Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

blm

(112,920 posts)
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:55 PM Mar 2016

Sanders campaign was NOT sabotaged by plants in NC. The Dem CONVENTION was here in 2012

and Aisha Dew was head of the Mecklenburg County Dem party at the time. Of course there are going to be a ton of photos from that timeframe. Bernie was smart to have hired her on some levels where she excels. Though I and others can find fault in the operational aspect of the job she was hired to do. (It's not her strong suit.)

I know Aisha and her mother and they actually had a large and INFLUENTIAL presence around here for Sanders campaign. I posted a number of times that NC would be closer than polls showed, and that was due, in large part, to the groundwork being done by an EXPERIENCED team.

At Dem party HQ here both sides had open access to the office and one side was NOT favored over the other. Dem Women, LGBT, and YoungDems were also split, but, pretty much everyone here gets along - we know who the enemy REALLY is here in NC - Perhaps you've heard of the Moral Mondays movement?

I posted also here at DU that Sanders was going to BENEFIT from all the experienced workers standing in his corner, and that DID make a difference. That difference turned what was expected to be a huge blowout from 20-30% by Clinton to a 13% difference in the end.

Now the thanks for tightening that spread (and gaining MORE delegates than expected) is to be accused of being trolls for the party? That thread with over a 100 recs is based on an inflammatory video that is using people's body of work AGAINST them. It is NOT accurate - It is utter horseshit.





82 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Sanders campaign was NOT sabotaged by plants in NC. The Dem CONVENTION was here in 2012 (Original Post) blm Mar 2016 OP
What a surprise 72DejaVu Mar 2016 #1
Truth matters little to the more extreme members of the Revolution. K & R nt Persondem Mar 2016 #2
NO Sanders voters here are acting like this - and Sanders swamped Clinton around here. blm Mar 2016 #3
This is from the op Persondem Mar 2016 #21
No - I meant none of my fellow Sanders supporters in MY area of NC. blm Mar 2016 #23
Thank you for the clarification. I get it. No worries. nt Persondem Mar 2016 #36
Bernie's supporters have to balme somebody else other than comradebillyboy Mar 2016 #4
His people here actually did a really GREAT job, and we made it FAR tighter than expected. blm Mar 2016 #8
I don't doubt that there were plenty of comradebillyboy Mar 2016 #13
No way he can stay involved in this state after wildeyed Mar 2016 #48
He's acting like that turncoat Ty Turner who turned….. to Ted Cruz. blm Mar 2016 #51
WHAAAT? wildeyed Mar 2016 #56
Yep - that was likely an opportunistic act. When Dem voters STILL rejected his candidacy he blm Mar 2016 #57
But he is gay, right? wildeyed Mar 2016 #59
No conversion, yet, as far as I know. blm Mar 2016 #60
We did get out the vote. unapatriciated Mar 2016 #16
Good job on getting more Democratic voters comradebillyboy Mar 2016 #17
Same here. Election day I worked 3 GOTV driving shifts. Turned out 6 votes for Sanders, 5 HRC. blm Mar 2016 #28
yep between changing everyone's polling place unapatriciated Mar 2016 #38
This younger activist is angry and pointing fingers in the wrong direction. blm Mar 2016 #39
So who is https://twitter.com/SPrescottHarris CyanCynic Mar 2016 #64
Do you know the difference between North Carolina and South Carolina? Have you ever blm Mar 2016 #66
My reply was simply along the lines of eating their own. NCTraveler Mar 2016 #5
Please post link to thread mentioned in OP. Thank you. Hiraeth Mar 2016 #6
Seems there are two sides to this marions ghost Mar 2016 #7
I think he's taking things out of context based on inexperience with blm Mar 2016 #11
OK you have a good defense of Aisha marions ghost Mar 2016 #12
I mean his inexperience in politics and party organizations. blm Mar 2016 #14
Getting along great? Not how I view this--it looks like a Dem party split marions ghost Mar 2016 #20
No - because around me most were in Bernie's camp. Proudly, and openly so. blm Mar 2016 #22
So is Trump gonna take NC? marions ghost Mar 2016 #29
I don't THINK so…. blm Mar 2016 #32
BOOM! wildeyed Mar 2016 #54
This is VERY true. wildeyed Mar 2016 #53
Most campaign operatives don't base their loyalty on ideological purity - it's a paid gig for blm Mar 2016 #67
Did you watch The Wire? wildeyed Mar 2016 #68
The accusers Facebook page is a study in gullibility. sufrommich Mar 2016 #69
He is not helping his candidate wildeyed Mar 2016 #71
I'm hearing more and the words most used are erratic and blm Mar 2016 #72
Pretty obvious that he is unstable. wildeyed Mar 2016 #73
Checked into it some more with Young Dems and grassroots organizers blm Mar 2016 #70
I agree with you but also have another observation. unapatriciated Mar 2016 #18
60 here, too. ; ) blm Mar 2016 #19
I gave up trying to point that out. Good people sufrommich Mar 2016 #9
If anything, College Dem groups were screwed over by the new ID restrictions and blm Mar 2016 #41
It would be GREAT if some of those college Dem groups wildeyed Mar 2016 #74
They have a LOT of work to do before November. blm Mar 2016 #75
Bookmarked for posterity. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2016 #10
DU rec... SidDithers Mar 2016 #15
I posted a link to her FB page which is heavily in support of Bernie Lucinda Mar 2016 #24
It's certainly not fair that people are trusting the conclusions of an inexperienced new kid over blm Mar 2016 #42
Here is the full video UglyGreed Mar 2016 #25
That doesn't change a word of my post. blm Mar 2016 #26
I just thought UglyGreed Mar 2016 #30
I know some of the people he's attacking. blm Mar 2016 #33
His passion has gotten the best of him UglyGreed Mar 2016 #34
That's why I am chalking it up to inexperience. blm Mar 2016 #35
You may want to revisit this thread. blm Mar 2016 #82
Utter horseshit is their speciality MaggieD Mar 2016 #27
Whose specialty??? UglyGreed Mar 2016 #31
It's the video and charges that are utter horseshit, not those being misled. blm Mar 2016 #40
coming back to give this a kick Lucinda Mar 2016 #37
Who's at fault here? UglyGreed Mar 2016 #43
Communication - She was correct to say the presence of candidates and their gear was not welcome - blm Mar 2016 #44
I'm sorry but that is a UglyGreed Mar 2016 #45
No, it's NOT. Not from campaign POV, and, at that level, ALL she is to focus on is CAMPAIGN ISSUES. blm Mar 2016 #46
No I have not UglyGreed Mar 2016 #47
I am taking the time to explain. Reality is what it is. blm Mar 2016 #49
Volunteer spouting off Trenzalore Mar 2016 #50
Look at you, supporting Bernie as always. merrily Mar 2016 #52
I support the truth - you wish for Sanders' pick to do the heavy lifting in NC to be seen blm Mar 2016 #58
I'm always clear about what you say you support. I'm not as clear about what or who you do support. merrily Mar 2016 #61
LOL - Because I am that awful GOTV activist who sees the damage that irresponsible blm Mar 2016 #62
Wow, you are indeed very committed CoffeeCat Mar 2016 #76
Baloney - I chalked it up to INEXPERIENCE first. Only after Bernie's original grassroots organizer blm Mar 2016 #77
I have never contended that I know what the truth is... CoffeeCat Mar 2016 #78
I did not call him crazy and mentally imbalanced. I carefully worded what I had discovered blm Mar 2016 #79
I really don't care about this issue that much CoffeeCat Mar 2016 #80
He was attacking people I know and have worked with on the county level. blm Mar 2016 #81
Thank you for this post. wildeyed Mar 2016 #55
So who is twitter user @SPrescottHarris CyanCynic Mar 2016 #63
YOUR intent is NOT to tell the truth, it's to further this horsesh!t attack on Sanders' blm Mar 2016 #65

Persondem

(1,936 posts)
21. This is from the op
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 06:42 PM
Mar 2016

"Now the thanks for tightening that spread (and gaining MORE delegates than expected) is to be accused of being trolls for the party? That thread with over a 100 recs is based on an inflammatory video that is using people's body of work AGAINST them. It is NOT accurate - It is utter horseshit."

You might want to make that claim more directly.


blm

(112,920 posts)
23. No - I meant none of my fellow Sanders supporters in MY area of NC.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 06:45 PM
Mar 2016

None have been acting extremely. This video from the supporter in Chapel Hill is a side I haven't seen here, including from the Young Dems.

Sorry for the awkward wording.

comradebillyboy

(10,119 posts)
4. Bernie's supporters have to balme somebody else other than
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:29 PM
Mar 2016

Bernie for his poorly run campaign. Bernie can't get out the vote it must be Hillary's fault. Bernie dodges responsibility for his campaign's failings.

blm

(112,920 posts)
8. His people here actually did a really GREAT job, and we made it FAR tighter than expected.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:37 PM
Mar 2016

The bitching being done in that video is just based in that person's inexperience, imo.

During the 2012 convention in Charlotte we had to roll with every punch, because events around us were constantly changing. If that young man wants to stay involved politically, he has to toughen up during primary process and learn to digest information more fairly and with greater accuracy.

comradebillyboy

(10,119 posts)
13. I don't doubt that there were plenty of
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 04:25 PM
Mar 2016

competent and hard working folks on team Bernie in NC. I think the campaign's problems start at the top of the organization. Tad Devine whines all the time about how unfair everything is after himself being one of the architects of the super-delegate system. Every setback is a Clinton conspiracy if you listen to Wheeler. Bernie won't sit down and talk with the local press all the while complaining about a media blackout. Bernie actually has a pretty good political organization, I just think it's badly led.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
48. No way he can stay involved in this state after
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:53 PM
Mar 2016

the shit storm he just kicked up. If I see him coming toward me, I will RUN in the other direction after the job he just did on Aisha. Friends like that, who need enemies. No one will ever trust him again.

blm

(112,920 posts)
51. He's acting like that turncoat Ty Turner who turned….. to Ted Cruz.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:59 PM
Mar 2016

His ego demanded he get MORE attention, and now he is….from the RW crowd happy to coddle that ego for the sake of 'appearances'.

blm

(112,920 posts)
57. Yep - that was likely an opportunistic act. When Dem voters STILL rejected his candidacy he
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:17 PM
Mar 2016

switched on a dime and then became a Ted Cruz supporter. He was always motivated by money and attention, and now he gets the only thing he wanted - from the GOP. He goes around social media now, attacking 'liberals', and sounding no different than Rush Limbaugh.

blm

(112,920 posts)
60. No conversion, yet, as far as I know.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:27 PM
Mar 2016

Perhaps if they offer him larger amounts of money, that will be next. lol

unapatriciated

(5,390 posts)
16. We did get out the vote.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 04:38 PM
Mar 2016

Recently there were huge changes in local polling places and new voter ID laws. Many of us canvased just to inform our neighbors of these changes and where their new polling place was located. We also educated them on provisional ballots if they did not have the proper ID. I spoke with quite a few who were not registered and told them about early voting and same day registration.

I was glad to see a lot of Sander supporters but did not withhold information when I was told they did not support him.

So we were involved in getting out the vote even if that vote was for Clinton.

blm

(112,920 posts)
28. Same here. Election day I worked 3 GOTV driving shifts. Turned out 6 votes for Sanders, 5 HRC.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:13 PM
Mar 2016

I do think college towns were hit hard with the new rules put in place by our IMMORAL Gen Assembly and, if anything, THAT is where the college Dem groups should have better prepared.

No doubt in my mind, if the voting ID rules for college students were NOT in place this election, Bernie would have been closer to splitting the state.

unapatriciated

(5,390 posts)
38. yep between changing everyone's polling place
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:20 AM
Mar 2016

and the new voter ID laws we D's didn't get the turnout we should have. Just means we will have to work order in the GE

blm

(112,920 posts)
39. This younger activist is angry and pointing fingers in the wrong direction.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:36 PM
Mar 2016

I hope his misguided tirade doesn't divide the party any more than necessary.

CyanCynic

(2 posts)
64. So who is https://twitter.com/SPrescottHarris
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 05:23 AM
Mar 2016

And why does he seem to be working for the Bernie campaign until voting day when he starts tweeting a ton of pro-Clinton stuff?

Smells like a double agent to me.

blm

(112,920 posts)
66. Do you know the difference between North Carolina and South Carolina? Have you ever
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:30 AM
Mar 2016

worked a presidential campaign where field operatives who worked for one primary campaign in a state are tapped to work for the nominee (perceived) in that state or another?

Were you this upset when Obama absorbed Clinton operatives in 2008? When Kerry campaign absorbed Dean operatives?

Methinks someone is intent on indulging his ego and trying to make a name for himself, ala Ty Turner. Perhaps Ty Turner is behind Niko Harris and will be endorsing Cruz or Trump soon, eh?

Rumors CAN work both ways, can't they?

 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
5. My reply was simply along the lines of eating their own.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:30 PM
Mar 2016

Fact is that's much less significant that the collaborative work you mention. There is a vast world outside of DU where a lot of great progressive coalition building is being done. Including support from the DNC.

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)
7. Seems there are two sides to this
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:34 PM
Mar 2016

So you are completely against the UNC student's statements?

He and his group made everything up?

blm

(112,920 posts)
11. I think he's taking things out of context based on inexperience with
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:51 PM
Mar 2016

how numerous party headquarters interact and how ground games move forward.

Our party has also had some defectors in the last 3 years who switched to far right Republican based on the opportunism they recognized after Dem party here committed to same sex support.

This particular person in the video just seems like his discontent is based in inexperience with the process.

Also - trying to smear Aisha as a troll operative based on photos taken because she was head of Meck County when 2012 Dem convention was here? Come on.

She interviewed with Bernie in Vermont and came back hired. When HRC scheduled a big rally here in Charlotte on the 14th, the night before election, Aisha hurriedly scheduled a larger rally here for Sanders a few hours earlier. Aisha's event swamped the HRC campaign event. That is NOT the act of someone trying to make HRC look better. Aisha knew the territory and put up a fight.

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)
12. OK you have a good defense of Aisha
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:05 PM
Mar 2016

--if she has been wrongly accused I certainly would not be behind that. Maybe she needs to do some damage control about this. He did have other allegations.

You are unclear about what you mean by his "inexperience" --he doesn't seem like someone who just got confused.

Was the UNC group stifled or not? Maybe some others will speak up. If he has no corroboration, then that's a problem. I guess we'll have to wait to see if the student allegations have validity. Seems like there might be follow-ups on this. I hope so.

blm

(112,920 posts)
14. I mean his inexperience in politics and party organizations.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 04:26 PM
Mar 2016

Those with experience have been through primary battles before. It is not unusual in the least to continue to be friendly with longtime party activists and voters when they are supporting rival candidates. I reported here at DU on our recent precinct meetings and our county meeting where both sides were heavily represented, but, we all got along great - as we generally do here in this state - perhaps because of what has happened since GOP took complete control of Raleigh. We no longer have the luxury of elevating petty intraparty squabbles and perceived slights into anything more.

I can tell you more about personal observations in a PM if you'd like.

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)
20. Getting along great? Not how I view this--it looks like a Dem party split
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 06:31 PM
Mar 2016

between progressives/activists and party establishment.

Maybe everyone got along great in your location because everyone was in the Hillary camp?

I do have some people I can ask about this. I'm sure there is more to the story than just "the guy is inexperienced." Probably there's fault to go around, and perhaps the local Dems didn't know what to do with the Berners.

Thanks for any insights you have however.

I see this as a real problem going forward in NC. Can't fight the Rethuglicon takeover if significant numbers of people are being discouraged because their views are "too left" for the Democratic party.

blm

(112,920 posts)
22. No - because around me most were in Bernie's camp. Proudly, and openly so.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 06:42 PM
Mar 2016

Last edited Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:14 PM - Edit history (1)

We're very accustomed to mixed view meetings over the last decade. Like all these older church ladies who came around on gay marriage issue and then started fighting for it - it was interesting to behold. Aisha and her mom were actually on the forefront of that battle here, too. The religious left vote is becoming as powerful a block as the fundies here in Billy Graham Land. ; )

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)
29. So is Trump gonna take NC?
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:14 PM
Mar 2016

Is there a strong enough Democratic coalition to stop Trump in the state? (Regardless of whether Bernie or Hillary?)

I have feeling Trump is strong in NC.

blm

(112,920 posts)
32. I don't THINK so….
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:18 PM
Mar 2016

I think McCrory will lose. Strike that - I am positive McCrory will lose. He has about 1 in 5 Republican voters refusing to vote again for him and most are already promising to vote for Cooper - ALL of them will vote for Cooper if he promises to cancel the CINTRA contract for toll lanes.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
54. BOOM!
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:02 PM
Mar 2016

North Charlotte is going to take him down. Plus, they can't be happy with what is going on with the schools.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
53. This is VERY true.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:00 PM
Mar 2016

I don't even ask other activists who they support. I respect their activism and commitment and as a result, their choice in a primary. I expect the same back. And I know that we will also unify for the GE one way or another, since we are all basically on the same team, so I dislike causing any friction where it is not necessary.

blm

(112,920 posts)
67. Most campaign operatives don't base their loyalty on ideological purity - it's a paid gig for
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 03:25 PM
Mar 2016

their resume. Had the top campaign ops been available for Sanders, Devine would have signed them up instead of Aisha. She was one of the few available with the experience when they started looking to NC.

i find it odd that so many posters here at DU are so unfamiliar with campaign work that they would hear about something so mundane and believe it has to be sabotage.

Seriously - where was the equal outrage for Dean ops who were absorbed by Kerry campaign? Or the Clinton ops who were absorbed by Obama campaign? Are DU members here REALLY wanting everyone else to know that they do not understand how primary operations shift quickly state by state to a general campaign? Those who make their living doing it quietly year after year, local election to state, show up for the interview when the call goes out every 4 years.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
68. Did you watch The Wire?
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 04:24 PM
Mar 2016

The last season was great if you are a political junkie. It focused on the campaign and administration of an O'Malley-like character. He talented, ambitious and idealistic. He REALLY does want to do good. And then life happens and compromises are made..... But the part that is applicable here is his campaign manager who is very good and also probably not going to vote for his own candidate. But he never pulls his punches for his guy. He is a consummate PROFESSIONAL and does a great job.

The other thing that is obvious, almost no one here has ever actually worked on a stretched campaign trying to come from behind in the final days. It is always crazy. The paid workers are running on straight caffeine, sugar and god knows what else, but there was no sleep in the mix.... Things get so crazy. I did Kissel's campaign and the paid dumbass organizers were handing out his anti-immigration crap designed for the rural voters in the East Charlotte. I raised my hand and said, you know, this is not a good walk piece for this particular neighborhood. But they couldn't focus there eyes anymore, so nothing changed. Oh well..... I think he won by a sliver anyway, and Dems kept their razor thin majority in congress that year....

The thing about that video, there is NO PROOF. Just a youtube rant by some random guy. Why, why why are people so gullible? Even if you don't know politics, it is obvious there is not actual proof of malfeasance.


Off topic, but I am in the new 12th Congressional now. That race is going to be a free for all

sufrommich

(22,871 posts)
69. The accusers Facebook page is a study in gullibility.
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 04:49 PM
Mar 2016

He's got fake twitter quotes from both Cruz and Rubio telling people to vote for democrats and a false identification of Bernie Sanders sitting with MLK which has been debunked over and over again:

https://m.facebook.com/nikoforthepeople/


He also posted a tweet from Michelle Bachmann calling Clinton a fascist.

In the meantime he's carelessly sending equally naive people off to troll and abuse completely innocent campaign workers who he's decided are spies or something. Shame on the adults who are playing along with this crap.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
71. He is not helping his candidate
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 05:21 PM
Mar 2016

or his causes. I feel bad for Aisha and anyone else he is harassing.

blm

(112,920 posts)
72. I'm hearing more and the words most used are erratic and
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 07:49 PM
Mar 2016

unstable. Sanders original grassroots organizer had to keep him at arm's length.

Though I feel bad for the Sanders campaign folks getting tarred here, I'm going to let this go, since it is becoming apparent that it is a mental health issue. People will discover that he's spouting nonsense soon enough. Aisha will weather this.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
73. Pretty obvious that he is unstable.
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 07:59 PM
Mar 2016

And it seems unfair to both the campaign and to Aisha to get caught by this. I though Sanders campaign did a great job here, from the view of a supporter of the other candidate. I was scared. The event in Charlotte was a big deal. A bunch of undecideds in my circle were breaking for him at the last minute. I manage about a dozen millennials, and most actually voted (for Sanders). In a PRIMARY. That never happens. I have to beat them silly just to show up in the GE, usually. He out performed his polls too. Not sure what the beef is here or why people seem to feel it necessary to spread false rumors about the campaign manager.

Is it because they think it makes Clinton look bad? Because it doesn't. If this was true, it makes the Sanders campaign look incompetent for making bad hiring decisions.

Oh well. Good that you did the research on this. Thanks for sharing, I found it interesting. You could post something in the NC forum too, but not sure how that would go over.

blm

(112,920 posts)
70. Checked into it some more with Young Dems and grassroots organizers
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 05:17 PM
Mar 2016

who would have interacted with him - seems Mr House has been rejected on several levels. It didn't take too long before people would realize he's gifted, but, doesn't work well with others.

I am afraid with this act he's pulling he's not cut out for campaign work.



I'm in 12, too.

unapatriciated

(5,390 posts)
18. I agree with you but also have another observation.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 05:04 PM
Mar 2016

The campaign organizers who opened the Wilmington office were all under thirty and were not open to suggestions from the local community. We understood that they were on a tight timeline and all of them worked very hard, but going forward it would be beneficial if they involved the locals more in the planning stages.

This is not new I found the same to be true during the GE for Obama's campaign. It didn't keep me from volunteering than or now.

I only had one major disagreement with them and it was purely a safety issue. I did win that argument. We had an early shift (6am-8am) where we were just hanging doorknob information on new polling places. They wanted us to take sections on our own in order to cover more ground. Since we were all women (eight of us) I did not think that was a wise choice. At first I was told if I didn't feel safe I could go home. I declined and stated I felt it was better for us to go in pairs, since these were neighborhoods that none of us were familiar with. When your young you don't think about all the bad things that can happen before the sun comes up, being over sixty I know about bad things.

sufrommich

(22,871 posts)
9. I gave up trying to point that out. Good people
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:38 PM
Mar 2016

being tossed overboard and their reputations drug through the dirt out of frustration with losing NC. Unbelievable.

blm

(112,920 posts)
41. If anything, College Dem groups were screwed over by the new ID restrictions and
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:27 PM
Mar 2016

the leaders of those groups should have spent their time educating fellow students to fulfill the requirements - the race would have been closer to a tie had so many student votes not been turned away.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
74. It would be GREAT if some of those college Dem groups
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 08:06 PM
Mar 2016

would lobby the NCGA and make some big noise about the ID requirements and disenfranchisement. And also, if they would do more voter registration on campus. We always struggled with that because we needed actual college students to spearhead registration events, and they were too flaky (well not Johnson C Smith, but UNCC was, big time). Maybe this election will motivate a few to step up in the future.

SidDithers

(44,228 posts)
15. DU rec...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 04:32 PM
Mar 2016
Falsehood will fly, as it were, on the wings of the wind, and carry its tales to every corner of the earth; whilst truth lags behind; her steps, though sure, are slow and solemn, and she has neither vigour nor activity enough to pursue and overtake her enemy…
- Thomas Francklin

Sid

Lucinda

(31,170 posts)
24. I posted a link to her FB page which is heavily in support of Bernie
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 06:45 PM
Mar 2016

and her states party, which was roundly ignored. She and I support different candidates, but I admire her work in NC very much.

I stopped watching the video after that. The dude in question clearly has issues.

blm

(112,920 posts)
42. It's certainly not fair that people are trusting the conclusions of an inexperienced new kid over
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:37 PM
Mar 2016

the heavy lifting Aisha and others have been doing for at least 2 decades.

UglyGreed

(7,661 posts)
30. I just thought
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:16 PM
Mar 2016

you would like to see the video. I did not expect you to change your stance at all.

blm

(112,920 posts)
33. I know some of the people he's attacking.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:25 PM
Mar 2016

His anger stems more from not truly understanding the process or the day in and day out aspects of these campaigns. Locals/state can plan something for the state and then when national campaign, sez "Sorry now we have to shift the money we were going to spend there to Missouri where we think we can win….or Illinois…." Yeah - that happens….ALOT.

Everyone wants to spread blame onto those who pissed them off or disagreed with them. I know I did….and, still do on some things. This guy is just wrong and expressing himself in a very immature way, imo.



UglyGreed

(7,661 posts)
34. His passion has gotten the best of him
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:28 PM
Mar 2016

I hope he learns and does not become discouraged. Many people have lost faith in the system, wonder whose fault is that???

blm

(112,920 posts)
35. That's why I am chalking it up to inexperience.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:44 PM
Mar 2016

Primaries are a BRUTAL introduction to all politics - from national to local.

blm

(112,920 posts)
40. It's the video and charges that are utter horseshit, not those being misled.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:44 PM
Mar 2016

They wouldn't understand how wrongheaded these charges are as quickly as I did, only because I know the people being attacked and understand how political activism, especially around GOTV efforts work. This young activists expected to win just like all those young Dean supporters expected to win. The disappointment was excruciating here and in Iowa. A lot of charges get made when people are unfamiliar with how the system works.

This person took typical decisions and issues surrounding campaigns, campaign offices, and canceled campaign events and made it personal.

UglyGreed

(7,661 posts)
43. Who's at fault here?
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:52 PM
Mar 2016

What Happened Last Week

Last Friday evening (the night before this year’s march, on Valentines Day), Daily Kos user Cook For Good (whose public profile identifies her as Raleigh resident Linda Watson, a “Bernie volunteer” and past executive director of the Wake County Democratic Party) posted what can only be called a crazed screed of a diary here at Daily Kos (now removed, but still cached by Google if you have the stomach for it):

At the HKonJ Mass Moral March last year. I've been uninvited this year.

Yesterday I woke up to a shocking email from the State Coordinator for North Carolina for Bernie Sanders. It put the brakes on three weeks of work organizing to bring Bernie supporters together for HKonJ, the Mass Moral March, tomorrow. Aisha Dew wrote: “Please take down all HK on J events from social media. Rev. Barber does not want us to attend the event. He asked us to take the event down off of all social media.”

[….]

Boom. Don’t come.

When Reverend Barber asked us to not come to the march, we just shifted that energy to a Day of Action in Raleigh. Aisha came up with this graceful way to uninvite people to the march: “Knock for justice instead of march for justice.”

[emphasis added]
Hundreds of Kossacks flagged this filth. But not before the damage was done: Watson re-posted her damn lie to (of course) Reddit, tweeted it (since deleted) on her Twitter account, shared it on her Facebook account (ditto) and, astonishingly, even blogged about it on her professional web site (ditto again) — ruling out any reasonable possibility that this was a hack job. Within hours Watson’s story went viral across North Carolina, as Reddit-fired conspiracy theories so often do. In keeping with Watson’s assertion that campaign coordinator Dew scheduled an alternative event to conflict with the march, the event calendar on the Sanders campaign’s website still lists a “Raleigh Day of Action” as an “official event” for the same time, date, and city in which the march went on.

The assertion by state coordinator Dew, as reported by Watson, that “Rev. Barber does not want us to attend the event” was, as Rev Barber thundered from a podium the next day at the march, “a damn lie!” What is true is that NC-NAACP has a long-standing and well-known policy against providing political candidates with a forum for their campaign messaging. Only Bernie supporters’ campaign signage and tee shirts were unwelcome at the march; Bernie supporters themselves most certainly were welcome with open arms (contrary to Dew’s alleged email).

Amateur volunteer Watson, inflamed by her enthusiasms, may perhaps be forgiven for her inability to grasp the distinction between signage and bodies. But political pro Dew cannot be similarly forgiven for her amateurish and damaging misrepresentations.

Neither Dew nor Watson have responded to my invitations to relate their side of the story for this article.

Where do we go from here?

The damage is done. Attendance at this year’s Moral March on Raleigh, variously estimated at 5,000 to 8,000, was down significantly from years past. Hard feelings abound — likely among those Bernie supporters who still know only half the story; probably too among hard-working march organizers; and, I know for certain, among myself and my fellow Kossacks who have worked so hard, for so long, to forge a bond of fellowship between Daily Kos and NC-NAACP. In the words of our own LamontCranston in his comment in another diary:

The most difficult aspect of what happened yesterday [...] was that we attended the rally by traveling there in the van that the Mitchell/Yancy county N.A.A.C.P rented. It was awkward knowing what transpired, and sitting in that van for the four hour trip back as they also heard and knew what happened, and looked at us with a questionable gaze: What made it even worse for me personally was that I was sitting next to the President of the N.A.A.C.P. chapter who was on stage with Rev. Barber and heard his words from there, but who is also my neighbor and friend from my town where I live. [….] How do I face these folks in my local chapter now with all of them knowing that I am, and have been, and will be affiliated with DKOS, while also a dues paying member of my N.A.A.C.P. chapter?
Of course, Lamont will survive. I will survive (though I still flush with embarrassment when I see my dear NC-NAACP friends). Most certainly Rev. Barber and the NC-NAACP will survive; nothing can stop them.

But will Sanders’ campaign survive early March’s southeastern primaries? Those who do not possess a deep understanding of the Southern black community, the latter-day voting rights movement, and the black church in the South (i.e., possibly the majority of Sanders supporters) may not be able to fully appreciate the damage Sanders’ campaign here suffered, in an instant, with the uttering of the fully justified words “it’s a damn lie” from one of the most respected American civil rights activists and moral leaders alive today (and also perhaps the single most politically influential black man in the South).

The question of where we go from here remains largely unanswered for now, as that ball is squarely in the Sanders campaign’s court — but Sanders’ national press office did not respond by press time to my request for the campaign’s comment, and particularly for an answer to this important question:


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/2/17/1485450/-Repairing-the-breach-Sanders-North-Carolina-campaign-the-NC-NAACP-and-Daily-Kos

blm

(112,920 posts)
44. Communication - She was correct to say the presence of candidates and their gear was not welcome -
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:32 PM
Mar 2016

she should have ADDED that those who chose to attend anyway would be welcome, but, just not as candidate representatives.

Anyone can spin this any way they want, but, she was right to say from the CAMPAIGN'S perspective that the campaign itself, and its representatives working to forward the campaign's message would not be allowed or welcome.

That part is true, and that is the part that she dealt with appropriately.

This pouring of gasoline on the slightest matchstick is an immature reaction to hurt feelings.

This is utter horseshit and those insistent on fanning even the slightest flame are know-nothing reactionaries, imo. They WANT the controversy instead of the perfectly reasonable mundaneness that is the truth.

blm

(112,920 posts)
46. No, it's NOT. Not from campaign POV, and, at that level, ALL she is to focus on is CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:40 PM
Mar 2016

If you haven't experienced it, there is little time and little money to spend on matters that are NOT related to actual GOTV.

Why aren't you more concerned that college Dem groups like his did not do the ONE JOB they NEEDED to do before the election? Make sure those intending to vote had the proper ID requirements that NCGA had newly imposed on student voters?

5% of STUDENT voters were turned away - Why? Because someone was more focused on making a name for themselves as an EVENT maestro?

Sorry, but, this is someone delusion ally believing that, if only HIS event had full support it would have made a difference in the vote totals.

Why indulge this level of ego and join in the ripping apart of those who were doing their job for the Sanders campaign?

I. M. M. A. T. U. R. E. Of this kid to act out like this and misinform thousands of people along the way. DU should know better by now.

Out of curiosity:

Have you never worked on a campaign?

UglyGreed

(7,661 posts)
47. No I have not
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:52 PM
Mar 2016

but that does not mean I can not question what has happened. BTW if I did I would not act superior to those who would want to get involved. I would teach them not scold them..........

blm

(112,920 posts)
49. I am taking the time to explain. Reality is what it is.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:56 PM
Mar 2016

It can come off as useful information to those interested, or come off as a scold to those who resent being presented with the information that differs from what they have previously been led to believe.

Trenzalore

(2,331 posts)
50. Volunteer spouting off
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 03:57 PM
Mar 2016

In 2008 during the primary there was an artist who built this giant Barack Obama puppet that took 3 people to operate. Everyone loved the puppet and it went everywhere. After the primary the DNC and Obama campaign sent in the professionals to the area and they didn't like the puppet. There was a lot of talk by the paid staffers on how the thing would look like in the newspaper/TV. They banned the puppet.

Had Obama lost in our area, I'm 100% convinced the local volunteers would have cited the banning of the puppet as one of the many grievances.

Volunteers always have a different idea from the paid staff of how the campaign should have been run. Sometimes they are right sometimes they are wrong.

blm

(112,920 posts)
58. I support the truth - you wish for Sanders' pick to do the heavy lifting in NC to be seen
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:21 PM
Mar 2016

as a saboteur based in the words of newbie volunteer with a fragile ego, and I supported Sanders' pick to do the heavy lifting in NC and Sanders was right - he came closer than anyone thought.

Why do YOU wish for this young man's charges to be accurate? Why do YOU wish for Aisha Dew to be seen as someone who sabotaged Sanders campaign in NC?

Why do you not want Sanders and his team supported by the truth tellers?

merrily

(45,251 posts)
61. I'm always clear about what you say you support. I'm not as clear about what or who you do support.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:30 PM
Mar 2016

I know this: whatever I have seen you support, from "truth" as you see it to super delegates, it always favors Hillary, yet your a member of the Bernie Sanders Group. No wonder I'm not clear!

blm

(112,920 posts)
62. LOL - Because I am that awful GOTV activist who sees the damage that irresponsible
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:39 PM
Mar 2016

charges against other Dems can do to GOTV efforts for general election. I live in a PURPLE STATE and GOTV matters in this state.

If you bothered to understand that, you would be better able to understand why I support Sanders, and will NOT jump on the bandwagon for every thread that attacks Clinton when the information being spread is incorrect. Guess you don't notice that I leave most threads alone?

Also - if you had spent anytime here between 2003-2011, you'd be well aware of the fact that I was Clinton's toughest critic - and I did it WITHOUT using RW propaganda, RW sources, and RW websites. It was a no-brainer for me to support Sanders over Clinton as soon as he entered the race.

That you cannot process all of this, no matter how many times I post it, is on YOU, merrily, not me.

CoffeeCat

(24,411 posts)
76. Wow, you are indeed very committed
Tue Mar 22, 2016, 10:35 AM
Mar 2016

to your point of view on this.

We all see that.

I'm just starting to read more about this and listen to the videos.

I'm keeping an open mind.

I find it telling that many are trying to position him as unstable or mentally ill. That always raises red flags for me when someone who purports to be speaking the truth is vociferously painted as a crazy person.

Seems like some are trying just a little too hard to disseminate their own version of events, when really--the information is coming out.

I think it's important to remain open minded and for people to do their own due diligence.

blm

(112,920 posts)
77. Baloney - I chalked it up to INEXPERIENCE first. Only after Bernie's original grassroots organizer
Tue Mar 22, 2016, 12:28 PM
Mar 2016

here AND leaders of Young Dems conveyed their reasons for distancing themselves from him and his involvement, did I even bring it up.

You apparently think it right for people to be open ONLY to his skewed views and NOT the views from Sanders national campaign.

You, also apparently, have closed your mind to the views of a longtime member at DU who actually has worked GOTV in the state of NC since 2004. And I do it NOT as a member of the DNC.


I am wary of people so anxious for a lie to be true that they would attack those speaking out for those being maligned.

CoffeeCat

(24,411 posts)
78. I have never contended that I know what the truth is...
Tue Mar 22, 2016, 12:37 PM
Mar 2016

I am saying that I continue to be open minded. This is a situation that has just begun to be discussed.

I wasn't there and I don't know what happened.

Neither do you.

But you do yourself no favors when you call this guy crazy and mentally imbalanced. That to me, smacks of controlled and deliberate smears.

I think you just need to calm down a bit and understand that people will make up their own minds about this.

I for one, have worked in PR and media relations for many years. I understand that people hop from campaign to campaign. It's not unusual for Democrats to work on Republican campaign and vice versa. The initial contention, that some of these people were first Hillary supporters, piqued my curiosity. But that in itself doesn't mean that they were sabotaging the campaign from within.

I'm still reading and looking at the info. It's not exactly priority one for me. I'll check it all out and evaluate in good time.

Thanks for your input.

blm

(112,920 posts)
79. I did not call him crazy and mentally imbalanced. I carefully worded what I had discovered
Tue Mar 22, 2016, 12:45 PM
Mar 2016

by talking to people who would know what his story is as it relates to the campaign.

Then I said I had no more interest in furthering the issue because I had learned of his condition and that those he attacked, like Aisha, would weather his public attacks.

Too bad you dug in a bit yourself, eh?

CoffeeCat

(24,411 posts)
80. I really don't care about this issue that much
Tue Mar 22, 2016, 12:49 PM
Mar 2016

I saw the attacks on his mental health and that was a red flag for me.

It jumped out.

Here is what you said, "I'm hearing more and the words most used are erratic and unstable. Sanders original grassroots organizer had to keep him at arm's length.

Though I feel bad for the Sanders campaign folks getting tarred here, I'm going to let this go, since it is becoming apparent that it is a mental health issue. People will discover that he's spouting nonsense soon enough. Aisha will weather this."

Again, I think everyone should be free to engage in their own due diligence.



blm

(112,920 posts)
81. He was attacking people I know and have worked with on the county level.
Tue Mar 22, 2016, 12:59 PM
Mar 2016

He was attacking someone who led the effort to increase Sanders voter turnout here against some heavy odds.

I wanted to know more and DID learn more. As a sister of a schizophrenic, as many longtime DUers may remember, I do NOT take mental health issues lightly.

Sorry your benevolence couldn't find a way to include a fellow DUer closer to the situation in NC.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
55. Thank you for this post.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 04:08 PM
Mar 2016

That video is not fair to Aisha Dew. I know her too. And as you point out, she was the county chair, so of course she met DWS. And if you look at her FB (not sure how much is protected, but I am one of her 5000 "friends" so I can see them all), she also has literally 1000 selfies posted with her and various political acquaintances and likes every single politician and organization under the sun. That video is full of horrible accusations and not a single fact. The kid should take it down. If I was her, I would be consulting my lawyer about now to see what could be done.

CyanCynic

(2 posts)
63. So who is twitter user @SPrescottHarris
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 05:19 AM
Mar 2016

Because from his post history he was all pro-Sanders until election day when he starts tweeting all kinds of pro-Clinton stuff.

Sorry, your story isn't holding water.

blm

(112,920 posts)
65. YOUR intent is NOT to tell the truth, it's to further this horsesh!t attack on Sanders'
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 10:25 AM
Mar 2016

campaign head in NC who is being accused of sabotaging his campaign in NC even though she closed the gap between by more than 10 points.

It is a very IMMATURE attack based in the INEXPERIENCE of its source and his narrow-minded expectations of campaign work and its rewards.

And, apparently, you don't know the difference between South Carolina and North Carolina. Harris did NOT work in NC. BTW - it is not unusual for field operatives to move state to state for whichever side hires them. That is Tad Devine's and HIS team's call. If you know better then take it up with them and avoid the horsesh!t rumor mill crafted by immature egoists to smear hardworking Democrats.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Sanders campaign was NOT ...