We need somebody who is going to generate some street heat: Keith Ellison for Bernie

[Cheese Sandwich]

I love the fact he is reaching out
so broadly, that he is engaging electorate. He is causing excitement.
After an election with 72-year low on voter participation, 36 percent of
the people voted. You know, we need somebody who is going to generate some
street heat. Bernie is doing that, and I'm excited to be a part of it.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/58000559/ns/msnbc-all_in_with_chris_hayes/

[BainsBane]

1. Considering how much gun violence we have in Ellison's district

He better damn well pressure Bernie to get right on guns. He is not okay on guns.

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. Bernie seems pretty good on guns. He wants to tighten up on background checks

[BainsBane]

3. He wants to target the mentally ill

when CDC data shows the mentally ill are less likely to commit violence than the general population but more likely to be victims of crime.

Note that he says "instant background checks," not background checks. He has voted against waiting periods for guns many times. He got in office by making a promise to never support waiting periods for background checks, and he has kept that promise. He voted against the Brady bill, the only significant gun control legislation we have in this country. He voted for immunity for the CORPORATE gun industry. He is not okay on guns.

You'll note that virtually none of the long-term gun control advocates (I can think of one exception) on this site support Sanders. We know the issues, the NRA arguments and dog whistles. Additionally, virtually all of the fiercest gun proponents (with one exception again) on this site support Sanders. That is not coincidence.

Nor is Sanders consistent on his rhetoric about corporations, which for some reason manages to exclude not only the gun industry but the MIC, like Lockheed Martin, which he continues to support funneling $800 Billion to for the disastrous and deadly F-35.

As for Ellison's comment about "street heat," we'll have to see if that extends beyond Lynhurst, Kenwood, and other around the lakes.

[Cheese Sandwich]

4. He wants to make mental health care free for everyone at the point of service

If that's what you mean by "target the mentally ill" I support it fully.


I think you are giving a bad description of that evidence. You didn't link to it though so who knows. It probably does not mean that mentally ill people are less likely to commit gun violence. More likely it means that people who had access to mental health services and were diagnosed then were less likely to commit gun violence.

He did vote for background checks, and for the assault weapons ban. He does support gun control. But you probably knew that. I guess maybe his record isn't 100% pure enough for you.

On top of that, I think his position did evolve over time, which is also fine.