Bernie Sanders’ Former Press Secretary Says She Experienced Blatant Racism From Staffers

[DonViejo]

Source: BuzzFeed

In an interview for online newsletter Lenny, Symone Sanders said the Vermont senator was horrified when she told him about her experience.

posted on Jul. 30, 2016, at 5:10 p.m.

Tamerra Griffin
BuzzFeed News Reporter

Bernie Sanders’ former national press secretary says she experienced repeated incidents of racism from other staff while on the campaign trail, and at one point broke down in tears in her car.

In an interview for Lenny, an online newsletter co-founded by Lena Dunham, 26-year-old Symone Sanders (no relation to the Vermont senator) spoke with writer Mikki Halpin and described several instances in which felt she was discriminated against as a high-ranking black female campaign worker.

Mikki Halpin: Last time we spoke, you told me about some really frustrating experiences you had on the road that you felt were definitely related to being a woman of color. Do you want to talk a little bit about those?

Symone Sanders: There were multiple instances. There were places where I literally I couldn’t get in. I would go to the door, the staff entrance, and people would say, “This is staff only.” I’d have to explain to them that I was staff, and they would question me. I would have to say, “I’m the national press secretary. Did you watch me on the news the other day?” It was consistently happening. There was one week where it happened the entire week.

-snip-



Read more: https://www.buzzfeed.com/tamerragriffin/symone-sanders-discusses-racism?utm_term=.ifMyxxm22#.ce6RddyKK

[Hoyt]

1. I believe it, saw it here.. Hopefully we are pretty much united until November.

[lapucelle]

10. The racism wasn't from Bernie staffers, Hillary staffers, or the DNC.

It was from venue personnel, so I don't see this as a Democratic party unity issue.

[newthinking]

28. "If you actual read the interview without an ulterior motive, you would know I wasn't talking about

So buzzfeed deliberately misrepresented the interview with the headline and topic line. And made Symone have to defend her words. Why is this shit continuing here?

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 44m44 minutes ago
I can't even take a nap without something going left. In the ELLE/LENNY interview, I detailed discrimination I experienced from venue staff

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 43m43 minutes ago
If you actual read the interview without an ulterior motive, you would know I wasn't talking about campaign staff.

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 41m41 minutes ago
The staff was amazing. I have never said a disparaging thing about any of my former coworkers because there is nothing disparaging to say.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

43. What the fuck difference does that make?? Again, that is not the fucking point!!!!

[lapucelle]

44. I was specifically responding to Hoyt's comment about unity.

"I believe it, saw it here.. Hopefully we are pretty much united until November."

It seemed to me that Hoyt was implying that Democrats were behind the racism. I was responding to his point.

It was a specific response to a specific comment by a specific person. It wasn't a general observation.

[pnwmom]

48. One of the examples happened at a "campaign building." Whatever that means.

Symone Sanders also described one incident in which a man came running up to her car at a campaign building yelling and banging on the window, “telling me to get the F out of here, this is for staff, and that I didn’t belong back here.”

[OwlinAZ]

69. What did you see? Exactly?

Don't

believe it.

[rjsquirrel]

2. Why am I not surprised?

That's really disappointing to hear from her however/. She's a class act.

[Turin_C3PO]

91. Maybe the staff were Repubs?

Not that Dems can't be just as racist.

[oberliner]

3. The whole interview is really interesting

Here is a link directly to the interview in case people want to avoid giving Buzzfeed the clicks:

http://www.lennyletter.com/politics/interviews/a482/no-relation/

Symone Sanders is very much on board the Hillary train!

[DonViejo]

5. What's wrong with BuzzFeed? Are we now boycotting gay owned Progressive...

news sites? The link to the Lenny site is in the second paragraph of the OP

[oberliner]

7. They can be annoying with their clickbait headlines and ads

But people are welcome to click on the link you provided as well - just offering another alternative, direct to the interview.

Edit to add: This particular headline sort of gives the impression that the racism came from Sanders staffers rather than venue staffers.

[emulatorloo]

13. Many Sanders primary supporters are on the Hillary Train. Bernie's on the train too.

Is that a problem? Does it undermine Symone Sanders' credibility somehow?

A little confused by your post.

[oberliner]

14. Yes indeed

Of course it's not a problem - it's great!

I was just saying that after reading the whole interview with her, I was struck by her passionate support for Hillary!

[think]

62. Is the headline accurate or misleading? I read it and immediately thought it was Sanders staff

What happened to Symone Sanders is completely deplorable.

But using misleading headlines to exploit acts of racism is also deplorable.

[emulatorloo]

87. Headline is misleading

[DonViejo]

17. What web site isn't hoisting click bait on their "pages"?....

it gets old real fast. Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, RawStory, the Daily Beast, The Hill, etc, etc.

The Washington Post puts their click bait into the email alerts they send out.

Click bait frequently makes my job a royal pain in the butt.

[oberliner]

22. Good point

Every journalism outlet seems to be moving in that direction.

Buzzfeed, though, has always seemed pretty explicit about being focused more on generating clicks than anything else.

But, you are right, it is everywhere.

[emulatorloo]

29. Most every ad-supported site seems to focus on inflammatory 'hooks' to draw readers in

Annoying as hell to me. But that's how they make money, unfortunately.

I will say as an old guy I never have liked headlines. So truncated they never really represent the story.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

92. I hear you. I refuse to, unless absolutely necessary, click on buzzfeed, raw story and a few others

I used to really enjoy Photography is Not a Crime but it has become COMPLETELY unbearable. You can't scroll a page without accidentally opening some bullshit ads. I know they have to pay the bills but come on.

[think]

61. The headline is misleading. Can't you see that?

[DonViejo]

72. The issue was resolved hours ago but, thanks for jumping in

after the fact.

[think]

73. No. The issue is still not resolved. The headline makes it seem like Sanders staff were racist.

Thanks. That's really cool of you.

[DonViejo]

74. Do like I did, take it up with the Editor of Buzzfeed...

the OP has been posted in total compliance with the DU TOS

[oberliner]

4. Important point: She is talking about venue staffers, not Sanders staffers

She makes this clear on Twitter:

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 44m44 minutes ago
I can't even take a nap without something going left. In the ELLE/LENNY interview, I detailed discrimination I experienced from venue staff

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 43m43 minutes ago
If you actual read the interview without an ulterior motive, you would know I wasn't talking about campaign staff.

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 41m41 minutes ago
The staff was amazing. I have never said a disparaging thing about any of my former coworkers because there is nothing disparaging to say.

[pnwmom]

49. Except she said this:

Symone Sanders also described one incident in which a man came running up to her car at a campaign building yelling and banging on the window, “telling me to get the F out of here, this is for staff, and that I didn’t belong back here.”

[oberliner]

50. No she didn't

The Buzzfeed article adds information here that is not true. Specifically, that the incident described took place "at a campaign building" which, if you read the interview, it very clearly did not.

Did you read the actual interview? If not, I would encourage you to do so.

[MgtPA]

6. From Event staffers, not campaign staffers.

Just read the whole article including the comments, not the campaign.

[emulatorloo]

8. Really shocking. Unfortunately I have to say it does not take me totally by surprise.

Sanders primary supporter here. Feel campaign was full of blunders.

[oberliner]

12. Racism was from venue staffers not Sanders staffers

See my post of her tweets above.

[emulatorloo]

15. Thanks. And appreciate yr clarification of your post above.

thank you

[oberliner]

18. Check my response

I think she is great and am impressed with her in every way.

[emulatorloo]

26. She's terrific!

Saw yr clarification and edited. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

[karynnj]

34. Any campaign ever has blunders

Sanders and his campaign got about 45 percent of the vote - in spite of the expectation being closer to 4.5!

Consider O'malley.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. I take no pride in it, but I called it on the day of the big announcement in Burlington. n/t

[oberliner]

11. Racism was from venue staffers not Sanders staffers

See my post of her tweets above.

[stupidicus]

19. well, Bernie shoulda scouted better, blah blah blah

anything to keep the now long used racism charge alive

[stupidicus]

16. why am I not surprised that BS's people would get the blame

due to the unqualified "staffer" designation?

[emulatorloo]

20. Easy mistake to make based on poor Buzzfeed headline.

I made it, got clarification, read the interview, now I know better. All DU'ers aren't 'evil,' sometimes they are just human and fallible

[stupidicus]

24. sure it is

and particularly easy for those who tried to pin the racism charge on him and/or his supporters already

[emulatorloo]

27. You accusing me of something?

[stupidicus]

30. I stated an incontrovertible fact

own whatever your conscience will in response to it

[emulatorloo]

39. My conscience is completely clear.

Some posts I read these past few months do indeed fit your description

But I've also seen plenty of posts that were misinterpreted as saying 'Sanders is a racist' when they were actually posts giving great suggestions/strategies to how to improve outreach to AA voters.

So I am gonna say the way race was talked about here these last few months is not as simple as you describe it. Complicated, messy, and often hard to fathom what was going on

One thing I can say w certainty, I know the vast majority of posters here know that there is not a racist bone in Bernie's body. Lots of pushback on those who said he was from supporters of all our fine candidates

Primary's over, so not going to refight those battles again beyond what I've just written.

--

As to this particular thread, I'm willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. I was a Bernie primary supporter and I read the OP too quickly. I know I'm not the only one that was taken in by the poor headline. I really like Symone Sanders and I did not do my due diligence. I needed to read the full interview which I have done now.

You aren't willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and that's certainly fine.

I am gonna reiterate the incontroverible fact that the old 'Bernie is a racist' handful of loud posters never represented the views of the majority of DU posters. So I hope you will be a little more cautious about implying/insinuating that the majority of DU'ers subscribed to that ridiculous notion. Of course that's just my hope so do what you wish.

Appreciate your time and have a good weekend.

[LanternWaste]

99. Pretending a subjective perception is an "incontrovertible fact" seems an irrational statement

Pretending a subjective perception is an "incontrovertible fact" seems an irrational statement, predicated on bias and a dramatic redefinition of the words "incontrovertible" and "fact."

[stupidicus]

102. hardly

and particularly easy for those who tried to pin the racism charge on him and/or his supporters already

it would likely only be denied or disputed by those guilty of the charge, but unsuccessfully so.

fact
fakt/
noun
noun: fact; plural noun: facts

a thing that is indisputably the case.
"she lacks political experience—a fact that becomes clear when she appears in public"
synonyms: reality, actuality, certainty;

I didn't say it would ONLY be done by those described, just that it was easier for them given prior guilt of it (issuing baseless if not blatantly false racism charges) and the likely inclination to seek that guilt again and unabashedly so at every opportunity

"irrational" is butting in/ankle biting with irrelevant nonsense that in no way undermines the point made

[yurbud]

98. This is the headline: Sanders’ Former Press Secretary Says She Experienced Racism On The Trail

Was it different earlier?

[adigal]

65. This headline is very misleading and should be changed

That is hasn't been seems to be because it was meant to be misleading.

[stupidicus]

101. yep

methinks you're right about that one

[OwlinAZ]

70. Are you not used to it by now?

[newthinking]

21. You did not include all of her discussion of this - Here

Her point was not a slam on the Sanders campaign:

Senator Sanders found out about it later, and he and his wife, Jane, were horrified. They knew it was plain old racism and nothing else. During his speech that night, he spent a little extra time on the part about race relations in America and racism. It made me feel really great to know that I was working for somebody that in that instance, got it.

This all goes to show that we have come so far in so many places in our American life, but in politics we still have some ways to go in terms of staffing and representation on various levels. Not only do we need more women and more people of color in the House, and in the Senate, and in state Houses all across this country, and more women and more people of color in executive office, like the presidency, but we also need to make sure that representation is there on the staff level.

MH: What was it like working with the Sanders campaign specifically? It was so historic.

SS: My first day out on the campaign trail was August 7, the weekend of the anniversary of Michael Brown's death, and my first rally was Seattle. There were about 15,000 people, which is huge. I think political rallies are the best example of what's great about America, because regardless of who the candidate is, the people are coming because they love what this candidate is talking about. They really care about these issues. There are people that are screaming, there are people that are crying, because they're so moved by the message that they hear. We need more people to come out to feel engaged, feel involved, feel fired up about what's going on, and that's what I felt out there on the campaign trail with the senator.

[oberliner]

23. The headline here seems to be deliberately deceptive

Creating the mistaken impression that Bernie staffers were the source of the racism, when in fact it was venue staffers.

Symone Sanders has had to clarify this point on Twitter.

[lapucelle]

32. Buzzfeed is trying to stoke the disunity narrative.

Glad to see that Symone Sanders shut that narrative down in her tweet.

And thank you Ms. Sanders for building bridges between the Sanders and Clinton wings of the party by setting the record straight.

[DonViejo]

25. Thanks, we're restricted to posting only four paragraphs of copyrighted material by...

the DU TOS. We're also not allowed to post the remainder of the story in comments.

[That Guy 888]

47. That's why you have to be careful what you select.

So that you don't accidentally imply that Sanders campaign staff were the racists.

[DonViejo]

75. I didn't imply Sen Sanders and/or his campaign are/were racist...

and never have; I posted a news article from a reliable source. The OP is in total compliance with the TOS; four paragraphs and the exact headline as it was published

[That Guy 888]

93. The headline says *She Experienced Blatant Racism From Staffers* not VENUE staffers

Nowhere in your excerpt does it say VENUE staffers. Someone just reading your post could easily think that Ms. Symone Sanders was talking about Senator Sanders campaign staffers.

In the case when the first four paragraphs don't tell the story, or in this case imply a continuing meme - "Sanders supporters are racist", you may need to do a -snip-.

You could have posted this instead:

Bernie Sanders’ former national press secretary says she experienced repeated incidents of racism on the campaign trail, and at one point broke down in tears in her car.

In an interview for Lenny, an online newsletter co-founded by Lena Dunham, 26-year-old Symone Sanders (no relation to the Vermont senator) spoke with writer Mikki Halpin and described several instances in which felt she was discriminated against as a high-ranking black female campaign worker.

-snip-

Symone Sanders: There were multiple instances. There were places where I literally I couldn’t get in. I would go to the door, the staff entrance, and people would say, “This is staff only.” I’d have to explain to them that I was staff, and they would question me. I would have to say, “I’m the national press secretary. Did you watch me on the news the other day?” It was consistently happening. There was one week where it happened the entire week.

-snip-

Symone Sanders tweeted Saturday to reiterate that the experiences of racism that she experienced came from venue staff while on the road, and not from the campaign staff that she worked alongside in the Sanders campaign.

"I didn't imply Sen Sanders and/or his campaign are/were racist"

The headline and four paragraphs you selected do that quite easily.

[DonViejo]

94. Take it up, like I did, with the Editor of Buzzfeed and the folks that write the DU TOS.

[That Guy 888]

95. Did they choose your paragraphs for you, or are they just keeping you from editing your post?

[DonViejo]

96. In general, I post the first four paragraphs of every OP I make...

I'm not going to edit OP's to satisfy you or Clinton supporters. Nice chatting with you; I'm done.

[That Guy 888]

97. You're aware your post hurts more than it helps and you're not going to change - understood.

Nice chatting with you

Hmm... can't say the same unfortunately.

[frazzled]

31. Why didn't all staffers have identifying badges?

Isn't that the norm? A big laminated picture ID card with "STAFF" written on it, attached to a lanyard you wear around your neck. I've worked for a fair number of campaigns, and official staff are usually identified as such. That would have been the very easy and very cheap fix.

How are venue workers to know who is legitimate staff or not, otherwise?

[oberliner]

33. So you don't think her race had anything to do with the incidents she described?

It was just because she didn't have a laminated staff sign?

[Moonwalk]

36. Yes, race did have to do with it. BUT I've had incidents where I've forgotten to put on a badge...

...and been yelled at that it's only for staff and I'm white. People can react that way if they're looking for a badge and you don't have one on. So I don't think the person asking about badges is out of line or should be snapped at for inquiring about that.

That said, I completely believe that in most of these instances, if she's been white, someone would have asked "Are you staff?" and when she said "yes," taken her word for it. That they assume she wasn't, that they assumed Bernie Sanders would only have white staff members and anyone black couldn't be one of them--leading them to YELL at her (which was wrong to do no matter who she was), was racist.

[oberliner]

37. Gotcha

I agree with your assessment.

[frazzled]

53. No

I just asked why she didn't have a staff badge. How is some lowly guard or parking lot attendant supposed to know who she, or anybody else for that matter, is? I wouldn't expect them to recognize her. I wouldn't recognize her. I rarely watch cable news. I read newspapers and the Internet.

The way she was treated disrespectfully was most probably due to implicit bias based on race. But I don't blame people for doing their job. They should, however, do it with respect, and equal respect for all.

[oberliner]

54. Understood

It's not clear whether or not other staff members who were white were treated in the same way. Or if press secretaries from other campaigns had badges of the kind you describe. I'd be curious to know.

[Gormy Cuss]

82. That assumes that the white staffers showed credentials to the same venue staff

and if it were a problem of credentials her request to fellow staffers, that they alert venue staff of her existence, would have been ludicrous.

[bravenak]

35. yep

Told you all they had no clue how to be intersectional. I believ every word sh say and hope she writes a tell all book. I will buy it immediately.

[oberliner]

38. Please take note that she was talking about venue staffers

Not Sanders staffers.

[bravenak]

40. Doesn't matter. The atmosphere obviously allowed such shit

[oberliner]

46. That definitely wasn't what she said

I would encourage you to read the full interview and also to take note of her recent tweets on the subject.

[think]

55. The least Buzz Feed could do is not try to be purposefully miseading. That shows a complete

disregard for journalistic integrity.

Seriously...

[Turin_C3PO]

89. I wonder though if the venue people

were even Dems? They could just be random staff not associated with party. Of course either way we know their is racism within our party so it wouldn't surprise me if it was Sanders or Clinton supporters being racist.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

42. What difference does that make? That's totally not the fucking point! Sanders didn't get it...

...and apparently neither do you.

[oberliner]

45. Did you read the interview?

Senator Sanders found out about it later, and he and his wife, Jane, were horrified. They knew it was plain old racism and nothing else. During his speech that night, he spent a little extra time on the part about race relations in America and racism. It made me feel really great to know that I was working for somebody that in that instance, got it.

[PaulaFarrell]

64. will that be the book wher she tell this?

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 44m44 minutes ago
I can't even take a nap without something going left. In the ELLE/LENNY interview, I detailed discrimination I experienced from venue staff

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 43m43 minutes ago
If you actual read the interview without an ulterior motive, you would know I wasn't talking about campaign staff.

Symone D. Sanders ?@SymoneDSanders 41m41 minutes ago
The staff was amazing. I have never said a disparaging thing about any of my former coworkers because there is nothing disparaging to say.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

41. But he and many of his supporters believe that economic justice is more important than race.

Here's an example of how RACE is much more centrally important than class.

[democrattotheend]

63. He sees the two as intertwined

In his book, he talks about how Republicans use and sow racial divisions to make poor whites fear blacks taking what little they have in order to get people to vote against their economic interests so Republicans can keep their rich friends rich.

Did you read the part of the article where she said that the Senator and his wife were horrified when they learned about this?

[oberliner]

51. They changed the title and substantially updated the article

New title is:

Sanders’ Former Press Secretary Says She Experienced Racism On The Trail

Update includes her tweets that I posted above.

[George II]

52. Say it ain't so, Bernie!

[think]

57. I'd advise reading the original article before casting aspersions....

[Turin_C3PO]

90. She makes clear

It wasn't him or his staff but rather racist venue staff who I guess could be either Republican or dem. Still sucks either way.

[Cali_Democrat]

56. Not surprising. nt

[JesterCS]

58. Amazing considering the other day the Clintonistas

We're bad mouthing buzz feed for something against hillary. Cherry picking much?

[think]

60. The headline is completely misleading. Racism is a very sensitive subject and accuracy is vital.

First of all shame on those individuals who behaved in a racist manor. There needs to be repercussions for such behavior.

Secondly my condolences to Symone Sanders for being treated so disrespectfully and the racism she endured.

Thirdly shame on Buzz Feed for purposefully using racism to exploit for gain and tarnishing the reputation of others.

This thread should be deleted or altered to be respectful of the truth if the OP has an ounce of integrity....

[uhnope]

66. please self-delete. The headline is a blatant lie

She experienced these things from venue staff, not Sanders campaign staff

[Blue State Bandit]

67. Really? More "Berners are Racists" posts on DU?

Symone Sanders herself knocked this down. The dif here for all to see; by and large, Berners went after the candidate for her perceived faults. But every Berner has been a target of direct and indirect accusations of racism and misogyny. Even after the so called change-over to General Election.

[Vinca]

68. Maybe it wasn't because she was black. Maybe they just didn't recognize her.

[baldguy]

71. Let's see 20,000 emails from the Sanders campaign.

We can find the half-dozen most ill-advised messages that cast the organization in the worst light possible, then spend a week harping on them.

After all, turnabout is fair play.

[geek tragedy]

76. Movements on the left need to have organic roots in communities of color

Otherwise this happens.

[karynnj]

79. This is as silly as saying that they can NOT originate among people of color

Many significant movements were NOT led by POC, though as they grew they included people of all ethnithity.

This includes most waves of the feminist movement and the gay rights movement. Both led to major changes in society.

If there is a social movement that was created or, more interestingly, that grew because of the prominence of Sanders, it is one against income inequality. Things like paid sick leave and the $15 minimum wage were advocated for before Bernie's run, but he gave issues of that type more visibility. Only time will tell whether people mobilized by Sanders continue to work for a fairer society. For many, this was their first time being politically or publicly engaged.

Now, their first action is in sync with the Clinton campaign. They need to stop Trump. They then need to push their representatives in Congress on these issues where Sanders pushed Clinton to the left.

In 2007, I heard various people including Jesse Jackson speak at Take Back America on the civil rights movement. One theme from the panel was how success depended on BOTH the good work and effort of the administration and some legislators AND the protest movement which moved the country on the issue.

The best result of the 2016 election process might be that Clinton will have an additional force, working on issues dear to them, pushing the country and the Congress, in the direction of making a more just society. It may actually become one factor in making her a successful President.

Also, consider that though Bernie did move HRC to the left on this her own history suggests it was to a place that she was and is comfortable with. Note she did not shift on her foreign policy, other than to shift from differentiating herself from Obama to wrapping her accomplishments into all the Obama accomplishments.

As to POC, they supported the well known, long term candidate that they has known for years. This was not a race where everyone started out equally likely to win. Supporting HRC was where most thought the race would end. In fact, the first implicit decision to be made was whether to even consider an alternative. In the primary, a vote for any candidate should be considered FOR that person rather than against the other.

[geek tragedy]

80. The left half of the country is increasingly non-white

We are past the days when people of color just jump on a car being driven by white people.

Movements that do not have organic roots in communities of color will struggle mightily to do the outreach and build the relationships needed to expand beyond their demographic straitjacket.

The two candidates in the primary split white voters 50/50. The winner's margin was due exclusively to winning the non-white vote.

In 2008, the winning primary candidate lost white voters.

[karynnj]

83. Do you disagree that Sanders being there raised the visibility

Of the minimum wage increase and other income inequality issues?

Not to mention, you speak of the Democratic base. This issue has the potential to win back some poor white men lost to Rrpublicans.

Not to mention, this is an issue that many many good Democrats have held dear and one that HRC can make a core goal. It makes economic sense because the ever increasing income inequality leads to a very unfair, undemocratic country and a worse economy.

It is also consistent with HRC's own history and if she leads change on this, it could be her best legacy - of many opportunities. She could take off from where Obama left off on climate change issues. She could continue his efforts on criminal justice. All of these are very needed.

Note ALL will need the strong, passionate support of people out of government holding elected officials to doing something. Without that no President could do much.

[geek tragedy]

84. the majority of downscale white men who vote Republican and especially for Trump

don't vote on policy, they vote on cultural resentment--guns, abortion, race.

If given a choice between someone who will improve their lives, and someone who will give voice to their cultural resentments, they'll choose the latter every time.

In 2012 Obama didn't focus on winning their votes, main thrust was to discourage them from voting period by disqualifying Romney in their eyes. That's the playbook that Democrats are running this year too--stop the bleeding and make the election about how awful Trump is.

Climate change and improving police/community relations are definitely issues Clinton should highlight, because they are important to the actual swing voters out there--culturally tolerant and educated voters. But, those issues tend to further alienate the downscale beta males who line up behind Trump. Try talking to that crowd about Black Lives Matter and see how they react.

[karynnj]

85. I am not speaking of the election, but having the support to make changes

As President. That was why I referenced the civil rights forum where the point was made that both were needed.

I can not think of any change that STARTED from a President without a huge felt need articulated by sctivists.

I fully expect HRC to win and obviously that is what everyone should be focused on, but once she has, I think a legacy of Bernie might be that many more people are focused on issues like income inequality.

I KNOW you can point to many many Democrats making fantastic speeches on the floor of the Senate explaining the problem beautifully. However, very very few people - even fellow Senators - hear the well written arguments. Bernie was heard. The fact that a 74 year old democratic socialist Senator could get about 45 percent of the Democratic vote against a party luminary of at least 25 years shows the power of that issue. He did not win the votes because of his good looks or charismatic personality!


Not everything revolves JUST around winning votes though obviously that is the ONLY issue until November. However, once she is inaugurated the key will be to both support and push her on issues we all consider important.

In fact, that said, this op as it is is counter to our shared goals. It is also against the new rules as it is refighting the primaries where some Clinton people are doubling down that they were right and Bernie supporters, a pretty significant part of the party, are racist.

I have never seen this winner team supporters attacking with a pretty broad brush the supporters of the losing candidate. This even as the rules shifted to be stricter in their favor than 2008 or 2004. This is counterproductive and if it succeeds in getting a lot of Sanders supporters, some here for more than a decade, to leave, this site will be less valuable.

HRC worked hard at t he convention to unite the party, this op revives old accusations that few Sanders supporters agree have merit.

[geek tragedy]

86. I agree that continuing to grind axes from the primary is particularly

stupid for people whose candidate won.

Trying to portray Sanders supporters as racist is not helpful at this point.

At the same time, some of us who supported Clinton want Sanders's ideology to catch on. And that extends beyond merely identifying the problems. Even the Koch brothers (!!!) recognize that income and wealth inequality is a national problem.

The question is whether the movement or the candidate have a viable plan to solve the problems.

I don't see this particular story as showing that Sanders supporters are or were racists during the primary. Rather, stressing that the lesson that needs to be learned is that a movement needs to have organic roots in communities of color if it's going to succeed in winning significant support in those communities. Otherwise, there are going to be invisible walls that stunt its growth.

[Odin2005]

104. I guess all us white working class leftists don't matter, then?

[geek tragedy]

105. Of course you matter. But, you need people of color to get anything done.

And to get people from a community involved in your fights, it's not enough to ask them to follow. Gotta get them involved from the very first moments.

[KingCharlemagne]

77. Whoever wrote that headline should face discipline FOR CONVEYING

EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what Ms. Sanders actually said, I.e.. venue personnel, not "staffers".

WTF????

[oberliner]

81. "Sanders’ Former Press Secretary Says She Experienced Racism On The Trail"

That's the current headline of the article (which has been significantly revised).

[Arazi]

78. Flamebait. No surprise to see who thinks this refers to Bernie or his campaign

[Turin_C3PO]

88. Not Sanders campaign staff

But Dem Venue staff. Doesn't change the fact that this behavior is despicable in our party whoever is doing it.

[yurbud]

100. Buzzfeed has corrected their headline--WHY HAVEN'T YOU?

[JackRiddler]

103. Please correct this LYING HEADLINE - as Buzzfeed already did.

Symone Sanders says the OPPOSITE of what this intentionally propagandistic, misleading headline says. Sanders staff did not act this way, venue staff did.

And since when is Buzzfeed an LBN source?