to diminish this? its a good opportunity for him. I say congrats!

I'm just putting it into proper perspective.

It's not a major conference and he's not a listed speaker.

of media exposure he got. it's not major.

It's not really about the current Pope's personal agenda.

It's a small academic conference, to be attended by less than 30.

wishing she could do the same..

Bad timing too.

It isn't a big deal. It merely shows that Sanders can pull some strings when he needs to -- just like any other career politician.

and Hillary got snubbed. Same reason everyone else in Camp Clinton is trying to diminish it.

So who cares? lol

poor poor Hillary. Maybe she should check her cloud to see if her invite is stored there.

Well, you care if you are actually looking to Sanders as a pillar of integrity.

You don't care if you already recognize that Sanders is as bad as all the rest.

I was making a joke at all the freaking out of Clinton supporters. It would seem that some may have trouble with that.

Why are you a liar?

Good luck.

I posted proof that you knowingly posted false information. You lose. Buh-bye.

Than a room full of the greedy, I'd think.

Bet you a hundred bucks Bernie will release his transcript

From the OP: "The agenda does not show him having any of the speaker spots."

Pathetic.

Because you got nothing else. And Hillary was not invited....the real rub.

I'm a regular Thomas Jefferson compared to Bernie.

Note to self: Careful, Camp Pinocchio might accuse me of slave ownership.

I agree with many of his writings, and you sir, are no Thomas Jefferson. You sir are not even George or Weezy Jefferson!

...outside of the obvious pandering the academy president called him out for?

...that explains the Sanders phenomenon.

I think he's going to set a fact-check record for lies this week.

Oh, and I love how the Sanders campaign and supporters take such comfort in the word of the same Vatican which has lied and covered-up so many allegations and proof of molestation of children by priests.

Now, he looks like a dope.

...the academy president was spot-on with her criticism.

“I think in a sense he may be going for the Catholic vote but this is not the Catholic vote and he should remember that and act accordingly -- not that he will.”

Hillary didn't get invited to a Vatican conference on economic justice. I wonder why? But since she didn't, her supporters feel compelled to minimize it (having first been caught out in the false claim that he invited himself, which was gloatingly blabbed all over DU all day until the Bishop who invited him set things straight).

that you were aware of the "Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences" before today.

It's not like he was invited to keynote a Nobel Prize gathering.

This thing ain't prestigious.

when it was first falsely reported that he'd invited himself? It might not be a famous organization but it does further the cause of economic justice, which is central to Sanders' campaign. It makes sense for him to go. If it's so un-prestigious and it doesn't help his campaign for him to go, why do you care?

Small lies lead to large lies.

I'd still like to hear from Ms. Archer, as the other guy here is specifically calling her out as a liar. Perhaps this is just Vatican power moves being exposed, who knows.

The facts still remain;
a) obscure conference
b) Sanders is not listed as a main attendee, but in the "other" section
c) The Poe will not be attending

A nothingburger indeed, but one that should not be left unchallenged.

Clinton and her supporters should all experts on lies and now pettiness.

How do you feel about Hillary lying that she was under sniper fire?

Or about when she lied to unions about fighting the Colombia Free Trade Agreement but then the emails released show she secretly lobbied for it?

Those aren't bigger than whether someone will or won't meet the Pope when they speak at the Vatican? Do tell.

But then to her supporters, St. Hillary not only walks on water, she actually floats about 2 inches above it so that her feet don't even get damp.

who denied Margaret Archer's claim that Bernie had invited himself.

Meanwhile, Bernie will be at a conference about the idolatry of money...

That is to say, a gala evening of accepting legal bribes...

have money.

people are attending? You say some of the dumbest things,and luckily for everyone who recognizes this, I am kind enough to not stop you from doing so.

"Exaggeration for comedic effect".

Try it out sometime, you might make new friends.

debate parties, fundraisers, actions regarding local and state issues. Liberals attend these things, so you may have missed out on them. Tomorrow, we progressives of the county, will be holding a meeting discussing many of those I mentioned and the new positions we'll be taking in the local democratic party. Communications, voter outreach, candidate development and recruitment. And you say there isn't a revolution going on? We have a big tent but maybe the conservadems weren't invited, or possibly you "were brought to heel"!

Just sayin'...

S-o S-a-n-d-e-r-s i-s r-e-l-e-g-a-t-e-d t-o t-h-e n-o-s-e-b-l-e-e-d s-ea-t-s, A-N-D n-o P-o-p-e.

Did ya catch it that time?

I wonder if the food they serve is going to be any good. On the one hand, it's Italy, but on the other, conference catering isn't always the greatest culinary experience.

Thanks Bernie!

Got no real issues to discuss?

How about we talk about the fundraiser that Hillary will be at the same day Bernie is discussing the immorality of our economic system?

So he decided to go to the Vatican as his next choice

n/t

You need to step back and think about who Bernie really is.

Poo-poo all you want; Sanders was invited, Clinton wasn't.

And Sanders begged for the invitation to prove he knows people in foreign lands.

He's looking desperate and silly.

what - according to them - is a small unimportant conference with a handful of not famous people talking about things that have nothing to do with the important political campaign going on in the Dem Party in the US at which Sanders isn't even going to SPEAK - and he is just going to be sitting there - and he had to beg for it - and he is just a gate crasher?

So much attention over such a meaningless thing. Makes me wonder why . . .

This is hillaryous, they care SO little about it they just have to keep posting threads to let us know.

the FBI may be taking some photo's of Hillary being arrested soon. She's always behind Bernie on policy and other items of importance.

it happens whenever there is major shit to be lost.

It's kind of working, too...but I expect Bill's cringeworthy performance to get plenty of airplay between now and the NY primary.

that the Pope is stealing Bernie's thunder.

After all, it's an obscure little conference that no one knew about, until Bernie lent his fame to their marketing campaign.

Of course, Bernie is 'selfishly" taking what will probably be two of his most important days, in the middle of a very important presidential campaign in NYC, to try and discuss "stupid old" economics and environmental justice issues that now just might reach a couple of billions Catholics.

I can see why Republican Tea-Party types would hate this ... if the shoe fits Nay-sayers...

... at the blind eye that the Sanders crowd is willing to turn to the obvious facts.

Hilly's do with George Clooney will be much more her speed.

Besides, I don't think the Vatican would pay her speaking fee.

who are applauding this. They'd be screaming about the Church's positions on women, abortion, and LGBT.

But Bernies-the-guy can do anything.

But what I do enjoy is the knots and the lies from Hillary's side about it. I love the reactionary chasing of the story like a dog after a wheel. It's great. Caught in lies and pivot to the next angle.

It's so very entertaining.

while also advocating for your own idea that all Churches should lose their tax exempt status.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002292587

chasing their own tails over this.

That sting you're feelin'... that's pride. Fuckin' with ya.

That's four of seven. What happened to gluttony, sloth and lust, the fun ones?

You should put something on that...

Your only tactic. You get the last word because I ain't playin'.

with more class than team Hillary has handled Bernie's invite from the Vatican. SMH.

is because her dad is like totally best friends with the drama teacher and she totally sucked up to him, and anyhow it's a stoopid show and I've never even heard of it and nobody's going to go anyhow. And anyhow I'm going to Jason's party which is way cooler than some dumb show. All the fun kids will be at Jason's party, not that dumb show."

She just has to ask her Fairy Godmother!

Hell, she could be the keynote speaker.

So she would really have nothing to say to the group.

in attendance, including Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, of Columbia U. Earth Institute.

I'm sure Bernie will be a discussant;

so much rancor and hatred toward Bernie. Guess it's because he's ruined the planned coronation.

Know what? Bernie's going to the Vatican. Know what else? You can't do shit about it except blubber.

If Hillary had announced an invite like this, DUers would be ripping her to shreds because of the Vatican's positions on women, LGBT, abortion, and other social issues.

And the silliness of pretending to give a major address when you're not on the speaker list at all.

But Bernie-the-guy can do it and his fan club here goes into fainting spells.

Do I like the church's attitude toward women and Gays? Oh hell no - it's why the only time I go to Mass is when someone dies or gets married.

I do like that Francis has made it clear that abortion, birth control and Gay rights are not something he's going to spend his time preaching against and that, while not loosening the rules, he has a more conciliatory attitude than past Popes. Pity he wasn't younger when he was made pope. If he had more time we might seem him change some of these things.

I do really like that he spends his time preaching against is greed and selfishness.

My God, you can't just be gracious, take it for what it is and move on?

The degree of efforts to refute and demean a simple visit to an event indicates that it probably hit a nerve.

However he managed to finagle the invite, the Vatican at all levels has made it clear that it doesn't constitute any kind of endorsement or alignment with Bernie's campaign.

And most DUers here are anything but "gracious" to the Catholic Church, unless it's when Bernie is involved.

This is causing you too much stress.

I mean really, this little two day trip it's becoming an obsession. I'd hate to see people pop blood vessels.

I don't know why there is this Hill-arious effort to try and spin this ...

And was rebuffed
Let me make it clear
The one lobbying for an invite was her and they said no thanks

Looks like some interesting discussions.

They have been hyperventilating and throwing tantrums all day. This is really sticking in their craw. Had Hillary been invited, they would be crowing as if she had been canonized.

So sad. So transparent. Camp Hillary is out of steam. They have nothing but smears, slurs, nastiness, and arrogance.

If Hillary manages to worm her way into the White House, she will be the most disliked president ever on inauguration day.

It's just a conference, not a campaign event or fundraiser.

Very interesting topics.

As an event producer I've done many of this kind of program. The way symposia like this works is there is lots of discussion after the paper presentation. Since it's not lectures and no audience it's a wonderful opportunity for real in-depth conversation. And since much of it is centered on Catholics place in the world, I'm sure he will learn a lot and listen a lot.

I think Senator Sanders will love being there and able to participate in that kind of global exchange.

The Ecuardoran AND Bolivian presidents! A small, intimate two day discussion about such fascinating stuff with some major players from all over the world!

Bernie is going to love this - you know he's such a policy wonk, and a former professor himself.

There is going to be some major bonding going on, and since these issues have been so core to his entire being for so long, I think it is going to be a wonderful experience!

Hopefully he will get a chance to meet the Pope, but one can only dream of such an honor. In the meantime, lots of publicity should be generated for this amazing and historic event!

I am so happy for him!!!

Bernie Sanders plans to warn against “the idolatry of money” in a speech at the Vatican next week which the Democratic candidate hopes will align his insurgent presidential campaign with the moral preaching of Pope Francis.

“What the pope has been clear about is linking the issue of morality with the global economy and making the point that you can’t have a moral economy when so many people are living in poverty,” Sanders told the Guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/08/bernie-sanders-vatican-visit-pope-francis?CMP=twt_gu

He invitation was arranged at the last moment ... at Sanders's behest.

That absolute fact is no beyond dispute.

exposure to Catholics and the larger faith based community helps! I bet if Hillary would talk to her pastor she could probably score a spot at the ice-cream social or similar?

The Bern your feeling will dissipate over time we promise