Bernie Sanders LIES about seeking primary challenger to Obama in 2012

[Cali_Democrat]

Today Bernie said he didn't want Obama to face a primary challenger in 2012. Well he's lying.

Here's what Bernie said in 2011:

Bernie Sanders Says It Would Be A ‘Good Idea’ To Primary President Obama
by Zaid Jilani Jul 22, 2011 5:50pm

SANDERS: Brian, believe me, I wish I had the answer to your question. Let me just suggest this. I think there are millions of Americans who are deeply disappointed in the president; who believe that, with regard to Social Security and a number of other issues, he said one thing as a candidate and is doing something very much else as a president; who cannot believe how weak he has been, for whatever reason, in negotiating with Republicans and there’s deep disappointment. So my suggestion is, I think one of the reasons the president has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no primary opposition to him and I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing. […] So I would say to Ryan [sic] discouragement is not an option. I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition.

http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/07/22/277124/bernie-sanders-primary-obama/

Bernie is not telling the truth. Good on O'Malley for calling Bernie out on this.

[Thinkingabout]

1. In todays age of video, etc it is hard to tell a lie and not get caught. It would be wiser to admit

He thought it was a good idea in 2012 and let it go.

[msrizzo]

5. It's hard to do that...

...when you build a brand on always being right. His real problem isn't that he wanted to primary Obama. It's that he doesn't want a large portion of the Dem base to know that he did. If it wasn't for that he would probably own up to it and move on.

[Sheepshank]

2. Information Age makes it totally stupid to try and pass off a lie like that. Nt

[HerbChestnut]

3. There's only one person lying here, and it's not Bernie.

He didn't deny wanting someone to primary Obama in order to move him back to the left, he denied actively working against him during the election. Bernie supported Obama in 2008 and in 2012 despite what O'Malley and the OP are suggesting.

[VanillaRhapsody]

13. How is THAT vigorously campaigning in support of?

its not....its a lie.

[HerbChestnut]

25. The OP claims that Bernie denied wanting to primary Obama.

He did no such thing and admitted so during the interview. What he *did* deny was obstructing Obama's reelection, also true.

[VanillaRhapsody]

27. NO he said he supported President Obama's campaign....

suggesting he be primaried...is NOT supporting the campaign. FULL stop!

[HerbChestnut]

33. Okay, last time I respond to you tonight.

Bernie knew that even if he were to face a primary challenger, Obama would be the Dem nominee. The only reason he even *considered* finding someone was to push Obama back to the left and more in tune with his 2008 campaign. Is that such a bad thing? In the end he decided it wasn't worth it and instead put his support behind Obama again. That's all there is to this entire story.

Good night.

[HassleCat]

4. Sanders should defend that better

He should say he speculated about a primary challenger to make Obama stronger, to help Obama.

[Scootaloo]

6. Except he didn't

This part:

So I would say to Ryan discouragement is not an option. I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition.

Does not actually appear in the Q&A in question.

[beam me up scottie]

7. Oops.

Nice catch, someone is lying alright.

[jkbRN]

12. Always taken out of context

[bobbobbins01]

8. Ugh, he didn't lie at all...

From the interview today:

"I've done for years a radio show, every single Friday, with Thom Hartmann. Somebody asked me years ago, do you think there should be a primary opponent to Barack Obama?....I said sure".

So thats a lie?

[bvf]

10. It's Opposite Day.

Some people observe it year-round, because otherwise, what else would they have?

[VanillaRhapsody]

15. its not about lying THEN....its about lying NOW

[bobbobbins01]

19. What is the lie now?

My quote was from today.

[VanillaRhapsody]

32. That he supported the sitting President's campaign to be elected...

when he thought he should be primaried....THAT'S the lie!

[bobbobbins01]

36. Its not a lie:

In March, he and other Vermont leaders spoke before the president at a rally on the University of Vermont campus, where Obama called Sanders and his fellow Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, “outstanding.” In his remarks, Sanders credited Obama with saving the country from economic disaster.

We are going to do everything that we can to reelect Barack Obama as president of the United States,” Sanders told the crowd. “The election this November is of monumental importance.”

Yawn...

[VanillaRhapsody]

39. Suggesting he be primaried....does NOT support his campaign....

quite the opposite in fact. Actually it is working for the opposition in fact

[bobbobbins01]

41. Ok, and that is an opinion, but the facts do not show him lying anywhere.

He did work for Obama in 2012 and he did call for him to have a primary opponent, both are things he said today.

[VanillaRhapsody]

44. FACTS show he thought he should be primaried...That is not an opinion...

that is working AGAINST us not for us....Bernie lied. Period....

Later when he realized he had a losing position....only then....did he get on board...

I also think that is called a "flip-flop" in "fact"

[bobbobbins01]

48. Yes, facts show he thought he should be primaried.

And Bernie didn't deny that he did that. So....where's the lie?

[Vattel]

26. Sigh, sad that you have to point this out, but thanks for doing it.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. Saying he strongly supported Obama's campaign....is the lie

he did not.

[bobbobbins01]

34. Now you're being subjective...and you can't say something subjective is a lie.

And he said he worked for obama in 2012, he didn't say he strongly supported his campaign, so thats a distortion...but here you go...from 2012:

In March, he and other Vermont leaders spoke before the president at a rally on the University of Vermont campus, where Obama called Sanders and his fellow Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, “outstanding.” In his remarks, Sanders credited Obama with saving the country from economic disaster.

Thats working for him...again no lie.

[VanillaRhapsody]

35. NO I am not...and Obama's team said that is Marlarkey too!

[bobbobbins01]

40. Yes, you most definitely are...its sad I have to keep pulling quotes:

“The idea that I’ve worked against Barack Obama is categorically false,” he said. “I’ve worked very hard to see Barack Obama elected. He came to Vermont to campaign for me in 2006. I’ve worked for him in 2008. I’ve worked for him in 2012."

He doesn't say he strongly supported...he said he worked hard to see him elected...none of that is a lie. Unless you want to contest the definition of "worked hard" and determine exactly what he did in both 2008 and 2012 combined to determine if that fits some sort of criteria you set...which makes it extremely subjective.

[VanillaRhapsody]

42. its not about the word "strongly"....if you suggest a sitting Dem President

be primaried...is NOT supporting it AT ALL....and THAT is the lie. In fact that works FOR the opposition!

[bobbobbins01]

47. Show me the exact sentence that is untrue.

Because you keep putting words out there like strongly support which didn't appear anywhere in what Bernie said today, so I'm wondering where you're getting them from.

[VanillaRhapsody]

51. let me say it slow....Did he suggest he should be Primaried?

Does that sound like "loyalty" to you???

[bobbobbins01]

52. Is that a no on pointing out the lie?

Because nobody said anything about loyalty, what does that have to do with whether or not Bernie lied? Either you can show an exact quote, or you can't, its very simple.

[VanillaRhapsody]

53. this one...

http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/07/22/277124/bernie-sanders-primary-

that is one hell of a flip-flop from .....he needs to be primaried....to I supported his campaign. If that is how he "supports".......who needs Republicans?

[bobbobbins01]

55. OK...that is an article from 2011...

As you said yourself...he lied now...so can I see where that lie is? Because this shows nothing.

[VanillaRhapsody]

56. that he supported his campaign....I cannot see how you cannot see!

[bobbobbins01]

57. I cannot see because you don't give any quotes...

And you make up words like "support" which were never uttered by Sanders in his interview today. Again, its very simple, just show the sentence that contains the lie.

[VanillaRhapsody]

59. I can give you this one...

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2012-barack-obama-215629#ixzz3qxAxD5u0

When I just posted that yes in fact he DID!

[bobbobbins01]

60. Again...post the sentence...you just gave me an article...

Its really not hard.

[VanillaRhapsody]

61. you are right its not...

"The idea that I've worked against Barack Obama is categorically false," Sanders said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2012-barack-obama-215629#ixzz3qxCYdeNU


Now how is suggesting he be Primaried "NOT" working "against" him?

[bobbobbins01]

63. Perfect, now I'll explain why you're wrong.

You're operating under the false assumption that supporting him having a primary opponent is exactly the same as working against him. That is, as I said before, completely subjective. As Bernie explained, Obama moved right on some issues, and having a primary opponent would help move him left again. You are certainly free to view that as a bad thing, but many people, myself included, see that as a good thing for the Democratic Party and for Obama. So it isn't a lie, its a statement to agree or disagree with, but it is definitely not a lie.

[UglyGreed]

9. But when you post

these types of articles you are just giving the GOP ammo to go against Bernie when he wins the nomination...... Can't you just posts all the good things Hillary represents?

[VanillaRhapsody]

16. then Bernie shouldn't lie and give them ammo.

[UglyGreed]

17. They have plenty

from Hillary herself, here one....

[VanillaRhapsody]

21. Yes and she has outlasted all their shit....

Bernie has thinner skin.....he doesn't have what it takes. He even thinks this will just get a pass.

[UglyGreed]

24. Bernie has

only survived being sooooshishlist, he must be thin skinned indeed........

[VanillaRhapsody]

30. Then he shouldn't lie and say he supported the campaign of a sitting President

when clearly he did NOT. THAT is the lie here...

[UglyGreed]

22. Oh wait that's right

she was sleepy.....

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. Shows how afraid you are of THIS!

His goose is cooked and its not even Thanksgiving yet!

[zalinda]

11. I listened to the Brunch with Bernie conversation

and he did not call to primary Obama in 2012. The word primary is used other than the primary in elections. So if you take the word primary and change it to basic.

"So my suggestion is, I think one of the reasons the president has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no basic opposition to him and I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing. So I would say to Ryan discouragement is not an option. I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some basic opposition."

Remember he was answering a question from a listener who was asking how to change the country from running like a for profit machine.

Here is the actual conversation.

If you notice, it was the media who said he 'wanted' to primary Obama, including the left media. Bernie said no such thing.

Z

[JoePhilly]

20. You should listen to you own audio ... Bernie says "primary" in both places ...

... where you say "basic", in bold.

You are wrong.

[Cali_Democrat]

23. LOL

The spin is getting comical.

[JoePhilly]

29. The angriest and loudest Bernie supporters on DU all wanted a primary of Obama.

If Bernie, and those perpetually disgruntled folks were smart, they'd have started building up an acceptable progressive candidate back then ... so they'd have an actual alternative to Hillary now.

Instead, they wasted about 4 year whining about how bad Obama was.

They couldn't primary Obama because they did not have a real candidate then, and they still don't really have one.

After Hillary becomes President, they'll probably repeat the cycle.

[hopemountain]

67. not true. you do not speak for me. nt.

[JoePhilly]

68. Are you one of the loudest and angriest Bernie supporters on DU?

I don't recognize you.

[hopemountain]

70. lol. i missed the part about loudest and

angriest bernie supporters. you know, some of them are not true bernie supporters, right? they are here to stir the shit for giggles - or?

[JoePhilly]

73. Absolutely.

Some of them started attacking Obama before he took office. They predicted double dip recessions, and all manner of plague and pestilence would befall America.

They are wrong a great deal.

[cascadiance]

78. We won't know what TPP will do to this country until it gets put in through fast track...

... which was what Obama pushed harder than just about any other legislation going through congress, and he needed Republicans to unite together to pass it with him.

I give Obama credit for a lot of good things he's done, but to say he shouldn't be criticized for some of the crap that he's also done is ignoring a lot that shouldn't be!

[JoePhilly]

81. Where did I say he should never be criticized?

But I will say that DU's Combustible Hair Club has been wrong about Obama over, and over, and over.

Their endless predictions of disaster at Obama's hand have been off the mark far more tha they've been right.

[Capt. Obvious]

86. Same is true

of some the loudest and angriest Hillary supporters.

[zalinda]

82. Of course he does.

Do you have a problem with reading comprehension? Primary does not mean 'to primary' in elections, every time it is used. Damn, get a dictionary.

Z

[JoePhilly]

84. You changed the fucking quote.

You don't get to change the quote and then be taken seriously.

Perhaps you should take middle school English again, it clearly didn't take the first time.

[zalinda]

87. I changed the quote to show that when you use a different word

it takes on a different meaning. The word primary also means basic, like in primary school, primary colors, etc. And, I indicated I was doing that.

Z

[Bluenorthwest]

14. When you point a finger, three point back at you. Very dishonest OP.

nt

[99Forever]

18. Somebody lies a whole fucking bunch...

... and it damn sure isn't Bernie Sanders.

[berni_mccoy]

37. Debunked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251783143

[Cali_Democrat]

43. Listen to the audio:

"I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition."

Starts @ 2:00.....

[wyldwolf]

45. Apparently the media doctored a recording because Berni McCoy has debunked this.

:

[boston bean]

38. How can anyone trust him changing

his history like this? Oh he's a non perfect
politician. Say it aint so.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

46. he said

Somebody asked me years ago, 'Do you think there should be a primary opponent to Barack Obama? I don’t know exactly the words that I said, [but] I said what’s wrong with a primary situation?"

Bernie likes Obama and Obama campaigned for him. Bernie was merely inferring that Barack was getting sucked towards the right but he didn't say don't vote for him only that he should have faced some opposition to pull him back to the left.

[Doctor_J]

49. The title of this op is a lie

Not surprising from someone who threatened me for speaking critically of the ACA.

I think the hillarians are starting to realize that Mrs Clinton doesn't have a prayer if the campaign is confined to the issues

[MisterP]

65. all they have is chanting, forcible expulsions, and Lo0nix-mocking siglines

they're exactly what have turned the country off of politics

[Fearless]

50. The OP is false.

[beam me up scottie]

54. Yes it is but is anyone really surprised?

[mindwalker_i]

62. That really doesn't matter

[pnwmom]

64. No, the quote is correct. Sanders and his supporters just wish it wasn't.nt

[Fearless]

74. The OP is false as I said.

[MohRokTah]

58. Sanders is now in a hole of lies.

All indications are he won't stop digging.

Did he not think he was on audio and video calling for a primary challenge to Obama? He's being as obtuse as a Republican over his now completely verified lie.

[JackInGreen]

76. ...

I would be banned for the comment I wanna make so I'll just giggle.

[Cha]

83. Yes, he got himself on the defensive.. he could have told it straight.. now the cover up is worse.

[Dodo]

88. Not focusing on issues at hand?

Nitpicking on something unimportant. I'd rather the supporters explain to us why they support Clinton on issues alone.

[Laser102]

66. Wow. Obviously he saw Obama as a flawed President. I see Obama as the most consequential

President we have had. If he was running again I would vote for him a third time. So would most of the country. Bernie needs to own what he said about Obama. And apologize.

[cascadiance]

80. If he ran again, I wonder if you'll love having TPP govern us then enough to vote for him again!!!

Those ISDS courts should probably be just as good as using arbitration proceedings that have largely replaced class action lawsuits to have Corporate America be accountable for its crooked actions... NOT!!!

[Cha]

89. Thank you, Laser! Well Done. bernie owns it. he'll never apologize though.. he's denying it even

happened!

[litlbilly]

69. I wonder how many alts you use to get enough records. you guys need to give it a rest

[JackInGreen]

71. I've seen thicker sauce in a soup kitchen

At least that sauce wasn't bitter.

[Historic NY]

72. Tom Hartmann show....

[JackInGreen]

75. That isn't as big a whopper as

Dodging sniper fire now is it?

[Nanjeanne]

77. I wanted a primary candidate for Pres Obama too.

I was a big supporter in 2008 but by 2012 I had become discouraged. I liked President Obama and wanted the best for our country. When he didn't fight hard for the public option I was very disappointed. When he kept thinking that the Republicans would be fair in negotiations and giving up a lot before he even started, I was disappointed. When he searched so hard for the "grand bargain" I was disappointed. When he started the Simpson Bowles Commission I was disappointed. I thought President Obama could do so much more and I wanted him too. I thought it would be a great idea for him to be primaried in 2012 with the hopes that a more progressive dialogue would be part of the discussion. I thought it would make Obama stronger in the debates.

I listened to what Bernie said today and didn't hear him say that he didn't want Obama to face a primary challenger in 2012. I heard him say that he didn't oppose the reelection of the President. Those two things are not necessarily exclusive. I know because I felt exactly the same way.

[Blue State Bandit]

79. Hyperbole.

Answering a question as to whether a primary challenge would be appropriate is not actively recruiting for, bankrolling, or organizing a primary challenge.

And if you like Obama's (via Holder) soft touch on Wall Street, then that would explain why you do not (care to) understand why he said what he said, and further, what you're vote for Hillary will be actively supporting.

[NCTraveler]

85. First, I'm laughing my ass off at your sig line. It cought me offguard.

Second, O'Malley has been great. I mentioned last week that he has been really good as of late when going after Clinton and Sanders. He really does so in a non-offensive manner and is getting his name out there by doing so. This really isn't something small. Specially for Sanders and Clinton who have been so good to the party as a whole.