Bernie Sanders Politely Asks Supporters Not to Harass His Opponents

[babylonsister]

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/bernie-sanders-email-supporters-799468/?fbclid=IwAR3015-BApPTBGb1IXVi9hgJzVtE_zhmT0BZCDU3rJ8BmRPUPxTbwpEM1-g


February 24, 2019 3:53PM ET
Bernie Sanders Politely Asks Supporters Not to Harass His Opponents
“Let us do our very best to engage respectfully with our Democratic opponents,” the candidate said in an email
By Peter Wade


During the 2016 elections, many Hillary Clinton supporters felt harassed by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Sanders is trying to get in front of that before the 2020 race heats up by sending an email urging his fans to “engage respectfully” with his Democratic opponents.

“As we engage with our opponents in the Democratic primary, we will forcefully present our views and defend ourselves against misrepresentations,” Sanders wrote. “But, let us do our very best to engage respectfully with our Democratic opponents―talking about the issues we are fighting for, not about personalities or past grievances. I want to be clear that I condemn bullying and harassment of any kind and in any space.”

Sanders emphasized that he plans to take the opposite tact to President Donald Trump, who revels in name-calling and specious attacks. “The president we are running against is a pathological liar, a racist, a xenophobe, a sexist, a bully and a religious bigot. His goal is to win political points by dividing up the American people. That is why we need to do exactly the opposite―brings our people together. Men and women, black and white, Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight, young and old, native-born and immigrant,” Sanders said in the email.

Sanders sent a similar message to his delegates ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, urging them not to protest on the convention floor. But his supporters did not heed his calls and the convention was interrupted numerous times by followers of Sanders, at times booing at Clinton delegates and chanting “Bernie.”

In his email about 2020, Sanders emphasized that only a united front will have a chance to beat Trump. “Our number one priority is defeating Donald Trump. To do so, we will ultimately have to unite with those who today are our opponents for the Democratic nomination. We won’t always agree with them, but I expect those who speak on behalf of my campaign to always engage respectfully. I am committed to making this nominating process a fair, issues-focused campaign and am asking you for the same,” he concluded.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

1. Actions will speak louder than words.

[Cha]

4. Exactly. It was certainly called for. We'll

see if it takes.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

59. Let's hope other candidates make the same request of their supporters.

Not surprised Bernie did though... shows a lot of class.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!

[CrossingTheRubicon]

61. LOL. No. No Democratic candidate has ever needed to make such a request.

It is a given among Democrats. The BS campaign is an aberration.

It shows no class to have supporters boo civil rights heroes.

Not accepting the gaslighting.

[shanny]

135. lol

[ehrnst]

95. Who among them would need to? (nt)

[Hortensis]

133. No one else needs to, InA.

Sanders' populist followers include a lot of people who liked the right's call to "lock her up" so much that they adopted that and many other trumpster-type behaviors, understandable when you realize that later on a large number of this type voted for Trump or conservative libertarian Johnson in the general.

Shall we hope they stayed there and approve kidnapping and imprisoning small children in inhumane conditions, or should we hope they've returned in hopes a few will vote better in 2020, even if some will be acting out in their signatures ways all over again?

[WordsMatter]

2. This would be great advice for all candidates to ask their supporters to be respectful!

Edited to add:

Every candidate needs to ask their supporters to be respectful!

[Cha]

6. Well, it certainly was Needed for BS to do it.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

7. No other campaigns have "supporters" who act this way.

[Lazy Daisy]

10. Please give warning before making such statements

[CrossingTheRubicon]

16. You've got it exactly backwards.

I’m not going to be gaslighted.

Thanks anyway.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. Lol.ok.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

30. Not remotely funny.

[tkmorris]

86. Oh bullshit

They ALL have supporters who act this way. Don't be absurd, you know this to be true.

[Cha]

88. Not on a grand scale like this. BS obvioulsy felt the need to

come out with this plea to his surrogates and fans.. no other candidates that I've heard of has ever had to do this.

[ehrnst]

99. False equivalency.

Please provide examples.

[JudyM]

101. LULZed

You must’ve fogotten to add the sarcasm smilie.

If you stick around, let's see then what you observe.

[bigtree]

3. good statement

...I like his decision to make a statement like this to his supporters in both a prominent but personal way.

[SidDithers]

5. Bit too late, Bernie...nt

Sid

[Thekaspervote]

108. Yeah like 3 years too late!!

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread babylonsister.

[mcar]

9. I certainly hope they listen

[Lazy Daisy]

11. Now if only

Bernie supporters were stopped being called:

Racist
Misogynist
Not bona fide Democrats (or other variations)
Homophobes
Xenophobes
and on
and on
and on

[Gothmog]

15. Why was it okay for sanders delegates to boo Congressman John Lewis at the National Convention?

This was a planned stunt. The Clinton campaign knew about it 20 to 30 minutes in advance and warned her delegates. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop it and declined.

My whip was working for the DNC during the mid terms. I have no doubt that this incident will come out if sanders gets to Super Tuesday

[CrossingTheRubicon]

18. It was an unforgivable moment. Booing John Lewis was shameful.

I’ll believe a change of behavior when I see it.

[Lazy Daisy]

21. Maybe because

Congressman Lewis did this:

[link:https://videodelivery.nbcnews.com/progressive/3aaae01e-e0f4-439d-aa7a-8d5e3e774105/84bd01d5-6265-4738-96ce-2d7c7340ef2a/076ea1a2-a35b-11e4-bfdb-005056837bc7/1/0/-1770689046/content.mp4|

“To be very frank, I never saw him, I never met him. I chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee for three years, from 1963 to 1966. I was involved in sit-ins, in the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the March from Selma to Montgomery ... but I met Hillary Clinton".

It's dishonest. First, Bernie was in Chicago during that time protesting for civil rights. He may not have done enough by some peoples standards, but that's no reason to say he did nothing. Second, he didn't meet Hillary Clinton during that time, as his statement infers.

[Gothmog]

22. So you are ignoring the instructions given by sanders to his surrogates described in the OP?

No one expected sanders supporters to listen to him. I saw this at the National Convention.

I am looking forward to the ads showing this incident being used in Southern states.

[Lazy Daisy]

25. Because I tell you why

Congressman Lewis was boo'd I'm now going against instructions of civility?

[Gothmog]

43. No one expected sanders surrogates to pay any attention to sander's instructions

BTW a true national treasure, Congressman John Lewis, is ion the Oscars right now

This makes me smile

[George II]

46. John Lewis on the "Red Carpet". An inspiring American hero.

[Gothmog]

85. I have been fortunate enough to have heard John Lewis tell the same story 4 times

I have been fortunate to hear John Lewistell his “preaching to chicken” story four times in person. John Lewis is a national treasure

[Kentonio]

90. Everyone can make mistakes and everyone should be able to be held accountable

You can't just paint someone as a national treasure that can never be criticized under any circumstances, that's riduculous. John Lewis is an inspiration and a great man, but he is still a human being with all the weaknesses that brings with it.

[betsuni]

91. What "mistake" that Lewis "should be able to be held accountable" is that?

What "weaknesses" are you talking about?

[ehrnst]

98. Interesting, when someone says that about Senator Sanders....

Many supporters will call that "Bernie Hate."

What specific "mistake" are you talking about?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. You never did come up with a video. Did you?

[Gothmog]

33. Denial is not just a river in Africa

Your claims were proven false on the other thread that you ran away from.

The southern primaries will be fun

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. So you have the video? Would you mind posting it?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

134. No video?

[George II]

45. I'm curious, you've been a staunch Sanders supporter for years and now you choose Yang....

...as the candidate you chose here in this forum? An epiphany?

[Gothmog]

84. He is now supporting Biden

[George II]

114. smh

[Trenzalore]

23. So booing a colleague who got his head knocked in for civil rights was acceptable?

On a national stage when we were trying to unify against pretty much the worst human being the republicans have ever nominated?

That is the argument you are making?

[Lazy Daisy]

28. Never said it was acceptable

2 wrongs don't make a right.

What John Lewis did was wrong. Yes he's a civil rights icon, yes he's done amazing things for our country. He's still human and not infallible and in this instance he was wrong.

[Trenzalore]

32. I don't think Bernie has any control over his supporters behavior

Which is a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it.

I would not cast all people that support Sanders in the same bucket. A pastor friend of mine who we agree to disagree who is the model of civility is a strong supporter. Bernie does attract the anti-establishment crowd which is not going to listen to many instructions from a leader.

Hopefully he picks people that have more self control for his delegates in 2020.

[Lazy Daisy]

35. I don't think any candidate has control over their supporters

Many of campaigns have had to apologize or back track because of a surrogate or supporter

[Trenzalore]

36. They tend to have control over the people they send to conventions

or at the very least do their best to pick people who aren't going to be a news story.

[Lazy Daisy]

37. I'll just leave this here

"There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other" - Madeleine Albright

[Trenzalore]

44. She had said that for 25 years before it became controversial nt.

[Gothmog]

78. This is from a sanders delegate

Link to tweet

[George II]

115. What does that have to do with an organized attack on John Lewis? An entirely different...

...context and situation.

We're still waiting for Sanders to acknowledge his supporters' actions and apologize for them.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

118. I guess you weren't around in 2008?

https://www.usnews.com/news/campaign-2008/articles/2008/08/07/despite-obamas-efforts-clinton-supporters-wont-fade-away

[LisaM]

126. Yes, and the conventions had entirely different tones. The HRC people did not tape their mouths.

shut. Obama was not booed. Hillary made a barnraiser of a speech about Obama. She did not sit in the stands with her arms folded, glowering at him for three days and nights. Her spouse wasn't visibly pissed.

The article you cite article came out a full three weeks before the convention. As of the actual 2016 convention, Sanders had not conceded, and had not held two joint fundraisers and agreed to participate in additional rallies, as your article states Hillary did in 2008.

Clinton conceded - or "suspended her campaign" in early June 2008, almost two and a half months before the convention. Of course there were wounds. But there was also a big healing period, and HRC became about the most enthusiastic Obama supporter out there.

While her loyalists continue to beat the war drums, Clinton appears to be making peace. She has agreed to participate in a rally for Obama in Nevada Friday and to appear at another event for him in Florida August 21. They held two joint fundraisers in New York last month.

Shortly after conceding the race, Clinton endorsed Obama, and last night they issued a joint statement again pledging unity. "We are working together to make sure the fall campaign and the convention are a success," they said in their announcement. "At the Democratic convention, we will ensure that the voices of everyone who participated in this historic process are respected and our party will be fully unified heading into the November election."

[Gothmog]

77. Real candidates and real campaigns vet their delegates

In the real world there is a concept called vetting. Each candidate has absolute approval rights over their delegates. I know that I was vetted and I helped vet other Clinton delegates. We had no issues at the convention other than the mini-riot when the sanders delegates demanded that we condemn Clinton and vote for sanders. I had to calm down a labor delegate who was very upset by the circus caused by the sanders delegates.

Again, my daughter was my guest to this event. A group of sanders delegates decide to scream obscenities at her and call her the c-word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. The last two nights of the convention the Chair of the State Party made the head of the sanders delegation set next to two sanders delegates who were screaming obscenities and acting up. This was amusing in that the head of the sanders delegation was an idiot who had been fired during 2012 convention for trading VIP tickets for sex (I wonder why he ended up working for sanders).

I have a friend who worked for sanders who was one of the people who complained about sexual harassment by members of the sanders campaign https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016224223 Sarah was excluded from the sanders event and she is being attacked even now by the sanders senior people who harassed her. I seriously doubt that we will see any change in the behavior of the sanders surrogates

[ehrnst]

97. So why not Sanders? (nt)

[George II]

49. The fact is what he said was true. He never saw him. It's not "dishonest". As you point out....

....Sanders was in Chicago at the time. How could he see someone who was more than a thousand miles away.

Was what he said untrue? Do you dispute the fact that Lewis never saw him? Was Sanders ever in Selma, Montgomery, or IN the March on Washington? By the way, shortly after graduating from the University of Chicago he didn't settle down in his home of Brooklyn, he didn't go down to Alabama or Mississippi or Georgia, he settled in the state with the lowest % of Black in the country at the time - 3%!

[Lazy Daisy]

63. If that's the twist you're going with

that's your right. But Congressman Lewis inferred Bernie Sanders was not involved what so ever in any civil rights actions. And that's dishonest.

Believing Bernie Sanders is racist because he moved to Vermont is horseshit. It's your right to believe it, but it's still horseshit.

[betsuni]

66. Lewis: "I was responding to a reporter's question who asked me to assess Senator Sanders'

civil rights record. I said that when I was leading and was at the center of pivotal actions within the civil rights movement, I did not meet Senator Sanders at any time. The fact that I didn't meet him in the movement does not mean I doubted that Senator Sanders participated in the civil rights movement, neither was I attempting to disparage his activism. Thousands sacrificed in the 1960s whose names we will never know ... ."

He did not infer anything.

[Lazy Daisy]

71. That was the clean up statement

After getting backlash from his original statement. His statement was he didn't see Bernie but he saw Hillary. He didn't see Hillary at that time either. His original statement was dishonest.

Lets be real clear here. By no means am I saying this has any impact what so ever on the decades of his statesmanship. He is a leader in many areas besides civil rights. He's been fighting for more than just his constituents but the whole country, which deserves more respect than has been given at times. But he's still a man and isn't infallible.

[betsuni]

74. All he said was that he hadn't met Bernie or seen him.

Bernie lived in Chicago. Impossible for anyone to know all the college-aged activists in the country. Booing someone for saying they don't remember a college student in the '60s: What a thing to get worked up about.

[Gothmog]

80. There is some history here that is sad but needs to mentioned

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

81. +1

[ehrnst]

96. Are you calling John Lewis a liar?

And you think that Sanders should not have denounced that booing?

[DanTex]

111. Really? That makes it OK for his supporters to boo John Lewis?

That incident is a great illustration of the problem that many Dems, myself included, have with a certain segment of Bernie supporters. No, not all Bernie supporters, it's likely just some of the 25% of 2016 Bernie primary voters that didn't go on to vote for Clinton in the general election.

Booing John Lewis? Because he endorsed the wrong candidate and said something that some people disagreed with? That's wrong.

[Docreed2003]

120. +1

[yardwork]

142. I believe in listening to people of color when they describe their experiences.

[babylonsister]

19. Exactly. nt

[fleabiscuit]

72. Behaviors that should always be commented on no matter who they support. nt

[tirebiter]

87. That has to be earned.

They're capable. It's a matter of wanting it.

[Amimnoch]

12. Guess he and some of his acolytes are realizing the damage they've done..

Too late here though.

#ADBB

Never BS.

[Cha]

13. Way Too Late.

[MrsCoffee]

20. Too little too late.

[Gothmog]

14. I saw how much control sanders had over his surrogates at the national convention

I was a delegate to the national convention. In real campaigns, the candidates carefully vet their delegates because the conduct of such delegates reflect on the candidate. I know that I was vetted. Vetting is important in that delegates can change their vote and the conduct of a candidates delegates reflects on the party and the candidate.

The Sunday night before the convention sanders sent a text to his delegates asking them to behave. My whip showed us the text and warned us. I was there when the sanders delegates booed Congressman John Lewis. I was warned about this stunt 30 minutes before it happened by the Clinton campaign whip. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this event and declined. That incident will be used against sanders if he runs in 2020.

I was at the Texas delegation breakfast when a group of sanders delegates marched in and demanded that we condemn Clinton and change our votes to sanders.

sanders spoke to the Texas delegation the next morning and his speech was again solely about himself. There was a mini-riot due to his delegates the prior morning and the only thing that sanders talked about was himself. sanders did nothing to deal with the fact that his delegates were out of control and did nothing to try to help Hillary Clinton win the general election.

Finally a group of sanders delegates yelled at my daughter and called her the c-Word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. Again sanders was asked to tell his delegates to behave during the convention and sanders refused

I really have no confidence that sanders surrogates will pay any attention to sanders. sanders declined to stop his delegates from booing Congressman John Lewis. sanders did nothing to try to control the bad behavior of his delegates. The lastest e-mail is not likely to be complied with by sanders surrogates.

I hope that I am wrong but I saw how much control sanders has over his surrogates at the National Convention.

[Cha]

17. I really appreciate you posting this, Goth

Thank you

I posted earlier to someone who agreed we didn't have to be there to know what happened.. I mentioned your experience as best I could.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=5350

[fleabiscuit]

64. Thank you for the post. nt

[Gothmog]

82. I was there in person

This and other incidents at the convention are hard to forget

[betsuni]

83. Thank you, it's great to have someone who was there, here.

[Docreed2003]

121. Thank you for reminding us just how bad it was

The public spectacle on TV was bad enough, but to hear stories on the ground and in the rooms where these events occurred are powerful. Thank you for sharing again!

[Cha]

170. This needs a kick.

[Trenzalore]

24. He has no control over them to begin with and never has

If he had not decided to run the ones that engage in this type of behavior would have found another candidate. This is not all Sanders supporters.

They gravitate towards him because he is anti-establishment. If he won the Presidency half of them would be in the streets protesting some decision he made within a few months.

[NurseJackie]

29. OMG! Why is this even needed in the first place? What does that tell you?

Who ever heard of such a thing?



PS: It's a damn shame that John Lewis didn't get the respect he deserved AFTER the primaries and AT the convention.

[Cha]

62. This is how BS talks about his "opponents"..

Bernie: ‘My Opponents’ Want Black, White, Gay, Latino or Women Candidates ‘Regardless of What They Stand For’

After the 2016 election, Sanders hit a similar theme when he told a crowd of supporters “It’s not good enough for somebody to say ‘hey I’m a Latina vote for me’ that is not good enough,” and went on to add “It is not good enough for somebody to say, ‘I’m a woman, vote for me.'”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211722251

[ehrnst]

93. When one states they are the only ethical choice among candidates

that doesn't exactly send a message of promoting courtesy to one's opponents.

[Cha]

123. No it Doesn't, ehrnst. It's insulting and condescending.

[spicysista]

31. This is a nice gesture. It's my hope that....

it is my hope that his followers respect his wishes. I'm cautiously optimistic about this primary season.

[Cha]

38. BS needs to make sure Nina/jill stein supporter/ Turner gets the memo..

Link to tweet

[crazytown]

39. Actions speak louder than words.

Appointing Ms Turner was a pretty clear statement of his intentions.

Back-at-cha

[Cha]

40. Precisely, crazytown.. he says this while appointing

nina "Dems and fascists trumpers are the same" turner as his co-chair.

[crazytown]

47. And WE are different

WE will promise you the earth moon and sky. YOU DON’T have to THINK about how WE will get it through CONGRESS. TRUST NO ONE ELSE. They’ve all SOLD OUT.

[Cha]

51. And, remember.. they are our "opponents".. Do as I say

Not as I do..

Bernie: ‘My Opponents’ Want Black, White, Gay, Latino or Women Candidates ‘Regardless of What They Stand For’

After the 2016 election, Sanders hit a similar theme when he told a crowd of supporters “It’s not good enough for somebody to say ‘hey I’m a Latina vote for me’ that is not good enough,” and went on to add “It is not good enough for somebody to say, ‘I’m a woman, vote for me.'”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211722251

[crazytown]

60. July 12 "We're going to fight as hard as we can"

Right now, I am a Democrat obviously and we’re going to fight as hard as we can to transform the Democratic Party. So that’s where I am right now.

Fight to keep Trump out of the Whitehouse?
Fight to elect Hillary Clinton as our first Woman President?

No fight our ‘Democratic Opponents’ to remake THEIR party in OUR own image. Not because WE got the votes or anything. Just because.

[Thekaspervote]

109. +1000

[ehrnst]

94. Why yes, that's sends a very clear message of courtesy towards one's opponents.

[Cha]

125. Yes, to "one's opponents".. Do as I say.. not

as I do.

[Maru Kitteh]

41. If he meant it, he wouldn't refer to Democrats as "opponents."

But he still does.

The GOP & co. are the opponents of Democrats.

[Cha]

48. Here's BS using "Opponents" again for brilliant DEMS..

Bernie: ‘My Opponents’ Want Black, White, Gay, Latino or Women Candidates ‘Regardless of What They Stand For’

After the 2016 election, Sanders hit a similar theme when he told a crowd of supporters “It’s not good enough for somebody to say ‘hey I’m a Latina vote for me’ that is not good enough,” and went on to add “It is not good enough for somebody to say, ‘I’m a woman, vote for me.'”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211722251

Condescendingly and insulting.. like We don't know who we're voting for.

[NurseJackie]

107. Further evidence indicating an abject contempt and disrespect for the Democratic party.

Further evidence indicating an abject contempt and disrespect for the Democratic party. But, if someone goes around spreading demoralizing DISINFORMATION about the Democratic party (such as lies that the Democrats are the "party of the elite" or the "party of the one percent&quot then it all makes sense. Everything that's come before fits into place, and there's no incongruity with the other examples of contempt for the Democratic party, its candidates and its leadership.

I know it's not the topic of this OP, but I feel compelled to point out again that the choice of Nina Fucking Turner (a supporter of, and voter for Jill Fucking Stein) is one of the BIGGEST slaps in the face ever. What outrageous disdain and disrespect! I hear Susan Fucking Sarandon needs a job too. Why not? How much worse can it get?

All I'm saying is, things like this are REPEATED examples of the lack of respect towards the party (and the leadership) of which he's supposed to be an "ally". Why? Something doesn't fit. What's wrong with this picture?

[Cha]

130. Questions for Sen Sanders..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

131. Generally speaking, I think that the public is better served by candidates who are not tone-deaf...

Generally speaking, I think that the public is better served by candidates who are not tone-deaf and who have a more modern and realistic view of people's identities (along with an honest understanding and acceptance of the special needs, obstacles, challenges, prejudices and phobias, etc. that people must deal with). I think it's important for the candidate that I support to NOT be dismissive. When I see people doing that, I know that it comes from a place of privilege, and therefore the candidate (no matter how "nice" he or she may seem to be) is not the candidate for me.

All I'm saying is that I have higher standards, and that I'm less forgiving and less willing to look the other way when it comes to how a candidate treats his (or her) party or how a candidate treats his (or her) constituents.

If we just watch closely and listen carefully, these things make themselves more and more evident every day.

[Cha]

132. Yeah, "tone deaf" doesn't cut

it with me, either.

Link to tweet

[fleabiscuit]

67. Yes, and specifically "our Democratic opponents"

IMHO, He's completely distancing himself from the percieved lesser than Democrats.

[Maru Kitteh]

70. "Our Democratic opponents" implies the assumption that "we" (his acolytes)

are a separate entity altogether, indeed.

[honest.abe]

103. Exactly. He should have said "other Democratic candidates" or "fellow Democratic candidates".

I don't think he sees other Democrats as being on the same team. That's why he refuses to join the party except when he wants to run as a candidate.

[George II]

42. He should not be "polite", he should tell them straight out - RESPECT our opponents. I wonder...

...why does he have to specify "our Democratic opponents"? Does he still not consider himself one of "us"?

[Cha]

50. Here's BS insulting and condescendingly using "Opponents" for Dems Again..

Bernie: ‘My Opponents’ Want Black, White, Gay, Latino or Women Candidates ‘Regardless of What They Stand For’

After the 2016 election, Sanders hit a similar theme when he told a crowd of supporters “It’s not good enough for somebody to say ‘hey I’m a Latina vote for me’ that is not good enough,” and went on to add “It is not good enough for somebody to say, ‘I’m a woman, vote for me.'”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211722251
"Do as I say Not as I Do".

[George II]

53. Hmph, and they say that Dianne Feinstein was "condescending".

[Cha]

57. It's ok for BS.. but no one else.

[fleabiscuit]

75. He could learn the word "challenger" but he wants to remove himself from the lesser than.

And that my lesser than friends, is all you need to remember about that.

[Cha]

89. He could.. he could have

not chosen the divisive Nina Turner as co-chair of his campaign, too.

But.. Nooooo..

Aloha, flea

[NurseJackie]

106. That's a very astute observation. He probably does NOT...

why does he have to specify "our Democratic opponents"? Does he still not consider himself one of "us"?

That's a very astute observation. Every indication is that he probably does NOT consider himself to be "one of us". The contempt for the Democratic party is clear.

[babylonsister]

52. Ugh. Civility is lost. Even here. nt

[Cha]

55. BS opened this up.. We have memories..

you think we're not going to be skeptical just because BS asks his fans and surrogates to be nice to his "opponents"?

And, picks nina turner to be his co-chair..



This his how BS speaks to his "Opponents"..

Bernie: ‘My Opponents’ Want Black, White, Gay, Latino or Women Candidates ‘Regardless of What They Stand For’

After the 2016 election, Sanders hit a similar theme when he told a crowd of supporters “It’s not good enough for somebody to say ‘hey I’m a Latina vote for me’ that is not good enough,” and went on to add “It is not good enough for somebody to say, ‘I’m a woman, vote for me.'”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211722251

Condescending and Insulting.. like We Don't Know Who we're Voting for.

[fleabiscuit]

76. You're trying to normalize something that isn't normal behavior.

[disillusioned73]

116. I haven't seen civility here..

in a looooooooong time..

I just got called a Russian provocateur not to long ago.. I guess I'll ad Puerto Rican Russian to my bio, I can't imagine what AOC goes through on a daily basis.. mind numbingly asinine ppl on the internetz

[CrossingTheRubicon]

54. I'm convinced that BS sees Democrats as his opponents.

[Cha]

58. I am.

Bernie: ‘My Opponents’ Want Black, White, Gay, Latino or Women Candidates ‘Regardless of What They Stand For’

After the 2016 election, Sanders hit a similar theme when he told a crowd of supporters “It’s not good enough for somebody to say ‘hey I’m a Latina vote for me’ that is not good enough,” and went on to add “It is not good enough for somebody to say, ‘I’m a woman, vote for me.'”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211722251

Condescending and insulting.

[Maru Kitteh]

65. It's not like he hides it or anything. He says it quite plainly, in the open. nt

[betsuni]

68. That's twice in the last couple of weeks.

And we who insist on voting for Democrats are as well because we vote wrong.

[Maven]

56. That horse has left the barn, Bern. nt

[betsuni]

69. That horse has left the barn and is on the ship that has sailed.

[RandySF]

79. I hope people aren't docxed like they were in 2016.

All I can is that primary Twitter became a cesspool over the last two weeks.

[ehrnst]

92. Maybe John Lewis sat him down and had a talk. (nt)

[Paladin]

100. Too little, too late, Bernie. (nt)

[samnsara]

102. they werent controlled the first time around.. this time will be no different im afraid..

[Demsrule86]

112. But this will backfire and turn off voters I think.

[tinrobot]

119. Because many of his online "supporters" were bots & Russian trolls

And you're correct, it is not going to be different this time out.

[samnsara]

104. i hope this applies to the behavior that was exhibited toward older- usually female-..

..participants at the caucuses. What was observed was close to criminal imho. this time it WILL be filmed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

110. O K

[Blue_Tires]

113. It's about 3 years late, but good for him finally taking my advice on something

[forklift]

117. Good for Bernie

In addition, he should distance himself from Waleed Shahid and his doctored video immediately.

Waleed is radioactive and will bring poor Bernie down. Bernie has the high road and he should condemn Waleed Shahid. My respect for Bernie will grow to astronomical levels if he did that.

[Cha]

124. Yes, he should distance himself from

Waleed Shahid and Nina Turner, too.. while he's at it.

[dogman]

128. The video was not doctored.

Two minute clips were released as well as the whole video at their site.

Link to tweet

[forklift]

129. Selective editing and choosing parts

is doctoring.

When the whole video came out, it didn't appear bad at all.

I am only thinking from Bernie's image standpoint. I don't want Bernie's pristine persona tarnished by the likes of Waleed Shahid.

[prredlin]

122. this is far more of a rebuke of trump

than anyone else. I'd expect ALL candidates to do the same to remain united against Trumplethinskin.

Good on ya Bernie!

[Cha]

138. No, it isn't.. that's not the reality of the

situation.

[LovingA2andMI]

127. Like That Cult is going to listen....

Appreciate the effort but its three years too damn late Bernie....

[Empowerer]

136. Calls to mind a line from "A Few Good Men":

If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger?"

[lillypaddle]

137. LOL

Knock yourself out, Bernie.

[Cha]

143. But, will they listen?

[Cha]

144. So, BS hires "Attack Dog" Sirota and

John Lewis Harasser, Brianna joy

Link to tweet

Here she is again.. saying "trump is right"..

Link to tweet

Oh look Briahna deleted a tweet.. sneaky deleters.

[MustLoveBeagles]

145. She's pathedic

[Cha]

146. Yes, so of course she gets

hired.

[MustLoveBeagles]

150. It's sad to see him hiring these awful people

I supported Bernie in 2016 (voted for Hillary in the general) but now? Nope. I'm done.

[melman]

160. "Devin Nunes Cocaine BJ Cow Did Treason"?

Agreed. One of the very worst trolls on twitter

[Cha]

148. No, it did Not. That's why

I thought of it and Kicked it UP.

[dalton99a]

149. And new revelations about Sirota

[RandySF]

151. His new social media director called me a "motherfucker" in 2008 during discussion about Obama.

[MustLoveBeagles]

153. Wow

[RandySF]

154. I don't remember the exact details, just that I was defending Obama.

[CentralMass]

152. The hammering on Sanders here has never stopped.

[Awsi Dooger]

162. It never started from me until today

I am finally seeing what others understood all along

[Cha]

169. Oh? the way BS "hammers" on

Dems?

[betsuni]

155. Bookmarking for future reference.

[David__77]

156. I appreciate his sentiment.

...

[Cha]

157. He scrapped that by hiring Sirota and

Briahna.

[ucrdem]

158. Yeah that fine sentiment had a half-life of about 10 minutes.

He about-faced in record time.

[Cha]

159. As we knew it would.. it

was ridiculous on the face of it.

ucr

[ucrdem]

163. At the first sign of trouble he reverts to form

and the fact that Sirota was already attached to the campaign in an undisclosed way when he said it is even more disturbing.

[Cha]

165. Yep.. sneaky 20,288 tweets Deleter..

Link to tweet

BACKFIRE!

[melman]

161. Wrong

[Cha]

164. BS hired two "Attack Dogs", melman..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

lol@stupidly giving trump props..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Screenshots taken before the mass Twitter deletion preserve the role that Sirota was playing to his 125,000 followers, trying to turn the early online conversation about the 2020 primary race against other candidates, all while unofficially advising Sanders.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/sanders-promised-civility-hired-twitter-attack-dog/585259/

A couple of tweets, Sirota Deleted..

David Sirota on Twitter: "It's interesting that the Dem establishment ...

Link to tweet

?lang=en
David Sirota on Twitter: "If you are going to blame Trump's election ...

Link to tweet

Wonder what they said?.. lol

[George II]

166. Is his sentiment reflected in the two hires he made yesterday and his choice of co-chairman?

[Cha]

167. Kick for a reminder for BS on what he said then.

[SFnomad]

168. It's hard to take this seriously when he hires David Sirota and Briahna Joy Gray n/t

[NurseJackie]

171. Zero credibility after that.

You're correct.

[Cha]

172. KICK!