Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forum"I saw right then and there the difference between real life and the official version of life"
Bernie, best candidate in this race on Civil Rights!
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
peacebird
(14,195 posts)PatrickforO
(14,578 posts)Bernie is the next FDR.
senz
(11,945 posts)And it was instinctual. No one had to tell him about it.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)things that were wrong and he tried to fix them. It was natural to him to see wrong doing and to be hurt by it.
He isn't in it for the money, he's in it to do as much good as he can as he passes through this life.
That I think is what people feel about him. The sincerity even people who are not in agreement with him on everything, Repubs eg, they know he is an honest politician.
senz
(11,945 posts)Bernie's gonna go down in history!
No matter how it turns out, he'll have a special, admired, place in U.S. history.
I hope he knows that.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)proclaim his 'Christianity' or any Religion. There is a disturbing trend in this country that all Presidential Candidates MUST belong to a Christian 'sect' of some kind.
Bernie refused to bite when asked about his 'faith' stating religion has no place in our politics.
THAT was historical for an American Presidential Candidate to do.
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)senz
(11,945 posts)especially since the notion of the First Estate went out the window with the French Revolution and was never a factor in the founding of our intentionally secular government.
But important as that is, his very public identification and calling out of the oligarchy, so that millions of Americans can begin to see who is controlling our country and pulling their strings, that is even more important. imo.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)who are controlling this country right now. No one else has the GUTS to do it, and/or they are compromised because they are ALL taking their bribes, and yes, it is bribery.
He tells the truth like no other candidate. THAT is why they are so worried about him.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)With Publicly Funded Elections, Bernie is attacking the root cause of most of our problems, the ability for the corporations and Plutocrats to continue to control our politicians through bribes! Say what you want about Hillary, she has no interest in fixing our corrupt system, she dominates it!
MisterP
(23,730 posts)he wasn't just rejecting the four decades of fundie meddling but the whole pandering trend of using Christianity as a mere label, as just a way to get "Values Voters" without having to think at all what "being Christian" means
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)'religious loyalty'? I can't think of ONE!
tblue37
(65,408 posts)character actually *was* religiius. He admonished the idiots that a candidate's religion is none of their business.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)did it without worrying about political consequences Seems there were none. So who has been pretending that a candidate for the WH MUST declare their religious creds? Why does Hillary and why did Obama feel the need to announce what GOOD CHRISTIANS they were/are?
Autumn
(45,107 posts)His history is there and that can;t be denied.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)because they KNEW his Civil Rights Record was so good. It was so obvious.
What they didn't anticipate was that their focus on misrepresenting Bernie's history on Civil Rights, or dismissing it as they tried to do, would cause people, like ME eg, to start asking 'What was Hillary doing back then'?
And people did start asking. And comparing. And it was their own smear campaign that introduced Bernie to AAs who had no idea who he was.
And many of them and I saw and heard from AAs on this, began to ask 'Hey, why are they attacking this guy? He was fighting for my rights before I was born' and many people switched from Hillary to Bernie THANKS TO THEM!
He would have had to spend a lot of time and money to get the kind of attention from minorities they got for him.
Kind of like when Brock was caught trying to plant the 'commie' smear in the media, and THAT backfired so spectacularly, earning over $3 million dollars for Bernie.
This month, Bernie's support among AAs doubled and it will keep on increasing as it did among everyone else, as soon as people get to know him for themselves.
He's going to in Atlanta this Monday with Killer Mike introducing him.
Nina Turner has been working hard for his campaign.
Honest people recognize the truth when they see it.
They had hoped no one would bother to look for themselves. Shows how they underestimated AAs.
Autumn
(45,107 posts)that bad, bad socialism. Yeah the old "that doesn't count it was so long ago" was bullshit.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Americans today, McCarthy and his vile, anti-Left campaign of fear and loathing, is history.
Using that, especially Dems who should be working to make sure future generations KNOW what a stain on our history those anti-Socialist lefties were.
I view ANYONE who tries to use that against Bernie as similar to what McCarthy did. Many of HIS victims were Jews also.
Shameful period of history that no Dem should be invoking to attack anyone on the Left with.
Autumn
(45,107 posts)There are democrats who are anti-Semitic. I view ANYONE who uses that against Bernie to be scum.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)I like it. Someone should write it.
But yes, anyone who tries to paint Bernie and/or his supporters as racists, white supremicists, uses the old McCarthy smear in my book ARE scum.
I don't associate with such people. I prefer to spend my time among people who share the values that the Dem Party used to promote and will again hopefully.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)"just more whitesplaining/NotAllMen/AllLivesMatter"
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)I personally do not worry one bit about those whose apparent goals are to divide people. Just leave them in the dust and keep moving forward. No one needs to defend against lies, nor should they and to me it is DESPICABLE to use an issue as serious as Racism as political tool. Whenever I see that, I know that those attempting to do so do NOT CARE one iota about the issue itself and are not worthy of any attention whatsoever.
Meantime the rest of us keep working hard to UNITE people which is so necessary when great Social Change is clearly needed.
And that is what is happening in the Real World.
On internet forums there are a few who seem to do nothing other than waste their time hoping to divide people. They will fail when everyone who actually cares about serious issues, trashes their threads and ignores them.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)of C-SPAN videos of him popped up and a wholescale outreach program was started--and, furthermore, videos of CLINTON started circulating
I don't think they could COMPREHEND that the move COULD backfire: they had all the experts on their side, they knew what buttons to push to get the right reaction from the rabble--say he was a Commie and wizz wirpp boing he'd calve off 5 percentage points among the diehards that still worked on
say he hated minorities, and wizz wirpp boing another 5 percentage points would drop
say he read bad biastophilic 70s mimeographed porn, and wizz wirpp boing another 5 percentage points
it's not like with Obama, where his record was spotty (telling Black dads to "stop being stereotypical," protecting Exelon, and acting as Rahm's "icebreaker" during primaries)--so everyone could just project whatever they wanted onto him
wizz wirpp boing
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)problem with ALL voters from the beginning was Name Recognition.
He now has some great AAs working for his campaign, making sure that the problem of name recognition diminishes as they help to introduce him to as many people as possible.
Lies die when they are exposed to the light of day.
We have tools now we did not have in the past to SWAT those lies as fast as they churn them out!
MisterP
(23,730 posts)a "Black media" that Clinton has had more experience with (which of course exists because they had never been ALLOWED to have a media)
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)on expanding his campaign throughout the country in order to accomplish that recognition he needs in order to win.
Only a small % or the entire population had ever heard of him when he first announced his candidacy.
Look what he has accomplished wrt to that in just a few months, as compared to Hillary's DECADES of name recognition.
I never really was worried about minorities or the rest of the country once he took his campaign around the country.
Eg, his support in the AA community doubled in one month after he began introducing himself to them.
This month it is likely to increase even more.
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)where the indoctrination begins
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)things for themselves. Like Bernie.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)knew this was one of his strengths and were trying to keep the AA community from learning about it.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)mountain grammy
(26,624 posts)without ever even realizing there is a difference.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)country which was not exactly welcomed here when fleeing Nazi Germany.
I tend not to place people in boxes other than 'good/bad' or 'right/wrong'
Bernie's own personal family history, and mine btw, make him capable of understanding these issues in a huge way many others may not.
kath
(10,565 posts)but he's just a sexist, racist pig these days.
(According to many of the Hillarians)
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)about this issue contribute much other than talking points to the discussion.
But this year ALONE nearly 800 Americans, mostly minorities, and the poor, have been killed by our 'civilian police'.
What has either party done to stop this outrageous threat to Americans?
Why should we think that one party who has had the chance many times over the decades, is the answer, when cleearly it is NOT?
I wonder how many of the 'concerned' have been following what has been happening on the streets across the country since Michael Brown's murder by police?
I see nothing on THIS site about it. Not much interest here to be honest. Which is why people like me who have followed this egregious denial of rights by our AUTHORITIES who are supposed to PROTECT US, for many years, go elsewhere for real discussion of this issue.
Using race as a political tool is REPREHENSIBLE to those of us who have tried to end the brutality of our own so-called Civilian police for decades.
It will end when ALL Americans, minus the sick bigots of course, join forces to get it done.
Those who try to DIVIDE people are suspect in this regard to me.
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)reprehensible and obscene. it cannot be undone, hillaryites.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)clearly at Liberty University. And we are going to see it re this issue also, in SPITE of the dividers.
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)polly7
(20,582 posts)Bernie Sanders is an empath, imo. He feels the hurt of others - that is something built in. That he's worked to fight injustice against all groups all his life just proves it. Very rare to find someone like him who can't be swayed by money, influence or power - he is who he is.
senz
(11,945 posts)(what does WYSIWYG mean? )
"What You See is What You Get" -- an old term, but perfect for Bernie, yes?
polly7
(20,582 posts)D'Oh. Should have figured that out.
Yes, I think it's perfect for him - some people aren't capable of pretending to be other than what they are.
maggies farm
(79 posts)it's pronounced "wuzie wig." 1980s, I think.
polly7
(20,582 posts)senz
(11,945 posts)because they are the past. So ... you'd have to be ahead of them, right? I mean, time moves forward, doesn't it? It would have to. So therefore, you are ahead.
But Bernie really is "what you see is what you get." I bet that's one reason why Jane married him. He's real.
polly7
(20,582 posts)Yes, he's real, he's brilliant and completely believes in the possibilities for the real change that so many have tried to make seem impossible, imho. I'm happy for her ... they seem great together.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)In our culture STRENGTH is portrayed as people who shout a lot, carry weapons, but look how they react to a perceived threat! Lol, they are SCARED bunny rabbits.
When Bernie decided to step up to run in this race, NO ONE knew better than he what they were capable of in trying to stop him.
But there really was no one else who could do this, and I don't think he wanted to, he was just really the ONLY one whose record could hold up to the inevitable dirty smear campaigns.
That took a lot of courage. He was happy being a Senator who could mingle with the people who elected him, enjoy his grandchildren and family in a place where he could walk down the street without worrying.
He is willing to give that up, because he knows how badly the country needs to be protected from the neo/lib gang who use it like a bank to further their own goals.
He is a very strong and brave man.
polly7
(20,582 posts)Agree with every word of it and will think about it every time I see another smear about his age, why didn't he do this years ago ... etc., etc. My heart honestly goes out to him for exactly what you've just said. He knows, and is sacrificing so much to at least try his hardest to turn things around ...... all because he loves the people he's trying to save from what anyone can see is only going to get worse, and for those who are struggling so hard already.
Obviously, I don't vote there .. but what a good man you have running. He reminds me of people I've cared about most in my life (my Dad, being one) with hearts so big they'd do whatever they could - for others - sometimes at the greatest expense to themselves.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)who actually CARE about them.
ejbr
(5,856 posts)was once the editor of the Chicago Defender; maybe even during this time. Some things go in full circle. Now I'm voting for Bernie!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)And me too, re Bernie!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)go full circle!
senz
(11,945 posts)Six degrees of separation or whatever. Takes the chill off the edges of the universe.
Babel_17
(5,400 posts)billhicks76
(5,082 posts)Clinton supports so many REAL LIFE policies that kill, mame, destroy, hurt, impoverish, imprison and starve families. But none of that seems to matter because they like the optics, presentation, appearance, lineage, competition, drive, ego, pride and skills that she possesses. I find this not only heartbreaking but down right scary.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)enthusiastic about her. It's more a matter of familiarity for them. Bernie is unknown, so far.
But I'm working on them!
Last time she ran my FIL was for Hillary. I am proud to say I changed HIS mind and he ended up supporting Obama!
Enthusiasm is a huge factor in winning elections. Especially when it's genuine.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)you know there is a huge disconnect between the reality of what goes on in this country and the hype of this country.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)as the 'News Media' tells us is pure propaganda.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)light on the info though. I stopped watching the news years ago, because it's so frustrating to watch celebrity gossip being touted as news. It's even more frustrating to watch as issue after issue gets ignored. Issues like police brutality, the homeless, people living in homes without heat, and on and on and on.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Pharma. Every other ad is a 'take this pill' or that pill with warnings running along the bottom of the screen as soft music plays and happy couples make love to distract you from learning that THIS COULD KILL YOU.
Then we have the Law Firm ads telling you that 'if you or a loved one ever took this (fill in the blank) pill or medical procedure, and if you suffered the following symptoms including DEATH, please call 1-800-etc., as you may be entitled to a settlement.
It's hilarious. First they sell you the pills, then a couple of years later obligingly provide you with Lawyers.
They KNOW these medications are harmful, yet are allowed to push them on people many of whom never needed them in the first place.
Corporations rule this country! That has to change.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)I told her I did not want a prescription for anti-depressants because with the way my brain processes things I can't be sure how my brain and body would react. She said that it is a good idea to wait and see what we uncover before prescribing anything, because some anti-depressants actually make depression worse.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)side affects, then are given more meds to deal with the side effects. Happened to several people I know and when they got off the meds, if they were lucky, the symptoms went away.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)It's been 45 years give or take a few years. But, I have reasons to not want to be medicated out of my symptoms. I have no idea what those reasons are, but I am pretty sure that somewhere in my brain there is something that says lay low and don't make too many waves.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Also, it's time schools started teaching real life.
senz
(11,945 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)nightscanner59
(802 posts)tyrannical apple cart. I'm trying my best to inform even the uneducated souls to kill the teevee before it kills them.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)they sign on to help change the course this country has been on for far too long.
grasswire
(50,130 posts)This man is my brother. A truly good man.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)if those cops hassling Bernie participated lo these many years ago in the Grant Park operation, too.
Thanks for posting this Sabrina.
I say, "ON TO IOWA!" Go, Bernie.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Decades long abuses and NOTHING has been done to stop it
It's worse now that the cops are armed with military weapons, which we have seen used in OWS AND the Ferguson protests which are still ongoing.
Neither party has done a thing to change the way this country is policed.
Old Codger
(4,205 posts)For the entire country, even for , no make that especially for the repugs, big business the banks and all in between. A complete healthy economy and a healthy employed populous is ideal for all concerned whether they believe it or not.
leftcoastmountains
(2,968 posts)F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)But I cannot stand the response saying "Bernie was BLM 50 years before BLM happened."
No.
Just, no.
BLM is a courageous response to colorblind racial assault. It is a beautiful movement by PoC against the system of white supremacy that has dominated for hundreds of years. It is struggle, it is pain, it is life, it is death.
BLM has changed me and built me. But I am white. I wouldn't in a million years say I was BLM, even though I fully support and agree with it, and have marched and could be arrested for it.
This ain't a white person fight. Don't you dare claim it is. This is a response to systemic oppression. BLM is a cry of pain, pain that white people cannot begin to imagine. It's a cry of dignity, of furious anger, of respect. BLM is about black lives. Not Sanders. Not fucking white people.
Don't you dare take credit for that. We learn, we don't create. We fight, but we don't live.
We cannot understand.
I like Sanders. I'm voting for him. He's the best by far on any issue that comes up, despite being a SWM. I disagree with him on most things, but I'm glad he's around. He stands a chance to revitalize a movement that's gained no traction in a world controlled by the privileged.
But it's not our fight. It's not his fight. Don't you dare pretend it's ours. We enslaved, attacked, murdered, raped, and more for hundreds of years, and we still do, no matter how liberal we pretend we are. And yes, I mean we. Because by the virtue of our white skin, we perpetuate white supremacy. We can fight it, and we should, but we still do. We can't not.
It is not him. It is not us. It is them. Their fight for their rights that we support. We don't define it.
Stop pretending we do.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)victims of inequality.
No group of oppressed people throughout history has succeeded in ending the oppression by being ISOLATED from society.
But of course that is the goal of those who want to ensure that the decades, no centuries long bigotry continues. To DIVIDE them from those who would join them in the fight.
As someone who is descended from a centuries long oppressed people who the oppressors succeeded in cutting off from any support from outside their group I KNOW those tactics.
As a PEOPLE, Black, White, Gay, Straight, the people UNITED cannot be defeated.
But that is the goal, isn't it? To DIVIDE the people.
Don't fall for it!
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)Believe me, I know.
But I've already abandoned the dem party. Sanders is literally the only person keeping me around.
But when people think he's a savior, when people think he somehow knows better than black people what's good for black people--that pisses me off.
Division is constant. And I will stand in solidarity with the oppressed, always. But we cannot pretend that somehow we know what is best for them. That's their decision, period. And we should shut up and listen.
Saying that Sanders was BLM before it existed ain't listening.
And not listening divides us more than anything else will.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)or not.
Bernie more than anyone has made it clear that even if he were to get to the WH he would not be able to do much about anything, the powers who run things in this country are so entrenched.
Which is why he insists that we need a Political Revolution to even BEGIN to turn things around and begin the long process of undoing the great harm that has been done to this country.
AAs are speaking for themselves now. You seem to have been influenced by those on DU, mostly white people, who CLAIMED to speak for them. They don't. I think at this point that has been made clear by AAs like Nina Turner eg, who are speaking for themselves.
And they are seeing Sanders, part of a small minority himself, as the ONLY candidate they can trust to address the issue of racism, see our Foreign Policies eg, the MOST RACIST policies one could imagine, and the more minorities who get to know him, the more who are getting on board with his campaign.
Sanders knows the worst of human nature wrt to bigotry.
As more and more AAs join Sanders campaign, the more hope there is that maybe, finally, after decades of BOTH PARTIES failing to address this issue, Sanders, who actually LISTENS and LEARNS from the people, might begin the process of addressing something he himself is all too familiar with.
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)And black ones, too.
DU is not that important to me.
When I have talked to over 50+ liberals in Seattle (every one supporting Sanders) and only two supporting of BLM, it tells me something.
I like Sanders. I think he understands.
But his movement? I doubt it.
And that's coming from somebody who's been annoyed by the constant "Sanders supporters are racists" coming from this site.
His movement is not one for all. I wish it was. But it isn't centered on inequality, it's centered on income and economics. And there's a big, big difference.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)who support the establishment candidates, support him precisely because they WANT Social Justice for EVERYONE, not just for the wealthy.
But people who worry more about party loyalty than real life are the ones I have found to be actually ANGRY when you ask them 'What has this administration done to STOP the murders of AAs by cops'??
They are ANGRY, you will be called a 'hater' etc etc. But not Bernie supporters, this is my reason for not supporting Hillary eg, she does not relate in any way to people who are not part of the wealthy class.
Bernie speaks for me on THIS issue more than any other candidate and so do the people are now working with him to try to bring about the changes necessary to end policies and introduce new one so that our Civilian police, who now are armed like military invaders, stop these killings, and that there is accountability when they do happen.
Why, eg, hasn't the DOJ become involved in these murders??? Ask a Hillary supporter that question, which I have, and see what response you get?
When death after death by cop, of unarmed, sometimes children occurs and the same pattern continues, send it to the GJ, get a 'no indictment' from them, nothing happens. Rather than an investigation, not internal, external, then a prosecution and a trial and if guilty a conviction.
Has there been ANY sign that the pattern for gettng these cops off is going to change under the current administration?
As for who isn't interested in change, so what?
Major social justice changes have NEVER had the support of everyone, most times not even a majority throughout history.
I really don't care about those who don't want to see changes. Too bad, good leadership will take care of what needs to be done and they will have to accept it. Which is always the case.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)bought and paid for candidates. The same 1% that has gotten us where we are today.
There is a choice. Why support conservatives that owe their allegiance to the billionaires, who don't give a crap about social justice, instead of supporting progressives that have for decades supported social justice?
Maybe the answer is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/127710250
artislife
(9,497 posts)It isn't always easy in the Latino community (my) and lots of shit has gone down, but the African American community face relentless oppression, racism and are killed in high numbers by racist people. I believe it is a genocide.
This shit has to stop and BLM is important and it is theirs. You are correct, we don't live it and they are not waiting to be saved. They want us to get it and stand behind them, do our part to fight racism when we see and hear it, but they are the lead.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)This is not the first, or second, or fifth, or 12th time I've heard this. It's at least that much, anyways.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)I really have heard it all too often. It ain't like I'm a shill for Clinton.
If this movement is going to succeed, it needs to be incredibly aware of itself. So far, I'm not seeing that. And that worries me. To the point I'm almost about done with it.
me b zola
(19,053 posts)CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)...have truly seen the underbelly of life and society. Just like Bernie saw it here.
When you care enough to try to obtain justice--and no one cares--and the framework that props up our society (police, adults who should know better, etc.) do absolutely nothing, it is jarring.
You live your life as someone who knows that underbelly is there, and that's how the world really works.
It can be consuming and depressing.
I'm glad that Sanders saw it, rose up and spent his life trying to make life better.
It takes an incredibly strong person to do that.
polly7
(20,582 posts)raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)FairWinds
(1,717 posts)Bernie's Political Science class sucked so badly.
Had he walked into one of my Pol Sci classes (I'm retired now),
I'd like to think the ugly experience he had would have been
discussed and analyzed by the group.
It could and should have been a moment of epiphany for all.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)That comment deserves a double thumbs-up!!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)in_cog_ni_to
(41,600 posts)Office of any kind. He MUST BE our President. This country needs him - desperately.
What a story! Sad to say, it doesn't surprise me one bit.
PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)in_cog_ni_to
(41,600 posts)The more people see and hear him, the more support he gets. He's got this!
PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE