OMG. The Sanders Vatican trip is a giant, giant fiasco. (Hillary Group)

[geek tragedy]

(crossposted in Gee-Dee-Pee btw)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511684289

He's not going for an audience with the pope. He's going for an academic conference to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a papal publication.

It will consist of speakers presenting papers on economics and Catholic theology.

Conference programme:

http://www.pass.va/content/dam/scienzesociali/booklet/centesimus_annus.pdf

Given that the Vatican is (a) 6 hours ahead of the US and (b) a 9 hour plane ride from the US, if he heads straight to JFK from the Thursday debate, he'll land at FCO airport around 3:00 PM local time on the 15th. FCO is not anywhere close to Rome, so he's looking at least one hour to get from the airport to the Vatican itself, providing traffic isn't too bad, in Rome, ha ha. So let's say 90 minutes to deplane and then negotiate traffic and security at the Vatican. That puts his arrival at the conference around 4:30 PM.

He will arrive just in time to hear a response by Professor Hsin-Chi Kuan to an academic paper delivered by President Correa of Ecuador about the fall of the USSR. Then a couple of hours of discussion before the evening's dinner.

Why on God's Green Earth would he take off right before the do-or-die primary in New York to sit in on the last 1/4 of the first day of an academic conference on Catholic theology and economics?

At best, after the dinner, he'd be back in the US around 1:00 in the morning of the 16th, having completely pissed away one of his 4 remaining days before the New York Primary. And that's assuming he doesn't stay for the riveting discussions on Day 2.

Who thought this was a good idea?

My bet is that he bails on this "due to tightening poll numbers" or whatever excuse he has.

Professional malpractice on his campaign's part.

[Hekate]

1. The acolytes seriously do not want to hear this.

This post, referencing Bloomberg news, survived an alert, and they are flagellating themselves.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511681215




Watch the birdie

[seabeyond]

2. Someone explain to me how he did not flat out lie into that camera. How is this NOT a lie?

The first seconds. That is all I watched. Gonna talk to, see the Pope.

Yup!

NO, he is not. He knows he is not speaking to, or seeing, or meeting, or being summoned by the Pope.

[KittyWampus]

5. He nods, yup and doesn't clear up the misconception.

[KittyWampus]

6. Thanks for posting that BTW.

[seabeyond]

9. She asked, You are meeting with the Pope? He said, yup. Or other words, Yes. He isn't. He lied.

Right? I cannot believe the people totally ignoring this. My gosh.... I was hearing this and that, all day, but to see this video. The Popes mad saying, no way.

and here is Sanders.

The fuckin' campaign of integrity.

Lying. About the Pope. For those that believe, .... I mean.

[FloridaBlues]

20. He made it sound that pope invited him yes Bernie does imbesh at bit ..

[seabeyond]

22. It is a lie, isn't it? Not embellishment. This is what I am not getting.

You are meeting with the Pope?

Yup.

That just really sounds like a lie to me.

[DesertRat]

31. He outright lied

[seabeyond]

33. Thank you. I thought so. Lol. Nt

[BlueMTexpat]

56. The Pope appears to be making a

lightning visit to Lesbos to be sure to be out of town.

[seabeyond]

57. I saw that. Fuckin' funny. !!! Nt

[kennetha]

3. It gets even better

He's merely going as one of several "other participants" who have no designated speaking slot at the conference. they are probably just there to offer occasional observations from the audience. Been to many conferences like that.

[displacedtexan]

42. Also known as "seat fillers"

[kennetha]

43. It's a closed conference

with 30 attendants.

Pope not expected to attend.

Yeah, that's where I'd send my candidate for 2 days in the thick of a hotly contested primary.

These people must be out of their frickin' minds to get involved in this.

They misunderstood the nature of the invitation, obviously, and put Bernie out there to gloat, and now he looks like a fool.

Heads should roll, but they won't.

[displacedtexan]

48. He's listed under "Other Participants"

Kinda humiliating.

[kennetha]

50. super humiliating

especially after bragging like a six year old about meeting with the Pope.

[KittyWampus]

4. It seems bizarre to do all that for a few HOURS listening to a conference he's not speaking at.

during a Presidential Primary.

Just bizarre.

[hrmjustin]

7. I have not been able to follow much of this but it seems like a mistake to

abandon NY.

[geek tragedy]

10. Wonder what the cost of chartering a private jet for a round trip

between Fiumicino and JFK is.

Lots of $27 donations to cover those costs.

[hrmjustin]

13. I think his internals must show it is not happening and he thinks this

helps in the April 26th states.

[djean111]

8. Hillary will be attending a fund-raiser in Hong Kong at the very same time.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/4/8/1512575/-While-Bernie-meets-Pope-Francis-Hillary-Hosts-Fundraiser-in-Hong-Kong-w-Former-Goldman-Exec

Bernie Sanders is meeting with the Pope the same day Hillary Clinton is fundraising with a former Goldman Sachs executive.

On Friday, April 15, Bernie Sanders will travel to the Vatican to discuss the global economy and environmental sustainability with Pope Francis. He’ll also attend a conference on social, environmental, and economic issues, hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

snip

That same day, Hillary Clinton will be attending a fundraiser in the global financial capital of Hong Kong, hosted by Gary Gensler, her campaign’s Chief Financial Officer. Gensler walked through the revolving door from Wall Street to Washington’s financial regulatory system. Prior to heading up the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) regulation of derivative swaps, Gensler was a partner at Goldman Sachs. The fundraiser can only be attended by those willing to donate the maximum allowable contribution of $2,700.

I know this is the Hillary group, but just wanted to point out that both candidates will be overseas at the same time.

[geek tragedy]

11. She is not going to be in Hong Kong, her campaign's CFO will be there.

Not everything you read at Daily Kos is true.

[BlueCaliDem]

25. Oops.

[SharonClark]

34. The DailyKos op started with "You can't make this up"

and then he did.

[geek tragedy]

35. Classic B-Bro stuff nt

[LiberalFighter]

40. Thank you for your attention. :)

[KittyWampus]

12. not such a good clip to link to… it falsely claims Sanders will meet w/Pope Francis.

[fleabiscuit]

15. A swing and a miss! eom

[William769]

28. This is a bullshit free Group.

It's also a BS free Group. Yes it's interchangeable.

[William769]

29. And another thing

Hillary will be in Los Angeles CA.

[Koinos]

14. I looked at the list of speakers and their topics.

I don't see how Sanders fits in. The format is very Catholic and tied to encyclicals and Catholic theology. It isn't as if Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein are going to be there. Sanders is not a speaker, and he may or may not see the pope. What am I missing here?

[NastyRiffraff]

16. So is he giving up on NY?

Or does he believe that the pope will help his campaign? Very strange.

[geek tragedy]

17. McCainesque. nt

[FloridaBlues]

18. Good let him stay the whole week. This entire story is so over blown by him

[jehop61]

19. Who decided

it was a good idea for a 74 year old man to fly over several time zones and back in a short time when he's already stressed from a hard fought campaign? As a contemporary, I think it's a huge mistake and hope it doesn't effect his health.

[LiberalFighter]

41. Yes. He is not that great in shape.

Some might consider him cranky. After trip over and back in a short period of time he might be a volcano.

[mcar]

21. Malpractice for sure

I've been thinking about this all day. I'm no campaign coordinator but I have planned events and I have been thinking "who the f#ck suggested this to him?" Going to a conference at the Vatican a few days before the most important primary of your career? And trying to gin it up as the Pope has invited him?

Makes no sense at all.

[seabeyond]

23. I think the purpose was literally to put out he was meeting with Pope. He has been called a prophet

and so much more. Why they would think that people would not say.... Hey, you are not meeting the Pope, is stupid. But, I think that is what it is and he probably, undoubtedly has no interest in going to a mere meeting.

[mcar]

24. I'm guessing you are correct

An odd campaign strategy, but what do I know?

[seabeyond]

26. I mean, look at the replies to me, when I put up the video of him lying. I am bitter.

I am bitter about ? Something that isn't happening.

Odd odd.

[mcar]

51. You know, I have the ability to support a politician

and disagree with some of their policies at the same time. It's not rocket science and they are not gods. They are human beings who are capable of making mistakes.

I look at who is the best Democrat to do the job. This whole "my candidate can do no wrong" crap is just juvenile, IMHO.

[IamMab]

27. It's a trip he wants to make (so many leftists!), and he can expense it to his campaign, probably.

Another example of Sanders living large off of his small donor contributions.

[DesertRat]

30. I feel the same way

When I heard the news this morning my first thought was, why in the world is he doing that right before the NY primary? And who is paying for it?

I was very surprised when I signed onto DU and saw his supporters celebrating (!!!!)

[geek tragedy]

32. I am much happier that he's not going to spend that time in Queens or Buffalo or Scranton nt

[DesertRat]

38. His campaign was probably hoping for a photo op

With Pope Francis. Maybe hoping to appeal to NY Catholics?

[displacedtexan]

46. Selfies!!!!!

[Walk away]

36. It's Bernie's incredibly expensive and time consuming answer to Ted Cruz's visit to a Matzah Bakery!

Last edited Fri Apr 8, 2016, 10:27 PM - Edit history (1)

maybe hell get an audience with the Pope (didn't Francis meet with that crazy woman who wouldn't give gay people marriage certs?)
I guess he'll shake hands and take a photo with anyone who shows up!

[DesertRat]

39. Pope Francis isn't scheduled to be at this academic conference

And Bernie isn't on the list of speakers. Odd choice right before the NY Primary.

[kennetha]

44. They might make a slot for him, it seems

But he'll have to talk about Catholic Social Doctrine.

This is what the organizer says:

Asked if Sanders might address the conference as well, Sanchez said, "I think that he needs to have the same possibility as the other political leaders." He clarified that it would have to be within the context of Centesimus annus.

[DemonGoddess]

59. bwahahahaha

....and what would an agnostic know about Centesimus annus?

[jmowreader]

54. The Pope has learned: never get near an American politician

IIRC the Pope was PISSED he got stuck in the middle of the Kim Davis brouhaha.

[bluestateguy]

37. Well

What do you expect when you have a campaign staff led by the likes of Tad Devine and Jeff Weaver?

Devine is like a younger version of Bob Shrum [LOSER].

And Weaver is in over his head, having never done a national race, or Democratic primary.

[Native]

45. Geek, I'm confused, is he speaking or just attending?

There seem to be conflicting reports. Also, Politico's latest update talks about Devine being a lifelong practicing Roman Catholic. Hmmm. But Bernie's campaign had nothing to do with initiating this?

[displacedtexan]

47. All Sanders roads lead to Sachs.

Politico has the details.

[otohara]

52. LOL

I needed a chuckle.

[Native]

53. I referred to Politico's latest update. It's not clarified that I can see.

[Her Sister]

49. deleted OP post on the matter!?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110795636

Not sure why was it deleted. Someone says it was debunked, but it seems the topic is still developing. There are conflicting stories.

It comes from this source: http://www.dailynewsbin.com/

[Native]

55. And the WSJ is reporting that 30% of New York State's population is Catholic. nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

58. Honestly could not care less

I don't get too uptight about a political opponent shooting himself in the foot.