Sanders quiets his critics as he becomes a 2020 front-runner

[workinclasszero]

By JUANA SUMMERS and JULIE PACE today

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is quieting critics who questioned whether he could recapture the energy of his upstart 2016 campaign, surpassing his rivals in early fundraising and establishing himself as an indisputable front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Less than two months into his second White House bid , no other declared candidate in the crowded Democratic field currently has amassed so many advantages: a $28 million war chest, a loyal and enthusiastic voter base and a set of clearly defined policy objectives.

https://www.apnews.com/ea9454ea29a246a59b97e731bac16aa2

[dem4decades]

1. So he has released his taxes?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. What took so long to bring up Bernie's taxes?!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[dem4decades]

49. If he provided them in 2016 his tax returns wouldn't be an issue now.

But like Trump he stalls.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. Why eat our own with comparisons to Trump?! That's no way to treat Democrats!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[dem4decades]

67. Why would a Democrat mimic Trump's behavior and allow a comparison?

[JanetLovesObama]

3. He is NOT quieting me.

And WHERE ARE THOSE TAXES Bernie??????????????????????

[Dazbog]

15. April 15th

Beto has his own set of problems. Starting with Betos daddy in law.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Shhhh, dontchaknow we're not sposed to vet the other candidates?! Only Bernie!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

41. Ask Beto!!

Last edited Mon Apr 8, 2019, 07:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[MyOwnPeace]

4. Gotta' say...........

I don't feel that I've been quieted.
Just what is the source for that comment?
Did it come with the release of his taxes?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

60. Yes, Bernie has released his 2014 tax return... the rest will be released soon, as he has stated.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[MyOwnPeace]

65. But still................

here's some current thought:

In the case of Sanders' taxes, the only thing preventing him from releasing them, as he has repeatedly promised to do for almost three years, is him.

As such, it is a simple measure of whether his word is any good. If he cannot fulfill such a simple promise, which he could easily have done long since, how can he be trusted on any other matter?

And this:

It also undermines Dems for demanding Trump's tax returns.


So, yeah, I'm not "quiet" yet.

[WeekiWater]

5. None of the other candidates have been running for years.

That is a huge component. Sanders name recognition has his a saturation point. He will fall as others gain recognition.

[BlueFlorida]

20. Precisely this

What we see is Sanders' high water mark. This is the best he is ever going to get. It is all downhill from here for him.

[mcar]

51. I think so too

Sanders, and Biden, have name recognition. It's why polls are meaningless right now. Let's see what they say after a summer of debates.

[tymorial]

6. Taxes?

Eom.

[we can do it]

7. No has hasn't. Where are the tax returns?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

59. Yes... soon is not soon enough!!!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[LonePirate]

8. We'll see how things shake out once we move past the two white state contests in IA and NH.

[IADEMO2004]

35. This White state white guy has a belly-full of Sanders calling Dem leaders corrupt.

I'm old cranky and remember years of Sanders contempt for Democrats.

[Shell_Seas]

9. Did he change his position on letting states make their own gun laws?

[BlueFlorida]

18. No and

he won't favor Russia sanctions either.

[Demsrule86]

10. He is not a front runner

[vsrazdem]

62. Sorry to burst your bubble, but according to the polls and the pundits he is.

[WheelWalker]

11. In the immortal words of a front-runner,

Malarkey.

[KayF]

12. I encourage people to read articles, not jut headlines

several people's knees jerked "his taxes!"

But you'd only have to read to paragraph three to read:

That puts Sanders on markedly different footing than during his first White House run, creating new challenges for a candidate whose supporters relish his role as an underdog and an outsider. He now carries the weight of high expectations and will face heightened scrutiny over everything from the cost and feasibility of his government-funded policy proposals to his tax returns, which he has not yet released. He initially blamed “mechanical issues” for the delay, and his campaign now says he wants to wait until after the April 15 tax filing deadline to fulfill his promise to release a decade worth of returns.

[namahage]

37. Until AFTER April 15?

So there goes the talking point that he'd release on Tax day. I expect to see a bunch of amended OPs "soon"...

[lapucelle]

54. Maybe BS he's going to announce the release on April 15 during his town hall on Fox. N/T

[msongs]

13. not the front runner. he,s number two lol. nt

[progressoid]

14. "a" front-runner. Not "the" front-runner.

[NurseJackie]

16. I know, right? More word games like "most popular Senator"...

I know, right? More word games like "most popular Senator" and those three words by themselves convey an entirely different meaning than what is actually meant: namely, the "most popular" among the small sample of one's own constituents. The entire state of Vermont has a population that's smaller than the city of Baltimore. Vermont's ethnic demographics are something like 99% white folk. I imagine it's VERY easy to please a SMALL group of folks who by in large have nearly IDENTICAL needs and concerns. So when you think about it, being the "most popular" among Vermonters isn't all that much of an accomplishment or something to crow about, in my opinion.

Of course, others may have a different opinion. This is my personal opinion that I'm sharing.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. He's the most popular sitting Senator in the entire universe currently running for President

All the rest are trailers.

[NurseJackie]

24. Amusing AND meaningless at the same time! Well done, you!

[MyOwnPeace]

27. You know what, NurseJackie?

I'm SO glad you are my primary medical advisor - you're always "spot on!"

[NurseJackie]

29. Happy Monday!

[sheshe2]

68. It's only Monday?

Don't trust that day.

[Me.]

64. Made Me Laugh

[BlueFlorida]

17. Amongst the "declared candidates"

[Gothmog]

19. sanders is not the frontrunner

I will support the nominee of the party but I doubt that it will be sanders. There are too many real democrats with long memories who will not forgive or forget

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. The article says "a" front runner. You changed it to "the"

[Gothmog]

23. sanders is not electable according to these numbers

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

25. Of course Sanders isn't electable. Our nominee will need the full support of AA Democrats...

Of course Sanders isn't electable. Our nominee will need the full support of AA Democrats, and it's abundantly clear that AA and POC aren't buying what he's selling.

I mean, seriously now... did anyone notice how lily white the turnout was in his North Charlestone, SC appearance at a BLACK CHURCH. The city itself is predominantly black, the church his historically black, and fewer than 1% of the attendees were black.

Not long after, at the same venue, an appearance by Kamala Harris had a turnout with an ethnic diversity that matched that of the city and surrounding community.

Bernie doesn't stand a chance. He knows it, we all know it. That's why he's never going to release his tax returns. Why "risk" the exposure when he's going to be mathematically eliminated so early on in the contest. It's my opinion that he'll be out of the running by Super Tuesday. (That's my hope anyway, because we can do better with real Democrats and the embarrassment of riches that we have to select from.)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. LOL! That's why he's gaining strength every day with POC...specially those in the younger age groups

But, it's over for Bernie!! Riiiiight... sure it is!!

Time to stop eating our own!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NurseJackie]

38. His showing in South Carolina was pathetic, everyone knows it.

LOL! That's why he's gaining strength every day with POC

His showing in South Carolina was pathetic, everyone knows it.

But, it's over for Bernie!! Riiiiight... sure it is!!

It sure is. He won't even release his tax returns because he KNOWS he's not going to be the nominee anyway.

Time to stop eating our own!!

Nobody is doing that. Nice try. That's just a trendy catch-phrase that people use to try and shield Bernie from honest criticism and legitimate questions. Nothing can save him from reality.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. LOL... good deflection! That's right, change the subject to South Carolina...

and bring up tax returns. Pretty much says it all!!




Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NurseJackie]

43. Good deflection... try to avoid talking about his dismal showing in South Carolina!

That's right, change the subject to South Carolina...

Good deflection... try to avoid talking about his dismal showing in South Carolina! That was embarrassing!



I don't even like the guy and I felt bad for him. In a predominantly BLACK city in a BLACK CHURCH the attendees were 99% white. Now that's a big clue that his message just isn't connecting with AA and POC Americans.

I know that's a touchy subject with Bernie fans, and I know that's why y'all try to avoid it and laugh it off and being unimportant... but there's just no getting away from the facts. Without the AA vote, Bernie ain't gonna be our party's nominee.

And that's the plain, unvarnished, honest-to-god truth!

and bring up tax returns. Pretty much says it all!!

There's no avoiding it. His tax returns are long overdue. The "plausible" excuses are getting a bit long in the tooth. Nobody is buying the "can't find them in the back of the coat closet" excuse, and the "we ran out of toner" excuse doesn't hold water either!

At this point is just laughably absurd to see how long they'll delay and what the "next excuse" will be.

Face it, everyone knows that they're NEVER going to release the tax returns. They've made a calculated decision that NOT releasing them causes less damage than ACTUALLY releasing them. That's just sad.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

45. Sorry if I struck a nerve with you... I didn't mean to introduce inconvenient facts.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NurseJackie]

46. What facts?

[ehrnst]

53. .......

[lapucelle]

63. YOu BeAt mE tO iT N/t

[TreasonousBastard]

42. From 1% to 2% DOUBLES his support, but still doesn't mean shit.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

47. Wishful thinking on your part... I'll let the polls speak for themselves!!

Bernie is kickin' azz across ALL groups... but, that's no reason to fear the Bern.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Gothmog]

48. Have any significant number of African Americans shown up to a sanders event yet?

sanders seems to have a problem with getting African Americans and latinos to show up at his events. sanders held an event at an African American church where Senator Harris had a great turnout and the result was not good

Link to tweet

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The crowd packed into the gym of a century-old black church here cheered every time Sen. Bernie Sanders attacked inequities that hit disadvantaged African Americans especially hard, applauding his ideas to address “the disparity within the disparity.”

But the problem Sanders faces in appealing to black voters was staring at him as he spoke for an hour recently at the gym of the Royal Missionary Baptist Church: Of the more than 1,600 people who came to see the candidate, fewer than 40 were black.....

Black voters played a critical role in picking the last two Democratic nominees, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and it’s hard to see a path to the Democratic nomination without significant black support.

About 25 percent of Democratic primary voters in 2016 were African American, and in key states, including South Carolina, the figure was much higher.

Sen. Harris had a event at the same church and a majority of the crowd was African Americans.

Do you have any pictures or videos of a sanders event with significant turnout by African Americans? I keep looking and have not seen any pictures of a sanders event with such turnout. BTW, NAN does not count in that such event was not a sanders event

[mcar]

50. All one has to do is peruse "Black Twitter"

and yes, look at the makeup of his crowds, to see the reality.

The base of the Democratic party isn't playing anymore.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

39. They're you go again HBS... accurately reporting the facts when it comes to Bernie!! For shame!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hortensis]

69. InA, Sanders CAN'T unite with POC because

he's a populist leader. Oh, sure, many of his left-wing faction would probably welcome it, but his populist followers are different. Even many of those from the left tend to have socially conservative feelings, while the conservative pops he's trying to draw away from Trump...!

But in any case, our POC bloc requires more of any candidate they'll endorse than he can give without driving away other support. Remember, he's trying to draw a lot of populists falling away from their disappointing leader on the right in order to create a majority coalition, and POC are only 13.3% of the population. Sadly, socially conservative whites outnumber them probably close to 3:1.

[ehrnst]

70. He has lived in Vermont since 1964 when he moved right after graduating from college.

He doesn't thrive in a teamwork, consensus, coalition model, and prefers a top down management style with him at the top. SNCC must have been frustrating for him.

He hasn't needed to display emotional intelligence about and empathy with POC or a need to champion their issues since then, to get elected and re-elected in very white, very rural Vermont for decades. The Sanders Institue "Gathering" in Burlington was very frustrating for racial justice leadership in Vermont and elsewhere.

I'm sure that being told he does now is very frustrating, and from watching interviews with him when a difficult problem is brought up, he gets testy with the person doing the asking.

[betsuni]

71. +1

[MFM008]

30. Frankly

Younger is better.

[sprinkleeninow]

56. Frankly

this guy:

😁

[Uncle Joe]

33. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread workinclasszero.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

36. Love it!! Thanks for posting!!

Feel the Bern!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[cwydro]

44. Lol. nt

[Thekaspervote]

52. He maybe be the announced front runner but doesn't come close to biden

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. Right about that... Bernie and Biden are not even close, which bodes well for Bernie...

the candidate with the most progressive agenda in the race. Why Bernie will win... easily!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

57. K&R!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[MyOwnPeace]

66. If I may respectfully ask.......

if you've had to "fight" this hard on such a simple matter of "who's been silenced" within your own community of fellow Democrats, and you don't seem to have any significant evidence that you've "converted" others within your own party, just how do you think the "front-running Senator" is going to win the nomination, let alone the critical 2020 presidential election?

Again, I truly am asking in a most respectful manner. It is imperative that IQ45 loses. We cannot afford to lose this opportunity. Please tell me how, after the experience of this posting, you think Senator Sanders is the best candidate for bringing the Democratic Party a winning ticket.

[RandySF]

61. For the moment, if at all.