Yet another attack: Bernie doesn't want to help down ticket Dems. He's selfish and not one of us!!

[Avalux]

It's really sad that some Democrats are trying to turn a fantastic campaign based on PEOPLE POWER into a negative that once again tries to paint Bernie as a disingenuous bad guy who is using the Democratic Party.

I'm not going to waste my time writing out a defense of Bernie. If you don't already know what kind of man he is, then you either haven't looked at Bernie's record, or you're as dishonest as your candidate when you parrot this vile stuff.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. When he was asked the question, he should have said "yes" instead of "we'll see"

Hillary has had no hesitation when it comes to fundraising for fellow down-ballot Dems.

How is Bernie supposed to bring about the "revolution" without elected Dems? I suppose he thinks he can wave a magic wand and make Congress disappear.

Also, many of those down-ballot Dems are super delegates.

They're not going to be too happy about being shunned by a johnny-come-lately.

[dchill]

7. His being at the top of the ticket will get more Dems elected...

Than any amount of Corporate PAC money. This attack is dishonestly ginned-up and specious. Bernie's donors do not have any interest in getting a Debbie Wasserman Schultz reelected. Nor should they.

[revbones]

15. He's honest. The question was also about using his campaign donations

and not about starting a bogus "Victory Fund" to let the campaign siphon money from...

[HumanityExperiment]

20. Whose more powerful in a movement?...

the people or politicians?

I'll always bank on the people over politicians when it comes to making things happen, politicians are scared of the people this election cycle

[RandySF]

2. There is no defense.

Because he's nothing for the rest of the ticket.

[Armstead]

6. The rest of the ticket is spending their timer badmouthing him and his supporters

Meanwhile, he has gone to The People to fuind his campaign without the Big Corporate Masters.

If the "rest of the ticket" were smart they'd be looking at how to emulate his successful fundraising, by energizing contributions from voters themselves.

[revbones]

17. And what has Hillary done for the rest of the ticket?

Start a bogus "Victory Fund" that supposedly will reward super-delegates that vote for her and that her campaign can siphon off unlimited money from?

How many have gotten funds thus far? If you find any, was it before or after they announced their vote?

[Armstead]

3. "Polly wants a meme. Polly wants a meme!"

It is fairly boring that they pick a poutrage of the day and repeat it endlessly.

You are absolutely correct. sanders has pioneered an amazing way to actually inspire average people to contribute small amounts, and thus raise a critical mass of funds for his campaign without the need to pander to Big Bidness and the wealthy.

Instead of knocking it, Democrats ought to be looking at how to emulate it on a party-wide basis.

[fun n serious]

12. It's not about the money...

It's about his MOTIVES and intentions.

[Armstead]

18. His motives are to win the nomination. His intentions are....

to finally being the principles he and many otehyrs believe in to a position to actually make a difference.

Read about how he operated as Mayor of Burlington to see how his leadership style translates into positive change in the real world.

http://www.thenation.com/article/bernies-burlington-city-sustainable-future/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/26/us/politics/as-mayor-bernie-sanders-was-more-pragmatic-than-socialist.html

[fun n serious]

21. Is there a college in Burlington that someone defrauded?

Just asking....

[Armstead]

22. No there isn't...is that your only response? Remind me to not bother with you anymore

I spent several minutes looking up those links for you in good faith.

And you just come back with lies and bullshit.

So much for you.

[hrmbaja]

23. IOW

You got nothing.

[KingFlorez]

4. He's not a Democrat, he's an independent

I don't see why you all even care about this supposed "attack", since Sanders answered exactly how his supporters would want him to.

If it wasn't for his own words none of this would even be up for discussion. Think about that before you start lashing out and crying blasphemy against the savior.

In 2018, a real Democrat will likely step up to run for the Senate in Vermont and I will donate to the person without hesitation.

[hrmbaja]

24. Hes a Democrat

Respect your elders

[fun n serious]

5. No, I can SEE right through him...

I'm not shocked many can't. Our citizens voted Bush in office twice. I am not shocked.

[Gregorian]

8. Replies so far...

[Stallion]

9. Is it SAD or is it the TRUTH?

I don't hear Bernie denying it

I'll be voting for the Democrat just like the vast majority of other actual Democrats

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

10. Rachel got what she wanted. Stupid point to make but plays very well for her candidate.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. This is OT but my kid sent me a text today with a picture of Hillary attached.

You've seen it... it's the one where she has dark glasses on and is using her Blackberry. In the pic she's doing Google searches which are displayed beside the picture.

how to train a bird

how to get a bird to land on my podium

where to buy a bird

how go teach a bird to say i'm with her

I had to pull over to the side of the road it made me laugh so hard.

[Avalux]

13. LOL my daughter sent me the same thing yesterday.

Yes, it's funny.

[democrattotheend]

14. This is really rich coming from the Clinton campaign

I will admit that Hillary was a team player in 2008 after she conceded to Obama. She did a lot more than give him a pro forma endorsement and walk away, and I give her credit for that. However, she has not always been such a team player. I remember reading reports of how she poached Gore's donors in 2000, hitting them up to contribute to her Senate campaign instead of his campaign for president. And don't even get me started on how the Clintonistas hung Kerry out to dry in 2004.

[Onlooker]

16. Somehow, I think this is the result of Bernie not taking Superpac money

If Bernie sticks with his ethics, it will be hard for him to compete with Hillary and raise money for downstream Democrats. There's no doubt there are many Democrats he would support, but unless he changes his funding model, it's just not a luxury available to him. One advantage of raising money from the wealthy and from the SuperPacs, is you end up with more money to distribute. This will probably also help Hillary with the superdelegates.

[WhiteTara]

19. He could campaign with/for down ticket democrats

it wouldn't cost a thing and would give the revolution some more staying power. JMHO of course.

[Dem2]

25. It's not something he's used to.

The Vermont legislature passed a civil unions bill in 2000, 15 years before the United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage throughout the country. Gay activists formed a political action committee to raise money to protect vulnerable Vermont Democrats from a fierce backlash to the vote.

But Mr. Sanders, a political independent, “wasn’t raising a lot of money for Democrats,” said Ms. Murray, who organized the PAC. “He wasn’t a Democrat. And none of the progressives were in danger of not being re-elected.”

[Blue_Tires]

26. Well, has he been?

Should be fairly simple to prove one way or the other

[arcane1]

27. Good. When I donate to his campaign, I expect that money to be spent on his campaign.

Once again, the Clinton side proves they don't care about voters, they care about their own careers.

[alcibiades_mystery]

28. Wow, politicians and their supporters criticize each other during a campaign!

Will wonders never cease?

[Trajan]

29. Look ... I don't want to break it to anybody

But it appears our party has been hijacked by right wingers and mealy mouthed 'Democratic' party sycophants who kowtow to the right wingers controlling the Democratic Party ...

I don't know about you, but I believe we are either going to FIGHT to wrest control of the party BACK from those right wingers, OR we are going to split into a different party ....

I advise we take our party back ....