‘Jesus was a socialist’: Bernie Sanders excites previously unmotivated Alabama voters

[DonViejo]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) drew about 300 supporters to a rally in deeply conservative Alabama – including one woman who has never voted in 22 years of eligibility.

The Vermont independent, who is running for president as a Democrat, appeared Sunday at the Good People Brewing Company in Birmingham, reported AL.com.

One of the those supporters was 40-year-old Elizabeth Hewitt, of Blount County, who said she has never felt like her vote mattered because she never heard a candidate’s message that resonated with her until Sanders.

“I didn’t like either candidate,” she told the newspaper. “I didn’t care who won because I felt it didn’t matter.”

more
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/jesus-was-a-socialist-bernie-sanders-excites-previously-unmotivated-alabama-voters/

[kenfrequed]

1. It is a bit unusual

It is unusual to see a turn out like this in a red state for a candidate so far to the left at this point in the season.

[Fawke Em]

3. Not really.

We Southern Democrats tend to be far more liberal than our counterpoints in other parts of the country.

Makes sense when you think about it: we've only been given the choice of Republican and Republican-Lite for so long that we've become deep blue in our beliefs. That might be one reason it's so hard to get Democrats elected statewide in many Southern states: we only have the choice of a RINO or Republican-Lite. We never seem to get a populist and/or liberal Democrat who might bring in swing voters.

I live in Tennessee. Most of the Democrats I know are very liberal. Bernie would suit them fine.

But, come to think of it, what Bernie is advocating is what any poor, middle and/or working class American should want no matter their political affiliation.

[kenfrequed]

4. Good points!

I have noticed that a lot of red states were sort of cajoled by the national party into running a lot of blue dogs and DLC leftovers. I think Harold Ford was one of Rahm Emmanuels hand-picked candidates if I'm not mistaken.

But yeah, I see your point.

[Snotcicles]

7. I hope he keeps returning, after his message has a little time to spread.

They need him as much even more in the south. He will do well there when they get to see him eye to eye.

Keep getting the word out down there.

[Brainstormy]

8. I agree!

I'm a native of Tennessee who's lived in Georgia for thirty years and never lived anywhere else but in the south. I do agree that liberal Democrats in the south tend to be much more "liberal" than elsewhere. We've had to hone our philosophy, develop tough skins. In other words, it ain't easy being blue, so if you stay that way you're going to be a pretty deep shade of it.

[Fawke Em]

10. Yep.

I started my political voting life left of center and have only gotten more and more blue as I've aged.

A combination of both of the parties moving rightward and too many people in my state voting against their best interests that has made me nearly navy.

[HooptieWagon]

2. A Socialist Jew, no less. nt

[BrotherIvan]

5. Just pointing out that the title is misleading and Sanders never said that

For a moment, I thought he was going to go God on us and it made me cringe as politicians should leave religion out of it. But I read the article and it was an audience member who said it.

Stuart plans to continue his monthly donations to the Sanders campaign because the senator’s democratic socialist views match his own Christian beliefs better than Republican’s lip service on family values.

“I think Jesus was a socialist,” Stuart said.

Phew.

[Snotcicles]

6. I hope he spends a good amount of time in the south/deep south. And revisits every so often. nt

[WillyT]

9. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!