Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders scores his first congressional endorsement
Slowly, relentlessly, Hillary Rodham Clinton has piled up one congressional endorsement after another. In all, more than 100 members of the House and Senate have announced their support for the former New York senator and Democratic presidential front-runner -- enough, laid end to end, to circle the Capitol dome many times over.
By contrast, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has drawn massive crowds from Phoenix to Seattle to Boston but has won the public support of precisely zero of his colleagues on Capitol Hill.
That, however, is about to change, as Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva prepares to declare his support for Sanders' presidential bid. The announcement is expected Friday night when the two appear together at a Tucson rally, part of a Sanders swing through the West ahead of next week's first Democratic debate, in Las Vegas.
Grijalva, a liberal Democrat serving his seventh term representing a southern Arizona district including Tucson, is co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which Sanders -- a self-described Democratic socialist -- helped cofound as a House member in 1991.
Grijalva is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and is expected to help Sanders' outreach to Latino voters.
more
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-10072015-htmlstory.html?update=84630991
Scuba
(53,475 posts)retrowire
(10,345 posts)and yet, the media still feels the need to stop and remind us that Bernie is a self described democratic socialist.
be sure to remind us all that Hillary is a corporatist before mentioning her name won't you MSM?
mndemsocialist
(48 posts)I don't mind that the media always notes that Sanders is a " democratic) socialist". As a democratic socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), I am absolutely delighted that we are hearing that phrase as never before. But I see your point about "corporatist" candidates in the Democratic Party.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)I think I'm learning that I'm probably a socialist.
But you see the contrast here? They just HAVE to attach that label to him. It's a label that conjures confusion and fear in some unenlightened people, and that's bad enough.
Yallow
(1,926 posts)Which is what we currently have.
Big business in bed with government having terror babies.
The poor and powerless are the ones being terrorized.
ozone_man
(4,825 posts)Like that will happen, when you own the banks and media.
FlatBaroque
(3,160 posts)azmom
(5,208 posts)Arizona for Bernie Sanders!!!
Great News!!!
TM99
(8,352 posts)for almost 9 years when I lived in Tucson. He is a great man and true progressive.
I am pleased as punch to see him step up. Thank you Grijalva!
Hiraeth
(4,805 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)enormous pressure that has been being put on Democratic politicians at all levels to endorse Hillary. For someone as prominent as Grijalva to endorse Bernie makes Grijalva a profile in political courage. Contrast this with what Gutierrez tried to do to Bernie (before he tried to walk it back).
We need to reinforce this bravery via social media. Please start liking Grijalva and tweeting good things about his endorsement. Smith said he thought it would help his colleagues see that they could be safe if they endorse Bernie.
From the facebook page of Smith (who chairs Sanders' NH campaign, which, as you know, is doing well):
# Yes, there has been enormous pressure to endorse a different candidate, but arm-twisting hasn't worked on me since middle school and did not influence my decision. Hopefully other legislators will see the enormous level of solidarity you have all given and be convinced that it's safe to do what's right instead of what's easy. #
http://www.democraticunderground.com/128054423
Grijalva's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Rep.Grijalva?fref=nf
Tim Smith's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Rep-Timothy-Smith-235121411547/timeline/
Thanks for this encouraging OP, n2doc!
frylock
(34,825 posts)Hillary's little meeting with Congressional Dems wasn't just to stop by with donuts and catch up on things.
merrily
(45,251 posts)urging Hillary to run, way in advance of her announcement. Next, you'll be trying to tell me that was not a spontaneous act of Hillary love!
But, kudos to NH state Rep. Smith for putting it out there.
Hell Hath No Fury
(16,327 posts)I hope he is the first of many.
demwing
(16,916 posts)But now there's a crack in the dam, the water will flow.
panader0
(25,816 posts)Raul Grijalva is the best politician in Az. (not much competition).
frylock
(34,825 posts)big ups to Rep. Grijalva, who is indeed a true progressive.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Most of Clinton's endorsements came before anyone else was even in the race.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Dustlawyer
(10,497 posts)With Bernie's growing support, some politicians will take the plunge and rely on us instead of big corporate Donors. We cannot let them down!
jwirr
(39,215 posts)in 2016.
DrBulldog
(841 posts)Bernie's first Congressional endorsement, but what an endorsement! Latino and member of the Hispanic caucus!
The Latinos are already starting to abandon Hillary, and Grijalva may well cause a flash flood of them coming Bernie's way.
onenote
(42,759 posts)It's a good first step for Sanders, but I wouldn't overstate it's significance at this point in time.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)Babel_17
(5,400 posts)I "liked" those facebook pages mentioned upthread
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)...since currently former governor Jesse Ventura (I-MN) is Sanders' biggest MN endorsement.
Perogie
(687 posts)or maybe even before that. Of course she is going to have a ton of endorsements. Bernie threw his hat in the ring about 5 months ago. In that short time he has gone from a couple percentage points to a real contender.
If nothing else he's done more to change the dynamics of the primary by pushing Hillary farther left.
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)shitless that Bernie will win the nomination...
Thanks very much to Rep. Raul Grijalva who seems much more intelligent than most of his Democrat colleagues...
djean111
(14,255 posts)and do not want to work with him. More bullshit.
Arm-twisting does sound about right.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)reminds me of 2014 when the Dems ran as far as they could from Obama and got screwed for it. One would think sticking hand in fire once would remind them but alas the skin is falling off
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)LWolf
(46,179 posts)ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)so much more than one member's endorsement. It means THEY are willing to go "off the ranch" and buck their own Party!! UUUHHH, my own Party too!
I'm THRILLED and elated!
punguin54
(47 posts)Indepatriot
(1,253 posts)McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)PatrickforO
(14,587 posts)Finally a member of Congress who has the guts to follow his convictions.
Bohunk68
(1,364 posts)last night and at one point during the discussion, it came out that a majority of the persons there (10 out of 15) were Bernie supporters. Now, bear in mind, this is in one of the reddest areas of Upstate NY. It was a meeting of people who are exploring new ways of interpreting the gospel. The Christian Left on fb is an example of the type of people. Although, there are usually a few of the right among the group. I was pleasantly surprised. Both of the pastors present liked Bernie and are sending him money on a monthly basis, as I am. Let us keep up the good work. GOOOOOO BERNIEEEEEEEEEE
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)wouldn't Rep. Grijalva make a great VP candidate for Bernie..? Except for the fact that Arizona and the House really need him.