'We Will Not Change a Damn Thing': Sanders Campaign Vows No Pivot to Big Money in General Election

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

"We will hold firm, we will not change a damn thing," Faiz Shakir told CNN's Ryan Nobles in an interview, hours after the Sanders campaign announced it raised $34.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Trump's reelection campaign, which has been fueled in part by super PACs and corporate money, said Thursday it brought in $46 million during the final three months of 2019.

"It is working, and the reason it's working is the working class believes in Bernie Sanders to defeat Donald Trump," said Shakir. "You've got somebody who has built a vast grassroots network, has been fighting for the working class, has built his credibility on it. We're not gonna go into a general election... suddenly claiming that we're gonna need money from millionaires and billionaires. We don't need that money."

Shakir said the claim that Democrats must accept big donations from millionaires and billionaires in order to compete with Republicans—advanced most recently by Pete Buttigieg—is mistaken and damaging to progressive policy goals.

"If you have Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden telling you that they need to kowtow at the altar of the rich to fundraise in the general election, they're wrong," said Shakir. "We're upending those notions. You can fund this totally in a grassroots way."

(snip)

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/02/we-will-not-change-damn-thing-sanders-campaign-vows-no-pivot-big-money-general

[TwilightZone]

1. He's not going to take any money from millionaires?

With the number of donations he receives, returning any donations made by millionaires is going to be a full-time job. They're 6% of the population, and I'm sure some will donate to his campaign. Many probably already have.

And, I guess he can't donate to his own campaign.

[ArcticFox]

7. That's quite obtuse

Clearly, the point is to not do the money-for-facetime deal that favors those who can max out donations at every stage, and contribute "anonymously" to a couple of PACs to boot.

I think Bernie is pulling that off quite successfully.

[TwilightZone]

8. No, the obtuseness is from the campaign.

"suddenly claiming that we're gonna need money from millionaires and billionaires. We don't need that money."

They should stop making blanket statements like this. It just makes them sound like hypocrites. Sanders has little control over who donates to his campaign. Claiming they're going to take no money from millionaires or billionaires is completely disingenuous, unless they plan to return it all. I guarantee that ain't gonna happen.

[ArcticFox]

9. Average donation $18

One of a precious few politicians willing to criticize the advantages millionaires and billionaires enjoy under our current system.

Sanders recognizes our responsibility to take care of the less fortunate among us. And more importantly, he understands we have the ability to do so.

His first issue in 2016 was climate change. Others have come in board since then, but Sanders is still the leader on this existential issue. He will fight to unite for the good of the World.

"Hypocritical" is dead in the water. It seems to be asserted out of desperation. But I wonder what one might see in other candidates that would make a person so desperate for Sanders to lose.

[PubliusEnigma]

2. And he still will not be nominated. Now what?

[TidalWave46]

3. This makes no sense.

Sanders has dined with an exclusive group of millionaires, has millionaire members of his staff, and has almost removed it from his stump speech. I doubt Sanders would be this dishonest. Sounds more like one of his surrogates.

[msongs]

4. 1 donation @ $2700 or 2700 donations @ $1 same thing limited by law nt

[George II]

5. I don't care how any candidate gets their funding as long as it's legal and within the limits....

....allowed by FEC regulations.

What I do dislike, or resent, is campaigns not being upfront about what they've received and from whom.

I also don't like the fact that campaigns bash others for taking "corporate money" (which is illegal) and not accepting help from Super PACs, even though they do.

[ritapria]

6. Come on George , Be a Good Sport

I will have to be a good sport if Biden wins the nomination