Bernie Sanders: Apology to Black Lives Matter was ‘sent out by a staffer without my knowledge’

[BainsBane]

Todd quoted the Buzzfeed article in which an email from the campaign to BLM — written by Sanders senior staffer Marcus Ferrell — read, “I apologize it took our campaign so long to officially reach out…” Sanders corrected Todd, letting him know it didn’t come from him.

“Well, that was sent out by a staffer, not by me,” Sanders replied. “Look, we are reaching out to all kinds of groups. Absolutely I met with folks at Black Lives Matter. We’re reaching out to Latino groups. We’re reaching out to the unions.”

“I understand that you said a staffer put it out, but you felt an apology was necessary?” Todd pressed the senator.

“No, I don’t. I think we’re going to be working with all groups. This was sent out without my knowledge,” Sanders said.
https://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/bernie-sanders-apology-to-black-lives-matter-was-sent-out-by-a-staffer-without-my-knowledge/

Addresses the question here, as well as others. Todd also asks why Sanders thinks so many of the same voters think favorably about both him and Trump.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. .

, Bernie

[underthematrix]

2. Welcome to the real world of leadership

[BainsBane]

3. How so?

Elaborate please.

[Live and Learn]

7. Bernie has always worked for these groups.

Just because some aren't aware of his activism is no reason for him to apologize. Someday maybe even you will acknowledge that Bernie is fighting for all of us, you included.

[BainsBane]

18. You mean someday I will acknowledge

that you and your friends get to decide who and what matters and what I'm allowed to care about.

Hey, if I come back in another lifetime as someone born into the white upper-middle class and pull in a six figure income from a corporation, I'd probably agree with you. Alas, I was a person who during the days of the "real Democrats" and the great America you all hearken back to who was working from age 10 to be able to pay to do laundry and buy school clothes. So you'll have to forgive me for not wanting to return to those days. I know it's horrible to think my life actually matters, but I get to pretend it does when I vote.

Despite being white myself, one of the reasons I don't stand with white privilege over the subaltern is that I know that people who are so contemptuous of a movement for the lives of African Americans would similarly throw me and my rights under the bus in a heartbeat. That and the fact I find the entire ethos I've seen expressed in the wake of Seattle reprehensible and counter to everything I value. That he can even compete with Trump for the same voters is unsettling, to say the least.

As for real leadership, shouldn't that include being able to control one's own paid staffers?

[Live and Learn]

22. On the issues, including the issue of racism,

Bernie is far more progressive than anyone else running. Bernie's policies will do far more to eradicate poverty, denounce racism and uphold civil rights than any other policies out there.

You are doing yourself a disservice by writing him off.

[George II]

60. He's got "policies" but he has absolutely NO solutions. When is he going to start telling us how...

....he plans on solving all the ills of society that he whines about day in and day out?

[Live and Learn]

66. He does have solutions. You just need to read them.

And what is this "whining' meme? Do you mean silence on the issues is better than speaking about them?

Another dollar in my Bernie smear campaign fund. Bernie thanks you.

[George II]

99. I've been all over Sanders' campaign website....lots of nice words, lots of criticism, but....

....virtually devoid of solutions.

A couple of examples from his website (pardon the length):

Income and Wealth Inequality

The good news is that the economy today is much better than when President George W. Bush left office. The bad news is that, despite some improvement, the 40-year decline of the American middle class continues. Real unemployment is much too high, tens of millions of Americans still lack health insurance, and more of our friends and neighbors are living in poverty than at almost any time in the modern history of our country.

Meanwhile, as the rich become even richer, income and wealth inequality has reached obscene and astronomical levels. In the United States, we have one of the most unequal wealth and income distributions of any major country on earth. In fact, inequality is worse now than at any other time in American history since the 1920s. Today the top one-tenth of 1 percent of our nation owns almost as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent combined. One family, Walmart’s Walton family, owns more wealth than the bottom 42 percent of Americans combined. Nearly all of the new income growth since the recession has gone to the top 1 percent.

Even as millions of American workers continue to see their incomes decline, and are working longer hours for lower wages, the wealth of the billionaire class is soaring in a way that few can imagine. If you can believe it, between 2013 and 2015 the 14 wealthiest individuals in the country saw their net worth increase by over $157 billion dollars. We live in one of the wealthiest countries on earth – and yet children go hungry, veterans sleep out on the streets and senior citizens cannot afford their prescription drugs. This is what a rigged economic system looks like.

That's the entire issue of Income and Wealth Inequality. Unemployment is high (what is he going to do about it), tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance (what is he going to do about it), more are living in poverty (what is he going to do about it), the rich become richer....we have the most unequal wealth and income distributions (what is he going to do about it), etc...

Racial Justice

We must pursue policies that transform this country into a nation that affirms the value of its people of color. That starts with addressing the four central types of violence waged against black and brown Americans: physical, political, legal and economic.

We must demilitarize our police forces so they don’t look and act like invading armies.

We must invest in community policing. Only when we get officers into the communities, working within neighborhoods before trouble arises, do we develop the relationships necessary to make our communities safer together. Among other things, that means increasing civilian oversight of police departments.

We need police forces that reflect the diversity of our communities.

At the federal level we need to establish a new model police training program that reorients the way we do law enforcement in this country. With input from a broad segment of the community including activists and leaders from organizations like Black Lives Matter we will reinvent how we police America.

We need to federally fund and require body cameras for law enforcement officers to make it easier to hold them accountable.

Our Justice Department must aggressively investigate and prosecute police officers who break the law and hold them accountable for their actions.

We need to require police departments and states to provide public reports on all police shootings and deaths that take place while in police custody.

We need new rules on the allowable use of force. Police officers need to be trained to de-escalate confrontations and to humanely interact with people who have mental illnesses.

States and localities that make progress in this area should get more federal justice grant money. Those that do not should get their funding slashed.

We need to make sure the federal resources are there to crack down on the illegal activities of hate groups.

Again, lots of words, but no solutions. "We must", "we need", "we need".......we all know we must and need to do those things, but HOW? HOW will he get these things implemented? HOW will he get the money to pay for these?

Those two are "Issues" directly from the Sanders Campaign website. As I've been pointing out - NO solutions.

[Live and Learn]

209. Here you go:

Watch it. Many solutions spoken here. By the way I found it right here on DU:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=37&v=b0G5MtSJsYQ

[madokie]

124. He has no interest in reading them

I've pointed them out too but he just keeps on with the same bullshit of Bernie has no solutions tripe

Not worth your time trying to explain if you ask me.

[John Poet]

197. Silence must be better.

That's why Hillary doesn't talk to reporters,
or speak to large events.

[wendylaroux]

100. you irk me

you're irksome.no offense.

[Cha]

102. "you're irksome" your words posted right backatcha.

[wendylaroux]

110. you have hurt my feeling cha nt

[Cha]

114. yeah, right.

[George II]

115. I'm pragmatic.

[seabeyond]

117. me, TOO! hey pragmatic friend.

it has worked for me and comes in handy

[sheshe2]

131. seabeyond!!!!!

[seabeyond]

137. sheshe!!!!!

[sheshe2]

141. Yes!

Brava woman, so good to see you unfettered.

[lunamagica]

153. Seabeyond, you're back!

Welcome back!

[seabeyond]

156. ha... for the time being. lol. 4 hides, but they all go away in a week or two.

[lunamagica]

165. Well, they can't keep a fighter down

Keep up the good work!

[MannyGoldstein]

152. Even if you're correct,

it's far better than a history of no successes and frequent assaults against the 99%, no?

[BainsBane]

73. Clearly African Americans view it differently

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2015, 06:31 PM - Edit history (1)

as polling data shows. I view it differently, and you have no right to even claim you know my interests better than I do. Moreover, you don't point to a single point of evidence and entirely ignore my class argument. Sanders supporters are overwhelmingly white and more affluent than the average American. They see him as representing their interests, which are not the same as mine. You see, I don't care if someone is in the 1 percent or the 10-20 percent when they make clear that they see me and my rights as inferior. It's all the same damn thing, as far as I'm concerned.

Before today, I thought Sanders was trying to reach out to people of color, but his supporters seemed determined to hold him back. This interview gives a different perspective of that, and he seemed to make a point not to want to seem conciliatory or supportive of that movement. I suspect he has calculated that doing so would hurt his standing among the white voters, whose votes he appears to value more than Democratic constituencies. http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2014/11/19/365024592/sen-bernie-sanders-on-how-democrats-lost-white-voters
Given the kind of comments made in the wake of Seattle, it is clear what the values of his support base are, and it most certainly is not anti-racism, unless the racism you are referring to is the right-wing notion of whites as exploited by people of color.

As for progressive: promoting the unfettered profits of corporate gun owners over the rights of victims families is not progressive; voting against the Brady Bill is not progressive; funneling hundreds of billions of dollars to the MIC and Lockheed, through the F-35 program, in particular is not progressive; appropriating language of revolution for a political campaign and then being put out when confronted with an actual revolution taking place on the streets of America is not progressive. Now, I understand that progressive has come to be defined according to what you all see in the mirror, and in the process I have watched people adopt one conservative position after another: denouncing BLM, denouncing gun control, justifying massive military expenditures, and whining about how white people have their feelings hurt having to hear about black people being murdered. And then most recently,when I dared to ask what he intends to do to protect my reproductive rights, i was told that my very question amounted to calling him sexist. My insignificance is so great, I have no right to even ask about his plans for the presidency. So you want to define progressive as holding a great man and a chosen few above the rights of the many, go for it. I am a LEFTIST, which means I will always stand with the subaltern over the bourgeoisie.

As for writing Sanders off, truth be told the way many of his supporters have acted has made it impossible for me not to look at him with disdain. I went from having favorable views of him, considering supporting him, to now associating him with what I have seen perpetrated in his name. If you wanted him to attract a broader base, you should have worked to prevent his supporters not to work so hard at driving off voters because now it is too damn late. I'd sooner poke my eyes out than stand with what I have seen in support of his candidacy.

[jfern]

83. Who are you supporting then?

[Duckhunter935]

91. I think she has been a supporter of Hillary

from the beginning. I might be wrong if there is a link of her supporting Bernie or any others. This is just another Hillary supporter trying to make it look like they were a Bernie supporter but in truth, never were.

[jfern]

92. What the heck kind of leftist

supports a TPP, Iraq war, Kyl-Lieberman, Keystone XL, fracking, Honduras overthrowing, Glass Steagall opposing 3rd wayer? Yeah, we're not fooled.

[Duckhunter935]

107. Beats me

[BainsBane]

259. And makes you think I support any of that?

[jfern]

266. If you support Hillary

then you are supporting someone who is definitely not a leftist.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

142. "worked to prevent his supporters not to work so hard at driving off voters..."

How many voters have been driven off, IYHO? Do you have a number?

[BainsBane]

260. There have been some on this site

some African Americans who previously supported Sanders and then in the wake of the bullshit they encountered following Netroots decided they could not support him.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

263. 1? 5? 20?

[Live and Learn]

202. You certainly don't speak for all African-Americans.

I am sorry to hear that you refuse to give Bernie a chance. I did point you to some good information but it is clear you have something against him and/or his supporters.

I do not think you are being fair. For the record I have been a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and have long been against police brutality. I have supported the same causes as you and the same posts.

Your stereotyping of Bernie supporters is both wrong and hurtful.

[nadinbrzezinski]

208. By the logic she keeps using she can't

she is Mc and white. Her divisiveness is quite bothersome.

[BainsBane]

211. I speak for no African Americans

Last edited Mon Aug 17, 2015, 02:21 PM - Edit history (1)

I referenced polling data. You on the other hand decided that you have the right to tell people of color and me that you know what we should care about. As for your finding my political views of a politician "hurtful," that is truly strange. He is a politician. He is not you or a member of your family. You don't even know him. One of the things I find most disconcerting about his campaign is the way that so many are invested in his political fortunes above issues and that they hold him above the citizens he seeks to represent. That you seem to confuse a politician with your own feelings strikes me as another aspect of that phenomenon.

My democratic rights are my own. I have every right to them as I see fit, and Sanders nor any other member of the political elite is entitled to anything from me. They are running to represent me as a citizen. I owe them nothing. They have to EARN my vote. When his supporters continually treat me and others as inferior, as too inconsequential to even ask about his plans for the presidency, it becomes clear that my vote is not wanted. After months of my being subject to one insult after another, for you to then claim I'm not giving him a chance is absurd. Sanders supporters threw away away my vote, and it's too damn late to ask for it back.

As for Sanders, if he wanted the support of voters like me, he needed to speak out for Black Lives Matter and against the offensively racist behavior of some of his supporters. He chose not to do that. I don't know if his refusal to do so is a function of his being put out that he should be subject to protests or if he calculated it would be better not to run the risk of alienating white voters. Neither scenario is suggestive of the sort of person I want to lead this country. That and the fact he has no record of legislative accomplishment. He makes a lot of promises with absolutely no history of implementing them.

What you call "information" was your insistence, with no specifics, of why Bernie was so much better on racism than anyone else. That isn't information. It's your belief, one that POLLING DATA shows is not shared by the majority of African Americans. Not all, but the majority. That is what statistics are. Netroots was bad enough, but the shit that followed Seattle is, in my opinion, impossible to recover from, particularly since on Meet the Press he made a point of distancing himself from efforts at reconciliation with BLM.

[Live and Learn]

212. Obviously we disagree on this.

Good luck with whomever you are supporting and whatever they may do for your causes.

If I am right though and you support the status quo, nothing will change and you will only have yourself to blame.

[AtomicKitten]

214. speaking of "offensively racist behavior of some supporters"

Hillary supporters should probably ix-nay the acist-ray inger-fay ointing-pay.

From SNLregarding Hillary's supporters:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/message-from-hillary-clinton/n12241

[NCTraveler]

220. Practice what you preach.

Might want to second think your process here after finding out what was yelled at Marissa after she peacefully took the stage. Stop using POC to score your political points. Stop using them to lecture others. The whitesplaining has gotten out of hand.

"Tase her." That's what they wanted. Yet you are here trying to make some weak little point. It is beyond offensive but par for the course from you.

[AtomicKitten]

222. That's nothing but projection from you.

Clinton supporters have been using race as a political cudgel against Bernie since he formally declared his candidacy. It is Clinton supporters who have disingenuously wrapped themselves in the cloak of BLM to keep attacking Bernie and his supporters. Bernie has a long and consistent record of fighting for civil rights and liberties. Clinton has a record of a race-baiting campaign and supporting her husband's shitty record of unfair sentencing, "tough on crime" policing, mass incarceration, and welfare reform that has devastated a generation of people of color. Some of her biggest donors are the private prison industry. Your and many other Clinton supporters' hypocrisy on this issue resonates. You aren't fooling anyone.

[NCTraveler]

223. "Tase her!!! Tase her!!!!" "We have already addressed it!!!!!"

Stop using this for political points in the manner you are. It is offensive.

I have shown zero hypocrisy. Zero. I am not trying to fool anyone. Please show me where I am? You keep saying things about me that should be provable on your part. Fact is, you are simply making things up in order to try and deflect from how offensive what you are doing truly is.

[MannyGoldstein]

201. ???

"You mean someday I will acknowledge that you and your friends get to decide who and what matters and what I'm allowed to care about"

I don't see how the post you're responding to says that at all.

[Live and Learn]

204. I did tell her on a previous post that I trusted that Bernie would do more for her causes

than any other candidate and that if she would just listen to him and give him a chance she would see that. I stand by that claim too.

[sibelian]

210. It would be a thoroughly idiotic response even if it WAS relevant

as it is exactly what she's been doing since her first day on this website.

You quite often see this "you're trying to control what I'm allowed to think" which is a reflexive mask for having no counterpoint. There's nobody anywhere "allowing" or disallowing anyone from thinking anything, it is Straw Man Ne PLus Ultra.

It's exactly as sensible as saying "I have the right to my opinion", which is code for "Sticking fingers in ears, la la la..."

[Capt. Obvious]

230. Oh you noticed that too?

[sibelian]

268. Sure did.

Riduculous, it is! It's something a teenager would say.

[underthematrix]

126. people with the best intentions do shit they forget to tell you about

Meaning infrastructure is an important part of keeping the messaging really really clear. it's not a criticism of Bernie just an acknowledgement of the reality of running a national campaign. Shit happens

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. In any "real world of leadership", wouldn't the sauve response ...

been to let the "apology" stand ... then, talk about your out reach to every group.

[GitRDun]

44. Yes..

Another BS mis-step.

Regardless of whether or not BS feels his campaign did something wrong, he should have let the apology stand.

The message received is the message. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks but the BLM people.

If they felt they got bad treatment in Seattle by BS, his campaign, or supporters, then they did! The message received is the message.

If BS refuses to acknowledge BLM feelings about their treatment, out reach becomes more difficult. Worse yet, as leader of his campaign, those who support him may use this non-apology as permission to treat others the same way. "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain!"

Who wants to be an ally of a group that tells them their feelings aren't valid. These things are not complicated.

I like Bernie on a lot of issues, but these continued unforced errors are a problem.

[1StrongBlackMan]

52. But in the world of the internet ...

compromise, acknowledging a mistake, or apologies are a sign of weakness!

[mythology]

132. The inverse is also true

If people feel the BLM protestors were disrespectful, divisive and generally treated Sanders poorly, then they did.

[GitRDun]

139. While that is exactly correct

BS needs their votes and voices, BLM doesn't need BS....that part always seems to get lost in Bernie-land.

[Chemisse]

63. I don't think so.

Most people don't know all the backstories. They see the primary elections in quick news clips and passing headlines, and form their opinions accordingly.

What they see is this:

Bernie looked weak being pushed off the stage; he looks even weaker apologizing for being pushed off the stage.

[mwrguy]

96. His ego can't take it

To have people think he apologized to 'those people'.

[seabeyond]

101. i really think it is where he tells people the way it is and they are suppose to listen.

where as hillary is a sharp contrast how she runs her campaign of listening, processing them speaking out.

i feel omalley is a big listener too.

i am not getting that from sanders.

[Cha]

129. Just like his supporters who speak in his name.

[Cha]

130. It's weird.. unbelieveable.

[1StrongBlackMan]

147. Yep ...

But I think the bigger damage point being ... his supporters thinking he apologized to 'those people'.

[Cha]

105. Yes.

[Autumn]

221. Yes, "real world leadership" is allowing a lie to stand.

Bernie didn't apologize, he had nothing to apologize for a staffer sent that out without talking to him about it yet real leadership would have been to let the lie stand.

[1StrongBlackMan]

239. Do staffers NOT speak for their candidate ...

both with, and without the candidate's prior knowledge/permission?

Where's the "lie"?

[Duckhunter935]

4. He has nothing to apologize over

He let them have the mike even when they refused to talk with him or shake his hand.

[Juicy_Bellows]

13. Completely agree.

Go Bernie!

His staffer sent it out, OK, nothing wrong with the message but Bernie needn't apologize.

[arcane1]

76. They're getting more and more desperate to invent something to smear him with.

What's next, Whitewater?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

145. Bernghazi!

[notadmblnd]

89. If Sanders had not denied that he made an apology

and not told the truth about a staffer doing it without his knowledge- then when the truth about that came out- Bernie would have been proven a liar. He was right to admit he did not apologize.

[840high]

120. ...^ that

[Logical]

247. +1000, BLM should apologize! nt

[whatchamacallit]

5. Hillary Supporters and Chuck Todd

Match made in Heaven.

[L0oniX]

23. ^^^this^^^ with Fox news as brides maid.

[OKNancy]

32. not this one

This is a made up controversy by Todd. It's stupid. Just as stupid as the made up crap about Hillary.

[Vattel]

6. Good for him. That is called refusing to pander.

[840high]

121. Yep +1

[NaturalHigh]

8. Good for him. He doesn't owe them an apology.

[ismnotwasm]

9. Yes, I thought an apology was completely out of character

Not surprised.

[cyberswede]

17. Especially when none was warranted. nt

[ismnotwasm]

19. If you say so

I don't believe Sanders expected, or is even responsible for, such a hideous, racist fall out from his social-media fan base. He says he'll reach out, I'm sure he will. Out of political expediency if not heartfelt feeling

[haikugal]

10. I don't understand why anyone would think he needs to.... why? nt

[SonderWoman]

12. So the staffer was wrong to apologize?

[haikugal]

15. Why would the staffer apologize for Bernie...especially without Bernie saying to.

What does Bernie have to apologize for, I'm still waiting for that information...what did he do that he owed someone an apologie?

[SMC22307]

36. Yes. That is something the staffer should have consulted his boss on.

His boss being Mr. Bernie Sanders.

[rhett o rick]

49. Do you think the staffer was wrong to apologize or not? nm

[Vattel]

72. He or she was a little too nice

[Logical]

248. Yes! nt

[Hydra]

14. Something about being an old white supremist or something

I can't keep track of what we're supposed to be outraged about against the facts, it seems to change by the minute.

[Cleita]

30. Well, it would be hard for Bernie to apologize for being an old white supremacist considering their

top target to hate are Jews.

[KittyWampus]

240. The issue with BLM is black lives being lost to police violence. It hasn't changed.

You really can't keep track of that?

[Hydra]

11. *BWAH!*

Good move- Seattle retracted their apology, only fair to do the same.

[haikugal]

16. When did Seattle apologize and what for, Seattle BLM? nt

[SMC22307]

40. Maybe voting to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr, and to raise property taxes...

to fund Preschool for All. Those white supremacist libruls really suck!

[Hydra]

47. Yes, a Seattle BLM supporter apologized for Marissa and cohort's bad behavior at the SSI event

Seattle main forced them to retract it and say that they were not an actual member and there was no apology forthcoming.

[haikugal]

62. Totally confusing...that happened a while ago..

So nothing at all new or real about this at all. Figures.

[TheFarS1de]

119. That was ...

a few weeks ago , no bearing on this issue . Nice try though .

[misterhighwasted]

20. Way to go Bern..BlackLives don't really matter that much after all

Well, which is it? BLM would like to know?
Blame the staffer for putting words in bern's mouth.
The staffer tried at least.
bern, not so much.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

148. "BlackLives don't really matter that much after all..."

Keep that non-controversy alive by all means.

Well, which is it? BLM would like to know?
Blame the staffer for putting words in bern's mouth.
The staffer tried at least.
bern, not so much.

It's not the staffer's job to make Sanders-level decisions for his boss.


I'm sure you will understand that in time.

[phleshdef]

226. Are you really that simple minded that you believe he has to apologize for doing nothing wrong?

And if black lives didn't matter, Bernie would've have been an activist during the Civil Rights movement. I have no problems with Hillary Clinton and will vote for her if she is the nominee, but this is just disgusting dishonesty coming from some of you.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. Do NOT apologize. It's this simple... there is nothing to apologize FOR.

If someone told me I should apologize to protesters after their aggressive and bullying protest forced an end to the event I was invited to speak at, I'd tell 'em to fuck. off.

[misterhighwasted]

25. I'll let BLM know bernie & his supporters told them to Eff Off

Nothing says "progressive" like telling selected parts of society to F Off.
Total heap of BS.
Thanks bernie!

[cherokeeprogressive]

28. I don't give a fuck what you tell anyone. Let's get that straight right up front, mmmkay?

And I'm not sure you're aware of this... but your math is like totally screwed up. Where'd ya learn to count? "his supporterS"? Pssssst... I'm but a single person. Notice my name; it's singular, not plural (plural being more than one).

Did Bernie Sanders tell someone to "Eff Off"? I don't think I heard or read anything about Bernie Sanders saying anyone to "Eff Off". Do you have a link to where Bernie Sanders told ANYONE to "Eff Off", or are you simply making shit up? My guess is the latter.

Lastly, I don't speak for Bernie Sanders OR his supporters, so if you went anywhere and told anyone that I did, you'd only look like a fool. I speak only for myself (is that even a concept you can understand?). And myself thinks I'd never apologize to anyone, no matter what their cause was, if they used aggressive and bullying behavior, forcing an end to an event I was invited to speak at.

[misterhighwasted]

37. rrrraaarrr.

Why are you so mad?
BLM already knows bernie sanders is not all that interested in taking a walk in their shoes. They already knew it before he (his staffer, ahem) sent out the damage control statement of apology that now appears to not be an apology afterall.
Bernie now has a credibility issue to deal with.
I wonder if he'll be firing the " staffer."

Talk about digging a deep hole.
Good luck bernie.

[cherokeeprogressive]

39. Sometimes I find your posts rambling, with no point being made.

This is one of those times.

[misterhighwasted]

45. No, I'm not the one who just melted down in a tirade of FFF

Have no idea what that was all about.
My post was on topic. An apology was retracted & what does that say?
It's a sick joke on the urgency of those black lives, killed in cold blood by p.d., through this country.

BLMatters knows this today.
And I didn't have to say a word.
Bernie can make it right or he can just surge on.
His choice.

[cherokeeprogressive]

48. Yep. Rambling without a point to make.

[GitRDun]

50. Maybe I can say it simpler

BLM doesn't need Bernie. Bernie needs their votes.

No one's opinion about what happened in Seattle matters, yours, mine anyone's but BLM'S....if you want their votes.

The smart thing to do, if you want their votes, is acknowledge and apologize if BLM felt mistreated.

He doesn't have to acknowledge wrong-doing, just the feelings of a group whose votes he hopes to get.

[jfern]

85. No just "Outside Agitators 206"

needs to F off.

[Cha]

111. BS supporters are saying that in his name.. I think #BlackLivesMatter have gotten the message

since Netroots Nation, mister.

[840high]

122. Go right ahead. I don't care.

[phleshdef]

227. The only people that need to fuck off are the few people who are making BLM look bad...

...with their childish, unproductive behavior. Or suggesting and a Jewish man with grandparents and aunts and uncles who are holocaust survivors has any ties to white supremacy.

[seabeyond]

252. " unproductive behavior." as they created a discussion with the nation. nt

[phleshdef]

255. Those 2 girls in Seattle weren't creating any kind of productive discussion.

They were just being belligerent, the organizer guy is trying to tell them he will let them have the mic after Bernie has spoken and she just keeps screaming "stop talking!!! stop talking!!! stop talking!!!" over and over and over and over. And the other girl is like "you can let us speak or we are shutting down your event, your choice"... how in the fuck is threatening people like that acceptable? And then the girl just calls everyone a bunch of liberal white supremacists. She said nothing of value. Nothing of substance. Nothing intelligent. Nothing that does any justice to the BLM cause, a cause which I whole heartedly believe in. Then she goes online and calls Bernie Sanders a "rich old white man". She is an immature attention grabber and I doubt she gives a shit about any black lives other than her own, based on her actions and things she has said online.

[seabeyond]

256. are you looking around at all the success of gettting the message out, discussion had, attention to?

they exactly accomplished their goal. i guess you and i have a different difinition of success.

whether you agree with them, are angry with them.... hate them or want to tase them..... we sit here talking about them. on du, in our lives, in media, in presidential campaigns.

pretty damn successful for a half hour of work.

[phleshdef]

257. What "message" did they get out? She yelled about liberal white supremacy and made threats.

There was no coherent message there. Plenty of other BLM activists deserve credit for getting a message out there and doing it right. I don't give her or her friend credit for anything other than making the rest of BLM look bad.

[seabeyond]

258. you have to be working at obtuseness if you deny what i am saying. lol

[phleshdef]

261. Back at you.

[seabeyond]

262. that just does not work. du, real life, media, candidates are having blm discussions. it. is. simple

[George II]

118. He wants to represent the people of this country, ALL people.

I'll bet that when he went to Seattle he had NO idea what kind of racial issues they have in Seattle.

On second thought, of course he didn't know - otherwise he wouldn't have called Seattle "one of the most progressive cities in America" (direct quote!).

I'll bet he has no idea that the DOJ had to step in and appoint a Police Monitor to oversee the operation of the Seattle Police Department because of rampant racial violence against the people of Seattle, and that the PD is operating under a DOJ Consent Decree.

And now he has the chutzpah to RETRACT an apology to BLM and state he has nothing to apologize for? He owes the CITY OF SEATTLE an apology for not understanding the issues in the city before he went there to campaign for their votes.

This isn't simply an incident of two women interrupting a campaing appearance by him, it's abject ignorance of what is going on with the people he was supposed to address.

Shameful.

[cherokeeprogressive]

133. He owes the City of Seattle an apology, you say... two paragraphs after you imply Seattle ISN'T one

of the most progressive cities in the US.

How many cities in this country have instituted a $15 per hour minimum wage, or have mandated it and are working toward it? Not progressive?

Keep trying; you're doing it wrong.

[George II]

134. What does that have to do with their PD being under DOJ oversight due to racial violence?

[cherokeeprogressive]

135. Yeah, you're right. NO progressive attitude in Seattle at all.

Silly me.

[nsd]

167. +1 /nt

[Baitball Blogger]

24. As a Latina I don't think it's always that easy to separate

Latino issues from Black American issues, especially when the main concern of a group comes down to the way our police departments are treating people of color. It's not easy to separate because Latinos are genetically so diverse that they will face the same problems that black Americans are facing.

In addition, even if they themselves are Anglo-looking, they may have family members who are Black Americans.

Just throwing it out there. Still haven't fully made up my mind about what is going on with this kerfuffle.

[Cleita]

29. I'm one of those with what is sometimes called a rainbow family

with members covering the spectrum of color.

[NowSam]

26. I was at the L.A. rally and it sure seemed to be a very diverse group supporting Bernie!

No one will fight harder than Bernie to ensure a more just society and everyone is getting hip to that truth.

The media thinks we are stupid. They have nothing but contempt for us. They think we are sleeping but it is they who are asleep. They don't see the phenomenal shift taking place that is rocking the whole world.

Bernie or Bust.

[misterhighwasted]

41. phenomenal shift..rocking the whole world??

NOT.

[NowSam]

64. I am an optimist.

We all have our perceptions and our confirmation biases. I think Bernie's ideas will win the day. I have nothing against your candidate. I just think that it is time to say "No more politics as usual" and to me that means we need more Bernie. Seems like I am not alone in this. Rocking the world? Could happen. Monumental shifts if the minds and hearts of people have happened throughout history. Could be one of those times.

Thanks but to your "Not" I say "Not not."

[azmom]

82. You might enjoy this by Howard Zinn.

Because if you look at history you see the way the labor movement was able to achieve things when it stuck to its guns, when it organized, when it resisted. Black people were able to change their condition when they fought back and when they organized. Same thing with the movement against the war in Vietnam, and the women's movement. History is instructive. And what it suggests to people is that even if they do little things, if they walk on the picket line, if they join a vigil, if they write a letter to their local newspaper. Anything they do, however small, becomes part of a much, much larger sort of flow of energy. And when enough people do enough things, however small they are, then change takes place.

[Ron Green]

27. TOPS

[hootinholler]

31. So, do you have a point?

Yeah, that happened. Looks like honesty to me.

[OKNancy]

34. Todd is just a shit-stirrer n/t

[restorefreedom]

58. it seems to be his mission in life

i guess that is what happens in the absence of talent.

too bad,....mtp could have been a good poli program, instead of a contest to see how much crap they can fling in one hour.

[George II]

35. WTF? After all of this he now feels that an apology wasn't necessary?

That's got to REALLY Bern the BLM movement!

[cherokeeprogressive]

38. Exactly what would you have him apologize for. Be specific. "Please accept my apology for..."

Here's your shot. Take it.

[misterhighwasted]

46. He turned his back & walked away. Twice.

Then apologized and now retracted that apology.

Sick joke on BLMatters.
But this is bernies problem to fix. His staff can't fix this damage.

[Cleita]

43. Should a Jew apologize for being a white supremacist?

I don't think so.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/11/17/white-supremacist-says-he-hoped-to-kill-more-jews-but-he-still-got-his-message-across/

http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/white-supremacists

That is what those women claiming to speak for BLM called him. I don't believe the majority of the BLM movement thinks so either.

[George II]

61. They did NOT call Sanders a "white supremacist" or anything like that. This has been posted..

....too many times but those who post it still can't come up with an actual quote.

When specifically did either of those women call Sanders a "white supremacist"?

[Cleita]

67. Her words.

Marissa Johnson, one of the protesters, shot back, “I was going to tell Bernie how racist this city is, filled with its progressives, but you did it for me,” accusing the audience of “white supremacist liberalism.” She cited Seattle’s own police problems, including an ongoing Justice Department consent decree over use of force.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/black-lives-matter-protesters-shut-down-bernie-sanders-rally/

For one thing, not one white supremacist claims to be a liberal. I know. I lived among them at one time. They are proud to call their politics Nazi. And yes she was accusing the audience of it, people who were disabled and on Social Security, who came to listen to him speak about those issues. But by default it meant Bernie too. You can spin this any way you want to but there is nothing for Bernie to apologize for.

[George II]

68. So you agree that she never called Sanders a "white supremacist".

[Cleita]

69. Ah, ah, no spinning. eom

[George II]

70. Right, no spinning, just a plain old simple statement of fact.

[Cleita]

71. That's a big fact stretch there. It must hurt.

[George II]

93. You posted the accurate quote:

accusing the audience of “white supremacist liberalism.”

The AUDIENCE, not Sanders. Now if you want to extend that to Sanders, that's your right, but it will be a lie.

[Cleita]

94. Why not Sanders and no one else? Has the same thing been said to audiences of candidates like

Donald Trump or Jeb Bush who in fact do have support among White Supremacists? No it hasn't. When they yelled at that audience when Bernie took his turn and none of the other people speaking there that day were interrupted, it sure is an accusation by inference of that person.

[gollygee]

243. Unfortunately, this would be a "shoot self in foot" moment.

I can't see him winning the nomination at this point.

[pa28]

42. Glad he cleared that up.

You don't apologize to people who physically push you away from your own microphone at your own event.

[BeyondGeography]

51. Well played by Sanders

This is a presidential response. Mutual respect is the starting point for any constructive relationship. Such a foreign concept to game players like Todd.

[rhett o rick]

53. Has BLM approached Pres Obama about solving the racial inequality issue?

How about doing something about police shooting unarmed black men? The president has a lot of power and in a better place to help BLM than Sen Sanders.

Why is Sanders the only one that is questioned about this?

[Spazito]

77. Black Lives Matter interrupted President Obama in Selma...

so, I guess Sanders isn't the only one and I guess you have forgotten Martin O'Malley was also 'questioned' at Netroots as well.

Black Lives Matter Protesters Interrupt Obama In Selma

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/03/07/3631178/black-lives-matter-protesters-interrupt-obama-selma/

[zappaman]

84. Oops

Guess the poster overlooked that.

[Spazito]

90. Yes, it seems so but not the only one so it's good to get the facts out...

facts are always good.

[rhett o rick]

157. But Obama is president. He has the power to do something where Sanders does not. Yet Sanders seems

to be a target. Looks like swiftboating to me.

[Spazito]

161. I answered your question. Black Lives Matters protested the President and also...

Martin O'Malley so Senator Sanders isn't the only one.

So Black Lives Matter are swiftboating the President, Martin O'Malley, Jeb Bush and, of course, Senator Sanders. Wow, interesting tactic, lol.

[rhett o rick]

170. Obama has been president for 7 years and they interupted him once? He and Holder did nothing and

the problem got worse on their watch.

"So Black Lives Matter are swiftboating the President," Never said that. Stick to what I actually say please.

The Oligarchy does not want Sanders for president and have billions to Swiftboat him.

It's Sanders that is getting disparaged over the BLM not the other you mentioned, and not by BLM.

How can a Democrat side with the billionaires over the 99%???

Tell me which issues Clinton supports that you prefer over Sanders.

[Spazito]

172. Ahhh, so it is President Obama behind the swiftboating of Senator Sanders?

The cliched "oligarchy" "99%", etc, etc, etc, really is becoming trite. Some new catch phrases are in order I think.

Senator Sanders is simply not the choice for everyone, it's as simple as that. Why is that such a difficult concept for some to understand.

Not being a Clinton supporter, I have no preferences in that direction. Why is it you think anyone who isn't in full throated support of Senator Sanders has to be a Hillary supporter? Do you think Black Lives Matter is a front for the Hillary campaign?

[seabeyond]

174. i thnk i get it now. because, they have to believe.... they have to believe the possibility,

against all odds, of a revolution that will be so great that it will take the house and the senate too, so sanders can pass the laws that he is promoting.

there cannot be any give and take, that one just simply does not believe that sanders woud be a good president, or as good as other options.

the only way for this to work is a mass movement of the majority of the nation, strong majority, stronger than strong to either buckle the now repug senate and house, or ..... a sweeping win in the house by dems. and senate.

it is interesting.

it is also a better understanding of language used, demands made, and no quarter. also, sanders speaks and we are all to listen. while clinton is the total opposite of a tour to listen, as omalley appears to listen to.

all this language is really creating a whole other image for me.

[seabeyond]

176. it also now has me asking, if we are throwing all our dems under the bus, except our independent

democratic socialist and warren, then who are al the dems that will be taking the house, and do we have to ouster al the dems that are in there now.

ohhhh, now it is all getting too hard to figure out.

[Spazito]

184. Well seeing as moderate Dem candidates aren't acceptable, only progressives...

the chances of taking back even the Senate, never mind the House which is locked up by the repubs for years due to redistricting, is slim unless, perish the thought, progressive voters compromise, yikes, I actually typed the word, and vote for moderates. Hmmm, quite the quandary!

[Spazito]

178. It has been, in a strange way, a fascinating thing to watch...

it's as if there is either a complete lack of understanding of how limited the powers of the President are without a strong congress to back him/her or a deliberate avoidance of the reality.

No quarter given, yes, that is what is being put forth, it is interesting to say the least.

[rhett o rick]

196. Funny how you have to twist my words before you can continue your diatribe.

The billionaires are willing to spend billions to get the election to come out how they want it. Tell me that isn't true.

"Do you think Black Lives Matter is a front for the Hillary campaign". Hell no! Do you know what a strawman argument is?

I think it very strange that BLM hasn't done more to get Pres Obama and Holder to help with their cause. The problems have gotten significantly worse during the last 7 years. That's a fact. I can't think of anything that the Pres has done to fix the problem.

[Spazito]

233. "I thing it very strange that BLM hasn't done more to get Pres Obama and Holder...

to help with their cause." "I can't think of anything that the Pres has done to fix the problem."

Black Lives Matter has been in existence for a year and their activities have been, until the candidates declared they were running, at a local and regional level. Maybe Black Lives Matter activists agree with you and don't feel enough has been done by the current President and are going to make very sure the candidates running to be the next President are VERY aware of the "problems" hence the protests you find abhorrent.

Billions will be spent, Senator Sanders has been in Congress, both the House and the Senate for over 20 years, the place where campaign funding bills can be put forth and voted on yet there has been only negative change toward reining in campaign funding by the billionaires. What has the good Senator accomplished on this issue over the 20 years? What bills has he put forward AND gotten passed on the issue of campaign finance that have improved the situation?

[rhett o rick]

237. "hence the protests you find abhorrent. " Sad that you have to change my words to be

able to try to present your case.

I appreciate BLM and would like to see action for their cause. I am extremely disappointed that the Pres has done nothing in the last 7 years while this problem has gotten worse. I am also disappointed that this issue is being used by Clinton supporters to disparage Sen Sanders, the one candidate of all that is most likely to be sympathetic to the cause.

Please try to refrain from twisting my words.

[Spazito]

238. Okay, you say you don't find their protests abhorrent...

I'll take you at your word but in doing that I don't understand the anger at their protests at events where Senator Sanders, and others, are speaking. If you support their cause then you understand their actions as well I'm assuming.

President Obama has been in office 7 years, Senator Sanders for over 20 years, it seems to me Senator Sanders has had much more time and opportunity to do something about the "problems" and I'm interested in what he has done in those 20 plus years. I am assuming you are a supporter of the Senator so you would have answers to my questions quite readily. I look forward to seeing your response and listing of his accomplishments in this area of concern.

Black Lives Matters don't need sympathy for their concerns, they need action which is why they do what they are doing.

[rhett o rick]

241. Pres Obama is the president of the USofA. He has a DoJ working directly for him.

During his presidency the problem of police killing unarmed black men has exploded. As far as I know, he has not done anything to remedy the problem. If he can't, why would you think that the next president can? Racism is a problem going back to forever.

I support BLM and I support protests, but find it very, very strange that they picked out the one candidate that might be helpful to their cause. By roughly taking over the mic at the Social Security event in Seattle, they gave the Clinton supporters ammunition to disparage Sen Sanders. That's very convenient for Clinton who is spending her time having tea for $2,700 a cup with the 1%, whom I bet aren't a very diverse group.

[Spazito]

242. Hmmm, still no information on what Senator Sanders has accomplished in this area...

interesting.

Is it beyond the ken of some Senator Sanders supporters to understand not everyone who isn't supporting Senator Sanders and are pointing out campaign errors are Hillary Clinton supporters? They could well be undecided or simply not 'feeling the Bern'.

Actually the police killing of unarmed black men, racial profiling has been going on for a very long time, the difference is there is now the ability to capture on video their actions making it harder for the media and the public to ignore it.

A President, any President, can't do what needs to be done to make the changes without the support of both the Senate and the House yet I see no discussion on the down ticket races, races that can ACTUALLY result in making the necessary changes. Putting all of one's eggs in only the Presidential basket is an exercise in futility, imo, and almost certainly ensures failure to change anything from a left perspective.

[aikoaiko]

189. You should watch the video; the protesters didn't actually interrupt the President.

I think an editor messed up that headline.

If you watch the video of the Selma speech, which was excellent, you can't even hear the protesters.

[Spazito]

192. They did beat drums and chant which was an interruption on their part, it didn't last long ...

the President continued to speak throughout and his speech was excellent, indeed, and included talking about Ferguson, an issue Black Lives Matter were chanting about.

The question I was answering was why Black Lives Matter wasn't trying to get the President's attention and it was clear they had been trying to do just that.

[NOLALady]

253. And that's a fact.

I heard them. I didn't see them as they were around a corner from me, about 75 feet away.

[Spazito]

254. Thanks, NOLALady, for your first person verification of what happened...

it is much appreciated!

[moobu2]

54. Looks like Bernie's doing a little triangulation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. I knew you would find a way to misuse this

please, keep fanning the flames for sick political ends.

I do not think you will ever understand the actual damage you (and your pals) are doing.

[seabeyond]

56. said it again. flat out. no equivocating. reaching out to working class. reaching out to middle clas

he mention no one else until the next question, then he starts including others.

middle class and working class.

then when we point it out, because we BELIEVE that is his focus, we are jumped on.

sigh....

i thought he was gonna get that out of his speech. but, nope. he is clear.

reaching out to working class nad middle class. now seniors and blacks, get on board, you are included. say what?

am i seeing this wrong? 4 decades. working class, middle class. he has been consistent.

i do not know why people expect us not to take him at his word. i believe....

[GitRDun]

57. I find the lack of understanding of the human condition in this thread staggering.

Why does the Seattle incident need to be dealt with as a zero sum game?

I guess the Sanders crew would rather risk losing votes than acknowledge BLM's perspective.

You can apologize if someone felt hurt without agreeing that it was your intent to hurt them.

I like Bernie, but this was a mistake. We'll see if it costs him.

[cherokeeprogressive]

59. You want nothing more than a crocodile apology. The kind that's out there but doesn't mean anything

I don't think the word apology means what you think it means.

"I apologize if my remarks offended anyone."

"I'm sorry I (insert something here). It was wrong, I apologize, and I'll try my best to never do (insert something here) again. Please accept my apology."

The first quote above is nothing more than a crocodile apology, no more sincere than crocodile tears. It's a political CYA. The second quote is an actual apology.

Bernie Sanders doesn't owe anyone an apology; therefore, giving one would be most insincere.

[GitRDun]

65. Really?

"I am sorry if you felt hurt by the way things were handled in Seattle.

I think your organization is important for our country. Perhaps we can find ways to work together and integrate your group and its message into my campaign."

That is NOT a crocodile apology...it's called being a human being! You acknowledge their feelings, offer to be an ally.

There is nothing difficult here. The problem seems to be an unwillingness to ever say Bernie could have handled something better.

[TDale313]

74. No apology necessary,

But he is listening and addressing the issues (and reaching out to BLM from what I understand) This Sanders supporter is glad BLM is pressing.

[seabeyond]

75. i wonder who the staffer was. do we know? could it be the new blm spokewoman for the AA issues?

maybe she felt it would behoove the campaign in reaching out with an apology. you know, what sanders hired her for.

now that the thought is there, i am really curious who the staff member was.

[Senator Tankerbell]

78. The staffer was African-American outreach coordinator Marcus Ferrell

http://www.buzzfeed.com/darrensands/sanders-campaign-reaches-out-to-black-lives-matter-activists#.fvEnK80xB

He was apologizing for the campaign staff (i.e. himself) not getting in touch with activists sooner. He was not apologizing for anything Sanders did or didn't do. This is another made up controversy from fierce defenders of the established political class.

[seabeyond]

79. thanks for info. i like info. gonna read in a second. might get back. BUT....

This is another made up controversy from fierce defenders of the established political class.

are you referring to media. meet the press. whoever this dude is interviewing? cause he is the one that asked the question. and sanders is the one to respond. if it had nothing to do with sanders but something totally different, why did sanders say what he did? if he did not know about it, all he had to say was he didnt know, since it was something totally different. your comment does not jive what bernie himself said.

not that i care that much. and good on the staffer for his move apologizing for not reaching out sooner. i feel that is perfectly appropriate. and that being the case, again i ask

why did sanders answer as he did.

anyway. thanks for clearing that piece up. i will go in and read your link

[Spazito]

80. Well, it seems the staffer was thrown under the bus...

publicly. Not good. Campaign staff speak on behalf of the candidate, "our campaign" actually includes the candidate, in this instance Senator Sanders.

[seabeyond]

81. well. that didnt take long. i do not get your point. sounds pretty simple.

Sanders Campaign Reaches Out To Black Lives Matter Activists: “I Apologize It Took Our Campaign So Long”

In an email to activists obtained by BuzzFeed News, Bernie’s African-American outreach director proposes a formal meeting between the senator and the activists who have disrupted his campaign this summer. Update: On Meet the Press Sunday, Bernie said he did not think his campaign needed to apologize to activists for the delay in reaching out.

cool that they are sitting up a meeting. they are behind in that.

[Senator Tankerbell]

87. My point was about Chuck Todd asking a tricky question

but also people who try to use this to score points. Like saying "see? he apologized so that means he did something wrong." Or saying he's throwing a staffer under the bus. I think the staffer should probably have checked the language with Bernie or other members of the campaign but it really isn't a big deal. Yet there are now several news articles about Sanders saying he doesn't owe an apology. It's all just a distraction from the real issues.

[seabeyond]

88. ya. you think it a distraction. the problem is, sanders considers it a distraction.

many sanders supporters see it as a distraction. and here in lies the problem that is not going away. innately you all feel it is a distraction and blm and women and gays and latinos.... do not feel it is a distraction.

for sanders to blatantly state that the campaign is reaching out to working class and middle class (which has been code for white regardless of what sanders or anyone else wants to make it), and then dismiss the apology as he did was a misstep in the campaign once again.

not my problem. sanders is a big boy. but when this blm issue is front page looking directly at his campaign and he makes this move, do not expect everyone to see it as a distraction as you and sanders and others do.

that alone just furthers the conversation. like i have done right here and now, addressing your claim it is a distraction.

what it is, is consistent with who sanders has been for the last four decades in the public eye. so no surprise. one of the reason running independent worked better for him than within a party.

again, a uniqueness about sanders that has its advantages and certainly disadvantages.

[Senator Tankerbell]

103. Don't tell me how I feel. Thanks.

I am a supporter of BLM.

[seabeyond]

106. YOU told me how you feel. " just a distraction". your welcome.

[Senator Tankerbell]

112. I was speaking about this campaign email in particular

you decided to extrapolate from there and make assumptions.

[GitRDun]

163. It's not an extrapolation

It's what you said...and what you said has meaning.

[Senator Tankerbell]

177. The meaning was misinterpreted.

[Number23]

95. Holy Shit. Seriously. Fucking Holy fucking shit.

So he hires an African American outreach guy who does what he's hired to do, and then openly and very PUBLICLY disavows the work he's doing to reach out to those black voters he was hired to reach out to.

Holy Fucking Shit.

[Senator Tankerbell]

97. If you really believe that is the truth

I don't know what to tell you.

[Number23]

98. Your link says the AA Outreach guy -- hired by the Sanders campaign -- wrote the apology

Now Bernie is disavowing the apology. Very loudly and very publicly.

What else is there to infer from this?

[seabeyond]

104. that is how i read it too. i thought if it was the public speaker woman he hired, wow.

but not much different it being the AA outreach dude.

[Number23]

108. How could anyone interpret this differently than the way I did?? What was the point of Sanders even

hiring these people if he's going to backtrack on the (EXTREMELY necessary) steps they are doing to improve his absysmal standings in minority communities??? Hopefully somebody will help him see that this is the last thing he needs to be doing.

And by the way -- SEABEYOND!!!!!!

[seabeyond]

116. well, watching the video i was surprised to hear him blatantly, clearly say... we are reaching out

to middle class and working class. that is specific language. that is what got him in trouble in the first place. then the very next moment he states clearly, not his apology, a staffer did it without approval.

how are people suppose to interpret this.

as he DEMANDs that we all know he has for a LIFETIME worked for the disadvantaged. yet his plans state a tonedeafness and blindness to the unlevel field.

i swear, it is all so clear and visible, yet... those that cannot see.

and btw.... it is about damn time, lol. that was a looooong one. thanks for helping to keep me sane letting me speak out thru pms.

[Cha]

109. Exactly. And, weird, too.

[BainsBane]

143. He has to know what his supporters have been doing

He heard what the crowd in Seattle was saying. Yet his responses is to disown the apology to Black Lives Matter. I don't know about you, but I read that as saying he doesn't need or want their votes.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

150. Perhaps you need glasses?

...?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

149. OhMyGosh, OhMyGosh,OhMyGosh! Bernghazi!

Enough with the pearl clutching. let it go.

[Number23]

151. I can't tell what's worse. You entering a thread, scrolling all the way to the end to type this

foolishness or your idea that I or anyone else on this board has to let ANYTHING go, and especially something that directly affects my community and my vote. Just because you said to.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

154. Well excuse me alllllll over the place, but...

this is GD-P. If one throws around baseless accusations, flies off the handle at the drop of a hat and acts really horribly to others then they will be called on it.

If you can't handle it then put me on ignore.

[Number23]

155. You are the one attacking me and the OP. When you're not trying to dictate what I should and should

not be talking about as if you have any standing to do so whatsoever. So it's precious and adorable that you are burning calories trying to pretend that I'm doing to others what you are doing to me as if no one can see that.

Follow your own advice. Put me on ignore, trash the thread or just leave me alone. Any of those options work for me.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

159. Actually I was pointing out your apparently innate ability to blow things out of proportion.

Thou doth protest too much, and playing the victim where you are obviously not doesn't doesn't move me.

Throwing inaccurate invective at Senator Sanders, by you in post #95, is laughable.


I pointed it out, and you don't like that. Perfectly understandable.

[Number23]

198. Allow me to help you with this.

I can be as upset/concerned/disappointed by whatever the fuck I want to be upset/concerned/disappointed about. It has absolutely nothing to do with you and never will. Now, if YOU don't like that, it's probably a very good thing I couldn't care less.

You haven't pointed out any "invective" or anything I've said that's untrue. I have EVERY right to question Sanders reaction to #BLM or ANYTHING ELSE I want to question him about and if you don't like that, put me on ignore or just buzz off. But I'll be damned if you are going to tell me what I will talk about around here. Do you understand that now?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

203. Oh, I'm sure that you can be many things... whatever you want to be.

But it has everything to do with me if I choose to respond to your, IMHO, over the top performance.

Whether or not you care less is of little significance since you had the "care" to respond back to me. So in a way you show that you really do care.

You haven't pointed out any "invective" or anything I've said that's untrue.

If you say so...

I have EVERY right to question Sanders reaction to #BLM or ANYTHING ELSE I want to question him about...

I'm sure you feel that way. I usually don't create drama for drama's sake, but that's just me.

But I'll be damned if you are going to tell me what I will talk about around here. Do you understand that now?

One can write about whatever they feel is the most important to them at the moment, and I will continue to point out their over the top performance...if and when it happens.

And in the same way that you would appreciate me not wanting you to tell me what to do i'll exercise my free will jus like you.

[Number23]

206. More than one person has responded to you to let you know that you aren't pointing out

anything or trying to do anything but bully me to stop talking about an issue that has you crying in your Kool Aid. Like that would work. Like that has EVER worked.

You haven't intelligently refuted ONE THING I've said. All you've done is run around this thread attacking everyone who disagrees with you. Which is the calling card of someone who realizes they have no point to make at all and are on the wrong side of an issue.

[Cha]

219. "... that has you crying in your Kool Aid." Snap!

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

224. And I have responded, IMHO, by pointing out

the over the top behavior of some who seemingly need to find a scandal that does not exist.

You haven't intelligently refuted ONE THING I've said.

Opinions vary.

[seabeyond]

162. "baseless accusations" sanders hires black people to address black issues, then throws them under

the bus.

what part is baseless?

he hired an AA public relations. the man did his job. sanders dismissed him and his actions on tv.

again. what is the baseless accusation? looks like facts to me.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

175. Well firstly #23 blows what Sanders has said out of proportion in grand scale no less.

I've come to expect that.

And now you are talking about Sanders throwing a staffer "under the bus."

Both are baseless accusations.

A staffer sent out something that probably should have been cleared first, and the Senator was correcting that for the record.

Senator Sanders

“Well, that was sent out by a staffer, not by me,” Sanders replied. “Look, we are reaching out to all kinds of groups. Absolutely I met with folks at Black Lives Matter. We’re reaching out to Latino groups. We’re reaching out to the unions.”

Chuck Toad:

“I understand that you said a staffer put it out, but you felt an apology was necessary?” Todd pressed the senator.

Senator Sanders

“No, I don’t. I think we’re going to be working with all groups. This was sent out without my knowledge,” Sanders said.

Sanders added: “On the issue of Black Lives Matter, let me very clear, the issue that they are raising is a very very important issue. And there is no presidential candidate who will be stronger in fighting against institutional racism and, by the way, reforming a broken criminal justice system.”

End.

I understand that some things have to be blown out of proportion by some DUers. If they aren't then nobody would pay attention to them.

[seabeyond]

180. you may not define it as throwing the man under the bus. your right. doesnt mean you are right.

again. ntohing baseless but facts. he hires AA to communicate with the AA community and then when they do, as SOME define it, he throws them under the bus on national tv.

the AA man sent the apology to shore up the issues he had already created with blm. that is his job. that is why he was hired. then on national tv sanders called him out for it.

facts

nothing baseless about it.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

182. Good luck, seabeyond. Good luck to you and #23.

I really don't believe that your memes are going to stick, but good luck trying.

[seabeyond]

186. you throw out bseless, insults and demands. i gently hand you facts. luck has nothing to do with it.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

187. Whatevah ya say.

That reminds me. I'm going to give to Bernie's campaign again this week. I'll tell him you said hello.

[Bobbie Jo]

213. And this attitude is precisely why

he won't be getting a dime from me.

Keep it up, folks.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

225. LOL. Poor you.

Bernie won't get a dime from you because his supporters are actually not going to take crap from the pearl clutchers and self sreving screamers: looking for non-existent scandals!

The horror!

It seems to me that you wouldn't be giving a dime to his campaign anyway: regardless of what his supporters say or do.

[Bobbie Jo]

229. The mean-spirited arrogance

is a real turn off.

Thanks again for the demonstration.

Look forward to the next installment.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

232. I don't apologize for pointing out the bad behavior of

of those who tirelessly look for contrived Bernie scandals.



Carry on.

[Bobbie Jo]

235. Don't care.

You do the same.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

236. "Don't care."

That's obvious.

[seabeyond]

158. insult then make a demand. wow. arent you da man. nt

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

160. I pointed out the farce of post #95. Gender has nothing to do with it.

[seabeyond]

166. no, you insult then make a demand. that does make you da man, right?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

168. Try re-reading post #160, slowly, I would recommend.

[Spazito]

169. Gee, Senator Sanders must be so proud to count you among his supporters n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

179. For pointing out the obvious? Perhaps.

[Number23]

199. That man will need a miracle to survive this primary season with the quality of his "supporters"

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

205. If you say so...

[Number23]

207. Why don't you stop making such a spectacle out of yourself in this thread

How in God's name you think this is helping ANYONE is simply beyond me.

All you've done is prove with your hysterical responses that you know Sanders fucked up as much as the rest of us do but don't have the integrity to admit it.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

218. LOL. You're funny.

I certainly get a kick out of watching you post over the top invective against Senator Sanders, and then when that is pointed out go on the defensive "victim" schtick.

All you've done is prove with your hysterical responses that you know Sanders fucked up as much as the rest of us do but don't have the integrity to admit it.

Opinions vary.

[Spazito]

234. I've seen many campaigns, many elections over the years and have NEVER seen...

the behavior of supporters of a preferred candidate do so much damage to the candidate they purport to support. It is truly mind-boggling.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

244. Yes, especially when they invent fake outrage

in the form of a BLM showdown; calling Liberals supremists and the such.

There's definately too misdirected anger.

[Spazito]

245. LOL, the irony of you posting this is hilarious and yet totally expected...

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

251. If you say so...

[Number23]

264. It is. And they have been called out so many times by so many people it's insane

I mean literally, half the freaking Internet has called these people out. I've seen almost as many articles about the caliber of Sanders supporters as I've seen about him. And they keep doing it, almost as if they simply cannot help themselves.

Sanders deserves so much better.

[Spazito]

267. I agree, Senator Sanders is a fine man, he deserves better from his some of his supporters...

then he is presently getting, imo. There are some very good supporters of his here as well but, unfortunately, they are being drowned out by those who are doing damage, again imo.

[lunamagica]

164. It was him? Oh, my...

I wonder if he'll resign over this...

[Number23]

265. I think that's a perfectly reasonable question, luna. I am wondering the same thing myself

[Bluenorthwest]

86. When will Obama apologize for the McClurkin Rallies? For Rick Warren's attacks on LGBT people?

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2015, 07:52 PM - Edit history (2)

He won't. He should because those were actual insensitive actions on his part, insulting, intentional pandering to bigots, using bigots and actual bigotry as tools.

He has been asked many times to apologize, McClurkin called us vampires, Warren called us pedophiles, Obama called them friends and brothers in Christ.

So let me know when you have some actual complaint.

Obama Rally With McClurkin's rant, accepted by his ardent supporters as the proper way to treat others:

America's Inaugural Minister:

What ever happened to do unto others, folks?

[840high]

125. ,+1

[JI7]

200. and Obama lost the LGBT vote to Clinton in the Primary and he got less LGBT votes than Kerry did

so for Sanders to win votes don't you think he should do something differently than Obama did ?

[elana i am]

113. the toad's fucking "gotcha journalism"

i read the letter. it wasn't even an actual apology. it was just pro forma mass mail schmoozing.

[grasswire]

123. Hillary's peeps here are starting to sound desperate.

Batten the hatches, as Bern keeps accelerating in the hearts and minds of America.

[Marr]

138. Yep.

I don't know who the Hillary supporters think they're fooling.

[Cha]

127. I'll tell ya one thing.. #BlackLIvesMatter didn't ask Marissa Johnson to "apologize" to BS.

[Starry Messenger]

128. Awkward.

[Marr]

136. Anyone who is now saying he should apologize, or let someone else's apology stand

is clearly not at all interested in being allies, and is just straining to portray Sanders as the enemy. It's odd how many of those overlap with Hillary supporters as well.

How strange.

[seabeyond]

140. so. hire black people to address the black issue and throw them under the bus when they do. right?

[sheshe2]

146. great outreach from the BS campaign.

under the bus they go......

[seabeyond]

171. it really is an interesting phenomonon, if not predictable. 40 years

in the public life, i say we believe what he is saying to us.

still, interesting.

[Marr]

181. Are you bothered that Clinton's campaign locked BLM out of her rally?

Do you really think no one notices this goofy, inconsistent 'outrage'?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

183. It's Bernghazi!

Oh noes!

[Marr]

185. Completely-- it's just absurd.

Hillary fans get so pathetically worked up about their manufactured 'outrages', and excitedly egg each other on, like they're desperately trying to convince each other, 'we've got 'em now!'.

It's just sad.

[Senator Tankerbell]

193. I call it willfully-obtuse concern-trolling.

You're right. It is sad.

[seabeyond]

188. i like facts. from all accounts and i have heard of none differing, blm was late arriving and

the doors were locked. they were put in the overflow room. clinton then went into the room and talked to them afterward. i have not heard blm make any negative comment contradicting the fact. they made it there late and the room had been locked down. another fact, that is what happens with a x first lady.

so no, i am not bothered that once the room was locked down, that blm was then taken to an over flow room. i thought it quite appropriate that clinton went in afterwards to talk to them.

not the first time she has met with blm. i doubt if it will be the last.

so, tell me where this goofy outrage should be directed in regards to clinton?

or, have you come upon some information that contradicts the facts that we have been given?

[Marr]

190. How did I know you wouldn't be bothered by that?

If it were Sanders, you'd be bothered by it.

Look-- I understand you want Hillary Clinton to beat Bernie Sanders in the primary. But campaigning like a Republican doesn't help anyone. You're just attacking Sanders for made up, nonsensical, non-controversies that you would never in a million years fault your own candidate for, and you know it. Everyone else knows it, too.

It's just... dumb.

[seabeyond]

191. blm wasnt bothered, they got there late. they knew they got there too late.

what do you want? security to totally break protocol? totally change the way secret service does their job? seriously?

clinton isnt my candidate. i am still holding out for omalley.

[Marr]

194. Oh no! Can't have security break protocol for a few dead black teenagers!

Are you even listening to yourself? If the Sanders campaign had said the same thing and chosen to just push BLM off the stage in Seattle, you would still be screaming about it, and you know it.

And god, can we be adults here and drop the 'I'm not for Clinton yet' line? If you do nothing but defend and praise one candidate while attacking their most prominent opponent on the flimsiest of 'charges', it's plain as day who you support. I don't know why so many Hillary fans are doing this, unless it's because they think it makes these attacks seem less campaign-oriented. If so, it isn't working.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

195. No, it isn't working, but it is hilarious to watch it unfold.

[Autumn]

144. This makes me happy, Bernie had no reason to apologize. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

215. This thread demonstrates why ...

It is a good thing that some DUers are not heads of state.

It, also, shows how some Duers are similiar to the right ... Apologize? Never!

[MannyGoldstein]

216. "Apologize? Never!"

I see neither those words nor that sentiment.

[1StrongBlackMan]

217. Of course, you don't. n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

228. OK. nt

[Logical]

250. LOL, nice try. Nt

[dragonfly301]

231. One thing I learned from this incident

is that the Bernie campaign hired a AA outreach staffer the week BEFORE Netroots Nation. If you just follow the posts here and on DKos you would think that the Sanders campaign are a bunch of white bumpkins from Vermont who had never met a black person before Tia Oso commandeered the stage at NN.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/07/black-lives-movement-is-altering-democratic-race.html

[William769]

246. Oops!

[randome]

249. OMG, Sanders is so inept! If he can't secure his own staff, who knows what mischief will ensue?!

The MSM will never let this go! He's DOOMED!


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