When Bernie Sanders ran against me in Vermont

[Fla Dem]

By Madeleine May Kunin FEBRUARY 05, 2016
Boston Globe Op Ed

Hillary Clinton is not the first progressive Democratic woman to be challenged by Bernie Sanders. He ran against me in 1986 when I was running for my second term as governor of Vermont. At that time he had little affinity for the Democratic Party. When advised that his third-party candidacy might result in a Republican victory, he saw no difference between Democrats and Republicans, saying: “It is absolutely fair to say you are dealing with Tweedledum and Tweedledee.”

Voters did not agree. Sanders received 14 percent of the vote, the Republican candidate, Peter Smith received 38 percent, and I won with 47 percent.

By any measure I was regarded as a progressive governor. If I was vulnerable, it was for being too liberal. As a legislator, my maiden speech on the floor of the Vermont House was in favor of ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. My first priority as governor was universal access to kindergarten. I set a record for a Vermont governor’s appointees; women filled half of my cabinet. I sought out talented women, many of whom were the first women to head their agencies.

Women draw on a different network than men and can share an alternative definition of “qualified.” Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff, according to Fast Company, is over 50 percent female. Sanders’ campaign began with a a predominantly male inner circle and continues to face accusation of keeping women out of the top ranks.

When Sanders was my opponent he focused like a laser beam on “class analysis,” in which “women’s issues” were essentially a distraction from more important issues. He urged voters not to vote for me just because I was a woman. That would be a “sexist position,” he declared.

Sanders has emerged as a more sophisticated and astute politician since those early days, and his message has more resonance.

>>>>Snip<<<<<

Sanders is brave, pairing Socialist with Democrat. And I agree with him on the growing cancer in America of income inequality and a democracy-threatening campaign finance system. He is a bold truth teller, and I am grateful that he has changed the conversation. He makes the answers sound easy, which in turn, makes him look authentic. But the answers are not simple. The word “complex” does not win applause in a political speech. Nuance is not welcomed. “We need a revolution,” is more powerful than “I have a plan.”

I added the bold. I apologize if someone else aready posted this. I looked and didn't find it.

More>>> https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/02/04/when-bernie-sanders-ran-against-vermont/kNP6xUupbQ3Qbg9UUelvVM/story.html

[SunSeeker]

1. Yup. That's Sander's M.O.:

When Sanders was my opponent he focused like a laser beam on “class analysis,” in which “women’s issues” were essentially a distraction from more important issues. He urged voters not to vote for me just because I was a woman. That would be a “sexist position,” he declared.

Anybody voting for Bernie's female opponent must be doing so "just because she's a woman." So if you vote for a woman, you're "sexist." That sort of doublespeak would make Republicans proud.

[Tommy2Tone]

2. Great insight

K & R

[Thinkingabout]

3. There are other issues in which proper respect is not extended to women.

I wonder if he feels a man voting for him could never be sexists. Funny how it is not the same rule for men and women.

[Fla Dem]

4. Exactly. How many men wouldn't vote for HRC

because she's a woman?

[Cha]

5. It's fine... can't be seen enough, Fla Dem.. Thank you!

"When Sanders was my opponent he focused like a laser beam on “class analysis,” in which “women’s issues” were essentially a distraction from more important issues. He urged voters not to vote for me just because I was a woman. That would be a “sexist position,” he declared."

And, Madeleine May Kunin Won.. Go Figure!

[MADem]

6. I posted it a week or so ago, but it's never a bad thing to give it more exposure.

It's in our group so they won't be able to come in here and give you the same grief they gave me.

The truth hurts.