Obama and Bernie Sanders to meet at White House on Wednesday

[antigop]

Source: Reuters (Posted on rawstory.com)

President Barack Obama will meet with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at the White House on Wednesday, the White House said on Tuesday.

“The two will meet privately in the Oval Office and there will be no formal agenda,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Sanders, a Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, is challenging former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for the November presidential election.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/obama-and-bernie-sanders-to-meet-at-white-house-on-wednesday/

---

That's the whole article.

[tomm2thumbs]

1. msnbc

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-and-sanders-hold-private-meeting-wednesday

President Barack Obama will meet with surging Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Wednesday, just days before the Iowa caucuses.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest announced Tuesday that the meeting will take place in the Oval Office and was first discussed when the Vermont senator attended the Congressional Holiday Ball last month.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has had a number of private meetings with Obama, including one in December that Earnest described as “mostly a social occasion.”

The Obama-Sanders sit down comes after the president made comments that seemed to suggest support for his former Cabinet member.

_______________

Pulling him out of Iowa and off his schedule to meet Iowa voters.... this must be very important or a means to an end for someone involved in this, because it really doesn't make much sense otherwise in the week before voters make their choice. Unless some bad news is coming in about someone else -- and there is going to be a big announcement about that, and the impending way forward for Democrats.

[Voice for Peace]

11. I do not yet believe despte the spin

that what Obama said about shiny objects was an actual endorsement of Hilary. He was describing himself as well as Sanders.

[thesquanderer]

2. How many times must we read "self-described democratic socialist"? (n/t)

[frazzled]

4. Maybe because that is how he has described himself?

Repeatedly? He gave a speech about it. He discussed it at the town hall last night--hardly shirking from the moniker, but rather defending it. I have only heard him refer to himself as a Democrat once in all these years--the day he had to affirm that he was "one of those" in order to qualify for the NH ballot. He is still listed as an Independent.

[thesquanderer]

9. But why is it necessary to mention it constantly?

There's nothing wrong with the label, but to me, the constant mention of it comes off as editorializing within a news story. They are kind of saying, to people unfamiliar with the term, that this is something that might cause concern, which is editorializing. Most candidates simply are listed by name and position. We don't read, "Hillary Clinton, the self-described 'moderate who likes to get things done.'" They seem to be making a point, and the question is why, what it is they are trying to accomplish.

As for the rest, he is running as a Democrat, with the blessing of the party. His platform is consistent with Democratic party ideals (in fact, he's closer to FDR than HRC is).

[Gregorian]

15. When we start saying "capitalist". Or when we finally enjoy more socialism, and know better.

Money spent to directly benefit mankind. Not the worst concept. Cut the military, and repair infrastructure issues with it. It's either a dream or a reality, and I think the only difference is belief and effort.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. I know the President is a gentleman, but Why????

[scottie55]

5. Because Bernie Will Have To Take Up

Where Obama left off.

That's why.

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. !!!

[nyabingi]

8. Maybe Obama is more sympathetic to Bernie

than Hillary?

I don't think Obama has ever really liked Hillary that much - I think her appointment as Secretary of State was more of a conciliatory and strategic appointment than one out of faith in Hillary's political acumen (which has always generated "I was wrong" at various stages of her career). She got really nasty towards Obama during the 2008 election and I don't think he's forgotten about that.

Obama thus far hasn't shown much enthusiasm for his former Cabinet member and I think he can see what's happening as far as the mood of the Democratic electorate.

Wouldn't it be funny if he came out and endorsed Bernie? Haha!

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. "Funny" ain't the word. BS is probably trying finesse his position on "gun control". Won't work.

Bernie Sanders: Let’s primary Obama
posted at 12:00 pm on July 24, 2011 by Jazz Shaw


President Obama is under attack these days from all manner of nasty conservatives who don’t care for his liberal, big spending ways. They seem to have found an unlikely ally, though, in the person of the only officially declared socialist in Congress… Bernie Sanders. (Emphasis in original.)

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

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/07/24/bernie-sanders-lets-primary-obama/


Good luck with that!

[nyabingi]

13. I'm not getting your point here my man

Do you think Bernie is meeting Obama over issues of gun control or do you think they want to discuss Bernie's suggestion that Obama face a primary challenger?

Just not seeing where gun control and primary challengers fit in with what I was saying (Obama possibly considering whom to endorse, if at all). Bernie's statement was right by the way.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. BS' statement was bullshit, "by the way". Despite his misguided attempt, "Democrats"....

re-elected our President. As I said, Obama is a gentleman. Otherwise, I don't see the point of meeting with someone who worked against your re-election.

[nyabingi]

23. Saying he needed a primary challenger to keep

the Democratic Party from moving too far to the right (which it progressively has) is not the same thing as working against Obama's election. Both Obama and Sanders are gentlemen, so they will probably have a very cordial and constructive discussion.

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. Only one gentleman in the room AFAIC, and it ain't BS.

[nyabingi]

27. Why would you consider Bernie anything other than a gentleman?

I'm asking for a real explanation here, not another one-liner and a waving smiley face.

If you can manage that.

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. I'm a "Democrat"! I support "Democrats"! I supported my "Democratic" President in '08 & '12!

I'm a "Democrat"! I support "Democrats"! I supported my "Democratic" President in '08 & '12!

I'm a "Democrat"! I support "Democrats"! I supported my "Democratic" President in '08 & '12!

I'm a "Democrat"! I support "Democrats"! I supported my "Democratic" President in '08 & '12!

I'm a "Democrat"! I support "Democrats"! I supported my "Democratic" President in '08 & '12!

I'm a "Democrat"! I support "Democrats"! I supported my "Democratic" President in '08 & '12!


There. I hope that meets your specifications; if not, I can't help you.

[nyabingi]

29. Figured you couldn't elaborate

and I was right. Weak.

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. !!!

[nyabingi]

31. I'll look you up when the non-gentleman

who is not a Democrat wins the Democratic nomination and the presidency. =)

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. Then, thank Gawd, you'll never have to "look me up" again. Please snap out of it!

[Voice for Peace]

12. I agree and it wouldn't surprise me.

Because hope and change.

[iandhr]

14. I think it's SOP for the outgoing POTUS to meet the candidates from his party to try to succeed.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. He's a U.S. Senator. What's your problem?

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. See post #8.

[frazzled]

20. My guess is

He wants to discuss when it ends. That is to say, if (and I only say "if," so don't y'all come jumping at me) Sanders is significantly behind after, say, Super Tuesday or shortly after, that he won't prolong the race. Because it's bad for the whole party.

That is my guess. He wants a gentleman's agreement. Don't quote me.

[Tarheel_Dem]

21. Sounds plausible. However, for an agreement to be viable, there would have to be 2 "gentlemen"....

in the room. I'm not convinced that's the case. I see it as an attempt to cozy up to a party leader who is actually pretty popular within his party. I'm sure most of us don't need reminding that BS is not a member of the party.

[Duval]

7. Interesting.

[Bernblu]

22. Three possible reasons come to mind

1. Obama wants Sanders to release his hold on the FDA appointee.
2. Obama is go to endorse Hillary and he wants to tell Sanders in person.
3. Obama is going to tell Sanders that Hillary is facing indictment.

[jillan]

25. #1 That makes sense.

[Blue_Tires]

24. Bernie's "anti-establishment" faction ain't gonna like this...

[pampango]

32. WaPo: Obama, Sanders talk foreign policy, economy — and politics

President Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders talked foreign policy, the economy and “a little bit of politics,” Sanders said Wednesday after their first extended sit-down since the senator’s presidential campaign jolted the race for the Democratic nomination.

Talking to reporters in the White House driveway, Sanders acknowledged he and the president have had differences, but he said he has largely backed Obama’s agenda. Sanders said the president has been “even handed” in his treatment of the candidates vying to replace him, and he showed no interest in trying to strike any sharp contrast with his host.

“We have got to do a lot better to protect the middle class and working families,” Sanders said. “But it’s also important to remember how far we’ve come under the leadership of President Obama and Vice President Biden.”

The long-discussed meeting between Obama and his sometime critic was a moment for the president to display public neutrality in the heated and unexpectedly tight primary race to replace him — refuting suggestions that he’s in the can for Sanders’ rival Hillary Clinton. For Sanders, it was a chance to show he’s got some sway with a president still popular among Democrats.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-to-meet-with-bernie-sanders-at-the-white-house/2016/01/27/91ba598c-c512-11e5-b933-31c93021392a_story.html