2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders under fire after Obama’s warning shot on guns
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bernie-sanders-under-fire-after-obamas-warning-shot-gunsTOLEDO, Iowa Sen. Bernie Sanders is under fire from Democratic rival Hilary Clinton amid a new campaign by the White House to pressure Democrats into backing his gun control proposals.
On Thursday night, President Obama published an op-ed in The New York Times in which he warned he would not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support common-sense gun reform. Among other measures, the president called on Democrats to support ending a law that grants gun manufacturers immunity from certain lawsuits. Sanders voted for legislation that included the immunity provision in 2005 and indicated earlier this year that he still supports shielding gun companies and dealers from legal action.
Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told Politico that Sanders was willing to take another look at that legislation. In an October debate, the candidate said he did not agree with the entire 2005 bill and was mostly concerned with protecting small gun shop owners rather than large companies.
Sanders told MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell on Friday that he did not believe Obamas op-ed was aimed at pushing him to the left on gun control and emphasized their agreement.
You know, there are a lot of candidates and money in the House and the Senate who may be opposed to sensible gun control legislation, Sanders said. I happen not to be one of them. I strongly support the executive order that the president is working on right now.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Friday that breaking down opposition to gun immunity among Democrats like Sanders was exactly Obamas intention.
I certainly noticed that Senator Sanders told one of your [colleagues] here when asked this very question, he was eager to point out that Senator Sanders had made clear that he was willing to revisit that position, Earnest said. Thats exactly the goal here, right? We want people to change their minds.
Earnest added that he was not familiar with Sanders record and that the op-ed was not any sort of secret or subtle signal to demonstrate a preference in the presidential primary when it came to candidates. Nonetheless, he said that any Democratic nominee would need to prove their commitment to common-sense measures on guns in order to earn Obamas support.
Clinton has attacked Sanders over gun control in the past and her campaign scheduled a conference call with the media on Friday to highlight the issue in response to the news.
I voted against it, Clinton said in an October Democratic debate against Sanders. I was in the Senate the same time. It wasnt that complicated to me. It was pretty straightforward to me that he was going to give immunity to the only industry in America everybody else has to be accountable, but not the gun manufacturers, and we need to be able to stand up and say enough of that, were not going to let it continue.
madokie
(51,076 posts)but considering the source I'd say it was par for the course.
Bernie will be our next President, you do know that don't you?
MrWendel
(1,881 posts)take nighttime aids to help them sleep, like looking in the mirror and repeat that phrase. I guess it's the new teddy bear, or night light.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) came out in support of President Barack Obamas plan to bypass Congress and tighten rules on gun ownership through executive action.
I would prefer that we could have bipartisan support, but the truth is Republicans are not interested in doing anything about gun safety, Sanders, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.
Sanders, who represents a state once dubbed gun rights paradise and who has a mixed voting record on gun control, said that the American people have reached the point where they want action on gun laws.
The vast majority of the American people are horrified by the mass shootings we have seen. They want action, said Sanders. What the president is trying to do now is to expand the instant background check by closing the gun show loophole. I think hes doing what the American people would like him to do.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-obama-gun-control_568935b2e4b0b958f65be793
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Doesn't sound like a guy "under fire." Sounds like someone who is on board with the President.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Earnest added that he was not familiar with Sanders record and that the op-ed was not any sort of secret or subtle signal to demonstrate a preference in the presidential primary when it came to candidates. Nonetheless, he said that any Democratic nominee would need to prove their commitment to common-sense measures on guns in order to earn Obamas support.
That was just silly.
stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)frazzled
(18,402 posts)regarding some of his past votes against gun control. In a nutshell, he said that the reason was that he'd run for Congress and expressed support for some gun control, and he lost that election. So--what?--he changed his position to win (and retain) elections?
It's certainly not something a candidate would admit out loud. And it makes you wonder what he's saying now just to "win."
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)... on subjects when and then say he changed his stance on something to win elections and VT is rural whatever that means.
He doesn't pass the purity test he subjects Hillary to...
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)tin god with clay feet.