Parkland students interview Bernie Sanders: 'Your generation has the power to change America'

[Donkees]

Fri 23 Mar 2018 01.00 EDT

By Rebecca Schneid and Dara Rosen in Washington

Two student journalists from the Eagle Eye, Stoneman Douglas high school’s newspaper, interviewed the Vermont senator about the search for a breakthrough in the gun debate – and his own voting record

Excerpt:

Do you think that the NRA has the kind of hold on Congress the media portrays?

It has a very significant hold. I think that hold may be breaking a little bit.

I think what the NRA can do, like any other powerful interest, whether it’s Wall Street or the pharmaceutical industry, if you vote the wrong way, they will primary you – they’ll run a candidate against you in the primary and they will spend a lot of money against you. And they have a lot of power, they have a lot of members. They intimidate a whole lot of members here [in Congress].

You’re seeing that power in the sense that the American people want serious gun safety legislation. We’re not seeing that on the floor. Why is that? Are they doing what 80% of the American people want? No. They’re doing what the NRA wants.

And you’re seeing the president who one day, as is usually the case with him, on a Monday he says one thing and on a Wednesday he says something completely different. But that has to do with the power of the NRA.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/23/bernie-sanders-gun-control-parkland-students

[GaryCnf]

1. Donkees

Is this fake news?

I read right here that the Parkland students wanted nothing to do with Bernie. I bet this was really an interview with the unassailable leader of all true liberals and they just edited clips of Sanders into it.

[Donkees]

2. :) Interview Video ...

Published on Mar 23, 2018

Rebecca Schneid and Dara Rosen, two student journalists from the Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead, interview Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and ask him if Trump has the courage to take on the NRA.

[boston bean]

6. Did they ask him if he regretted his vote giving the gun mfg immunity?

[LexVegas]

8. They asked questions on his pro-gun voting record.

He blamed the attitudes of his constituents. Said he lost a race once because he opposed gun legislation.

[boston bean]

9. I didnt see that in the linked video? Was there a longer one?

[LexVegas]

16. I read the transcript. Didn't watch the video. nt

[MrsCoffee]

19. Transcript:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/23/bernie-sanders-gun-control-parkland-students

Why did you, though– it was 1993 – vote against the Brady bill, that would have introduced a lot of gun control measures to reform issues, including background checks and waiting periods?

Well, there was a debate at that time. It was a long long time ago, between what is now understood to be the case and that is kind of automatic background checks as opposed to a waiting time. And the people in my state preferred the automatic background checks rather than the waiting time. I think that’s the reason. Yes.

So would you say, though, over your tenure as a senator and as a representative of your state, that there have been things that have influenced your ideas of supporting those universal background checks and supporting longer waiting periods and things like that in regards to gun reform?

Well, again, I come from a state, as you indicated, which has no gun control legislation. And 30 years ago, as it happens, I may have lost an election. I lost an election by three points and running against a Democrat and a Republican who both opposed the ban on assault weapons, and I supported that ban. That cost me the election mainly. But that was 30 years ago. Not everybody was talking about that at that point. I think that … That’s all. I voted the way I did and I gave you the reason why. And I also voted to ban assault weapons, and I think my own view, now and for many years, has been that we can bring people together.

For example, on the banning of assault weapons, there are real differences of opinion in this country. But on many other things, there is overwhelming support and we should do that. And we can do that right away.

[LexVegas]

28. "I think thats the reason." Thats a lame response. nt

Thats a lame response.

[MrsCoffee]

10. Oh for fuck sakes.

He can stand his ground on so many things, like Medicare for all, free education and insisting the Democratic Party is an “absolute failure”.

But not a shred of backbone on gun control or sanctions on Russia.

And he thinks his constituents are seriously cool with that? Obviously the majority of Americans are not cool with it.

[LexVegas]

18. He claims he lost an election because of an anti-gun stance that he took. nt

[ehrnst]

15. If only he extended that sort of understanding of legislating the way one's constituents want

to other reps, like Corey Booker.

Was he talking about losing the governor's race?

[LexVegas]

21. He didn't say specifically what race. Said it was 30 years ago. nt

[ehrnst]

23. 1988 would have been his 6th congressional race loss, which was won by a Republican.

In I'm not surprised that he refrained from mentioning the race he finally won 28 years ago, where he was the candidate supported by the NRA.

“Bernie Sanders is a more honorable choice for Vermont sportsmen than ­Peter Smith,” wrote Wayne LaPierre, who was — and still is — a top official at the national NRA, backing Sanders over the Republican incumbent.

“Unlike some people, I won’t change my views on the subject,” he told one pro-gun group."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-nra-helped-put-bernie-sanders-in-congress/2015/07/19/ed1be26c-2bfe-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html

[zentrum]

3. Yup, the post was right here.

About how unwanted Bernie was by the Parkland Students. Attacking Bernie is a well-loved sport in certain quarters.

[ehrnst]

17. I think you may be confusing the tweet by the organizer of the rally

about why he was not invited to speak at the rally where he showed up and took the podium.

These are journalism students, and he was invited, and had to listen to their questions before and after speaking.

I hope that clarifies things.

[zentrum]

31. What other Democratic politicians

…past or present showed up at all?

Was Hillary there? Or others?

[ehrnst]

33. Those who were invited were sitting representatives. Only one who wasn't invited showed up.

As we saw.

[Nanjeanne]

32. Thanks for the clarification. Probably should add that the tweet came after the person

was attacked on twitter for Sanders speaking. Not before. Just for clarification purpose.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

36. Yep. I've even seen the tweet edited to hide the fact those kids were attacked.

They want to pretend the partisans weren't attacking student organizers so they ignore the first part of the tweet.

[LexVegas]

4. ...

[ehrnst]

12. Actually, no.

The ones who organized the rally didn't invite him to speak, as per reasons they tweeted.

These are students who work at the newspaper. They got to ask him questions, instead of just having to listen to him talk the whole time.

Is that clearer?

[MaryMagdaline]

25. They did their homework, going back to the Brady vote

We had a chance to change the gun culture in the 90's, did some great things, then it all fell apart. Bernie was never with us on those issues.

[LexVegas]

5. I am glad to see them holding pro-gun legislators feet to the fire.

Asking hard questions on their questionable voting records.

[GaryCnf]

11. I am glad to see.the students

Giving a warrior for our side the opportunity to correct the vindictive propaganda STILL being spread by people who are more concerned with perpetuating a cult of victimhood than ending the gun culture and/or uniting our party.

[ehrnst]

14. It's good to see him allow them to lead the discussion and ask the questions.

Instead of speaking at them, then walking away.

He should do more of that.

[ehrnst]

13. Yes. They get to speak and ask questions. (nt)

[obamanut2012]

20. This exactly

[dembotoz]

7. Youth I have seen just really like Bernie

Just an obvious observation.

[QC]

29. HE MADE THEM PRETEND TO LIKE HIM!!!!

HE THREATENED THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

[BeyondGeography]

30. Obviously the Russians have indoctrinated them well

[Donkees]

22. Several of them met with Bernie in February ...

Link to tweet

[Arazi]

24. KIck and rec

[Nanjeanne]

26. Thanks Donkees.

[QC]

27. BUT HE FORCED THEM TO INTERVIEW HIM!!!!!!!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. Lol. Exactly.

[Jakes Progress]

35. See reply #23

It's buried above, but it is germane to the the whole thread and could be missed deep in the sub-thread.

(It's not my post)