Quick reminder: Bernie voted against the Magnitsky Act and Russian sanctions

[ecstatic]

If it's Bernie vs. trump, who will putin support?
The Mueller report concluded that Russia/putin wanted trump and Bernie. When trump won the gop nom and Hillary won the democratic nomination, they put all their energy behind trump. But what happens if it's trump vs Bernie? Isn't it entirely possible that putin will switch his support to Bernie, since trump is so toxic and ineffective? Meanwhile, Bernie has quietly and without any blowback voted in a way that is a lot more supportive of putin/Russia than his colleagues--for example, he's voted against the Magnitsky Act and Russian sanctions:

The Senate overwhelmingly voted Thursday to impose new sanctions on Russia, joining the House in approving the measure by veto-proof margins.

The vote on the bill — which would also add sanctions against North Korea and Iran — was 98-2, with only Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., dissenting. The House passed the measure on Tuesday by 419-3. Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/senate-joins-house-overwhelmingly-passing-new-russian-sanctions-n787291

Senate Democrats on Wednesday came up short in a vote to stop the Trump administration from easing sanctions on companies linked to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire with ties to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.

The only one to miss the vote was Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. He was meeting with women who had accused his 2016 presidential campaign of sexual misconduct, his spokesman, Josh Miller-Lewis, told CNBC. Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/senate-democrats-vote-to-block-trump-from-lifting-russia-sanctions-fails.html

Any thoughts? Is this concerning to anyone or are you happy to potentially have putin siding with the democrats next go 'round?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/128784269

Please don't shoot the messenger.

[apcalc]

1. I believe Trump vs Sanders is the goal...

[ancianita]

2. Of course it's concerning. I'm waiting to see what Warren and Biden say and do. All Democratic

leaders are meeting about this.

We need to wait and see what the party does about this.

I'm SO pissed that Bernie voted against the Magnitsky Act and all the Russian Sanctions. Just so pissed.

I'm in a wtf moment, and think Bernie's got a lot to answer for.



Thanks for the OP info.

[ecstatic]

6. The upsetting irony of all this is,

if nobody with the power to stop putin is going to do anything about this, it almost seems safer to let Bernie get the nomination. At least then Democrats have a chance.

[Gothmog]

3. #BernieKnew is trending on twitter

Link to tweet

[ecstatic]

7. Wow! He needs to explain ALL of those nay votes! nt

[R B Garr]

12. Wow! #BernieKnew is a great hashtag. People are on to it.

Isn’t it weird that Bernie knew a month ago and weirder that that’s when the so-called “surge” started...

[Vivienne235729]

18. Good point.

[subana]

25. that's interesting!

I hadn't put that together yet, that the 2 things happened at the same time!!

[wisteria]

26. Yes. I was shocked when the surge happened out of know where..

He had a heart attack he was recovering from, and he was taking it easy, his debate performances were mediocre, and he was involved in the Impeachment trial, and was not really campaigning much. But, wham, bam, he is all of a sudden surging.

[uponit7771]

20. Yep, why didn't Sanders denounce outside help for his campaign the second he found out !?

[wisteria]

27. Yes.

[Cha]

30. TY..

[Qutzupalotl]

4. I still think Putin would favor Trump.

But only because kompromat provides him greater control over Trump, whereas Bernie’s stance is more simply non-confrontational. Russia sees Bernie as pro-Kremlin, and brags about it here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287535178

[renate]

8. Putin totally favors Trump--why wouldn't he want to keep his obedient puppet in place

Trump is Putin's ventriloquist's dummy. Anything Putin wants him to say, he'll say it.

Putin wants Sanders to be the nominee so Trump and all the downticket GOPers will win in landslides.

[wisteria]

28. They are covering all the bases.

[ecstatic]

9. Wow! Kucinich is in their pocket too?

SMH! I agree, they have more kompromat on trump, but I think putin is looking for a more discreet alliance this go round. Also, backing Sanders would be a lot more popcorn worthy: MAGAt would be beside themselves with rage, democrats would be in an awkward spot, etc.

[ancianita]

10. Seriously? MGAT would happily crow, "See? They both do it! We told you demoncrats!"

[Squinch]

13. Of course he does. That's why he is backing the weakest Democrat to win the primary.

He did it last time and he's doing it this time.

[IronLionZion]

16. Trump is much dumber and easier to control

[Voltaire2]

5. Or he voted against violating the Iran agreement.

Take your pick.

[uponit7771]

21. Not 4 times and the 4th time he didn't know the vote before he went to the meeting so that excuse

... is broke too.

[MrsCoffee]

32. Can't believe people fell for that.

Lamest excuses ever.

[Garrett78]

11. Regarding Sanders and sanctions:

He has a history of supporting sanctions, but he has opposed certain pieces of legislation due to not wanting to threaten the nuclear agreement.

And then there's this: https://pplswar.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/why-did-bernie-sanders-vote-against-the-magnitsky-act/

The fact that Bernie Sanders (I-VT) voted against the so-called Magnitsky Act of 2012 imposing targeted sanctions on Russian oligarchs to punish the Putin regime for human rights abuses is often cited as “proof” by liberal conspiracy theorists that Sanders was somehow culpable in the Kremlin’s targeted effort to damage the candidacy of Hillary Clinton as part of their broader attack on the 2016 U.S. election.

What liberal conspiracy theorists won’t tell you is that Sanders was joined in voting nay by Carl Levin (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Jack Reed (D-RI) none of whom stand accused by anyone of being Russian stooges.

What liberal conspiracy theorists won’t tell you is that the Obama administration opposed the Magnitsky Act. The administration flip-flopped only after the sanctions were attached to a bill normalizing trade relations with Russia, hence the bill’s official name: The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 (H.R. 6156).

What liberal conspiracy theorists won’t tell you is that Sanders voted for a second, more robust version of the Magnitsky Act in 2015.

Much more at link.

[krissey]

14. Is this how he is going to be "tough" with Russia? Like tough with disruptive supporters?

[yaesu]

15. Bernie made his statement condemning any russian interference, what else would you have him do

stand on his head & sing the national anthem?

[wisteria]

29. Why didn't he say anything about this?

It seems he kept quite to benefit himself.

[MrsCoffee]

33. He has also made statements sayin that talking about Russian interference is just a distraction.

I think voting for sanctions would have left a better taste in people’s mouths and made it easier to give him the benefit of the doubt. He hasn’t earned that.

[Tarc]

17. Quick reminder: Sanders voted for the stronger version of the Magnitsky Act in 2015

But don't let facts impede a quality whinge.

[dansolo]

31. So what, he voted against the one that passed.

This is the game that politicians play. If he truly was in favor of sanctions, he would have voted in favor of both of them.

[Tarc]

36. "This is the game that politicians play"

You just answered your own question them, my bro.

[MrsCoffee]

34. The fact that he can't be given the benefit of the doubt speaks volumes.

As usual, he has not earned it. People don’t trust Bernie Sanders.

[ucrdem]

19. The Biden administration might want to look into this.

I doubt the Trump administration will.

[AlexSFCA]

22. don't be fooled: putin wants only trump

unlike bernie, trump wants to destroy government and that’s exactly what putin wants. Discord is a method not goal.

[Skittles]

23. of course he want Trump

which is why Trump vs Sanders would be Putin's dream come true

[MrsCoffee]

35. Funny how many intentionally miss the point.

[Skittles]

39. self-censored

to avoid THEM

[subana]

24. thanks for this info!

I remember they passed the sanctions by a very large number but I didn't know Bernie voted against them! That's an even bigger problem for Bernie if you ask me! It's one thing if Russia wants to help his campaign but to also learn about the sanctions vote, it doesn't look so good for him now.

[katmondoo]

37. Putin will support whomever wins, be it Sanders or Trump

[Renew Deal]

38. Putin wouldn't need to interfered at that point

He would have already won.