Bernie, you're not in VT anymore. Dealing with hecklers and disrupters is a political fact of life.

[pnwmom]

Maybe Bernie didn't have to deal with this much in Vermont, but in Seattle I've never been to a political event where there weren't protesters waving signs somewhere.

So all the candidates, including Bernie, need to arrange events to keep disrupters from reaching the stage and grabbing the mike. But, if the protesters do get up there, the event organizers need to have clear plans for how they will deal with it.

Seattle has the extra added bonus of anarchists who are always ready to stir up the pot (and have no reason to be supportive of a pro-"nanny state" "Democratic Socialist&quot . Some of them might have been in the audience, taking the opportunity to boo. But hecklers and disrupters are everywhere. Every candidate needs a good plan.

[Thinkingabout]

1. Even during the SOTU address back a few years a Congressional Member Joe Wilson

Yelled "You lied" to President Obama. Did President Obama exit, no,took a moment to throw a look of disdain towards Wilson. There will be lots of times when controversy happens. One has to be able to handle this.

[mwooldri]

5. in all fairness, Joe Wilson didn't take the podium.

Different circumstances call for different actions. I think Bernie made the right call.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Okay, it is his campaign, he can do what he wants.

[Sheepshank]

49. Wilson did what had never been done before

Insult and disrespect a sitting President out loud, while that President was formally addressing the House.

Disrupting campaign speeches and other public speeches does not rise to the same level.

The amount of vocal, outright, bigoted, racist hatred hurled at a sitting President is, well, unprecedented. Bernie has dealt with one interruption. The other was shared and the brunt hurled at O'Malley.

[bvar22]

91. Bernie has been aroubnd for 30 years.

Do you really believe he has never been disrupted or heckled by a partisan agitator?

[Sheepshank]

92. apparently not as publically as Obama and not at that type of historical setting.

if he has been heckled, it's been in quieter not so televised and public circumstances. and you are attempting to compare it to SOTU address while on the floor? really?

[bvar22]

93. I am not comparing a Campaign Event to the SOTU.

The poster about 4 posts above mine did.

[ljm2002]

16. Oh FFS...

...comparing Bernie speaking at an event in support of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- before his own rally later that evening -- to a Presidential State of the Union event.

Major fail.

[Thinkingabout]

23. In order if importance the SOTU is the larger event, the President is addressing the nation in a

Joint session of congress, this was not a rally in the campaign trail.

It was prime time heckler from a Congressional Member who should have known better than shouting out during the SOTU. If Bernie is not able to deal with the BLM hecklers then there is going to be too many times he will be heckled, trashed, smeared, etc facing him on the campaign trail, if he is elected there will be much more. Tho is something he needs to be coached and someone to advise him properly on working with BLM, it isn't going away because he walked away during his rally.

Comparing the SOTU to a Bernie was a major failure and those who knows about the two events knows which is more important.

[ljm2002]

25. Like any president...

...would ever walk away from a SOTU.

Big. Fat. Fail.

[Thinkingabout]

27. President Obama did not walk away, Bernie walked away, a major fail.

[ljm2002]

29. Garble garble garble... n/t

[Thinkingabout]

31. Garble all you want, it is Bernies's campaign, if he doesn't handle these issues then he will go a

Long way, maybe he never intended to go very far. It is his problem to handle.

[Sheepshank]

50. Haa haa, so wrong, so caught

Your response reminds me of the stupid dancing Ashley Simpson did when caught lipsynching.

[ljm2002]

53. Well it pretty much describes all posts by that poster...

...IMNSHO.

That poster, in fact, reminds me greatly of another one we used to have here at DU named "randomthoughts" or something similar.

Just weird random remarks that are never on target and obviously are meant to confuse and obfuscate any issue they comment on. It gets tiresome.

[mwooldri]

55. President Obama's podium wasn't hijacked. Bernie's was.

Joe Wilson did not rush up to the podium before Obama was due to speak, sieze the podium and make some kind of speech.

This wasn't a state of the union address. It wasn't his event. He was a guest speaker. Bernie did what I would have done.... he walked. Not a win for anyone certainly but not a fail either. We're still talking about it after all. It's a distraction.

[Thinkingabout]

58. It is Bernie's campaign, he chose to walk away, his decision, a president can not

Just walk away and neglect the duties. Even George W did not walk away when shoes was thrown.

[AgingAmerican]

69. Obama doesn't have to walk away

He has Secret Service protection. Bernie does not.

Bernie was correct to walk away from the crackpots.

[Thinkingabout]

73. Obama is not running for any office, Bernie is. When is he going to meet with

BLM and get this over.

[mwooldri]

89. I have to stand corrected on a point. Bernie apparently didn't just walk away.

He was a guest. He was due to speak. His podium was hijacked. The organizers of the meeting decided it was best to wrap things up. That's why Bernie walked away - the organizers ended it, not him. He was a guest speaker. it wasn't his event.

Either way, apples and oranges are being compared here. I maintain he did the same thing... we just have to agree to disagree at this point.

[John Poet]

81. This comparison is stupid.

President Obama's "heckler" did not take over the podium or the event. One situation bears no resemblance to the other whatsoever.

[Thinkingabout]

87. There will be more opportunities presented to Bernie, he grew up in Brooklyn and most know to not

Let it appear someone gets under your skin, Bernie failed. Now everyone knows he skips out and more will come. If he had met with BLM and listened to them it would have been over after NN. My example was to show there will be hecklers, coming from all directions, Bernie needs some advisors to coach him to avoid or at least defuse future meetings. It is his campaign, he can run it the way he chooses.

[cali]

2. buzzt. fail.

Demanding that a Jewish man who lost most of his paternal family to the Holocaust, bow down, grovel before you and publicly apologize for unspecified crimes against poc, is vile. And sorry, but Bernie sure ad Hell has had to deal with hecklers in Vermont.

Funny that you're just fine with this. Your comments have made that clear

[artislife]

3. Yup nt

[pnwmom]

4. I said he should keep them off his stage. I don't know how you could twist what I said so much,

but that's typical of you.

[GitRDun]

30. They like their cocoon.

Don't start with that real world crap..it messes with their mojo.

[dgibby]

74. It wasn't his stage.

He was a guest speaker at someone else's event. It wasn't his place to keep them off the stage. That was the responsibility of the sponsors of the event, and that didn't happen. Bernie waited until it became clear that the protesters weren't going to allow him to speak, then left the stage, but not the event. Blaming the victim much?

[pnwmom]

75. Bernie has his choice of venues. He shouldn't go to events that can't be managed better than

the one at Westlake Mall. He's got many other options and he should exercise them.

That's not blaming the victim, that's asking for some common sense. Disrupters and protesters are a fact of political life. He's got to either learn to deal with them (not by just leaving) or else avoid events that he can't control.

[dgibby]

78. I seriously doubt that he needs "advice" from you.

Considering he's protested and been arrested for same, I find it hysterically funny that you feel the need to be 'splanin' how he should be running his campaign.

Of course, he could ask for SS protection and avoid the public like some other candidates. Maybe he could even run a virtual campaign from his keyboard, but somehow, I doubt that's his style (thank gawd).

BTW, it IS blaming the victim (but you already know that).

[stranger81]

86. Right. As the least well-known Democratic candidate,

he should be turning down every speaking invitation he gets.

While he's at it, maybe he could stop having rallies, too.

Better yet, why doesn't he just quit while he's ahead of expectations and let Hillary have her turn.

Am I rite?

[stranger81]

85. Um, do you think people don't see your other posts here?

Particularly considering how industrious you've been today?

[artislife]

94. Yup nt

[R B Garr]

10. Fail. Who would know Bernie is Jewish, and Bernie himself made

somewhat dismissive comments about not voting based on skin color, since racism had been overcome in this country because people voted for Obama.

This is just a trumped up attempt to bring his religion into something to inoculate him from criticism. Talk about vile.

The comments about Seattle anarchists is a very good one. I've been wondering myself how he will deal with more adversity then he gets out of his sheltered, rural state. Now we see some of his limitations.

[Turin_C3PO]

95. Being Jewish is much more than religion.

It's an ethnic identity (for most). There are many, many, atheists who identify as Jewish. It's just as much an ethnic group as Mexican or Arab is. Neither of these groups are based on skin color but no one denies the innate prejudice that many Americans have towards them. So it is with Jewish people and should be recognized as such.

[restorefreedom]

33. plus infinity

the bow down bullshit makes me want to vomit

ignorant young rabblerousers (or paid operatives) who don't know or care what his family went through or everything he has done for civil rights

any support i give will be through naaacp

blm disruptors don't exist to me anymore. they deserve to be ignored

[KittyWampus]

44. where exactly did PMWMOM say Bernie should "grovel before her"?

And maybe the point of the OP, that Bernie needs to start building a decent campaign with things like security, demographic outreach etc is valid.

He's not in Vermont but he's running a national campaign as if he is.

[AgingAmerican]

7. Planted by the opposition

The only question is which opposition planted them? Hillary or Rove?

Perhaps he should deal with them the way Hillary does, she has them dragged out by white guys in suits, or isolated in a 'free speech' zones.

[pnwmom]

8. They protested Hillary the last time she went to Netroots and she hasn't been there since.

So they weren't planted by her.

[AgingAmerican]

12. BLM has never protested her

They are intentionally targeting Sanders only.

So you are saying Rove planted them? It's plausible.

[riversedge]

32. At netroots O'M was targeted also.

[AgingAmerican]

39. OM is not being targeted still

Hillary will never be targeted they work for her.

[pnwmom]

46. You don't have a bit of evidence that they work for her.

You have no more evidence than the witch hunters of Salem.

[AgingAmerican]

67. You shall know them

By whom they refuse to target

[riversedge]

61. Where is your evidence for your silly accusation??

[AgingAmerican]

68. They refuse to target her

Why would that be? Hmmmmmm

[riversedge]

70. That is not evidence.

[m-lekktor]

43. BLM didn't even exist in 2007, the last time Hillary attended Netroots Nation

It was rank and file progressive attendees that booed her back then, no particular group. I see that you keep posting this WRONG info all over DU.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. Disruptors, yes, but those weren't hecklers. And being called "white supremacist liberals"...

just *might* be the reason the crowd booed, ya think? Part of Bernie's appeal is that he's open and accessible, unlike Hillary, ensconced behind the Secret Service and gated properties of grocery chain moguls and the likes of Kanye and the Kartrashians. Going forward I imagine Sanders will have beefed-up security at bay, which is kinda sad. Thanks, #BLM.

[pnwmom]

11. In Seattle, if it hadn't been BLM, it would have been anarchist protestors. They don't have the Bern

[AgingAmerican]

13. There were no anarchists protesting Bernie, nor will there be

They protest corporations and corporatists, not politicians who fight against them.

[pnwmom]

19. Anarchists here can and do protest politicians. And they've even protested against Bernie in Vermont

He needs to learn how to deal with hecklers and disrupters. They'll be bothering him more and more if he doesn't.

https://www.popularresistance.org/lets-not-be-fooled-by-bernie-sanders/

[AgingAmerican]

24. No anarchists protested Bernie here

Should he start using Hillary's tactics on disruptors?

[pnwmom]

28. He should use her tactics if by that you mean: manage his events so disrupters

are kept off the stage -- or have a plan for handling them if they manage to get up there anyway.

Hecklers and disrupters are a political fact of life. He won't be able to avoid them if he gets the nomination, unless he does adopt tactics like Hillary's and Obama's.

[AgingAmerican]

40. She 'manages' them by having them dragged away against their will

So you do think that's what Bernie should do. Thanks!

[pnwmom]

45. She hasn't been having small fund raising events, mostly. They haven't been invited.

I think Bernie should have his security people block access to the stage. If he becomes the nominee, the Secret Service will be doing this. He might as well get used to it.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

20. Like these WTO protesters...

Somehow I don't see them opposing Sanders...

[pnwmom]

22. Anarchists aren't some version of lefty. They oppose the "nanny state" or "socialism"

because they oppose all government. Bernie Sanders isn't a hero to them; he's a threat. He wants to use government to help people, not dismantle it.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

34. The anarchists did not show up at any Seattle events, #BLM did.

All because they've got a bug up their ass about him not sufficiently sucking up to them.

[pnwmom]

35. We don't know who was in the audience booing. But if they weren't there now, they are likely to be

in the future.

Bernie needs to develop a better plan than walking off the stage if protesters-- of any type -- arrive.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

38. Being called "white supremacist liberals" by tantrum-throwing #BLMers elicited the boos...

and prompted the "Let Bernie speak!" chants.

This *ain't* rocket science.

[pnwmom]

41. Bernie has twice had the same unfortunate reaction to protesters.

At Netroots he threatened to leave if they didn't stop. At Westlake Center, he did leave.

He can't continue to handle protesters this way if he's going to win the nomination and go into the general. It was the BLM yesterday. It will be some other group tomorrow. And during the general, there will be all manner of Rethug protesters if Bernie doesn't learn to control his events now.

Protesters shouldn't be able to get up on stage and grab the mic. And there should be a plan to handle them if they jump up in the audience and decide to disrupt. So far Bernie doesn't seem to have one, but he needs to if he's going to succeed.

This ain't rocket science. Disrupters at political events must be expected and prepared for.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

48. Well, they did get up on stage, and made fools of themselves.

They also shored up more support for Sanders, so perhaps I should be thanking them.

His "unfortunate" reaction was letting them speak. Tazing would have been a truly unfortunate reaction, but I can get behind hauling their asses out (cuffing and hauling out if they get physical like the #BLM chicks did). We'll see what changes his campaign make going forward.

[FloridaBlues]

52. The bern supporters will just blame HRC.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

14. Well, it *was* #BLM and I'm now learning the head chick is a Palin supporter?

Gotta get caught up on that sordid little detail...

[rjsquirrel]

15. I just sent him ten bucks

and I suggested that he use it towards hiring proper security.


Those idiot BLM "protesters" (err, hired agitators, I suspect) should have had their heads knocked together and been dragged out to the damn street like the trash they are.

And I'm not a Sanders supporter, even.

[artislife]

17. Personally

I think if they had been hired, they would have been better organized.


Well done, Pnw,you got me to up your post replies number.

[mmonk]

18. He used to be a protestor and got arrested. He's been serving in Washington DC quite awhile.

But go ahead and "explain" anyway as if he only lived on the moon.

[MuseRider]

51. Yes.

Perfect.

[ljm2002]

21. Bernie has not complained about it...

...so why are you lecturing him?

Oh, you think his "plan" should be more like Hillary's: avoid crowds at all costs. If you must meet with the hoi polloi, do it in controlled events where you only meet with a hand-picked few. Other than that, just hobnob with the big donors. $2500 a plate definitely keeps the riff-raff out.

While you're at it, be sure to get a few selfies with the glitterati. Because nothing says "I'm for the common good" like a selfie with the Kardashians.

And whatever you do, don't schedule any public events in Seattle, that anarchist haven.

Yep. Now THAT, my friends, is a PLAN!

[AgingAmerican]

26. Hillary has protestors dragged out kicking and screaming

Or penned up in 'Free Speech Zones'.

[Duckhunter935]

37. This ^^^^^

[LuvLoogie]

83. $2700 a plate.

The limit is 2700 dollars, American.

[ljm2002]

84. Right you are...

...I rounded down. But either figure will still keep the riff-raff out.

As a friend of mine said recently: "I'm Riff, you're Raff."

[hifiguy]

36. You'd better read this thread and think it through:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027060303

This entire thing was a complete fraud from the word go, as is the woman behind it. The proof is all there.

[appalachiablue]

47. Thank you I was just about to post this revelation, what a fraud-sham. I look forward to

a 'clean up' attempt here, after all the deception, disruption, attacks, divisive energy and lost time..

Thanks much!

[pnwmom]

60. All the more reason for my saying that Bernie should get better control of his future events

so disrupters don't end up on stage, grabbing his mic.

[delrem]

63. It wasn't Bernie's event. He was invited to speak, one of many speakers.

Your heartfelt advice to "Bernie" is disingenuous. You'd be leading the howling mob if Bernie Sanders so much as said a single word in opposition to these protesters taking over the venue and shutting it down.
Bernie acted gracefully in difficult circumstances, and you can't even give him that much.

[appalachiablue]

64. Sure, it's all on Bernie. You keep on, it's incredible-

[kacekwl]

42. I think he did the right thing

After waiting for about 20 min. it was obvious they would not allow him to continue. Cut your losses and move on . In the end I believe the folks who were there to hear Bernie speak were the real losers. No upside for BLM I'm afraid.

[aikoaiko]

54. Totally Bernies fault.

Hillary knows how to keep people far away.

[riversedge]

56. pnwmom-good article here: Interrupting Bernie: Exposing the White Supremacy of the American Left

I read it and thought we should all reflect on it:
BTW--yes, agree with your OP also



August 9, 2015
Interrupting Bernie: Exposing the White Supremacy of the American Left


You know, I’ve always liked Bernie Sanders. I appreciate that as a U.S. Senator, he has been willing to speak the truth about many important social issues, but he’s also a U.S. Senator, which means that he is only going to be as progressive as his electorate allows him to be.

That said, I’d generally been pretty disappointed with the lack of racial justice analysis in his economic inequality platform as a candidate for president. That is, until a few weeks ago when some phenomenal Black activists at the Netroots Nation Presidential Town Hall forced his hand.

For all of the “this is not the way” sentiment we’re hearing from White progressives, it was the interruption at Netroots (alongside other direct pressure) that led to Bernie’s explicit platform on racial justice.

Notably, Black Lives Matter activists haven’t been successful (though I am sure not for lack of trying) in interrupting Hillary Clinton in the same way (that secret service protection and massive campaign budget for private security sure is handy), but even she has had little choice but to pay attention to Black Lives Matter as a movement.;;;;;

[NorthCarolina]

57. Actually, I think Bernie handled the issue in the best way possible.

He was respectful to them even though they failed to offer him the same courtesy. Exactly what does he need to learn about hecklers again?

[msongs]

59. yesterday was not a bernie event, he was invited to speak at an event organized by other groups who

did not provide platform security

[pnwmom]

62. And maybe he should minimize his attendance at events that don't provide or allow for security.

If he becomes the nominee, the Secret Service won't be letting anyone up on the stage, grabbing his mic. He might as well get used to more security now.

[AgingAmerican]

71. Hillary has SS protection AND minimizes her attendance at events

What's up with that?

It's Bernies fault that BLM targets him for unexplained reasons (cough! Hillary! cough!)! Blame the victim, typical RW/Third Way® tactic.

Cough! Cough!

[LuvLoogie]

88. Good thing, too. She warrants and needs the protection.

There are quite a few, otherwise level-headed, people who lose their shit over her. And there are too many, less than level-headed, people that would go the extra mile if given the chance.

Hillary is a nuts & bolts type of campaigner, it seems. She has over 20 years on the national and international stage, with daggers flying at her from the Right and, more recently, the Left. She has a head start because she has done the work.

Bernie is trying to build a national presence based on his personality. His ideas aren't new. Trade unionism isn't new. Progressive taxation isn't new. He "champions" single-payer health care, yet he voted for the ACA. He compromised his principles for the lesser of two evils.

And he'll do it again. He's a politician. Welcome to the national spotlight Bernie.

[matt819]

65. What a load of condescending shit (my)

[HappyPlace]

66. okiedokie

[ibegurpard]

72. wah, wah, wah

Bernie is fine. I'm sure he appreciates your concern.

[dgibby]

77. Pretty sure it's not concern.

More like victim blaming, and just keeps doubling down with every post. Sooooo classy.

[LiberalAndProud]

76. I have never witnessed these sorts of disruptions at campaign events

before in my memory. Perhaps you have others like these in mind?

I've lost patience with those who think yelling in my face is effective political action. As such, I've lost patience with most of DU. I think I may join those who have demonstrated some sense by vacating this cesspool.

[Ron Green]

79. TOPS

[Doctor_J]

80. Maybe some greens should storm the stage at Her Highness's event and shut it down

Oh, wait. Hers are restricted to billionaires and have security

[haikugal]

82. More patronizing moose pellets... nt

[Faryn Balyncd]

90. Bernie handled it with exemplary grace.

No one else would have, or could have, handled it better.

[SunSeeker]

96. His woefully inadequate security at public events shows really poor planning. nt