Sanders Questions Clinton's Motives, Leadership in Iowa Race's Last Days

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

January 29, 2016 — 12:34 PM EST

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders released a new line of charges and criticisms on the campaign trail designed to underscore his differences with Hillary Clinton.

Campaigning in Fairfield and Burlington, Iowa, on Thursday night, Sanders listed several policies from the 1990s and 2000s he didn't support—NAFTA, the Defense of Marriage Act, the deregulation of Wall Street, and the war in Iraq—that he said Clinton, or former President Bill Clinton, did. He then moved to criticize what he has called Clinton's late arrival to popular liberal opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Keystone XL pipeline.

“It is great to be against the war after you vote for the war. It is great to be for gay rights after you insult the entire gay community by supporting DOMA. It is great to finally, kicking and screaming, come out against the TPP, but where were you on all of the other trade agreements? It is great to come out against the Keystone pipeline after supporting the Keystone pipeline,” Sanders said to an audience of 800 in Burlington. “So what all of this is about, what it’s about, is that what leadership means is not simply following the majority.”

With just three days until Iowa Democrats go to caucus, polling shows Sanders and Clinton locked in a statistical dead heat and both campaigns have felt the need to clearly define themselves and their opponent. For Sanders, that need to draw distinctions has tested his promise to run a positive, issue-oriented campaign.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-01-29/sanders-questions-clinton-s-motives-leadership-in-iowa-race-s-last-days

[99th_Monkey]

1. The only thing that is relevant is what Hillary says THIS week, not all that old history

[retrowire]

2. I knew it. Bernie is going HAM.

“It is great to be against the war after you vote for the war. It is great to be for gay rights after you insult the entire gay community by supporting DOMA. It is great to finally, kicking and screaming, come out against the TPP, but where were you on all of the other trade agreements? It is great to come out against the Keystone pipeline after supporting the Keystone pipeline,” Sanders said to an audience of 800 in Burlington. “So what all of this is about, what it’s about, is that what leadership means is not simply following the majority.”

Wow. It's no holds barred now.

[NowSam]

3. Perfectly Said

and exactly why Bernie has won so many hearts. He is able with laser like focus and precision to articulate exactly what is wrong and what needs fixing. Only he and Warren are able and willing it seems to say so. Gore played it safe in 2000 and often frustrated many by his unwillingness to "Go there". Kerry was too Hillary-esque in his nuanced scripted campaign and Obama, against tremendous headwinds has built the bridge that made it possible for the coming shift. Bernie will lay the cornerstone now upon which the future is built.

[snagglepuss]

24. "Bernie will lay the cornerstone now upon which the future is built."

BAM



Weclome to DU NowSam

[NowSam]

25. Thank you.

I love this site. first stop for the news everyday.

[SheenaR]

4. This will of course come off as an attack

to the other side. But really, is there anything factually incorrect there? A person's record is what they campaign on. And it's necessary to point out inaccuracies like this to the uninformed or undecided voter. (The same way they point out the gun immunity vote)

[Gregorian]

5. I'm thrilled Sanders is in the race, but discouraged that only 1/4th the country is progressive

How on earth can this race be close. I'm about to start saying things about Clinton which will get me banned. I'm so sick of people who can't see good principals.

Rant off.

[DownriverDem]

7. Makes Sense

I have waited my whole adult life to vote for a qualified women for president. If Bernie gets the nomination, I'll vote for him. If Bernie voters can't say the same thing then 1) They are repubs and 2) Folks are politically naïve. The next president will get to pick 2-3 Supreme Court judges. How horrible will that be if they are all RWNJs?

[Bernin]

10. I disagree.

A lot of us would love to see a woman president. Unfortunately, Hillary is not the woman for the job. Besides not being any kind of leader on any issue.
There is the legacy factor.
I doubt she would even be able to finish her term. The Republicans will have impeachment proceedings the day after inauguration. And they actually will have something real to impeach her for.
Keeping classified doc's on your personal computer is illegal.

I don't think the legacy Hillary will leave for the first woman president is one any one will be proud of.
I hope the group that is pushing this must have a woman, any woman, president really thinks about the legacy of the first woman president and realize this one is not it.

[murielm99]

21. Many people said Obama would be impeached, too.

It didn't happen.

I am proud to support Hillary, who has proven already that she is not just any woman.

[JonLeibowitz]

27. The republicans were voted out of office in the fall elections. not going to happen this time.

[Gregorian]

13. I totally understand wanting to vote for a woman. Many woman have

spoken about why they're voting for Bernie this time. I'm voting on principles (Hey, I spelled it right for a change). The thought of a Repub choosing the next SC justices is truly frightening, and actually why I replied in this thread. I'm losing friends over this election. I have an entertainer friend who isn't registered to vote because he's so "something". This time around I have lost all respect for him.

It's a fantastic election cycle which I've enjoyed for the most part. But it's hard to sit still when you can see possible hope for plans that have been in the making for nearly 100 years. Progressive movements took some massive hits in the last fifty years.

To sum it up, we actually need quantum change.

[Jarqui]

26. Elizabeth Warren would have given me pause because of what she stands for

I'm with Susan Sarandon on this issue "I don't vote with my vagina”

[thesquanderer]

9. If everyone who actually favored progressive positions...

...actually VOTED for a progressive candidate, we'd have a progressive president. (As I'm sure you're aware, most of Bernie's positions, when separated from any party or person, actually poll very well.)

p.s. -- saying good things about Hillary won't get you banned. Heck, this isn't the bernie group, you can even say you like her better!

[Gregorian]

12. Now that's an interesting insight. "Bernie's positions...poll very well." Among all Americans.

I'm going to assume we can back that up. I seem to recall that's pretty common knowledge.

I would bet that people like the progressive ideas because they're human ideas. And this is precisely why Bernie is so deeply attractive to progressives.

So the question I have is: Can we capitalize on this notion of everyone polling in favor of the kind of plans Bernie proposes?

That's sort of what a campaign does. I've always thought the power of this forum would be to create these answers.

[DownriverDem]

6. Simple

Hillary wants to win just like Bernie.

[frylock]

8. The question is why?

[Bernin]

11. Power, money

and ego stroking.

[frylock]

14. We have a winner!

[EndElectoral]

15. He nails it.

[SunSeeker]

16. So much for just running on his ideas and swearing off going negative.

Another Sanders flip flop.

[concreteblue]

17. "Another"???? ROFLMAO.....

When all you got's a hammer......
cheesus, will it never end?

[SunSeeker]

18. He just flip flopped on the PLCAA. nt

[concreteblue]

19. Considering his principled stand on the original bill...

And his well known thought process behind his vote, it is quite a stretch to call that a "floip flop". Now, Hilary's position on the TPP? What is it this week?

[SunSeeker]

20. He went from voting for the PLCAA to calling for it's repeal.

Did his principles change?

[concreteblue]

22. If you actually cared....

about the bill and it's effects, you would read up on it. Since you are just trying to score cheap political points, your purposeful ignorance is duly noted. Try the Google. Amazing tool.
Cryptic?

[wordpix]

23. Go, Bernie!!!! Love you and what you're saying

Keep it coming