Bernie Sanders Says U.S. Can't Have 'Open Borders' Because Poor People Will Come

[lapucelle]

'From All Over the World"

"Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it,” the senator added.

[stonecutter357]

1. Bernie Sanders Says ' Because Poor People Will Come ! WOW

[RandySF]

2. He specifically mentioned Vietnam, Mexico, China and Latin America.

[Autumn]

25. That's from a different interview with Noah. The quote the OP highlighted from was a town hall

in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

When asked at an Oskaloosa, Iowa, town hall why he supported open borders, the 2020 White House candidate was quick to clarify his stance.

“I’m afraid you may be getting your information wrong," Sanders replied, according to The Washington Post. "I think what we need is comprehensive immigration reform.”

"Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it,” the senator added.

[pangaia]

62. This out of context screeching here about this pisses me of....

[Autumn]

63. Almost seems like panic has set in.

It's actually getting funny .

[pangaia]

66. And I posted that not even necessarily supporting Bernie this time around..

which is why I am UNDECIDED..

Don;t know at all yet...

I did support him to the hilt in 2016.

But i don;t like the hit posts... against anybody..

[onit2day]

64. Me too. So glad he leads the field.especially with afro-Americans

[Ninsianna]

72. Is that the 5 whom he employs? He doesn't seem to have earned the support if

the community at large.

[onetexan]

78. Wow..if grumpy old man sanders mentioned those countries specifically

Then he is a racist. Note theyre all countries with brown people. Im surprised he didnt call them shithole countriesike the Idiot did.

[SidDithers]

3. DU rec...nt

Sid

[Autumn]

4. Remind me which Dems are for open borders? The complete exchange

When asked at an Oskaloosa, Iowa, town hall why he supported open borders, the 2020 White House candidate was quick to clarify his stance.

“I’m afraid you may be getting your information wrong," Sanders replied, according to The Washington Post. "I think what we need is comprehensive immigration reform.”

Then the quote you chose follows. Just for context

“Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it,” the Vermont lawmaker continued.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437790-bernie-sanders-blasts-open-borders-theres-a-lot-of-poverty-in-this-world

[lapucelle]

6. I saw the video of the entire exchange.

I was horrified.

[Autumn]

7. Which Democrats are for open borders? nt

[lapucelle]

12. It's not a question of being for or against open borders.

That's not the horrifying part.

[Autumn]

13. Do you think the borders should be open to anyone who wants to cross and come here? nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. What part of horrified do you not get?

[mountain grammy]

59. You get me every time. 😆

[Hassin Bin Sober]

68. I grow on people

[Decoy of Fenris]

79. Horrifeyeing gif. n/t

[Autumn]

85. Damn Bingo Hall trauma.

Does this look like pudding?

[Ninsianna]

74. why are these Trumpian talking points being pushed on a Democratic site?

[Autumn]

84. Because people want to discuss it so they make OPs about stuff and things.

One person asked Bernie why he was for open borders, because Trump and Republicans say all Dems are for open borders. So yeah, that's a thing. Bernie told him he wasn't for open borders he was for comprehensive immigration reform because too many people trying to flee poverty would cross our borders and we just can't do that at this point. And IMO that's true and good answer. You would think oh okay, end of story. Not so. Because Bernie...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128759484
https://www.democraticunderground.com/128760487
https://www.democraticunderground.com/128760568
https://www.democraticunderground.com/128759544

You make a good point. If Trump says Democrats like gray skies, is talking about rain a Trumpian talking point being pushed on a Democratic site?

[Ninsianna]

93. So he affirmed the propaganda and then doubled down on

Trump's rhetoric? I get that Bernie has a history of such sentiment as dismayed on shows years ago that we ignored, but he's anti poor people.and pro affirming Trump and Fox nonsense? Also. Did he address why he voted against comprehensive immigration reform when it was up for a vote or refer to his specially branded bills to address it?

I'm afraid I don't follow your analogy, perhaps you could try for a better one?

Trump says many things about Dems, perhaps not repeating f them verbatim is a poor way for someone attempting to play a Dem on the interwebs should avoid, lest they give the game away. A lesson that should have been learned the last go round, but which seems to have been missed. Bernie's going to have to do a better job this time, he can't count on blind hate and ignorance again.

[Autumn]

95. Answering a question is affirming the propaganda and doubling down on Trumps rhetoric?

How so? Is Trump the only person in our political parties that wants strict immigration policies? Guess what. Democrats nor Republicans promote anything remotely like “open borders".

We have all gone over his vote on the immigration reform when it was up for a vote over and over again and that is ignored so you look it up. Sorry but Democrats and Bernie are not for open borders, Does that mean all the people who aren't for open borders hate poor people? How is that "pro affirming Trump" ? What does "pro affirming Trump" even mean? And did you miss Obama being on Fox?

https://medium.com/s/story/few-americans-want-open-borders-democrats-included-dba12884c133
Few Americans Want Open Borders— Democrats Included
Trump and his supporters often label his critics as believers in “open borders.” Most aren’t.

Trump repeatedly claims that Democrats “want open borders.” But nobody in leadership on the left promotes open borders. Nobody. Let’s clarify: not one or two people. Zero percent of the elected leadership of Democrats or independents have suggested the U.S. should have open borders. And there’s certainly no policy of open borders embraced by the Democratic Party.

Barack Obama certainly didn’t believe in open borders. By 2015, President Obama had deported some 2.5 million people with time remaining in office. That was already half a million more than George W. Bush deported his entire time as president. Some human rights groups referred to Obama as “The Deporter in Chief.” True, those higher numbers can partly be attributed to a change at the time in how we defined a “deportation.” Still, that’s hardly an administration characterized by open borders.

In 2010, Obama signed a bill designating $600 million to fund 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, customs inspectors, and law enforcement officials along our border with Mexico. He ordered 1,200 National Guard troops to the border. And he oversaw the development of a virtual fence, utilizing surveillance sensors, radar, cameras, and drones, which would span 1,300 miles of our border at a projected cost of almost $7 billion. The Department of Homeland Security ended that effort after $1 billion was spent and the results deemed ineffective and too expensive.

[Cha]

43. Yeah, it's the words BS uses..

Link to tweet

".. poor people will come.."!

[George II]

28. Why are Democrats all of a sudden adopting the right wing term "open borders"?

[lapucelle]

32. Looks like I hit a nerve with someone.

[George II]

34. Yes, and funny how all of a sudden there are several concerned about "open borders"!

[Autumn]

37. Did Bernie bring it up? No, he did not. He was asked about open borders, and he informed

the citizen that "what we need is comprehensive immigration reform" Answering a question about open borders at a town hall is not adopting the right wing term "open borders"

By the way, which Democrats are adopting the right wing term "open borders"

[George II]

39. When one participates in a town hall, one must be prepared for the "hard questions".

[Autumn]

42. he was very well prepared. He shot down that bullshit that he was for open borders down

without skipping a beat.

Edited to add sarcasm smilie to the following part of my post.
I think the way it was asked it was a planted question.

[George II]

45. What makes you think it was "a planted question", and why is that funny? It was an open town hall.

[Autumn]

52. Sarcasm. I'll add the sarcasm smilie for you. nt

[lapucelle]

53. Maybe "Can't do it. The country is full" is a winning message in Iowa.

"Not THEM...US"

[Cha]

67. Poor BS.. they out to get

him again with "planted questions"?

[lapucelle]

81. The canned first and second parts of the answer were fine,

it was the third part that was troubling. Was it an accidental revelation of an attitude about immigrants or a deliberate dog whistle to court Trump voters?

If BS is in the race long enough to get to the stage when the candidates do endorsement interviews with editorial boards of major newspapers, he will likely be asked about his plan for comprehensive immigration reform and his inconsistent record on the issue.

That should be interesting.

[WeekiWater]

87. This is a question I can see the Sanders campaign requesting beforehand.

I can see it being a part of the negotiations to get him there.

This plays well to a group he is really looking to get. The "economic anxiety" crowd.

[WeekiWater]

86. I would agree that it seemed planted.

Might have been a part of negotiations from Sanders camp to get him there. He seems to be working hard to get the "economic anxiety" crowd. This plays right into that.

[Autumn]

88. You stick with that.

[WeekiWater]

89. Will do. I agree that it seemed planted. Good eye.

Laying the groundwork before his big Fox performance.

It's no secret that a large portion of his base is rabidly racist. From chants of "we solved racism" to not taking oppression into account with respect to economic policy to the Sane Progressives outlandish racist lecture. These people are comforted by his populist rhetoric. It makes sense he would want such a question asked.

[Blue_true]

38. None are, so Bernie's position is pretty consistent with party doctrine on that case. nt

[Cha]

5. And.. he steps

in it with "Vietnam, Mexico, China and Latin America.".

[mcar]

11. What about Norway?

[Cha]

16. Exactly. Why name those countries

only?

[George II]

35. Or Denmark?

[Blue_true]

41. They are White. nt

There are Nowegians who would be poor if they left their country for here.

[Autumn]

56. You forgot Poland!!!

[sheshe2]

57. Ummm

Trump’s Homeland Security Chief Not Sure If Norway Is Mostly White
It’s only one of the whitest countries in the world. Coincidentally, it’s also where Trump prefers immigrants come from.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kirstjen-neilsen-norway-white-trump_n_5a5e2a44e4b0fcbc3a13dbb4

[lapucelle]

8. I lift my lamp beside the golden door...

"Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it.”

[msongs]

9. selective quotations, edited. gotta link to an actual video of him saying.. nt

[lapucelle]

15. Here he is, saying it.

He volunteers it as an addendum to his open borders answer and then moves on to a different question.

Link to tweet

[Cha]

20. lol

[sheshe2]

60. Lapucelle is...

Reclaiming her time!

[George II]

40. Bazinga!

[sheshe2]

65. Boom!

[Cha]

19. You do that.

[mcar]

10. That sounds familiar

[George II]

14. It's in your graphic, but we need to remember this:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

[lapucelle]

17. "Not Them...Us"

"No We Can't"

[sheshe2]

61. So different from Obama.

WE are the ones WE have been waiting for. WE are the change we seek.

Yes WE can!

[Voltaire2]

23. Do you support open borders?

[George II]

26. "Open borders" is a term concocted by the right wing.

[Voltaire2]

27. So do you support open borders?

[George II]

29. Give us YOUR definition of "open borders" and maybe I can answer your question about "open borders".

Gracias. Merci.

[Voltaire2]

33. Unlimited immigration.

[Blue_true]

48. We have always been a conditional country.

We took anyone when we need more people for labor. That is how Chinese people first came here, they were willing to do the dangerous jobs during buikding of the transcontinental railroad that others would not do, a lot of them died but more came because the money was better than what they could get at home.

Today we have a nation where a lot of people are seeing their expectations shrink and their wages stagnate. So there is vapid anti-immigrant sentiment today.

[Gothmog]

18. K&R

[Me.]

21. Stand Your Ground lapucelle

too bad if certain words are inconvenient, truth is truth

[lapucelle]

82. It's hard to take people seriously

when the best they can do is attempt to deflect with their favorite clips from the Three Stooges.

[Voltaire2]

22. Do you support open borders?

[George II]

30. What do you mean by "open borders"?

[Voltaire2]

31. Unlimited immigration.

No restrictions.

[lapucelle]

44. It's not about open borders. It's about an attitude towards immigrants.

BS could have stopped after saying he was against open borders and in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. That would have been a good answer.

[Voltaire2]

46. So do you support open borders?

[Blue_true]

50. No democrat support open borders. What is your point to keep asking it.

What we do support is immigration policy that allow people to seek refuge here from political retribution at home, sexual abuse in their home countries and YES, even from poverty in their home countries. The Irish, the Itallians, many others left their home countries to escape poverty, so Sanders pointing out that poor people will come here is offensive. Study after study has shown that poor immigrants are more likely to get and work several dirt jobs than they are to seek welfare.

[lapucelle]

51. It's not about open borders. It's about an attitude towards immigrants. N/T

[Ninsianna]

73. Why do you keep asking if people support Right Wing talking points?

[Voltaire2]

83. Because that is what Sanders said he opposed.

I’m wondering who disagrees with him. So far everyone who hasn’t refused to answer the question agrees with Sanders that we can’t have open borders.

[Ninsianna]

92. So Bernie is using Trump's rhetorical idiocy?

I mean, Tru.p is a bigot and a liar and Bernie seems to agree with him?

Can anyone tell me which Democrat has this stance and why Bernie is taking the Trump hyperbole that is rooted in the anti immigrant sentiment that leads to violence against people who don't look like Bernie and Donnie?

What's the game here? Appeal.to the Nazis and the the Fox stance against Democrats? Trump is already doing that.

[Voltaire2]

97. What? No. he was asked if he supported "open borders" and he said he didn't.

[Cha]

36. I've had a lot of people tell me, "well no Democrats support open borders either."

Link to tweet

[Voltaire2]

47. Do you support open borders?

[Ninsianna]

75. Do you believe Trump is correct when he claims that Democrats support his talking point?

[lapucelle]

49. That's exactly it, Cha. It's not about open borders.

It was his message to impoverished would-be immigrants that is so stunning.

[Cha]

55. Yeah.. ".. because poor people will come.."

what terrible rhetoric BS has.

Nobody supports open borders but they don't have to lay it on the "Poor People".

[Voltaire2]

98. Ok so why don't you support open borders?

[BlueFlorida]

54. K&R nt

[BlueFlorida]

58. Bernie is just another politician

pandering to the audience. In my opinion, not the "authentic", "bold", "courageous" leader he is touted as.

He is not a visionary and whatever visions he has are from 70+ year old manifestos. Beto O'Rourke, Kamala Harris and Mayor Pete have far better and well thought out as well as visionary policy proposals.

Senator Warren has far better populist plans, carefully laid out.

People are starting to see Bernie as only rich in slogans and platitudes with no real workable plans.

[JI7]

69. his Supporting Nader over Gore is an example of that

he was unable to see how important Gore and his big issue, the environment was to the world .

and this was almost 20 years ago.

[comradebillyboy]

70. You hit the nail right on the head there. Although you might

be too kind to Bernie.

[CaptainTruth]

71. +1 And he is not a Democrat. He's had the opportunity to be one, for years, & he chose not to.

[betsuni]

77. +1

[Buzz cook]

76. Bernie is not a Trumpian xenophobe.

What he is, is a man who has not prepared answers to basic policy questions. He should have stopped after wanting immigration reform, the added bit was not artful. Not because it does or doesn't represent some deep seated animus against poor immigrants, but because it can be spun that way.
Look how easily its being done here on DU and imagine how much better the media is at putting words in peoples mouths.

This is one of the reasons I didn't support Bernie in 2016. On many basic questions such as abortion, civil rights, or even the minimum wage he didn't have an answer. By that I don't mean a scripted talking point; I mean he didn't have a clear concise explanation for his position.

The implication that Sanders is a Trump clone on immigration is simply dishonest pot stirring.

[betsuni]

80. Something Anthony Bourdain said comes to mind:

"Despite our ridiculous hypocritical attitudes towards immigration, we demand that Mexicans cook a large percentage of the food we eat, grow things we need to make that food, clean our houses, mow our lawns, wash our dishes, look after our children. As any chef will tell you, our entire service economy -- the restaurant business as we know it -- in most American cities would collapse overnight without Mexican workers. Some, of course, like to claim that Mexicans are 'stealing our jobs.' But in two decades as a chef and employer, I never had one American kid walk in my door and apply for a dishwashing job, a porter's position or even a job as a prep cook. Mexicans do much of the work in this country that Americans, probably, simply won't do."

[Apple Fritter]

91. PLOT TWIST- we open the border and only rich people come in.

But I think he means America has it's own problems. Tooooo many problems. Why invite more problems in with the failing systems we have for our own citizens.

[Maru Kitteh]

94. How progressive of Mr. 3-house-having Millionaire white guy who has his now.

Great.

[Blue_Tires]

96. k+r