Allow me (sigh...) to play the 1%er card and explain what the NYT story was about...

[brooklynite]

I don't give big dollars to the DNC, but I have given to it's campaign arms.

$33,000 is the max you can give to a Party Committee per year, so these are big donors. The President travels around the Country as a draw to raise the Party funds, which are then used for operations, polling, data collection, and dispersal to State Parties (they are NOT largely given to candidates -- even Clinton; Federal law limits the Party to a $5,000 contribution). The attendees get a nice lunch, a photo with the President and a speech on current political and policy issues. They do NOT generally get face time to talk up their personal issues; there isn't time much time available in the President's schedule.

Now, it's obvious that the people in the room aren't likely to be Sanders contributors (although, you never know; Ben & Jerry are probably good for the money; so is "Killer Mike&quot . So why did this come up?

Two reasons: 1) someone gave the President an opening with a "where do you see the campaign going" question, and 2) the President wanted it in the papers. No, the NYT wasn't in the room, but in a post-"47%" world, he's smart enough to know that anything pithy he says about the campaign will filter out. It gives him the opportunity to target his message to Sanders and HIS financial supporters AND his political endorsers, and to suggest as politely but firmly as possible that the campaign needs to transition to a GE phase to take on Donald Trump. Doesn't mean Sanders should withdraw before Arizona, doesn't mean he can't give speeches on income inequality, but it DOES mean he's strongly encouraged to temper his remarks about the presumptive Democratic nominee.

[bkkyosemite]

1. Yes and Obama (who I canvassed for) needed to stand up for his hope and change.

Bernie keep going!

[JaneyVee]

2. If Bernie continues attacking Hillary at this point...

I fully expect Obama to intervene. No way he wants his legacy to end in a Trump presidency.

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. Intervene and do what, exactly?

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. I doubt President Obama will intervene. eom.

[Autumn]

14. Intervene? What's Obama gonna do? Send Bernie to GITMO?

[riderinthestorm]

3. Backfired. This Sanders supporter is now doubly fired up to fight back

against the 1%. Obama's lost touch with the rest of us if he thinks his message is persuasive to US, Bernie's backers and supporters.

Just donated again in fact, because Obama is so wrong.

I want Bernie's message out there til the convention, nagging, irritating and shouted loudly to the hundreds of thousands of millennials, Gen Xers, Boomers and more that are sick of establishment, insider politics.

[synergie]

5. Okay, what will it take for you to donate yet again? I'm curious, it seems to be a knee

jerk thing with you guys , even with the FEC investigations and the issues the campaign has.

[riderinthestorm]

7. I'm in to the convention so it's not knee jerk

its my small protest at anyone attempting to railroad me or him.

After that I'll contribute to his Senate run. Keep needling and I'll find even more true progressives looking to buck the establishment.

And lol at the FEC thing, every campaign has that problem.

Funny you're concerned with that and not Hillary's part in destabilizing Honduras, her support of cluster bombs, and the FBI investigations into her emails and Clinton Foundation pay to play scheme.

[hedda_foil]

4. You know what? We already understood the situation, method and objective of the President.

Your ability to act as Mr. Insider/Big Donor/1%er etc. to the children's crusade has been noted.

[brooklynite]

10. That's why I sighed...I knew what the reaction would be...

But, considering that some people don't believe it happened at all, I thought I would provide context.

[Armstead]

6. I don't care what President Obama wants

I think Obama's great, and I frankly with he could run for another term, despite my disagreements with his ties with the Conservative Democrat Centrists and Big Bidness.

But Sanders is bringing a much needed does of reality to this campaign -- and, more importantly, to the entire national consciousness and dialogue.

Bernie has got the loyalty of those who agree with his message 'til the last dog dies.

[Waiting For Everyman]

8. How presumptuous! Well why doesn't he just take

his bully pulpit and take on Donald Trump himself as much as he's like to? No one is stopping him. And if HRC starts the food fight with Trump months earlier than she would have to (if she wins), she's an idiot.

Next, if Sanders doesn't feel like "tempering his remarks" about her, just who is going to stop him? Just what do you think anyone is doing for him that he needs to kiss their hand for? NADA!

Oh, you mean like Obama might come out and endorse Hillary? Well now, that would be a game-changer, wouldn't it? I mean it would be so different from what he's doing now.

FYI, Sanders doesn't have "financial supporters" he has us. HRC people don't seem to get this.

[MaggieD]

11. Exactly - and this part bears repeating

"Doesn't mean Sanders should withdraw before Arizona, doesn't mean he can't give speeches on income inequality, but it DOES mean he's strongly encouraged to temper his remarks about the presumptive Democratic nominee."

The problem is that Bernie is running a campaign not only against Clinton, but against the Democratic party. I don't know how in the world he thought he could win the Dem nomination by attacking the Democratic Party, but whatever. The point is he is that if he continues to do that at this point he is simply aiding and abetting Trump.

That is precisely the message Obama was trying to send. I hope Bernie got it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. +1. eom