AARP: We did not authorize the Sanders campaign to use our logo in their campaign mailing

[Cali_Democrat]

WOW! Another blatant misrepresentation.

Bernie's campaign tried to imply they were endorsed by AARP in a mailing.

AARP responds:

--------------------------------

Des Moines, January 26, 2106 — In response to the Sanders campaign mailing featuring AARP and the Association’s Take A Stand campaign, AARP does not endorse candidates, have a political action committee (PAC), or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.

While we have encouraged the presidential candidates to lay out their plans to update Social Security, AARP did not authorize the Sanders campaign to mention AARP or use the AARP logo, and we did not participate in its production.

We have a proud 30-year history of non-partisan voter engagement, providing voters with information on where the candidates stand on issues important to our members and their families, so they can make their own decisions on Election Day.

AARP’s Take A Stand campaign is pressing all candidates to lay out their plan to make Social Security financially sound for future generations. Yet in the last two debates, candidates either dodged the issue or spoke in soundbites not specifics.

http://states.aarp.org/aarp-statement-in-response-to-sanders-mailing/

[NurseJackie]

1. Is that unethical?

[Fawke Em]

9. Using a private unsecure server to hold national security secrets certainly is.

In regards to the use of a logo? I'm going to guess it was a beginner mistake.

[synergie]

12. Deflection, this is not the first time they were caught doing this. Also,

he's been a professional politician longer than I've been alive, he is no beginner.

[winter is coming]

16. Yes, although the Sanders campaign should apologize for it, post-haste.

Assuming they were the ones who actually sent the mailer.

[still_one]

20. Maybe I should spam the AARP facebook page for calling Sanders out on this

[passiveporcupine]

133. AARP didn't sound very angry to me

I'm still trying to find a copy of the mailer. Who sent it out? I'd like to see the evil evidence that Bernie hatched this up on his own.

[Bubzer]

139. I am doubtful it exists. Even if it was, it was probably done fully within the bounds of law.

[passiveporcupine]

140. No, it exists, but check this out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1086043

AARP’s Iowa chapter had to clarify publicly that it is not supporting Sanders after noticing that the campaign was distributing mailers that include a photo of AARP members wearing their red shirts with the slogan “Take a Stand.” That’s the name of the group’s campaign to raise the Social Security issue in the 2016 election and get candidates to present their plan to protect the retirement program. Newsweek obtained an image of the mailer, which touts Sanders’s record as a defender of Social Security.

The organization did not contact the Sanders campaign about halting the mailing, according to spokeswoman Ann Black

.

http://www.newsweek.com/sanders-complaints-iowa-nevada-420806

[Bubzer]

160. Interesting. So, they don't endorse it's use, but neither do they object.

Thanks for sharing that.

[pnwmom]

41. It wasn't a beginner mistake. Bernie's had a 40 year career in politics. n/t

[libdem4life]

65. National jugular politics...not so much. At worst, he doesn't have control of his quickly

mushrooming volunteers and staff. He's making some beginner's mistakes. He'll learn...they all have to go through this, I think.

[pnwmom]

79. If he wins the nomination he'll be tossed into the deep end of national politics.

And he clearly isn't much of a swimmer.

[libdem4life]

81. Dearie, we have a Long Way to go...JFK said we could go to the moon and they laughed at him.

This is merely that we don't need the Oligarchy to tell us what to do. Peanuts, in comparison. We can all...trust me...think for ourselves and not be blinded by The Light of said Oligarchs.

[Bubzer]

116. I would disagree with you on his deep-end swimming ability.

It's common and legal practice to send out mailers such as the one below.


As long as the user is not profiting directly off the usage of a logo, there's very little that says a person or group cannot use a logo... especially in this manner. In short, this is a non issue.

[libdem4life]

126. How can that be...it's a career-maker or breaker here. Pearls and Fainting Couches. LOL

[pnwmom]

141. The League of Conservation Voters say they own their logo

and he used it without their permission.

http://www.newsweek.com/sanders-complaints-iowa-nevada-420806

Using the logos of the AARP and the LCV without permission was dirty politics, the kind Bernie likes to say he is above.

[Bubzer]

146. I will agree to disagree with you.

Especially since you're linking to an article conveniently hidden behind a pay wall.

[tammywammy]

148. No pay wall here

[Bubzer]

152. Huh. Might just be my connection then.

[pnwmom]

150. Here's an excerpt:

"The League of Conservation Voters, however, has contacted Sanders’s staff, objecting to their logo being used on another mailer, shared with Newsweek, which portrays the senator as an environmental champion. The pamphlet, which is being sent out in Iowa, notes that Sanders “has a lifetime score of 95 percent from the League of Conservation Voters” and displays the group’s logo beside it.

SNIP

"However, the league requires permission to use its logo and only grants that to politicians who’ve been endorsed by the affiliated LCV Action Fund. In the presidential race, that’s Clinton. According to a spokesman, the group has asked the Sanders campaign to not continue using its logo, and the campaign is looking into how it happened."

http://www.newsweek.com/sanders-complaints-iowa-nevada-420806

[Bubzer]

159. I agree that if a request was sent to the Bernie camp to not use those logos, then use should stop.

Fair use laws are pretty clear, though, that campaigns are allowed to use the logos in the manner shown... and it's common practice. I'd agree it'd be dirty politics if it claimed something that wasn't true, such as claiming having been endorsed. That's not the case, however.

[pnwmom]

161. The Bernie's campaign sent warnings to Wikipedia not to use their logo.

So they knew they weren't supposed to be using the AARP and LVC logos. They can't claim ignorance. And Fair Use laws doesn't allow campaigns to use logos owned by other orgs without permission.

[Bubzer]

162. Fair use allows for usage of logos in circumstances where it's being used to identify a citation.

Fair use is what allows Wikipedia to post all the logos on it's site... in order to get it removed, it fell to the Bernie campaign to contact Wikipedia if they wished it removed. They chose to withdraw the request, however. This is consistent with the usage of the LCV logo... as for AARP, they've declined to request a cessation of usage.

[pnwmom]

163. But the LCV logo was NOT Being used to identify a citation, so it wasn't fair use.

They were using it on their mailers to falsely imply that they had the endorsement of LCV. Lying isn't fair use.

[Bubzer]

180. You must have missed my earlier post.

See that part that says "Lifetime score of 95% from the League of Conservation Voters"?
That's the citation. There's no lie in that statement. It's true.

[John Poet]

164. OMG, call a cop, or maybe the F.B.I.

That's "dirty politics"?

If Bernie's camp would respond in kind to the horse-shit coming out of the Clinton campaign, THEN you'd see "dirty politics"!

'Course, if you'd take off the Hillary-blinders, you'd already be seeing it.

[pnwmom]

166. Bernie-so-pure is not above dirty politics, no matter what his fervent believers believe. n/t

[Bobbie Jo]

174. Exactly. nt

[2pooped2pop]

179. What? But yet so inexperienced

Why I'll bet he might even try to use his own private email server for government emails. He would probably wipe those emails with a cloth so they didn't appear to be top secret emails too before having them sent through.

[George II]

106. Unauthorized access of voter data from a secured server certainly is.

But your premise is entirely false:

NO "national security secrets" were "held" on that server
Using a private server did not violate the law or State Department policies and procedures.

Do you work for Trey Gowdy?

[Bubzer]

145. National security secrets have indeed been found.

The scrutiny of her email practices has mounted since then, with more than 1,300 emails that passed through her server found to contain information that has since been classified, some at the highest levels.

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/267269-fbis-clinton-investigation-not-letting-up

There is also evidence that suggests Hillary had people strip off classification headers and sent the documents to her server. There's all kinds of security breaches, issues and illegalities with that.

[pnwmom]

165. "That has SINCE been classified." It wasn't classified at the time it was received.

It was retroactively classified, years later. Retroactive classification is a crazy, unpredictable practice that has even affected information that has been sitting on government websites for years.

[Bubzer]

183. So you're just going to ignore the second half of my post like it never happened?

The implications are very damming... we're not talking about retroactive classification. We're talking about the willful removal of classified headers from documents prior to transmission from classified servers to her unclassified server... that's an enormous breach of security and very illegal.

[pnwmom]

186. The second half of your post is based on nothing but Rethug rumors. n/t

[Bubzer]

189. What part of that e-mail is a rumor? That e-mail is straight from the state department.

https://foia.state.gov/search/results.aspx

[pnwmom]

191. There is no indication that it is a classified document. Just that, whatever

it was, HRC asked for it to be sent without a header.

Also, there is no indication that such a document was ever actually sent.

[Bubzer]

194. There is virtually no case in which removing a header would be necessary to send a document...

Then there is the question of documents that are specifically part of a classified system that have a classified header attached. The classified system is in no way connected to any unclassified system, yet those highly classified documents ended up on her system sans the classification header... they had to be intentionally removed.

Combine that with her e-mail that specifically tells an aid to remove headers and to transmit documents, and it becomes very a reasonable probability. More than enough to initiate court proceedings. Probably wont ever happen... the Clintons are too well connected for such a lawsuit to reach the bench.

You can discount it as just a GOP rumor... but claiming her innocence doesn't pass the sniff-test, given the evidence.

[pnwmom]

195. If there was something to this, then why hasn't the Obama administration

charged her with something?

Oh yeah, they're part of the conspiracy.

[Bubzer]

198. Because there's no way Obama would be seen as objective. That should be more than obvious.

Hillary was his choice for state department... as it stands, the GOP is going to do their darndest to tarnish his name for selecting her to SoS. That and Dems rarely go after other Dems.

[Bubzer]

192. You're free to discount this as just GOP rumor of course.

It's pretty damming however.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/08/politics/hillary-clinton-emails-2016/

On June 16, 2011, top Clinton aide Jake Sullivan wrote to Clinton to say she would get "tps" -- presumably short for "talking points" that evening. The subject of the email is redacted so it's not clear what topic these points covered.

The next morning, Clinton wrote back to say she hadn't received them yet, and after a few minutes Sullivan responded that staff were having issues sending the document in a secure fax but that they were "working on it."

"If they can't," Clinton replies, "turn into nonpaper w no identifying heading and send nonsecure."

[pnwmom]

193. Yeah, and people said that Vince Foster's death was pretty damning.

I stopped taking Rethug rumors seriously decades ago.

[Bubzer]

197. I'm not familiar with Vince Foster... but I know a false equivelence when I see one.

You don't like the investigation, I get that. Problem is, it's not going to just go away. Worse yet, there's substance being uncovered to justify further investigation. They've also started investigating the Clinton Foundation to see what other connections exist. This is the gathering stage for a potentially nasty litigation. All due to poor judgment.

[pnwmom]

201. If you don't know what the Vince Foster "scandal" was, then you have no idea

what kind of baseless stories have been thrown at Hillary over the years and why no one who remembers takes Rethug charges -- in this case, rumors -- seriously anymore.

[Bubzer]

208. Anyone familiar with the political arena knows what kinds of tactics get used.

But that cuts both ways... we are familiar with what kinds of bogus attacks can be used... but we are also familiar with what kinds of corruption and obfuscation can and often is employed to cover up wrong doings. Right now, the appearance is Hillary may be in some legal hot water, unless she can explain away some evidence that is a little too coincidental. You're a bit quick to dismiss it, and I would be too, were it not for that released e-mail. Where I originally thought there was no there, there, to barrow a phrase, now.. what I see is it may be legitimate.

[Dovidoff]

21. Bernie Sanders lawyers to Wikipedia: Take down our logo

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/01/bernie-sanders-campaign-sends-dmca-notice-to-wikipedia-over-logos/

[NurseJackie]

28. Well ... that makes it difficult for them to claim "fair use" ...

Last edited Thu Jan 28, 2016, 08:31 PM - Edit history (1)

... or that they were somehow unaware off the nuances of the law.

I wonder if this rises to the level of a criminal act ... perhaps a misdemeanor at most. It certainly seems deceptive, and a best case description works be to call it negligent.

Not a good week for Bernie ... at all.

[libdem4life]

66. Overreact much? Criminal? Get a grip. But it hasn't been a good week, I'll agree on that.

[George II]

107. Good point - I guess for some campaigns what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander!

[Renew Deal]

76. Unethical at best

[Lage Nom Ai]

83. Depends

on what your definition of "is" is

[George II]

105. Yes.

[CorporatistNation]

118. AARP May Not "Directly" Endorse Candidates hOwever They Do Play A Sheister Game...

They Will Omit candidates from their so called "non partisan " political activities and by this subtle exclusion will promote their CORPORATIST candidate on the sly. AARP is an ESTABLISHMENT organization! Bernie is certainly not that... I would like to know who was behind any of this...

[DanTex]

2. Here we go again. Who's in charge of this s**t-show?

[randys1]

4. What drives me crazy is this is the candidate

Well, here's something which is really bold. In the last 30 years, there has been a massive transfer of wealth from the middle class and working families of this country. The middle class has become poorer and trillions of dollars have been transferred to the top one-tenth of 1 percent."

While he is delivering this NECESSARY and POWERFUL message, he has staffers and supporters fucking everything up

makes me crazy

[MoonRiver]

7. The only one who can stop them is him.

Why doesn't he?

[randys1]

10. Good question...He cant stop his random supporters who spend all day everyday

bashing Hillary, but he can stop staffers from doing stupid stuff.

[MoonRiver]

15. He needs to do something. The situation is out of control.

[Sheepshank]

50. Yet, clearly he has no intention of doing so n/t

[libdem4life]

67. And you know this with whose crystal ball? I just saw him at a press meeting...he's

learning.

[Sheepshank]

115. No...Bernie doesn't learn. He already knows it all

And never needs to evolve. I've read it here on DU at least a dozen times. I however, have learned this. He definitely doesn't need to evolve this close to the Iowa Primaries. It's obvious he has no intention of reigning in these underhanded activities.

[libdem4life]

124. Oh, FFS, you're probably one of them who base their vote on what people on this board say.

I'm not even going to dip so low as to respond with the Hillary Speak here. He's just a heinous crook tricking underhanded people into doing his dirty work. Ok, then. Have a nice life.

[Sheepshank]

143. I'm responding to Sanders lack of ethics in theses campaign issues...he shows no leadership

And fwiw, I have an amazing life, filled people I love and respect. I am so very lucky that I am able to grow in knowledge and abilities and am uplifted by their company. I am surrounded by people who love and respect me. It's totally amazing. I don't need your phony well wishes

[libdem4life]

144. Well, at least he didn't call you guys Commies...I mean, that's got to count for something.

Nor did his "people". So enjoy your life...really...just stop with the crap. It doesn't wear well with your happy life.

[MoonRiver]

80. Exactly. eom

[Iliyah]

184. I want a president of the United States of America be aware of his/HER surroundings

[uponit7771]

8. +1

[lunamagica]

33. Then, what does this say about his leadership?

Last edited Thu Jan 28, 2016, 08:12 PM - Edit history (1)

[mcar]

59. A good point, randy

[HubertHeaver]

168. "Who's in charge of this s**t-show?" you ask?

Why, HRH HRC, of course.

[DanTex]

169. Obviously! It's her fault that Bernie is using logos without permission.

[HubertHeaver]

170. No, keep it straight. You asked about the "s**t-show".

That is the Clinton campaign.







edit to add quotation marks. I am not responsible for the spelling.

[DanTex]

172. Oh I see. This is your way of ignoring the unethical behavior of the Bernie camp.

[HubertHeaver]

175. Calm down, Dan. You'll blow a gasket.

Or break a keyboard.

[DanTex]

178. Ooh! Ad hominem. Why do Bernie fans always resort to that?

[HubertHeaver]

181. You asked about the "s**t-show".

I answered your question. Perhaps you didn't like the answer. However, the fire and brimstone I received in return is well beyond reason.

[libdem4life]

3. Yeah, it's wrong. Kind of like using music for a political candidate not approved by the artist.

[synergie]

38. This is kind of worse than that, especially since it implies an endorsement

and that matters to members, and LCV endorsed Clinton so it's pretty dishonest. Songs and stuff don't really factor into how voters look at a candidate.

[libdem4life]

40. Well, the artists resent it (don't know who LCV is) and it does speak to millions of listeners.

It's not The Same...it's a Similar Situation. Better? Worse?

[synergie]

43. Yes, but that's a personal thing, this is a campaign being dishonest about the

groups who endorse them to sway votes. LCV is the League of Conservation Voters, which is an environmental group that endorsed Hillary.

This is way worse than upsetting the personal feelings of an artist, which I totally understand as well, but that's not about manipulating voters and being dishonest with them, that's more about a catchy soundtrack.

[libdem4life]

53. and a few million fans...but I sure wish he hadn't done that. My personal opinion, and I know

it is biased if you look at my Bernie logo, is that he does not have control of all those who work for him. Probably doesn't know most of them...it's snowballed very fast, one must admit.

Plus he's not been in this dagger vs dagger national political framework for long. Personally, he is likely appalled at the acts...starting with the data thing...he fired them right away. He is, I believe, organizationally naive and going to have to take charge. That's a big part of being President. And also, he really didn't start out to be in this position...it kind of found him. So he's going to make some mistakes that new national politicians make.

Now Hillary, she has, but she's been smart enough to pretzel her words and her attacks and her agent's attacks...she's a pro.

So, there's that.

[synergie]

63. Yeah, the fans don't really pay that much attention to the artist in the ads,

it's more that they support the objections of the artist themselves, especially if they're fans, or they roll their eyes if they agree with the candidate.

If you look at my actual message, you'll realize that I said the same thing, he's not in control of who chooses to support him or the Super PAC's actions, the same is true for Clinton who has no control over what David Brock or his super PAC does, but which doesn't matter when people are busy painting her as some omnipotent embodiment of all evil, ever.

He's been in politics for decades, longer than I've been alive, so yes he's been around for a long time, and the people doing these things are his long time campaign staffers, who have also been in the business for a long time, it's a bit disingenuous to excuse him and them so readily when it doesn't quite match up with the history.

I think he started out to ensure that discussion happened on the issues that concerned him, and with the season in such a surreal mode and the Clinton Derangement Syndrome that we kind of forgot about, he's in a place he didn't expect to be and he's doing what politicians do, fight for votes in every way possible.

She's just good at what she does, and being smart about how you speak is kind of essential to being a diplomat, which she is, a very successful one, who knows what she's doing.

He's a pro too, don't forget that, just because he's not as good as she is, and so are his staff, despite their errors.

[KingFlorez]

5. AARP is the establishment

So of course they would pull this dirty trick against Sanders.

[synergie]

22. I hope you simply forgot the sarcasm icon?

[hrmjustin]

31. It is always someone else's fault.

So typical.

[mcar]

62. Nothing is ever Bernie's fault!

[stevenleser]

71. I was waiting for someone to try to use that tired line. nt

[HERVEPA]

155. You are talking about tired lines????

[Renew Deal]

78. You're going with the conspiracy defense?

You're saying his campaign didn't create the mailers or the logo was printed without their approval?

[KingFlorez]

89. I should have added the sarcasm icon

That was just me being snarky.

[Beacool]

99. Guys, chill. KingFlorez is a Hillary supporter.

[libdem4life]

128. Oh my...what to make of this. You're bashing the wrong poster?

[Iliyah]

6. Damn

[Alfresco]

11. Bernie is not having a good day.

[revmclaren]

158. I think its going to be a very BAD Weekend At Bernie's....

[riversedge]

13. Unauthorized use of AARP logo--AARP Statement in Response to Sanders Mailing

Just saw this tweet


Unauthorized use of AARP logo--AARP Statement in Response to Sanders Mailing -http://states.aarp.org/tag/unauthorized-use-of-aarp-logo/ … #iacaucus #p2

[hrmjustin]

14. Not a banner day for the Sanders campaign.

[synergie]

19. Imagine the accusations had Hillary's camp made these "mistakes"

the sheer volume of the hysteria about the dishonesty, the venality and the corruption that these very actions would represent in the minds of those who dismiss it when Bernie does it.

[hrmjustin]

23. The sanders supporters here would be apoplectic.

[synergie]

29. So, no change? :-)

[libdem4life]

68. Cue the violins...Bernie didn't dismiss it.

[synergie]

69. Put your glasses on, and read what I wrote, that's not what I said.

[libdem4life]

74. What a sweet and caring reply...put your glasses on...couldn't get past that one.

[libdem4life]

75. Sorry, even with my glasses on, he didn't dismiss it. He addressed it.

"the sheer volume of the hysteria about the dishonesty, the venality and the corruption that these very actions would represent in the minds of those who dismiss it when Bernie does it."

Jesus Maria...hysteria, dishonesty, venality, corruption...sounds familiar, Dude (or Dudette)

[Bobbie Jo]

110. This place would be on fire.

Guaranteed.

[libdem4life]

129. So what do we have now...a gentle, rippling brook? Get real.

[Bobbie Jo]

132. Oh please, this is a drop in the bucket.

Get real? Be honest.

[libdem4life]

138. A drop in whose bucket...inquiring minds want to know. Honest.

[synergie]

17. So they've done this at least twice so far, is anyone keeping track?

AARP and the League of Conservation Voters.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/01/28/1476430/-Bernie-s-Campaign-In-Deep-Now

And let's not forget the attack on Wikimedia for posting their logos.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/01/bernie-sanders-campaign-sends-dmca-notice-to-wikipedia-over-logos/

THAT is undeniable hypocrisy.

[DanTex]

25. Wow. Getting pretty crazy.

It's insane that they would complain to Wiki while misappropriating logos left and right.

[Recursion]

49. Not to mention impersonating Culinary Union members (nt)

[Nanjeanne]

18. Damn

I've been donating to Bernie since the beginning and I never got one of those mailers. And I'm a member of AARP and a senior. I want one!

[winter is coming]

24. Odd that you wouldn't have received one.

I wonder who did.

[synergie]

36. Iowans apparently.

[winter is coming]

37. I wonder if CoffeeCat got one. n/t

[synergie]

44. You should ask her.

[synergie]

35. Do you live in Iowa? That seems to be who they're targeting.

[NurseJackie]

26. It's not as though some rock band objected to ...

... unauthorized use of their music at a rally. I think something like this has more serious implications.

Is this just a series of unfortunate events? Or does it represent a more serious problem?

If it's not a cultural issue, can we conclude that the campaign staffers are worried and are therefore willing to take risks that they would not otherwise take?

It certainly is a mystery. I don't know what the answer is, but I do know that it's not helping Bernie very much.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

54. Do you find these developments as disturbing and distressing as I do?/nt

[NurseJackie]

56. The word I'd choose is ...

... revealing.

Hi, DSB!!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. I am very disappointed in what appears to be ethical lapses.

In the other thread a poster suggested the campaign operatives masquerading as union members were trying to unionize the hotel employees. That begs the question why union organizers would be trying to organize a union hotel.

[Hissyspit]

203. What developments?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

204. The latest ones, sir or madame./nt

[Hissyspit]

209. The supposed ones?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

211. The ones that were cited, sir or madame./nt

[workinclasszero]

27. WTH?

Bernie's campaign is disintegrating in front of our eyes!

This looks like desperation to me...wow!

[litlbilly]

87. YEAHHHH>>>NO

[sulphurdunn]

142. Your post reads like wishful thinking to me...wow!

[NastyRiffraff]

30. Use of a logo

implies the logo's organization's endorsement. I know Berniacs think that's okay since it's done on Bernie's behalf, but it really isn't okay. I'm not sure that some of his supporters are capable of understanding that.

Brainwashing. It's a terrible thing.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. I couldn't be more disappointed to learn of this development./nt

[frylock]

39. I'm so disappointed to learn of your disappointment.

[beam me up scottie]

48. I too am disappointed.

Bernie is disappointing all of the people who have been disappointed with him for months.

[Bread and Circus]

85. I am bereft with disappointment as well.

[scottie55]

151. Incredibly Disappointed

At you disappointment, for being disappointed by other disappointed people.

Disappointing.

[Bread and Circus]

182. Disappointing to say the least...

[lunamagica]

34. Those underhanded, dishonest tactics reek of desperation

[Skwmom]

42. The AARP that doesn't want single payer b/c they make money from getting their members to buy

insurance. Nothing like looking out for the best interests of your members.

[Sheepshank]

51. what does that have to do with the illegal use of their brand by Bernie? n/t

[Bubzer]

102. The ethics of using somone's logo or a catch phrase may be questionable.

However, it's not necessarily illegal. Generally, for it to be illegal, damages must be proven first. If the claim is true, that someone within the Bernie Campaign used an AARP logo with a mailer, I don't think damages would be possible to find under the circumstances. Context also matters... how was the logo used? Normally, something like this would get photo-captured and brought lightening quick to the internet... though I haven't seen any images as yet. How did AARP learn of this mailer? Could this be a bogus anonymous report that AARP logos were used? It would seem there's not much information to go on here.

[Sheepshank]

123. It is illegal. Whether AARP presses the issue is unlikely

But for a campaign run on ethics, it's been found lacking. For a campaign that complained about others using its logo without permission, it's highly hypocritical

[Bubzer]

134. Context and usage matter.

If their logo was used in conjunction with one of their quotes, it's equivalent to a citation.
However, without a picture of the mailer, it's impossible to know how it was used... meaning calling it illegal is conjecture at best.

[KoKo]

52. Nailed It!

[SusanCalvin]

57. That is another topic. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

64. So if the AARP is so evil, why did Sanders use their logo on the campaign mailer? nt

[stevenleser]

73. Right? These juvenile attacks by Sanders supporters on everyone who doesn't grovel before Bernie

every few minutes are hilarious.

[HERVEPA]

157. Right? These juvenile attacks by Hillary supporters on everyone who doesn't grovel before her

every few minutes are hilarious.

[Bobbie Jo]

135. They don't know if they're coming or going.

[stevenleser]

72. So AARP goes under the Bernie bus now? ROFLMAO!!!! nt

[Renew Deal]

82. Why did Sanders put them on the mailers if he thought they were so bad?

[Beacool]

101. AARP does not endorse candidates.

They have a right to complain if a campaign is using their logo in their mailers.

[libdem4life]

45. Well now we have a stand off. Hillary is a Liar and Sanders is a Logo Grabber Cheat.

At least he didn't cheat on Hillary...but she did lie about him ... LOL

Alas, Bernie and Hillary have feet of clay. Who knew?

Now, can we proceed?

[Sheepshank]

46. It appears that Saint Bernie can do no wrong in the eyes of his followers

while the rest of the world is seeing the reality of lies, deceit, unethical innuendos, theft, and misrepresentations.

[pnwmom]

47. Thanks for posting this. This is important for people to know. AARP does NOT endorse. n/t

[beam me up scottie]

55. LOGOGATE!!!

[navarth]

136. LOL

ok I admit you made me laugh there.

[beam me up scottie]

153. Awesome!

That was the intent, keep smiling navarth!

They got nothing on Bernie, he's incorruptible and they know it so they have to manufacture scandals.

[BeanMusical]

147. Bernghazi!1!!

[beam me up scottie]

149. LOL! Isn't this BERNGHAZI 7.0?

They've been trying for months to find that sweet scandal that will tank Bernie's campaign but so far they've got nothin.

[BeanMusical]

154. +1 So true.

[mcar]

58. Drip, drip, drip

[SusanCalvin]

61. This is wrong.

I hope it did not come from the official campaign. If it did, it is a MAJOR issue.

[MeNMyVolt]

70. It's got to be Weaver. I don't see SBS initiating this crap.

[Agnosticsherbet]

77. Sanders Campaign has a serious problem with ethics.

Another word for misreprentation is lying.

[MeNMyVolt]

86. +1

[SoapBox]

98. That is HILL-arious!

Do you really want to start down that road?!?

[99th_Monkey]

84. Raise the Cap" <-- NOT a sound-bite, but a specific action n/t

[Bonobo]

88. LOGOGATE!

This is a big fucking deal!

[polly7]

91. LOL!

That gif!

I think it's my favourite, ever.

[Bonobo]

95. It does sort of capture the national angst, does it not? nt

[frylock]

93. Bernies ethics are now in question!

[frylock]

90. Poor form, but I'm sure they'll get past this..

I will say that I am LMFAO at the folks who think this will kill his campaign.

[Mbrow]

92. Please read the following at this link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280103578

I hope it works.

[polly7]

97. Where is there room for the addressee's name on this envelope?

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[Mbrow]

121. Thats the point

the whole thing look hokey.

[libdem4life]

137. Well, then by all means, don't return it. Or are you just looking at a facsimile for your

expert opinion?

[navarth]

207. Yes the link works...in multiple ways

Not only did it take me to that excellent thread, but it also poked a pretty big hole in the 'logogate' thing. This is just my opinion, of course. I recommend it to any other readers of this thread so that they might formulate their own conclusions. If the implications are true....well that is something that really would be 'disappointing'.

[Lamonte]

94. AARP

I quit this useless organization long ago. Many times we have blatant behavior by some people that want to take our savings funds away. I mean Social Security and Medicare primarily. AARP never pinpoint the villeins always remaining neutral. What good is that? I want our seniors to quit voting for their enemy and information about this would help.

[sarge43]

96. Where is the evidence that Sanders or any officials working for his campaign

is responsible for that mailer?

[SoapBox]

100. Ditto!

I want to see an actual copy of this "mailer".

And ditto to other questions about AARP...I wouldn't waste my money on them and I'm way old enough.

[MissDeeds]

109. Who had the most to gain

by making it appear Bernie's campaign is responsible? Hmmm?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

103. Okay. That's it. That's the fuckup by a staffer that means he has to drop out now.

[George II]

104. Well, if they access other candidates' voter data co-opting AARP's logo is small potatoes.

[polly7]

125. I thought it was the Clinton campaign using other candidates' voters data? nt.

[retrowire]

108. ...

Hillary risks national security with a private email server. Hillary supporters whine that it's not serious and it's a right wing attack when it's actually a serious matter that has an ongoing FBI investigation...

Bernie misuses a logo in a mailer. Hillary supporters shriek that it's a highly questionable failing of ethics and believe that it affects his ability to be the President of the United States.

Mind blown.

[Lage Nom Ai]

111. Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153831112389304.1073741894.350914689303&type=3

[retrowire]

112. So wait...

Does that mean the mailer using the logo was completely legit? It was promoting this event?

[Lage Nom Ai]

127. I wouldn't know

but stuffing envelopes use to be what volunteers did. If it was outsourced to a company it may have been one of their employees. Depends how wide spread it was. I don't expect Hillary to be accountable for every volunteer and I would hope my candidate would be afforded the same treatment. Then again I dream of Single payer, oceans not rising, banks not fucking me over, my wife and I not having to worry about the ninth layoff in our 35 years of marriage, Just so a wealthy CEO doesn't have to go without their BMW. Oh, and seeing as how I would have love for my 401Ks not to tank due to oil prices dropping. Maybe then I can die and not leave a huge bill for my child to be harassed about. You know Liberal stuff, like going to the moon.

[retrowire]

130. Totally agree with you.

What I always remember when I see crap like this is this...

Does it affect his ability to be a president or change his goals in anyway? No? Then let's move on.

Feel the BERN. Also, welcome to DU!

[Duppers]

117. Wow, that's different than What's Being Represented Here.

THANK YOU!! Leg Nom Ai.

[jillan]

171. Where is Bernie using the AARP logo? I see him speaking at a social security rally.

[Lage Nom Ai]

185. Sorry

I posted the site twice. If you read my other post you'll see what I was getting at.

[jillan]

187. The link to facebook? All I see is Bernie speaking at a aarp rally discussing social security.

I don't see where Bernie used their logo? Am I blind?

[Lage Nom Ai]

190. Two down from original

Title line I wouldn't know

[Lage Nom Ai]

113. May have been

A volunteer from this event that got a little zealous.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153831112389304.1073741894.350914689303&type=3

[retrowire]

114. Yeah, that's what I'm getting out of this.

So, a volunteer for Bernie's Campaign used the logo without permission.

And how could that volunteer have known that it was wrong? after all AARP of Iowa's facebook page was literally promoting Bernie.

I sense a miscommunication.

[Duppers]

122. Same here.

And, of course, it's being blown out of proportion.

[denbot]

119. I can't find the unrec button..

Seriously, this sounds like a case for Ken Starr.

[blackspade]

120. Another hit piece.

No evidence presented at all.
Lame.

[Phlem]

131. Dammit! I'm changing my vote!

nope.

[William769]

156. They stole from the database so why should this surprise anyone?

They can't win on their own so they have to steal and intimidate.

[workinclasszero]

212. Yeah their campaign crossed the Rubicon with that dirty trick

Opened the door wide for anything else.

[Lage Nom Ai]

188. Odd

A group that claims to be ecological minded backs the candidate that was for the XL and just last night was taking a grand a pop from a group that profits from ducking up the climate. Just another group with superior judgment.

[jillan]

173. Where is Bernie using the AARP logo? I haven't seen it yet.

[sadoldgirl]

176. True or not, I wished that Bernie would forget

about AARP, because they are nothing but a
front for insurance companies. They won't
admit to that, but that is where their real
interests lie.

[jeepers]

199. We appreciate all the encouraging words and will be sure to vote for your candidate. thankyou gnite

[Hissyspit]

200. Why have I still not seen this campaign mailing?

Can someone post an image of it?

[jillan]

202. It doesn't exist. I keep asking for a link and no one can provide it.

[Vinca]

205. If he used it - and I haven't seen it - the AARP should be grateful.

They spend good money sending me mailings on a near weekly basis and they end up in the shredder. All kinds of logos are used in advertising. If Bernie said, "We are endorsed by AARP" he's in the wrong. If he didn't, he isn't. I smell another faux issue.

[FBaggins]

206. The logo wasn't marked as private use only when he used it

So this is obviously all a vast right wing conspiracy to harm his campaign.

[Hissyspit]

210. I still haven't seen it. I looked all over the Internet last night.

Last edited Fri Jan 29, 2016, 11:11 AM - Edit history (1)

[nichomachus]

213. The AARP serves as insurance company shills -- so of course they back Hillary

I gave up my AARP membership in 2003, when they were strong supporters of the despicable Medicare Part D plan. It is nothing but a bonanza for big insurance and big pharma.

Of course, it was sold to us with the usual garbage we get -- as we did with Obamacare --

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good
It's a start -- we can fix it later
It's better than nothing

Blah blah blah

They have done nothing to "fix" it in 12 years. IOW, we were flim-flammed once again.

Anytime you hear those three rationales, you know you've being scammed.

[Cali_Democrat]

214. .

.