist. Trump is putting us in that position with many allies already. And we'll see the results later, after he's GONE.

I didnt know that being on DU meant you are supposed to ignore things you dont like.

[George II]

5. If it was so important to him, why didn't he vote against it but say he did?

[redqueen]

7. Glad at least one candidate is speaking out about this monstrosity.

The silence from so many is awful.

[dware]

9. So he had time to make a video speaking out against the bill,

but not enough time to vote against it?

This reeks of rank hypocrisy.

[redqueen]

12. Wouldn't have made a difference so not sure why a few people here keep banging on about it. nt

[dware]

16. It would have gotten his vote on record.

I suspect he didn't vote because of the F-35 program which brings boo coo bucks to his state.

As I said, this reeks of rand hypocrisy.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. Because it's all they got.

[dware]

25. All they got?

How about his initial endorsement of the misogynist Cenk?

Even after the CA Dem Party told the National to stay out of it?

You don't think that BS is just a wee bit hypocritical for failing to vote on the defense bill, but yet still had time to make a video criticizing it?

[redqueen]

26. Most people here make a point and move on.

Or if someone argues a point there's a discussion.

Then there are others.

[George II]

13. None of the other Senate candidates are campaigning on something they DIDN'T participate in.

[dware]

17. Yep.

AFAIC, BS is a hypocrite.

[LongtimeAZDem]

10. Of course he didn't actually vote against it, because he loves the F-35

Even an outspoken progressive politician like Senator Bernie Sanders has muted his criticism of the F-35 (since some of them are to be based in his home state of Vermont, offering the promise of future jobs).

The Pentagon’s $1.5 Trillion Addiction to the F-35 Fighter

[dware]

11. +100. nt

[redqueen]

14. Yep - so his no vote could reasonably be characterized as performative

So that's even more reason to move on to discussing more important things.

This bill is sickening but all some can view it as is a cudgel with which to beat Bernie.

Keep going - maybe some impressionable new voters can get a good look at our principled politics.

[LongtimeAZDem]

15. I, for one, think hypocrisy matters, and should not be swept under the rug. YMMV

[redqueen]

18. And I, for one, think there is a bigger picture - especially where this bill is concerned.

You are of course free to think that Bernie not voting against this bill is absolutely horrible and the most important aspect of this story.

I do not.

[LongtimeAZDem]

20. Duly noted; thanks

[George II]

21. The point isn't that he didn't vote against the bill. The point is even though he didn't....

....(the other candidates didn't, either) he put out a campaign video blatantly saying that he voted against ALL of trump's defense bills, which simply is not true.

He's misleading those who watched that video. The average American who watches it will naively believe what he said.

[lapucelle]

29. Bernie Sanders is wrong -- twice -- in claim about defense budget voting record

Our Ruling

In a campaign video that has been viewed almost 320,000 times on Twitter alone, Sanders made the statement that he has voted against all of Trump’s defense budgets and that he is the only candidate in the Democratic primary to do so.

It is true the Vermont senator has publicly opposed all of the president’s military spending packages, but he has not voted against all of them. Sanders is also wrong to say he is the only candidate in the Democratic primary who has voted against the proposals. In fact, Gabbard is the only candidate who can make that claim.

We rate this statement as False.

320,000+ misinformed potential voters.

BS should acknowledge his mistake, correct the record, apologize, and remove the video.