Top Sanders surrogate fires back at Obama

[n2doc]

By NICK GASS 01/25/16 12:42 PM EST


One of Bernie Sanders' top advisers fired back at President Barack Obama's remarks about the state of the 2016 presidential race, saying that the president's characterization to POLITICO that Hillary Clinton stands at a disadvantage in contrast to a "bright, shiny object that people ... haven't seen before" sounds awfully familiar.

"Well, I think that’s the parallel to his own journey eight years ago, and I was actually supporting him then, that he offered hope," senior campaign adviser Larry Cohen, a former labor leader, told CNN. "And I think Bernie and actually all of the Democratic candidates are about a positive vision of the future. Bernie’s is about change, not just continuity in the similar way that then-Senator Obama was talking about change. And Bernie’s talking about, why can’t we have higher education that doesn’t leave our kids burdened with ridiculous debt? And why can’t we have Medicare for all? And why can’t we, even though the path would be difficult, imagine a country where people are working and they’re looking forward to a better America."

Cohen remarked that in selecting her as secretary of state, the president "made a political decision after that election to unite with that part of the Democratic Party."

"And I would say to him, with all due respect, Mr. President, the same kind of change that you had hoped to work for, Bernie is trying to continue on that path, not go back to the 1990s of President Clinton," he said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/bernie-sanders-obama-politico-interview-218191#ixzz3yHbUATpF

Zing!

[jillan]

1. Amen to that!

[AllTooEasy]

48. Bullshit: Clinton's 90s were economically awesome

In fact, that was the best economic decade anybody alive and over 30 can remember. Better than any Repuke wants to admit. Bill's economy WAS The Good Ole Days. I remember quitting my job on Friday without any prospects and finding a %20 higher paying job by the next Friday. I did that twice while Bill was president. It was effing great!!! ...and I'm Black. For Whites, that time had to be paradise.

Then came w. President Obama helped the nation recover, but not even close to Bill's standard.

Bill's economic legacy is Hillary's major advantage. How the hell is attacking that legacy going to help Bernie? Especially when Bernie supporters have so many legitimate reasons to denounce Hillary.

That criticism is like the Dallas Cowboys saying they don't want a QB like Aikman again.

[libdem4life]

49. You do realize that we paid dearly for those "Good Ole Days" when the bill (small b) came

for the outrageous over-spending dues. You know, those blacks and poor people scamming the system that got blamed for the mortgage meltdown? The loan officers and real estate agents made fortunes. The financial advisors and hedge fund managers et al got super wealthy. It was a big party and Bill Clinton was leading the parade.

Then...the Piper needed to be paid, we now refer to it as the Bailout. Yes, we paid dearly. Bill Clinton's Administration was built on financial smoke and mirrors. Ask any financial expert from the time, or familiar with it...it was a Slick Willy Production at its finest.

Now, we're going to do it yet again...with his wife? That's what you call big helpings of seconds at a banquet.

How does she get 6 figures for speeches...see above. How did the Clinton Foundation get started and reel in "contributions"? see above.

[kristopher]

50. Clinton doesn't get credit for the tech boom.

He does get the credit for deregulation of the financial sector though. And that laid the groundwork for the Crash under Bush.

[mdbl]

56. Lucky for Bill that Al Gore invented the internet

that had a lot to do with it.

[2pooped2pop]

2. This

that last sentence.

[katsy]

3. Memo to future presidents

Stay out of the primary process unless the Democrats run the equivalent of a tRump.

BS supporter here. Like Hillary a lot. Love MOM hope he's indicative of our future. Really hope he's considered as vp to pave the way.

I hate primary season. PBO, please apologize and stay quiet until we elect our nominee.

[marlakay]

40. I wonder if she pushed him because she helped him in general in 08

after he won primaries and then needed her voters.

I think he wanted to stay out, coming out now almost seems to me like she put pressure on.

[katsy]

41. Idk but I hope our leaders aren't thinking about engaging

in any type of circular firing squad.

They should, as the adults in the next election, speak to the issues only.

[roguevalley]

4. bright shiny object. Another one on the No Hope Tour of Busted Dreams (tm) I voted for him for that

very reason. He was a shining object of hope. What a slap in the face.

[840high]

15. yep

[kath]

18. We were conned. Bigtime.

[Peregrine Took]

27. + 100 n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

34. Yes we were. nt

[BigBearJohn]

70. +1000

[KoKo]

65. Yes... I , too, felt it was a slap in the face for him to say that..n/t

[monmouth4]

5. I hope the President hasn't forgotten his roots....n/t

[totodeinhere]

6. I wish that Obama would just stay out of it for now. Once we get a nominee then let him endorse

him or her. But we don't need his meddling at this point in the campaign.

[wendylaroux]

7. he and Hillary are more moderate,

he said that in the beginning.but,we all were dazzled by his shininess.

Never again,for this old lady--remember:

[chapdrum]

19. "Funny" how so few remember

Even though we had to live through eight years of this spectacular charade.

[tecelote]

8. I want to know what Bernie asks so often...

If so many other nations can do it, why can't America?

[demwing]

9. The Mendacity of Nope

and "The Pragmatism of My Father" - books Obama should have written...

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Afreakin'men!

Perfect comeback.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[SoapBox]

11. So...Fucking...Pissed...Off!

I was just out walking the dog and saw this starting to pop up all over the place.

Well, gee Mr. President...nice that you would stoop to something so immature and just plain nasty...I take that as a personal insult.

Now, can we talk TPP where even MORE millions of Americans will be screwed or lose their job?

I am so pissed off.

[dogman]

22. Maybe that is his idea to protect his legacy.

Bernie might get us closer to Obama's promises. TPP is a big deal for Obama.

[MissDeeds]

37. I am too

What a colossally dumb assed, condescending thing for him to say.

[Duval]

12. Love the "Zing!" Right on, n2doc!

[Plucketeer]

13. Once Bernie takes office

I'm betting there'll be a helluva lot more hope 'n change than we got with the last shiny object. Of course, there IS quite a bit of difference between glass and diamond.

[mdbl]

55. The only hope I have is for a strong veto pen

because the whacko repugs in congress will just keep passing POS after POS legislation.

[SoapBox]

14. HERE is a Useless Today article/opinion that drove up my blood pressure...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2016/01/24/wolff-sanders-could-make-trump-president/79174744/

Get ready to be furious!

Hoping more Berners will post comments.

[840high]

16. With all due respect..

shut up Mr. President.

[SammyWinstonJack]

36. No respect from me, simply shut up Mr. President!

[chervilant]

29. The responses to that sophomoric

propaganda piece are a sad glimpse of the under-educated and easily manipulated people comprising the voting population of this nation.

SMDH...

[blackspade]

17. That is not what I would call "firing back".....

More like a measured response.

[vanlassie]

20. But does he not recall that we voted for him

And NOT HER last time??? But we're supposed to want her now?

[dorkzilla]

39. Because TPP nt

[Phlem]

21. No surprise. The thirdway backing up the thirdway.

The establishment going after Sanders. Plenty more of this to come.

[tomm2thumbs]

23. I'm sure thoughtful Iowa voters will be pleased to be equated with silly birds chasing bits of foil

Especially after they gave President Obama his start....

Maybe he needs to re-examine his thoughtful commentary on Iowa voters...

[retrowire]

24. Totally agree.

Now let's all prepare ourselves for a flogging for not worshipping at holy Obama's feet. The Hillary Supporters will be certain to shame us about this. lol

[SoapBox]

26. Until they decide to turn on him...

[SoapBox]

25. Time to make more donations.

[INdemo]

28. President Obama was also tied to Wall St and Goldman Sachs for Campaign funding

Former Wall St and Goldman Sachs Execs were appointed to his cabinet and also advisors.




https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/splash

[Ino]

30. I'm willing to bet...

the people who voted for Obama in the 2008 primary, are the ones voting for Sanders this time.

I doubt there are many who voted for Obama then, but want Hillary now.

What a slap in the face!

[Peregrine Took]

31. I'm seeing lots of anti Bernie articles in the last few days....reminds me of Howard Dean in Iowa.

Everyone was so optimistic and excited back then yet in a matter of days, it began to get ugly.
We came from out of state to help out before the caucus to cheer at rallies, and, all of sudden we were told to remove any reference we had (signs, etc) to our home states. The DNC and their lackies in the media turned on us as "latte drinking Saab driving" elites who came in from out of town to herd the backward masses in Iowa.
The whole mood changed, the balloon had been punctured. I coudn't believe how fast it happened - obviously all planned in advance to stop the populist stampede to Dean
I hope I'm wrong. The establishment is tremendously hard to fight and it gets harder all the time.

[Geronimoe]

32. Speaking Tour

In a year Obama, will be making a fortune giving speeches to Goldman Sachs, and others.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

33. For not endorsing a primary candidate

it sure sounded like he was leaning.

[Geronimoe]

35. Et tu, Obama?

Hillary has to wear high heels while Bernie has to campaign with the establishment stabbing him in the back five times each and every day.

Yet again Hillary is the victim. And voters for Bernie are mesmerized by shiny objects; of human right to health care, affordable education and a living wage.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

38. hallelujah!

it's also called spine

[pangaia]

42. It is unfortunate that Obama has to endorse any candidate in the primaries.

But, since you threw down the gauntlet, sir.... I'M VOTING FOR THE BRIGHT SHINY OBJECT.

[billhicks76]

43. Obama Burned Us After Election

He refused to fight the repubs. From NSA to economic reforms. Worst of all he pushed TPP and stacked government with lobbyists. Exactly the opposite of what he promised. He doesn't want a fight about this if he wants to keep his poll ratings up.

[mhatrw]

44. Shiny Third Way backs dull Third Way over New Deal way. nt

[n8dogg83]

45. The corporate media is trying to set this up as a brawl between Obama and Bernie's supporters.

Don't fall into the trap! I think Cohen's response was a good one. Obama was once considered the "bright & shiny object", the starry-eyed idealist who was running on impossible hopes and dreams. We are simply trying to pick up the mantle of the 08 candidate Obama and continue it to its logical conclusion. To my fellow Bernie supporters: please, please, please do not trash Obama for saying what he said. It was nowhere near as bad as they media are trying to make it. As an AA, it would be a huge mistake for us to take to the internet and trash this president if we ever hope to get significant support from the AA community. We should be focused on letting the AA community know through our outreach efforts how much we want to make progress on the agenda that Obama was campaigning on way back when.

[hopemountain]

59. +++^^^+++ here! here!

well stated. the media is boldly stating that obama endorsed hillary when he did no such thing. he was very care to NOT endorse her.

[ieoeja]

46. O makes accurate description of this election. S surrogate agrees, draws parallels with O's election

Thought Politico could use a little help with their headline.

[Uncle Joe]

47. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, n2doc.

[The Polack MSgt]

51. So I read the interview...

That WaPo characterized as "undercutting" Senator Sanders. I disagree with that POV.

The President was even handed and praised both of the leading Democratic front runners IMHO.

Here on DU, it seems that anything other than declarations of undying love for every facet of Senator Sanders' positions and policies is viewed as an attack on him. That is not accurate.

But what seems counter productive are the gleeful attacks on President Obama by Sanders supporters here on DU.

If you want to build a winning coalition of Democrats this obvious disdain of The President hurts you.

Senator Sanders has been a Democrat for a very short time and called for Obama to be primaried in '12. So a lot of us middle ground Democrats need to be convinced.

I feel that attacking all things Democrat is a poor strategy to convince me, or the millions of others who have to vote for Senator Sanders if he wants to win.

Of course you could always call me a corporate stooge or a closet repuke or a payed "Shillarian" - That would probably help

Peace

[Robbins]

53. Another clinton supporter in bernie group

your not going to find much support here.

[The Polack MSgt]

54. Came in from the link on the main page...

And didn't realize this was the Sanders group.

Thought it was GD-P

Certainly explains the statements about the President tho.

I'm out, sorry to intrude

[Nyan]

52. Something tells me Obama's not gonna be an outsider like Jimmy Carter

after he leaves office.
It looks like he's gonna try and make the best out of the "presidency" resume. You know, like taking those speaking fees and whatnot.

[840high]

57. I believe you are right. $$$

[Babel_17]

58. The party's nerds/poll takers will eventually spell things out to the party

It will be like a Venn diagram, and a solid Democratic victory will soon only be able to happen with the enthusiastic new support that Senator Sanders campaign has tapped into. It isn't the nerds job to tell our party what to do with that info, but the smarter ones, the ones who still need the party, will adapt accordingly.

I'm watching the CNN stream and Donna Brazile, a survivor, seems to be adapting her talking points already. She sounded different from when she is on with Stephanopoulos, for ABC, at the South Carolina debate.

[humbled_opinion]

60. Sorry to say I was

disappointed to hear BHO say that however, Bernie Sanders campaign is reaching critical mass and I think comments like those the President made aren't going to have any effect on it.

[pacalo]

61. Excellent.

[Geronimoe]

62. Hard to imagine what a disgrace America politics is

When the right to healthcare, a living wage, affordable education are referred to by the President as shiny objects.

Shame on you Barack Obama.

[Betty Karlson]

63. Classy and strong message.

(The 90-ies are over, Third Way's time has come and gone. Now is the time for hope and change.)

[Enthusiast]

64. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch! nt

[PatrickforO]

66. Shiny object, is it?

No, Mr. President. Bernie is who we all HOPED you would be. Because he's talking about US having better lives and paying for that with a fairer tax system.

What are you talking about?

[KoKo]

67. Exactly...what is he talking about.?.. "The TPP"-- Crown Jewel of his Presidency

Ugh!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

68. His bald spot?

[Gregorian]

69. I have learned so much from Bernie, he has already done the country a huge service.

I've learned how to better stand up for myself, as shown in how he defends himself in this article alone.

I've got a mentor.

[ladyVet]

71. This president is a sham. A moderate Republican in truth if not name.

I'm actually sorry I voted for him, in a way. Should have gone Green party. Yeah, we might have gotten a Republican for another eight years, but what we got wasn't much different.