After reading and watching all the video's, I think Bernie had a no-win situation on his hands.

[A HERETIC I AM]

This will probably be my one and only post in this forum, but I have yet to see anyone put this forward.

My apologies if one of you already has and I missed it.

When those two young women basically rushed the stage, demanding they be allowed to speak, even SHOUTING that they would shut down the rally if they weren't, I think Senator Sanders was left with no viable alternative than to do exactly what he did.

Back away.

How would it have looked if he had gotten into a physical altercation with one or both of them in order to keep control of the mic?

How would it have looked if "security" (if there was any) had muscled them off stage? What would YOU have done? What would you like to have seen the honorable Senator do?

If it was me and I knew this might happen, I would have had security ringing the stage. Perhaps that may happen in the future, but it didn't appear there was any at that rally.

If and when he becomes the nominee, he'll get Secret Service protection and this sort of thing won't happen.

I think it was truly a no-win situation. Shove them away and be accused of "manhandling" abusing these "poor activists" (I am being a bit tongue in cheek, here) women. Speak over them and they get even louder and it gets ugly. Let them speak, stand back, call it a wash and then wade into the crowd and greet as many as you can face to face.

"Discretion is the better part of valor."

I think he did the right thing.

[mmonk]

1. Of course.

The only thing left to do was to greet the people and thank them for coming.

[daleanime]

2. I don't think it could have been handled better.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. Agreed, but then Bernie ALWAYS handles himself with dignity and aplomb, unlike typical politicians. This is why Bernie keeps rising in the polls and will soon be our nominee.

[questionseverything]

20. the only thing the campaign missed

was an opportunity to hand out literature about his plan

bernie handled everything else correctly but when 5000 people are gathered to hear your views we should have more than one way to communicate

[arcane1]

3. He did do the right thing, and critics who say otherwise are being less than honest.

When the goal is to find any reason to create a smear, anything will do.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. Precisely.

Imagine the now silent MSM (OH, how I hate that acronym) going apeshit over the Sanders campaign once he sets a foot wrong in THAT way?

I know they are looking to marginalize him. It is clear that is the tactic. Ignore him and he will go away.

But if it can be shown he is unstable?

Hoooo...leeeee fuck!

[notadmblnd]

4. Correct me if I am wrong...

but it is my understanding that this was not a Sanders event. I got the impression it was an event on Social Security and Sanders was an invited speaker. So Security was not his responsibility. I agree that there was nothing else he could have or should have done.

I also believe that the goal was for these women to be seen frog marched off the stage by security in order to make Sanders look bad and if that is indeed true, it ended up being a huge fail for the organization.

I also have to admit that I am dismayed that I haven't see these young women explain themselves via MSM interviews.

[jeff47]

11. It was not a Sanders event.

You are correct.

[Supersedeas]

65. the old white guy has not choice but to step aside and allow those strong voices to be heard

[notadmblnd]

66. I can't say strong. Loud, but there really was nothing profound spoken that made it strong

It's gotta be more than just loud in order to be strong. Outside of the time demanded for silence, everything she said up there was about herself and her liberal white supremest city, not any one else. Strong voices stop people in their tracks. President Obama has that kind of strong voice. Ms. Johnson, not so much.

[Supersedeas]

69. and yet, even as we kabitz over the adjectives that we use about the protest

the strength of that gesture lies in the communication that is honed and refined afterward.

there are blessings to be found in the most awkward of speeches, despite the messenger and despite how the message is presented.

the strength of that gesture is not always told at first blush.

[notadmblnd]

70. yes, and most are missing it

The behavior was bully like. Most people would agree that bullies are cowards. There is nothing strong about a coward even if they are loud.

[Impedimentus]

5. I suspect Clinton operatives are behind the BLM protestors.

Sen. Sanders's programs will do more for blacks than anything Ms. Clinton has offered. Dirty tricks are to be expected from the Clinton campaign at every level.

[jeff47]

13. Nah, I suspect the GOP

Not the official candidates or anything like that. The informal web of "advisors" behind them.

The GOP has been trying to wrench blacks away from the Democratic party for decades, and this is just their latest attempt.

[A HERETIC I AM]

18. I don't even suspect them.

I am not a conspiracy theorist by any means, but I am convinced of a couple things;

We only get to vote on candidates that are "approved for public consumption".

Bernie is saying things the Powers That Be don't like, therefore he is not approved of.

The other thing I am convinced of, and I have said this before in a post weeks ago, is that I frankly fear for his life, should he get elected, more so than Mr. Obama. The PTB will not allow, as best they can, any significant change in "The American Way" which is to say, profit trumps EVERYTHING.

The last two presidents that tried to change things in a significant way were killed in a very public fashion. Call that CT all you may want, but it is true.

[underthematrix]

30. First of all, President Obama gets 1000s of threats a week, a WEEK.

2nd the number of white hate groups has multiplied by hundreds since President Obama's election
3rd Bernie and HRC are friends and I cannot imagine her team doing something to sabotage Bernie. It makes no sense, mostly because HRC is so far ahead of Bernie that he is unlikely to catch up.
4th we are the powers that be by what we CONSUME e.g. information, entertainment, products - try not to get it twisted
5th I was alive when President Kennedy was assassinated and he was deeply loved by the American people. Bernie has not imspired that kind of love adoration.
6th BY the way, it's not conspiracy. It's called Pschological operations. You might want to read Edward Bernays Propaganda published in 1928 http://www.voltairenet.org/IMG/pdf/Bernays_Propaganda_in_english_.pdf

[A HERETIC I AM]

51. You were alive, were ya?

Do tell.

Thanks so much for the lecture.

Yesterday I couldn't even spell nitwit! Now I are one!

You are entirely too kind to edify me so thoroughly.

Jesus H. Keerist in a right hand drive car circling a left hand roundabout.

[notadmblnd]

25. Well they are not going to gain any minority votes that way

In my opinion, what the republicans need to worry about is Sanders drawing off conservative votes because I think Bernie's message resonates well with a huge number of them too.

[jeff47]

35. They're playing a zero-sum game. Loss of D votes is a win to them.

In my opinion, what the republicans need to worry about is Sanders drawing off conservative votes because I think Bernie's message resonates well with a huge number of them too.

Hence the targeting of Sanders and not Clinton.

[notadmblnd]

41. Their stunt will not cause a loss of D votes for Sanders.

Most people do not like loud mouth bullies- and that is how these young women came across. IMO, their stunt was amateurish and showed their lack of political sophistication. I don't believe it was thought through very carefully by them and what ever their motivation(s) and goals were, they failed incredibly.

If their goal was to get arrested and demonstrate that Sander's is a bigot- it did not happen
If their goal was to change hearts and minds of Democrats- it did not happen.
If their goal was to draw off D votes with people of color- that will not happen because POC do not simply follow the loudest, angriest person in a crowd. They are quite capable of seeing people for they truly are. In fact, I would venture to say that because of crcumstances they've had to face in their lives- that they are better than most white people are at it.

[AgingAmerican]

45. That's pretty obvious

Especially given that the BLM 'protesters' can't even articulate whatever it is they are trying to get across. they no longer have anything to do with stopping police, but everything to do with keeping the oligarchist billionaires in control of the economy.

Ironically, or not, those who benefit the most from this whole thing are the ones who are also stripping away voting rights from POC. This only harms POC. It also harms the Democratic brand as Independents take notice.

[backscatter712]

54. It's not Clinton. This is a right wing ratfuck.

Clinton has too much to lose from being caught playing dirty tricks. And I think this kind of ratfuckery is beneath Hillary Clinton, and I say this as a Sanders supporter.

I'd say this is more a right-wing ratfuck. Discredits BLM. Tried to make Sanders look bad (though Sanders did the right thing, by backing away from the crazy people, so he wasn't hurt by this, as seen by the subsequent rallies in Seattle and Portland), and has Democrats blaming each other "It was Clinton!" "It was BLM!"

Remember, one the two protesters who claimed to represent BLM was caught talking about how she supported Sarah Palin. Also is a Christian fundamentalist.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2015/08/blm-activist-who-shut-down-sanders-is-radical-christian-sarah-palin-supporter/

This is right-wing ratfuckery. Amateur ratfuckery to be sure - Marissa Johnson didn't have the good sense to scrub her Facebook page, did she?

[kenfrequed]

61. Agreed

Right wing rat fuckery of the worst kind.

Oddly, some people here seem more concerned with assuring it hurts Bernie than tracking it back to it's source. Sad, really.

[HappyPlace]

6. Hi did the right thing and, in the end, the protesters have been exposed as RWNJs

What with the Palin button and the OTT Jesus worshipping thing.

I could tell from the get go that they were phony by their hair.

Anyone who is truly passionate about others doesn't take time and expense to do those kinds of fancy colored braids and weaves. And I would say the same about a man if they looked like they spent more time with a stylist or tailor than with the people on the street.

Just look at a real fighter like Sanders new spokeswoman, Ms. Symone Sanders. She doesn't have time for fancy hair shit, there's work to be done, just keep it simple!

This woman is beautiful in every way!

[A HERETIC I AM]

21. Nicely said. Thanks. n/t

[azmom]

22. LOL. My daughter attends a women's college

And it's a first year ritual to chop their hair off. She loves it short. No Maintanance required. She inspired me to go gray. Sooooo liberating.

[Maedhros]

42. Um...

Anyone who is truly passionate about others doesn't take time and expense to do those kinds of fancy colored braids and weaves. And I would say the same about a man if they looked like they spent more time with a stylist or tailor than with the people on the street.

No. I have a good friend who does braids and weaves for her friends. She spends hours doing this, and she is a wonderful human being (as are the women for whom she does the work).

There are many reasons to think the Seattle disruptors may have been disingenuous, but one can't use hair style to determine that they were dishonest.

[KoKo]

60. She is VERY COOL! Authentic ........Good Choice!

[artislife]

7. I think they are their own individuals and not paid shills

I do think they are disappointed that they were not arrested.

Why do I think that? Because the protesters I know, love to be arrested, love the confrontation. One group was protesting a Bank of America. They loved it when the bank would lock the doors. The response that was more negative to the protest made the protest all the better.

You don't shove people not hoping to incite a response. Bernie was a let down, really for them.

[Triana]

8. They essentially 'caged' him. No matter what else he did other than walk away..

...(and even his walking away) is described as "not handling it well".

WTF was he supposed to do or say? He had no choice.

Frankly I don't think Sanders can do anything to make BLM happy. If there is, they've not specified what. And they refuse to work with him and instead want to work against him.

That -- won't work. Not for Sanders. Not for them.

[philly_bob]

9. His body language was not fear, but annoyance and confusion.

It's important to understand that. You can never show bullies fear. #BowDownBernie indeeed.

[jeff47]

10. Several people have hypothesized that the goal was to be arrested.

That the pictures of two black women being lead away in handcuffs from Sanders was the goal.

The women did technically commit assault by pushing people.

[jberryhill]

16. There's no "technically" about it

States define the terms variously, but there is clearly unconsented touching going on.

[jeff47]

17. Yes, just meant it did not rise to the level where most people would press charges (nt)

[joshcryer]

67. That is absolutely the goal of these kinds of actions.

When code pink protests a congress panel or hearing or whatever they're not leaving until they're in cuffs.

[Adrahil]

12. Bernie did fine.

I'm an HRC supporter, but I thought he handled a pretty messy situation with grace.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

23. From a Bernie supporter...thank you for that.

[gollygee]

14. I don't think there was a good way to handle it

as he didn't have the microphone at that point. If he had the microphone, he could have said something about how it was the anniversary of Michael Brown's death and asking people to join with the BLM representatives to honor his memory and protest police violence. But without a microphone, I don't think there's much he could do at the time. And he followed up with discussion of racism, which is good.

I'm hoping there will be lots of questions about civil rights at the debates, because it will force him out of his economics comfort zone, but I think he will shine and will win some hearts he hasn't reached yet.

[Skwmom]

24. It was not Bernie's rally. He was an invited guest and let the invent sponsor handle it.

They were not trying to have a conversation with Bernie and with the comments being made to the crowd, I'm sure he's smart enough to know that you need to defuse such a situation. Leaving was his only option.

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. I learned this up thread. I appreciate you correcting my misapprehension. n/t

[Dawgs]

26. Not all DUers would agree..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1187&pid=20729

#BLM has disrupted Sanders and O'Malley. They were both abysmal. Sanders has been hit again and performed poorly -- again.

[arcane1]

28. Some are immune to facts.

Others merely pretend to be.

[cali]

31. baloney. He handled it with dignity and compadsion

The only duers saying he handled it poorly are some Hillary fans who can't seem to explain why they say he handled it poorly. It couldn't be clearer that this cadre would say that no matter what. These are the people that criticize him, say he doesn't get it, etc, while defending Clinton when she says such things as all lives matter or that it's understandable that white people are afraid of black men in hoodies.

[Dawgs]

37. Agree. Amazing to see some use it for political purposes.

It's quite sad.

[Maedhros]

43. Yes, but those DUers are disingenuous and only trying to score points.

I doubt they actually believe the nonsense they post.

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Or, he could have ceded the mic to these women ...

let them have their say ... thanked them ... promised to meet with them to discuss their concerns further, after the event ... thanked them again ... and proceeded with the speech.

Not every situation requires maintaining control.

[Travis_0004]

33. I like the way he handled it

He let them show their true colors, let assholes be assholes, and get their way.

He was willing to let them speak after he was done, but I guess that wasn't good enough for them.

[1StrongBlackMan]

34. Yes ... assholes will be assholes. n/t

[jeff47]

40. Little problem with that.

Last edited Mon Aug 10, 2015, 06:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Proceeding with his speech would require getting the mic back, and they weren't handing it back. Instead, they were pushing people away who tried to get it back.

Also, IIRC they used up his scheduled speaking time. It wasn't a Sanders event, so he was just one of many speakers.

[bvf]

44. This ^

Playing "What If?" is ridiculous. It's a game for little minds.

[tularetom]

53. I don't think they had "concerns"

They just wanted to try to embarrass a candidate who is more or less a long shot at becoming president. They provoked a confrontation and came off looking like spoiled children throwing a tantrum, while Sanders gained stature by acting with grace and dignity.

If they really had "concerns" they would be disrupting events where the President was speaking, because he is actually in a position to do something about their concerns, and thus far, his response has been underwhelming.

[1StrongBlackMan]

56. Okay ... but President Obama is doing something and ...

isn't Bernie a sitting Senator, i.e., also in the position to do something?

[tularetom]

59. You know, he really could...

That's an excellent point, he could introduce legislation to deal with unwarranted police shootings of young black people. And I think he should, not only is it the right thing to do, but the visuals would help him build credibility. But he can't do it now because the Senate is not in session.

The president on the other hand, isn't bound by a senatorial calendar. He can issue executive orders, request DOJ investigations of all suspicious deaths in police custody, and make use of the bully pulpit to keep public attention focused on the issue. He's a very persuasive man when he wants to be, but for some reason, he's been more or less absent on this issue.

[cali]

55. huh? that's what he did. He tried to engage with them. they wouldn't even shake the

hand he offered. He did give them the Mic. They shoved him and screamed inches from his face.

[noiretextatique]

63. Why should anyone expect him to do that?

Bernie has a comphrensive statement on racism and racial justice on his webpage. So is he STILL being targeted? I think he handled the situation gracefully.

[mnhtnbb]

32. He definitely did the right thing and if you watch the video, you'll see him smile

knowing that they'd pulled off a 'gotcha' moment.

Bernie's a pro and a class act. He did the right thing.

[fbc]

36. Good post but this is already old news.

Bernie takes potential negatives and turns them into positives!

[Mustellus]

38. I can think of 17 candidates who _DON'T_ think that Black Lives Matter....

....and whose crowd would be full of gun worshipers, who might be ready to put their beliefs into action.

I wonder why the people involved.. didn't show up at one of those events?

[uponit7771]

64. There's no hope for them, they hate... no room for conversation

[Blue_In_AK]

39. I agree.

[Politicub]

46. I think he did the right thing, too

Another gentleman was on stage trying to reason with the protesters, saying he would give them some time to speak. He kept getting shouted down.

The higher his profile, the more attractive his events will be for disruptors. I'm on the side of him getting Secret Service protection after this.

[Dont call me Shirley]

47. Bernie has grace, pure and simple, grace.

[JDPriestly]

48. Yes. The crowd should have booed them down and then left.

It is one thing to demonstrate and speak for a cause. It is quite another to prevent someone else from speaking.

The women were interfering with an important part of the democratic process: exchanging ideas. If they want to talk, they need to set up their own forum and invite people and speak or, if they cannot do that, be very brief and courteous in their remarks.

Black Lives Matter. We have terrible police brutality in our country. Too many people are incarcerated, and many of them are incarcerated far too young.

But screaming at liberal politicians who may not be perfect but are the best friends you have is not the way.

I can assure you that if Hillary does not speak out loudly and firmly against the disruptions in Bernie's forums and at his speeches, many Bernie fans will, as I will, refuse to vote for her.

I already made that decision based on her history and the history of the Clinton administration.

Others will join me if Hillary doesn't condemn the disruption of political events that has occurred and condemn them very quickly.

In fact, all of the candidates should point out that this is not about race; it is about allowing candidates who have put their names up for election to reach the voters.

Enough is enough.

This has nothing to do with race. This has to do with whether our democracy can survive. At this rate, someone will, as usually happens when democratic discourse is constantly interrupted take over and dictate whatever that person wants.

That dictator will not be Hillary or Bernie or any of the Democratic candidates.

It's time for Hillary to speak up.

As we are so often reminded, this election is about the Supreme Court and about moving our country forward -- for real.

Hillary, where are you? Why haven't we heard from you with regard to these attacks on democratic candidates, these disruptions of democratic meetings?

[bbgrunt]

57. I agree. Hillary needs to weigh in, if nothing else than to reduce

the perception that she had any role in this dirty trick.

[SoapBox]

49. Yes or No...are these women officially affiliated with Black lives Matter?

Well?

[SusanCalvin]

50. Something I thought might be of interest.

This is the most complete video I could find. It goes from Bernie coming on stage to Bernie leaving. The camera veers around sometimes, and there's some people near the camera who sometimes say things I wish they wouldn't, but I think this is the best out there. (Oh, and the comments make me pretty depressed about human beings as well.)

I tracked it down (it wasn't easy) because I wanted to make up my own mind. I offer it for anyone else who wants to do the same.

[Hiraeth]

52. thank you for posting this. posting to view later tonight.

[AndreaCG]

58. It's unfortunate

From a stand up comedian's perspective I would be very disinclined to let someone run me off the stage (the last time that happened was the third time I performed, more than 20 years ago) I do believe I have seen politicians remove disrupters from the room. President Obama did so recently. Now since this wasn't a Sanders rally he did not control the security so perhaps didn't feel comfortable ordering people to get these women off the stage as IMO was his right to do. However for him to leave the stage early sends signals to other would be trolls that he is weak. I hope this doesn't happen again but I think he needs to stand his ground the next time or be seen as weak, and you know how the Rs pounce on weakness.

[Hydra]

62. BLM tried to get him to do something ill thought out

Letting them do their thing was the worst thing for them. They basically outed themselves, and Bernie took the momentum of their movement with him to rally where he had Symone speak.

BLM is going to have a REALLY hard time messing with Sanders if he has her open every time- she's the REAL BLM, and she's not vulnerable to the charge of racism or sexism if she tells them off.

[davidpdx]

68. +1

[NCTraveler]

71. I think Sanders did very well.

I also think he has been doing very well addressing the issue.