Sanders people need to pay attention to security

[irisblue]

That stage security failed, that is on the people who organized that event. Sanders people need to be more ready for stuff like this. NOT to limit peoples access to Sanders, but this picture chilled me....I remember RFK. The 'what if' has happened before.




*****AND I NEED TO ADD THIS******
Americans have had a history of assassinating candidates. I am not saying that protester is likely to commit homicide. I am NOT saying BLM is likely to commit homicide. I am saying his staff need to be aware that there are a lot of bad people among us.

[n2doc]

1. Absolutely agree

The man is a US Senator. Give him that level of security. The campaign needs to hire competent security services who will maintain security around Sanders and the stage with minimal use of force. I hope that happens, it had better.

[appalachiablue]

3. I agree about security, but it was great and brave of Bernie to take the time to walk

through that large crowd on the ground at the end of the event to meet and shake hands with supporters who attended this SS and Medicare Rally. Sanders is a seasoned politician, I figure his campaign team is on top of all that entails.

[n2doc]

10. It might have been brave, but look at how his message was co-opted

Instead of talking about his message, everyone is discussing BLM's tactics. Maybe that is great for BLM, but Bernie shouldn't be used as a vehicle for them to get attention.

I don't think he has ever had to deal with these disruptions on this level. He hasn't run for national office before. It is bringing back bad memories of Howard Dean.

[appalachiablue]

14. Discussing BLM tactics is right, the BLM agenda not so much. As it's been pointed

out here, people have gained a lot of experience since the Dean Scream and Kerry's swift boating and are much more able to detect and see motives for attacks quickly because of social media now. Sanders has been in politics for 40 years and in Washington at the Congressional level for 25 years. He knows what he's doing, isn't a rural bumpkin from Vermont by far as I'm sure you realize.

[left-of-center2012]

2. Have we forgotten?

RFK

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. It's not a good picture politically.

Ignoring potential security issues, what you see there is a candidate turning his face away from a member of the public. And yes, an older white male turning away from a young black female.

Poor optics there.

[irisblue]

5. It is interesting that the Seattle Times posted that milisecond of time

we do not know if he had looked/engaged with at her a second before or after; or if he was looking down to find the stairs to walk off stage. But you are right, poor optics.

[TM99]

6. If you have someone in your face yelling at you

and you have no intention of yelling or pushing them back, then about the only thing you can do is turn the other cheek as he is doing.

We are still human animals. When someone invades your personal boundaries like that the fight or flight mechanism still kicks in. He handled it very well.

And of course your spin on it is exactly what is hoped for.

Funny thought experiment though, what if it was a young black male invaded Hillary Clinton's personal boundaries to protest her about BLM. I really wonder what the reaction would be then.

[Pharaoh]

8. she is shouting at him

I would do the same.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

11. Sure.

And I'm sure if you were a candidate, you wouldn't want that particular photo published in the paper.

[Pharaoh]

22. as said above

he turned the other cheek

good response to that pic, nothing more is needed.

[Zambero]

12. Not exactly a Kumbaya moment

Maintaining one's composure in this sort of situation is about the best one could ask for. At any rate, I'm hoping that there's a lesson to be learned, as far as the need to maintain adequate security precautions.

[SoapBox]

9. Would she be one of the protestors that flipped off and swore at

the news persons that tried to talk to them?

And, I'm a bit upset with what you said...

"Ignoring potential security issues, what you see there is a candidate turning his face away from a member of the public. And yes, an older white male turning away from a young black female.

Poor optics there."

The split second photo shot says nothing...she's screaming at him and he is looking where he's going. He gets blindsided AGAIN, by a couple of whack jobs...it is NOW a serious security issue and any clowns that try this crap going forward, I hope they arrest their ass.

Personally...I don't tolerate people screaming at me, under any circumstances.

[winter is coming]

13. Really, all I get from the photo is that the woman is shouting at someone

who's standing right next to her. That crosses the line between protest and verbal abuse. Not a good day for BLM.

[appalachiablue]

17. If you watched the event live as I did you get a full picture of the accusations directed

at white progressives in general, and at the audience, Seattle and Sanders specifically. In addition to the charges, the protesters delivered some very aggressive, intense verbal and physical moments. It seemed like a deliberate attempt to prompt a counter reaction, namely by the in your face, shouting and other tactics that few could manage so well. The response by Sanders and wife Jane was outstanding and they went on to give a highly successful appearance at the huge campaign event that evening attended by 15,000 enthusiasts from the Seattle area.

[ruffburr]

7. If this was going to happen-

I'm of the opinion that Bernie handled it very well, Having security drag people away would have been counter productive, Handing the protesters the mic to give them a opportunity to speak was a class act that would not will not happen with any other candidate running, The real shame is the protesters were given an opportunity to speak and said nothing beyond BLM and Trayvon Martin / Eric Garner and insults to their allies, While these are absolutely Important points in systemic injustices If you want the mic have something to say that might improve the status quo not just protest mantras.

[gordianot]

16. +100%

[gordianot]

15. This really is a security matter for the candidate that the Sanders campaign needs to address.

If Bernie becomes President he will discover quickly why the tight security exists at the top and he is forced into being chauffeured in an expensive tank. I hope Sanders is offered Secret Service protection soon and am far more concerned by right wing threats that might hide in his large audiences. It may well be his first big test on the National level.

Having attended many political rallies (including Republican out of curiosity) in recent years no one approached the podium at Kerry, Clinton, Palin, McCain and Obama rallies. To even see Bush you had to swear a virtual loyalty oath. Although heavily leaning Sanders I want to also plan see Hillary and others (am a lifelong Democrat retirement allows me to do this). There is zero chance of me voting Republican but I go to their rallies in that I find you learn more by interacting with the crowd than actually hearing the candidate speak. By the way I do not see BLM as a threat and I strongly doubt the Sanders campaign sees it that way, however at this level ANYONE who approaches or interacts with you is a cause for candidate concern.

[HereSince1628]

18. Was the BowDownBernie protest on a Sanders controlled stage?

I thought he was an invited speaker to an event organized by others.

[irisblue]

19. Yeah, it's my understanding as well

From my watching a video of the event, it seemed to me that the organizers were taken by surprise by the 2 women getting on stage. I have no way of knowing if there was or was not stage security. I feel that Sanders' campaign staff need to find & talk to BLM people at each stop before & after each event, as well as be aware that Sanders himself needs some type of security, to be hoped, low key. It would concern me for ANY of our candidates. The rising amount of vitriol in our country scares me.

[HereSince1628]

20. If that is true, then Sanders' security isn't so much the problem as being open

to participate in forums organized by others.

Thinking everyone who comes will be a person 'like-me' is an easy mistake to make. And it's pretty likely that at least a handful of people won't be just "like-me".

[winter is coming]

21. According to a DUer who watched most of the event, a man from the local BLM

chapter spoke earlier in the afternoon and was well received by the crowd, yet these women felt a need to protest anyway. With no structure and no accountability, is there an effective way to approach BLM?

[werknotgoin2takeit]

23. This worried me too

He seems to be very cavalier with his person. He spoke to us outside in Seattle and I saw no one but him. There were thousands milling about, anyone could have had a gun. All it takes is one nut and the closer he gets to power the bigger the target on his back. I worry for him flying in small aircraft as well. We don't need another Wellstone, RFK or martyr; we need his voice. Now more than ever.