Biden dings Sanders on gun reform as feud ramps up

[brooklynite]

Politico

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday largely sought to cool tensions with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders amid their feud over Social Security, but jabbed at the fellow presidential candidate for his mixed record on gun reform and previous opposition to a key background checks bill in the 1990s.

The critical remarks came after Biden was asked on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" whether he would cut Social Security benefits if elected president — a question prompted by a Sanders campaign ad released Tuesday night which featured a recording of Biden in 1995 advocating to freeze federal spending for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

"No. No, no, no. And we weren't talking about cutting them either then. That was trying to figure out how we got through a debacle where the whole government didn't shut down," Biden responded.

"I find it amazing that we go back and look at statements, many of them — most of them — taken out of context of 10, 20, 30, 35 years ago," he continued. "And it's like my going back and pointing out how Bernie voted against the Brady Bill five times while I was trying to get it passed when he was in the House, or how he voted to, you know, protect gun manufacturers — it's the only group in America you can't sue."

[George II]

1. Yes, he does it in a low key, matter of fact way when presented with the attacks on him...

He doesn't distort the truth, issue a 19 second video lifted from a 4+ minute speech on the floor of the Senate, etc.

And I guarantee Biden doesn't have three or four high level staffers lying relentlessly about Sanders on twitter, 20-30 times a day, as Sanders does with respect to Biden.

Biden entered the Senate in 1973, became Vice President in 2009.
Sanders entered the House in 1991, became a Senator in 2007.

I'll put Biden's record up against Sanders' record any day of the week!

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. That's fair

I trust Biden to do much much better protecting Social Security than Trump or any Republican and I trust Sanders to do much much better at advancing common sense gun safety legislation than Trump or any Republican. In a primary contest involving a number of good candidates it's natural for one or another to look for areas where they can find perceived weakness in a rival candidate's prior record. They are not all simply clones of each other and no one is perfect to everyone, but either Biden or Sanders (the two examples here discussed) would be a hell of a lot better on the issues than Donald Trump.

[TomCADem]

17. Bernie Voted Against The Brady Bill (Twice) and For Gun Maker Immunity

Bernie has been all over the map on gun issues, which just isn't acceptable given growth in gun violence and mass shootings.

[Tiggeroshii]

3. Between gun reform and social security, I'mguessing social security will take prcedence in priority

But we'll see!

[George II]

4. Except that what Biden said about Sanders is 100% true, most of what Sanders said about Biden....

....is false.

[Thekaspervote]

6. False indeed!! This is what sanders does. Not sure why people fall for it

[George II]

8. I really don't think people do fall for it.

[The Valley Below]

12. Exactly! Thank you.

It is truth vs BS.

[emmaverybo]

5. And I am guessing most Americans know Biden has vowed to protect it from day one and now

know that the Sanders campaign has misrepresented Biden’s position and used propagandist strategies to do so. As long as Sanders himself is not seen to endorse these underhanded tactics,
he need not harm his own candidacy. He should, however, caution his surrogates. Biden is well liked and respected across the political spectrum, known for political integrity and character.

Bernie has every chance to broaden his own appeal. This, distorting a rival’s record, is not the way.

[Thekaspervote]

7. Oh I think even thou he's not saying these things himself, it's catching up with him

3 new IA polls out this week with Biden ahead by 5 pts

[David__77]

15. no social security freezes or CPI-tinkering nonsense!

...

[Hoyt]

9. Biden also made the point that Sanders did vote against some gun-control legislation YEARS AGO, but

has voted in favor in recent years. His point was that people or circumstances change.

[comradebillyboy]

10. Take off the gloves Joe. We know you can take a punch but I want to see

you start punching back a lot harder. It's what Hillary should have done early on.

[Gothmog]

11. sanders supporter gun manufacturer immunity

Link to tweet

[Cha]

13. Good.. go get 'im, Biden!

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

14. K&R

[David__77]

16. Biden sounds like a pleasant person to me.

...he doesn’t strike me as much of a tactical, rehearsed person.

[NCProgressive]

18. Biden is right to call out NRA-Bernie.

[Eric J in MN]

19. Bernie now has a 100% rating from the Brady organization

Bernie Sanders’ rating from the “Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence” is 100%. https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/27110/bernie-sanders/37/