It is stupid for Bernie supporters to be attacking unions and union leaders.

[DanTex]

I think the "Bernie Bro" narrative is exaggerated by the media. Still, attacking union leaders is stupid and unjustified. Especially since the Bernie Bro narrative does in fact exist, and Bernie supporters know that, and they know anything bad they do is going to be magnified. You want a revolution, universal healthcare and all that? You have to deal with reality, which includes the fact that Bernie supporters are going to be put under special scrutiny.

I understand why Bernie supporters would be upset by the union leaders' decision to attack MFA. It's true that MFA would actually be helpful to labor unions, and that Bernie is the most pro-labor candidate in the field. But, it's also true that unions have fought and sacrificed for their healthcare plans, and giving everyone healthcare can seem to make those fights pointless, especially when they gave up wages to get healthcare. Also, unions have to stay right with local politicians, in this case Harry Reid. That's part of what unions do. If union leaders didn't stay right with politicians, they wouldn't be doing their job.

This doesn't mean union bosses are corrupt or evil or whatever. It just means that some unions will support some candidates and policies, and other unions will support other candidates and policies. Bernie supporters on twitter should celebrate the union endorsements their candidate gets, and the other ones, just don't say anything except that they support the labor movement period.

[DownriverDem]

1. You bet they are

Michigan for one will not like it.

[Magoo48]

2. Bernie-bros are a tired myth, a worn out, second hand slam.

[DanTex]

3. That's true, but the media isn't going to stop pushing it.

[wysimdnwyg]

5. DanTex clearly agrees with you

He said he thought it was overblown. But he's right: the NARRATIVE exists. It may not be a fair characterization of Sanders' backers, but it's there and his supporters need to consider that.

[bunny planet]

4. I'm wondering at this point

Last edited Fri Feb 14, 2020, 12:43 PM - Edit history (2)

whether some 'Bernie Bros' still out there are actually 'agent provocateurs' working for the right and not really supportive of Bernie at all, just catapulting the propaganda online to sew discord among Democrats and demoralize them in general.....makes no sense to me that they'd attack Union leaders or members either if they were really Bernie supporters.

[redstateblues]

6. Of course it makes sense. There are some Sanders backers disparaging unions because

The unions won’t give up their hard won benefits for promises of of MFA.

[jr1118x]

8. Having never been in a union or lived in closed shop areas

From a non-union member perspective, it looks a lot like Union leadership would be against MFA since the union health care is a big reason people would join and pay the dues so would think if everyone had good health coverage it reduces the incentive to join a union and it would hurt their bottom line.

[SharonClark]

14. I'm from a union family and you're right

If unions don't provide benefits to their members like increased wages and insurance benefits, then there is no reason to join the union.

It's hard to get some union members to vote Dem anyway because of guns, racism, and homophobia. Some are, but not all unions members are as progressive as we'd like.

[njhoneybadger]

7. And the "Democratic Establishment" whatever that means

Who's next? The Girl Scouts

[democrattotheend]

9. What exactly did Bernie Supporters say about the Culinary Union?

And which supporters? The union complained it was being attacked but I couldn't find more details as to what exactly the attacks were.

[DanTex]

10. It's some random people on twitter, certainly not the Sanders campaign.

Still, the media is going to take everything Bernie supporters do and blow it out of proportion. It's best not to give them fodder for their "Bernie Bro" line they want to push.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. The union shares board members with Center For American Progress

You know, Neera Tanden’s outfit. The same people who started off the campaign season with that fucked up video “Bernie’s Millionaire Problem”

I believe last time it was “Bernie bros impersonated Union officials”

File this “controversy” where it belongs.

[cynatnite]

11. My husband's family is strong pro-union...

A few have said that if Bernie is the nominee, that they're staying home. They see him as anti-union.

[SamKnause]

12. If they think Bernie is anti-union they are sorely mistaken.

A little research could answer all their questions and prove them wrong.

[cynatnite]

18. We've tried to tell them, but they don't trust him. n/t

[SamKnause]

23. Thank you so much for trying.

When Bernie says, "Brothers and Sisters", he doesn't mean it in a religious way like many do.

He is referring to the unity of people coming together and fighting for what is right and good.

He has always been a strong union supporter.

He has been saying and pushing for things that would improve this country for over 4 decades.

I watched a clip of him on Phil Donahue yesterday.

I love him.

I wish he were my grandpa. (I am 67, female, not a Bernie Bro.)

He has a great sense of humor that so many miss.

He doesn't have time for nonsense.

He gets irritated when crowds clap too long.

He wants to get down to business.

I want to live in the country he envisions.

I think it is worth the fight.

[redqueen]

13. Obnoxious supporters thrive when there's no pushback from top levels.

Maybe he's doing his best to rein in the more aggro ones but if so I've seen no evidence of it.

[MH1]

15. This. nt

[squirecam]

17. Me either

Especially those staff who support doxxing.

https://www.vettingbernie.org/2019/08/doxxing-dissent-how-bernie-sanders.html


https://mobile.twitter.com/gdigitalzsmooth/status/1161767668057288704

[Mike 03]

21. +1000

[Garrett78]

16. I think much of the rank and file support Sanders.

I've posted this before: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/01/why-would-a-union-oppose-medicare-for-all

I've not seen any details regarding these alleged attacks. In an article that used the word attack in the headline, all it said was that a flyer received "pushback."

That said, I agree with your points.

Regarding resistance to current insurance being replaced by M4A, I wonder if there's a psychological aspect at play. Think of the sunk cost principle. You'll never get back the time and effort or money that went into getting something, but you're reluctant to give it up even when there's a much better alternative that would benefit you and all of society. Especially since you can now spend more time fighting for better wages and better working conditions, and rest easy knowing you won't ever have to worry about health care costs.

[Yavin4]

22. These unions have the healthcare that they want.

They don't want to give it up for an unknown. No one knows what M4A will look like in the end, even though I support it.

But the larger issue here is the tone deafness of Bernie's campaign. Not listening to people, and in some cases down right insulting them, who raise legitimate concerns and objections to your agenda shows a lack of political skill which will limit Bernie's overall movement.

[Yavin4]

19. Bernie supporters demand complete and total loyalty to Bernie and his agenda

Anyone saying ANYTHING against Bernie or any item on his agenda is a corporatist hack that needs to be taken down.

This is why Bernie will never grow his following beyond 30% or so.

[Gothmog]

24. There is a pattern here that is consistent with what I saw at the National Convention first hand

Normally going to a national convention is a once in a life time experience. I have worked really hard inside the party on campaigns and voter protection issues for a very long time to earn this trip. Too bad that sanders and his vetted delegates ruined that experience and did their best to help trump. A candidate has absolute approval rights over their pledged delegates because these delegates can change their votes and these delegates represent the candidate and campaign. I helped vet Clinton delegates and I know that I was vetted. The Clinton campaign told us that we represent her and that our actions would reflect on her and her campaign.

In contrast, sanders sent one very weak text the Sunday night before the convention and then did little or nothing to control his delegates. It was nasty I was there when the sanders delegates booed Congressman John Lewis. I was warned about this stunt 30 minutes before it happened by the Clinton campaign whip. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this event and declined. That incident will be used against sanders by Russia to suppress the African American vote just as was done in 2016

Link to tweet

Russia will just run material showing sanders delegates booing John Lewis, Elijah Cummings and others to suppress the vote of African American voters and I feel that this tactic would be very effective

I was at the Texas delegation breakfast when a group of sanders delegates marched in and demanded that we condemn Clinton and change our votes to sanders.

sanders spoke to the Texas delegation the next morning and his speech was again solely about himself. There was a mini-riot due to his delegates the prior morning and the only thing that sanders talked about was himself. sanders did nothing to deal with the fact that his delegates were out of control and did nothing to try to help Hillary Clinton win the general election.

Finally a group of sanders delegates yelled at my daughter and called her the c-Word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. Again sanders was asked to tell his delegates to behave during the convention and sanders refused

The conduct described by the sanders supporters attacking the Union is consistent with what I saw and experienced first had

[Demsrule86]

25. This sort of behavior is why I will never support Sanders in a primary...only reluctantly in

a General...and he loses the General IMHO. I see no evidence of leadership in Sanders...and how a campaign is run indicates how an administration will be run. That being said, he would be better than Trump which is why he has my vote in a general.

[Cha]

28. Exactly.

[guillaumeb]

26. Recommended.

Excellent analysis, Dan.

MFA would replace many workplace or industry specific health care plans. And many of these plans are not really that good. One myth is that unionized workers enjoy superior health care plans, and that is simply not true.

[krissey]

27. The myth, in color.

[link:|

[krissey]

30. "It is stupid for Bernie supporters to be attacking unions" Yes it is. Thanks Sanders

[Gothmog]

31. sanders supporters have been busy

Link to tweet