The Biden folks really seem to be getting nervous when they have to resort to stuff like this. Bernie has consistently applauded politicians from both ends of the spectrum who advocate for the working class. This does not mean he supported Wallace's racism. Nice try though. This will only galvanize Bernie's base even further; just like Warren's failed attempt to label Bernie a sexist. I can't wait to tell you guys to "Vote Blue No Matter Who!"

But people from all sides are bringing up years old comments and this is fair game.

happened?

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...and Welcome!

...

That's what I think.

And Wallace wasn't a champion for THEM. He was a champion for all white people, not the working class.

I'm not going to diss Sanders for this, but we need to make it loud and clear. If someone is for "the white working class," they're probably racist, especially when one of their strategies is to tell the white workers that they should ally with rich whites against their own class.

I think we're right to remain on the high road here and avoid divisive arguments over identity politics.

back to DU.

First, Sanders states that Wallace's remedies are outrageous. Second, he might be talking about Wallace's populist economic message and not his segregationist positions.

Secondly this is one one of many many pieces that are very contradictory to when sanders is now saying

They love accusing liberals of being racists. It doesn't matter if they embrace racism.

I think it’s a good example of how someone can say things in a long career and they’re fair game, and I am aware that he and in particular his followers have done a great deal of this against others.

Looks to me like your sharing of Jason Haddix's opinion of William Poole's opinion of cherry-picked comments from an interview which was also reported by others.

[link:https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPkO_8iWsAAXLmY?format=jpg&name=small|

economic populism and not his segregationist positions.

But that highlights a problem that persists to this day, as many of us see it (and certainly I), of how easily Sen Sanders appears to set aside issues he frames as "identity politics" in favor of focusing on issues of economic resentments of (especially) the white working class.

Downplaying critical human rights/civil rights struggles (struggles that are not yet fully won) to the point where George Wallace could be praised on his economic populism makes this liberal Democrat very uncomfortable.

And that tendency did not end 50 years ago. It's the same one that's operative today, in my estimation.

If you read the article, Sanders comments about Wallace were:

"He advocates some outrageous approaches to our problems,
but at least he is sensitive to what people feel they need."
.........................................................................................

Don't know if that equates Sanders with advocating racism?

Wallace was unequivocally about racism. Bernie may have been trying to appeal to the working class by saying he was sensitive to their pain, but it was not smart to do then and in the current arena is worth bringing up. It’s an age old problem when trying to get elected. He can address it or not.

Wallace was a racist. He was sensitive ONLY to what his racist supporters wanted. He was certainly not at all sensitive to what African Americans felt they needed, you know, like the right to vote, go to school, and live without fear of lynching.

And this was very much what Wallace was giving his supporters. Holding down black citizens, he promised, would be good for white people.

We can't separate Wallace's supposed "advocacy for the working class" from the very racist reality he was not all that subtly advocating.

EVERYTHING Wallace did or advocated was about the suppression of African Americans.
I would think that Sanders, even that long ago, would have understood that enough to decide he really didn't want to praise Wallace for anything at all.

What utter bullshit. The author of the article decides to call: "He advocates some very outrageous approaches to our problems, but at least he is sensitive to what people feel they need", "praise". It isn't. It is a statement that notes that a populist politician, pretty much by definition, is "sensitive to what people feel they need". Sanders also notes that Wallace is advocating "very outrageous approaches". It aint praise.

But do carry on. By the way Trump got elected by doing exactly what Wallace was doing: running as a rightwing populist, appealing to widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo, identifying fake causes of that dissatisfaction: "mexicans", and idiotic solutions: "build the wall".

If we don't even try to understand why they are winning elections, if we just blame it on 'Russians', we are going to get beaten over and over again.

I “read the damn article.” I carefully did not use the term “praise.” And you make a point I avoided but that is exactly right. 45 got elected with that same populist, enemy-creating, otherizing message. I think Sanders’ followers who rage at “others” who might want to follow a different path, no matter what that path is, do him no favors.

But he did this, in 1972, when Wallace had been doing harm for many years. I am not claiming it was an evil comment. But it was so odd in someone who also claims to have supported Dr. King it makes me curious as to what he was trying to accomplish.

And we're not even on the big stuff, like communism. The GOP will certainly put him next to Lenin and Stalin should he get the nomination, which he won't, but just sayin'.

will work when Bernie is wearing the shoe.

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asked for forgiveness.

At the time BS offered his praise, he was still the George Wallace MLK called "the most dangerous racist in America".

after being paralyzed by an assassin's bullet (1979 is after 1972) and MLK had called Wallace the most dangerous racist in America in 1965 (which is also before both 1972 and 1979.)

I just keep wondering why racist like Rogan and the guy who did the a MLK Parody...what do they see in Sanders.

You Biden supporters are really digging hard, aren’t you!

Got news for you.

Sanders? He is going to WIN. And be the next President.

Time to work the polls and get ready for the ride of a lifetime.

I’m with BERNIE.

Here's someone who might agree with you, though.

It’s a legit criticism and every serious and many not-so-serious candidates have been vetted. And should be. But there’s a difference between questioning the candidate and immediately leaping to disparage anyone who asks a question (were I being a jerk about it I’d understand the irritation). Bernie and Yang seem to have followers that are every bit as ready to fight mean as 45’s are when their candidate is challenged. It makes me quite uneasy.

won't win according to polling. Sure he has my vote in a general but when you are underwater even in Virginia...

don't you?

Demagogues like wallace and trump are aware of people's fears, anxieties, and prejudices, and then exploit them for their own gain.

Good leaders, like Bernie, are also aware of what people are feeling. However rather then exploit people's fear and anxieties good leaders will try to address them in a reasonable and compassionate way.

My impression of Sanders isn’t quite the same but I think you are onto something. People want to feel seen. Some people are good at that. What they do with it varies a whole lot.

'Biden went on to distance himself from Wallace. On Twitter, Biden spokesman Bill Russo shared a 1976 news story quoting Biden saying he would not support Wallace’s presidential bid and would back the Republican candidate if Wallace somehow won the Democratic nomination. '

Yep, great leadership there, Joe.

WTF does that mean?! Biden supporters, please explain.

With contrition? As an explanation? Jokingly? Chastising? Sounds like you assume he was cheering. Delaware was in fact a slave state.

Biden goes on in that article to say if by some hook or crook Wallace won the nomination,he would vote for the Republican...so waiting for the BS half truth...'Biden say he will vote for the Republican and not the Democratic nominee...course don't say it was Wallace...more impact and all ...

How far back is too long to bring up? If Thomas Jefferson was alive and running for President, would you go back to what he supported 220 years ago?

the attacks being sprayed in all directions are warranted. People change, evolve, say things with nuance that can be taken in many ways.

Perhaps I’m tired of seeing his people endlessly portray Joe as something I don’t buy, and of him implying things about Biden and Warren he knows aren’t accurate.

These published articles show us who sanders is... pay attention

I said some crazy Republican stuff when I was 14.

He is referring to George McGOVERN, not George Wallace.

I can’t believe you folks don’t look at the actual photo- it says McGovern!

So glad this is happening

Joe Biden in 1973 accepted an award from George Wallace.

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