Is Bernie Sanders a Lefty on Everything Except for Israel?

[Little Tich]

Source: The Jewish Daily Forward

The scene at the town hall in the village of Cabot, Vermont last summer was chaotic : First came a question about Israel’s ongoing bombings in Gaza; then an interruption from audience members angry at Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Another interruption followed. And then, onstage, Senator Bernie Sanders, sleeves rolled to his elbows, shouted at a constituent to shut up.

Tens of thousands have viewed a video of the August 2014 confrontation on YouTube. Sanders has been excoriated on some left-wing blogs for the outburst, which many see as a sign of his enduring support for Israel.

But Sanders’ annoyed shut-down of the critic of Israel, and pieces of his lecture on the dangers of Hamas that followed, may mask a deeper trend in the self-described socialist’s thinking: An examination of Sanders’s record suggests that the 2014 Gaza conflict may have been a turning point, after which he has been more critical of the Israeli government.

The Brooklyn-born Jewish senator is enjoying a surge of support in his insurgent campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. In these very early days, 33 weeks before the first Democratic caucuses in Iowa, Sanders has emerged as a clear second choice to frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton in some polls, claiming 32% of New Hampshire Democrats in one June 14 survey.

Read more: http://forward.com/news/national/310087/is-bernie-sanders-a-lefty-except-for-israel/

[King_David]

1. Bernie Sanders is a true Progressive and not a PEP

He's supporting the most Progressive territory in the Middle East and not the most Homophobic or Misogynistic ones.

Palestine along with Uganda, Iran,Russia and IS are among the most homophobic countries on the planet ( especially Gaza)

Real progressives don't give a "pass " to such discrimination.

PEP or Progressive except for Palestine are blind to the discrimination of the LGBT.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=106254

[grossproffit]

2. PEP, how appropriate.

I bet the alert button is getting quite a workout.

[King_David]

3. You referring to this ridiculous alert?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=106363

[Little Tich]

4. I put up the OP because I think it shows that Bernie Sanders is independent from the pro-Israel

lobby. I thought it was interesting, and it gave me some perspective on the subject. I like Bernie Sanders more after reading the article.

I think there are two different interpretations of what PEP means. Basically, I don't care; for me they're just two different words with opposite meanings that sound and are spelled exactly the same.

I'm much more interested in Bernie Sanders. He seems to be an honest politician, or at least as honest as politicians can be.

[King_David]

5. From your OP

“I think the people who find it surprising that Bernie Sanders is pro-Israel are some of the same people who are quick to paint progressives as anti-Israel,” said Keyak. “He prefers for Israel to have a left of center government, but he still fundamentally supports Israel.”

Read more: http://forward.com/news/national/310087/is-bernie-sanders-a-lefty-except-for-israel/#ixzz3dW0h9sMQ

I think he will be a fantastic Democratic Party candidate, and true to their traditional support for Israel.

The "pro Israel lobby " is not needed with this candidate..... He's solid.

[Little Tich]

7. I certainly agree. n/t

[shira]

6. You won't find a pro-Israel person here...

....who has problems with Bernie Sanders' views on Israel.

I think he's about as honest a politician as anyone out there.

[Little Tich]

8. It's good if Bernie Sanders is a credible candidate for the pro-Israel people here.

I'm not pro-Israel (nor am I pro-Palestinian) but I like him too.

[King_David]

9. Yes