Is Bernie likeable?

[EffieBlack]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the General Discussion forum).

is a question I have not heard asked once since he announced his candidacy yesterday.

Whyzzat?

[Bettie]

1. "Likeable" only matters if you're a

woman. DUH!

[TreasonousBastard]

2. I know that's today's meme, but there's likeable ol' Biden...

and Beto, and we all remember likeable Barak and even Bush the lesser. And how about that peanut farmer? and the retired actor and governor (played the roles well, didn't he)?

[Funtatlaguy]

8. Not always. W won the "who'd you wanna have a beer with" meme.

[treestar]

56. Yep.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Maybe someone will ask it today.

I think he's likeable.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Likeable as one's grumpy old uncle.

[NewJeffCT]

5. I'm not a Bernie supporter

but, we had George Bush - the "likable" guy you wanted to have a beer with - against stiff and out-of-touch elitists Al Gore and John Kerry

Obama was the likable nice guy against the crabby old man McCain

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. McCain was as big a sports fan as Obama.

I would have loved to attend a basketball game with either one of them.

[PJMcK]

6. Who cares? (n/t)

[Cha]

7. I don't like him.

[notdarkyet]

31. Me either.

[smirkymonkey]

38. Neither do I.

Bernie is all about Bernie.

[comradebillyboy]

42. I really dislike him.

[peggysue2]

49. Nor do I, Cha

And I don't think he's a credible candidate for a position that requires real 'people-skills' and leadership to repair the Trumpster's damage to our institutions and relationships with the world.

My way or the highway, simply doesn't cut it. There's a reason Bernie Sanders is often described as the cranky uncle at the dinner table.

What he's offering is flip-side populism. That's just not good enough.

[pandr32]

67. I am with you there!

Aloha, Cha!

[yuiyoshida]

74. If he is running as an Independant

Than he is a spoiler, HOWEVER if he is running as a Democrat, I think he will be beaten by a fresh up and coming Democratic Party member like Kamala or any of the new Democrats running for President.. I still stand with Kamala!

[cwydro]

80. Me either.

[lunamagica]

87. Neither do I, Cha

[NastyRiffraff]

90. I don't either

And I'm tired of him already. He really doesn't look well. Maybe he'll have a heart attack or something, not enough to kill him but enough to get him out of the race.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

91. I don't like BS either.

Something about the attraction to attention. Megaphones, microphones and tv cameras just have too much influence, IMHO.

[spooky3]

103. It's his lack of accomplishments during a long career

That I dislike.

[stonecutter357]

9. Bernie is likeable but his bro's/rwnj's can go to hell !

[rownesheck]

53. Yes!

My thoughts exactly. Bravo!

[Adrahil]

85. He absolutely lost me...

with his dismissal of candidates who are women and people of color.

It was disgraceful. And the fact that his fan aren't bothered by that is even worse. We are fuckin' doomed.

[Siwsan]

10. I don't know him, personally, but his personality reminds me of someone I worked with

Kind of a gruff guy, no nonsense, sometimes a BIT too blunt. He most definitely didn't suffer fools, lightly.

At first I didn't really care for him, but as time went by, I listened and learned that he was also very smart, wanted to help, and knew exactly what he was doing and talking about. His advice might have been delivered in a gentle way, and might have sometimes been a bit difficult to digest, but it was good advice, even if I didn't, at first, realize it. I ended up really liking the guy for his qualities - not his personality.

That being said, and to be fully transparent, I was a big Bernie supporter, in 2016 (and fully embraced Hillary, as our candidate). This time around, there are so many candidates to consider, I'm not committing to anyone, and probably won't until some time next year. I have people grouped at the top, and people grouped at the bottom of my list - and I still have my "wish" list.

[Demsrule86]

11. Good point...why is women who are given the 'likeability' test?

[Autumn]

12. Very much likable AFAIC. nt

[Amishman]

13. Because he is generally considered very likable

For years his unfavorable polling percentage has been very low

[RandiFan1290]

14. What does Joe and Mika say? nt

[bahrbearian]

16. Marcos doesn't like him

but his poll says otherwise

Link to tweet

/photo/1

[EffieBlack]

68. This poll doesn't address likeability

[katmondoo]

17. There is a whiff of phoniness about him

[lapucelle]

77. I don't like sanctimonious people.

Those whose personal philosophy is informed by laziness and self-interest ("do as I say, not as I do&quot in addition to sanctimony are especially odious.

[KPN]

82. Lol!

I think I'll just keep the rest of my thought on reading this to myself.

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. Because the media is complicit in the double standard that penalizes women?

Yes your point is well taken. I'm curious how many will turn your OP observation into a forum for defending or attacking Sanders. Bernie doesn't go out of his way to smooth talk people into liking him. He is who he is. Larry David was brilliant on Saturday Night Live portraying Sanders as a total curmudgeon.

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/bern-your-enthusiasm/2981468

I actually find it refreshing that Sanders doesn't employ the "cheerful warrior" facade. I find it deplorable that women candidates are expected to.

[Peacetrain]

19. Likability is at the bottom of my list when looking for a candidate to support..

I would love to like the person I end up supporting..but it not a requirement.. Besides President Obama.. I have never really liked any President or want to have a conversation with them, a beer. got out to dinner.. they are there to do a job.. and that is what matters to me

[TCJ70]

20. While not in those exact terms...

...the subject of Bernies demeanor was a very lively topic last time around. But "likability" is a garbage topic in general...regardless of the person in question.

[helpisontheway]

21. Nope...bitter and angry man..Zero appeal for this AA woman. I will only vote for him if nominee.

[countingbluecars]

22. I think Bernie can speak to a crowd,

but I don't see him as an empathetic or compassionate individual. I like his ideas but not his personality.

[smirkymonkey]

58. I see him the same way - he is like many people I encountered when I volunteered

and interned for social service positions. They want to save the world, but they treat actual individuals like shit. Very few of them were kindhearted people. Their desire to achieve their goals seemed mostly about their egos and having a chip on their shoulders. He reminds me of the same kind of person.

[disillusioned73]

23. He has a VERY likeable platform...

This may be old.. but I am sure things haven't changed much - addressing climate change aka Green New Deal should be on there..

As far as personally, I guess that is for everyone to decide individually.. some will never "like" him, other will as they get to know him & his policy positions..

[SidDithers]

26. Civil rights? Reproductive freedom? LGBT rights? Gun control?...nt

Sid

[TCJ70]

29. I don't know where that image came from, but it's definitely not all encompassing. The email...

...that was sent out is much more comprehensive. There doesn't seem to be an issues page to link to yet, but here's the text of the announcement email with parts you may be interested in bolded:

Brothers and Sisters--

I am writing to let you know I have decided to run for president of the United States. I am asking you today to join me as part of an unprecedented and historic grassroots campaign that will begin with at least a million people from across the country.

Please join our campaign for president on day one and commit to doing what it takes to win this election.

Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history. It is not only about winning the Democratic nomination and the general election.

Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.

Our campaign is about taking on the powerful special interests that dominate our economic and political life. I'm talking about Wall Street, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the fossil fuel industry, the military-industrial complex, the private-prison industry and the large multi-national corporations that exert such an enormous influence over our lives.

Our campaign is about redoubling our efforts to end racism, sexism, homophobia, religious bigotry and all forms of discrimination.

Our campaign is about creating a vibrant democracy with the highest voter turnout of any major country while we end voter suppression, Citizens United and outrageous levels of gerrymandering.

Our campaign is about creating a government and economy that works for the many, not just the few. We are the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. We should not have grotesque levels of wealth inequality in which three billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of the country.

We should not have 30 million Americans without any health insurance, even more who are under-insured and a nation in which life expectancy is actually in decline.

We should not have an economy in which tens of millions of workers earn starvation wages and half of older workers have no savings as they face retirement.

We should not have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on Earth and a dysfunctional childcare system which is unfair to both working parents and their children.

We should not have a regressive tax system in which large, profitable corporations like Amazon pay nothing in federal income taxes.

Make no mistake about it. The powerful special interests in this country have unbelievable power and they want to maintain the status quo. They have unlimited amounts of money to spend on campaigns and lobbying and have huge influence over the media and political parties.

The only way we will win this election and create a government and economy that works for all is with a grassroots movement – the likes of which has never been seen in American history.

They may have the money and power. We have the people. That is why we need one million Americans who will commit themselves to this campaign.

Stand with me as we fight to win the Democratic nomination and the general election. Add your name to join this campaign and say you are willing to do the hard work necessary to transform our country.

You know as well as I do that we are living in a pivotal and dangerous moment in American history. We are running against a president who is a pathological liar, a fraud, a racist, a sexist, a xenophobe and someone who is undermining American democracy as he leads us in an authoritarian direction.

I’m running for president because, now more than ever, we need leadership that brings us together – not divides us up. Women and men, black, white, Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight, young and old, native born and immigrant. Now is the time for us to stand together.

I’m running for president because we need leadership that will fight for working families and the shrinking middle class, not just the 1 percent. We need a president who understands that we can create millions of good-paying jobs, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and construct the affordable housing we desperately need.

I'm running for president because we need trade policies that reflect the interests of workers and not multi-national corporations. We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, provide pay equity for women and guarantee all workers paid family and medical leave.

I'm running for president because we need to understand that artificial intelligence and robotics must benefit the needs of workers, not just corporate America and those who own that technology.

I'm running for president because a great nation is judged not by how many billionaires and nuclear weapons it has, but by how it treats the most vulnerable – the elderly, the children, our veterans, the sick and the poor.

I’m running for president because we need to make policy decisions based on science, not politics. We need a president who understands that climate change is real, is an existential threat to our country and the entire planet, and that we can generate massive job creation by transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy.

I’m running for president because the time is long overdue for the United States to join every other major country on Earth and guarantee health care to all people as a right, not a privilege, through a Medicare-for-all program.

I’m running for president because we need to take on the outrageous level of greed of the pharmaceutical industry and lower prescription drug prices in this country.

I'm running for president because we need to have the best educated workforce in the world. It is totally counter-productive for our future that millions of Americans are carrying outrageous levels of student debt, while many others cannot afford the high cost of higher education. That is why we need to make public colleges and universities tuition free and lower student debt.

I’m running for president because we must defend a woman’s right to control her own body against massive political attacks taking place at the local state and federal level.

I'm running for president because we need real criminal justice reform. We need to invest in jobs and education for our kids, not more jails and incarceration. We need to end the destructive "war on drugs," eliminate private prisons and cash bail and bring about major police department reform.

I'm running for president because we need to end the demonization of undocumented immigrants in this country and move to comprehensive immigration reform. We need to provide immediate legal status for the young people eligible for the DACA program and develop a humane policy for those at the border who seek asylum.

I'm running for president because we must end the epidemic of gun violence in this country. We need to take on the NRA, expand background checks, end the gun show loophole and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons.

I'm running for president because we need a foreign policy which focuses on democracy, human rights, diplomacy and world peace. The United States must lead the world in improving international cooperation in the fight against climate change, militarism, authoritarianism and global wealth inequality.

That is why we need at least a million people to join our campaign and help lead the movement that can accomplish these goals. Add your name to say we’re in this together.

Needless to say, there is a lot of frightening and bad news in this world. Now, let me give you some very good news.

Three years ago, during our 2016 campaign, when we brought forth our progressive agenda we were told that our ideas were "radical," and "extreme." We were told that Medicare for All, a $15 an hour minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges and universities, aggressively combating climate change, demanding that the wealthy start paying their fair share of taxes, were all of concepts that the American people would never accept.

Well, three years have come and gone. And, as result of millions of Americans standing up and fighting back, all of these policies and more are now supported by a majority of Americans.

Together, you and I and our 2016 campaign began the political revolution. Now, it is time to complete that revolution and implement the vision that we fought for.

So here is my question for you:

Will you stand with me as part of a million person grassroots movement which can not only win the Democratic primary, not only win the general election but most importantly help transform this country so that, finally, we have a government that works for all of us and not just the few? Add your name to say you will.

Together we can create a nation that leads the world in the struggle for peace and for economic, racial, social and environmental justice.

And together we can defeat Donald Trump and repair the damage he has done to our country.

Brothers and sisters, if we stand together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

I hope you will join me.

Thank you very much.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders

https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/02/19/bernie-sanders-2020-presidential-campaign-announcement-democratic-party/2911315002/

[BannonsLiver]

61. Sanctions on Russia

Bernie’s not a big fan of those either.

[lapucelle]

98. "Stop endless military spending"...

When will BS will speak out against politicians who are backing a $1.5 trillion military boondoggle and who love $1 trillion war machines?

[awesomerwb1]

65. Immigration?

[lunamagica]

88. Immigeation? Gun control?

[lapucelle]

99. BS should ask Democrat Andrew Cuomo how he achieved $15/hr and free tuition in NYS.

I like pragmatic Democratic leaders who actually get things done.

[disillusioned73]

107. Yeah..

I'm sure AOC's monumental upset win in NYC didn't put a lil more leftward swing into him...

[lapucelle]

100. If BS is against wasteful, endless military spending,

why does he continue to fight FOR funding for the most expensive weapons program in history, the $1.5 trillion Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter?

How does steering more than a trillion dollars to corporate giant Lockheed Martin to continue to develop what has been characterized as the most wasteful boondoggle in military history help struggling working class Americans?

Spending $1,500,000,000,000 to potentially bring 2,000 jobs to one small state is unconscionable. That's $750,000,000 per job!

[disillusioned73]

106. What was that??

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=2&vote=00128

"Sanders (I-VT), Nay "

https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2018/06/20/house-and-senate-democrats-vote-68-percent-and-85-percent-for-massive-military-spending/#6bef59515101

House And Senate Democrats Vote Overwhelmingly For $716 Billion Military Budget

"Last year, congressional Democrats did what might seem like a surprise, given public posturing, and voted overwhelmingly for the massive defense authorization: 60% in the House and 89% in the Senate.

This year, things are a little different Democrats still fell over themselves to support an even bigger military budget. They just did it a little earlier.

According to Jeff Stein at the Washington Post's Wonkblog, the Senate on Monday voted in favor of a $716 billion military spending bill for the 2019 federal fiscal year. The House had already passed it last month.

This is $82 billion higher than the current budget, which itself was more than the Trump administration requested."

[SidDithers]

24. No...nt

Sid

[we can do it]

25. No

[mcar]

28. I await the many articles posing this important question

Also, is he a tough boss? Does he use hot sauce? What about his voice?

[TJKay]

30. I find him neither likeable nor unlikeable.

Personally, I don’t care, but likeability certainly helps among most voters.

[redgreenandblue]

32. No he is not. He has "anti-charisma", which is part of why people support him.

He is viewed as credible, precisely because he is not a silver tongued shit talker. When Bernie says something, people believe that he means it.

Example: Him saying that he was too busy during his 2016 campaign and that it grew too fast to thoroughly vet every staff member and micromanage every aspect of it.

It is was the straight-up truth. No sugar coating, none of your typical "politics speak". Just exactly what happened.

[EffieBlack]

35. I wasn't asking if Sanders is likeable

I was asking why people aren't asking if he's likeable, since that seems to be an issue raised about female candidates.

Do you think this characteristic would be seen as positive in a female candidate?I Or would it be something that undermines their "likeability"?

[redgreenandblue]

36. Possibly not. But that isn't Bernie's fault.

But all things considered, I think the era of highly polished politicians is coming to an end, regardless of gender.

I think Elizabeth Warren is similar to some degree: She comes across as wonkish and slightly socially awkward. To me that is appealing. To others, maybe not so much.

[EffieBlack]

37. Many stories have been written asking whether Warren is "likeable" but, so far, Bernie gets a pass

That may not be his fault. But he certainly benefits from the double standard. Just as the female candidates are harmed by it.

[redgreenandblue]

39. I think at least for Millenials, "unlikable" equals "phony".

Giving a speech to white rural voters from the back of a pickup truck and then talking about always carrying hot sauce around to black voters. That sort of thing.

[EffieBlack]

40. Are you saying that Millennials are clueless?

Because assuming that an American black woman who - like most other black people in America - is adept at "code-switching" as a result of having to spend her life navigating and adapting to different worlds (something most white people never have to do or even think about) is a "phony" is the very epitome of cluelessness.

[redgreenandblue]

43. Which black woman are you talking about?

I wasn't referring to any black woman, not even implicitly.

[EffieBlack]

47. I assumed you were talking about Kamala since her hot sauce comments were all the rage last week

[Lucid Dreamer]

66. Your question was unclear.

EffieBlack>35. I wasn't asking if Sanders is likeable
EB>I was asking why people aren't asking if he's likeable, since that seems to be an issue raised about female candidates.

The title of your first message makes it seem as if you are asking if he is likeable.
Only in the following text is the obscure question "Whyzzat?"

Maybe that's why everybody wasted their time on BS's likeability rather than your gender driven concern.

EB>1. Is Bernie likeable?
EB>
EB>is a question I have not heard asked once since he announced his candidacy yesterday.
EB>
EB>Whyzzat?

[EffieBlack]

70. My OP was very clear

If people "wasted their time on BS's likeability rather than my gender driven concern" that's because they didn't actually read the OP. Most people did read the OP and responded to my question.

It's not all that complicated - Read the OP, not just the title, before responding to it ...

[Eliot Rosewater]

105. Gender driven concern? wow

[Lucid Dreamer]

109. Wow indeed!

I was not the one who introduced gender concern. It was Effie.

The original title of her post was:
35. Do you think this characteristic would be seen as positive in a female candidate?


Later edited.

Normally I don't waste my time in these petty arguments. I just can't understand what your big "Wow" was for.

-30-

[brooklynite]

33. I had dinner with him and Jane eight years ago...

Perfectly nice on a personal level...

[George II]

95. Who picked up the check?

[brooklynite]

97. Essentially, we did

We were alone at a table for at the DSCC summer retreat

[NurseJackie]

110. ...

namedropping amuses me ... and so did your reply.

[Gothmog]

34. Good question-there is a double standard with respect to female vs. male candidates

I found the questions about whether Senators Harris and Warren were likeable to be dumb. It is only fair to apply the same standard to other candidates

[Renew Deal]

41. Which relates to "is he electable."

The answer is no

[lillypaddle]

44. No.

[ismnotwasm]

46. What makes you say that?

Most Democrats are thrilled to have such a diverse field to choose from

[MrsCoffee]

48. Waffling back? So 2 years free college instead of 4 is not good enough?

I think she was smart to say what she said.

Most have signed on to M4A legislation, but they are still talking about how to implement it and when, but that's not good enough either? I don't see any candidates backing off of a livable wage and only one running on UBI and no one even talks about him really.

By the way, Bernie ranks as the 9th progressive Senator. We have several candidates who rank higher, including Kamala Harris who ranks 1st.

I see you have the morning talking points down anyway.

[ismnotwasm]

81. The point actually being discussed

Perhaps you didn’t know this, Is there is a perception that women candidates are expected to be “likable”, ie likability brought up by the media ad nauseum when it is a woman candidate.

Bernie’s likability isn’t likely to be factor here, mostly because he is male. So the topic is sexism.

On that note, What is it about Senator Harris’s record do you object to?

[ehrnst]

94. What about her record?

Can you specify your issue?

Do you live in CA?

[lapucelle]

102. Democrat Andrew Cuomo has been getting things done incrementally in NYS over the past 4 years.

His legislation phased in the $15/hr minimum wage and free state university. And he accomplished it, even with divided government.

Pragmatism worked in my state. How did "I want it all NOW, NOW, NOW" work out in Vermont?

In addition to effectively advancing the principles of economic justice and equity, Cuomo also passed legislation to codify Roe v Wade into NYS law. Clearly, it's not merely about income inequality for this governor.

It's remarkable what a pragmatic, hard-working Democratic leader can get done in 4 short years.

[HipChick]

50. He's not likable, scruffy looking and needs to make friends with a comb...

[MrsCoffee]

51. Absofuckinglutely not.

But your right, no one in the media has asked this question.

[still_one]

52. Hey, get off my lawn!!!!!!

[Politicub]

54. Depends on who you ask

I'm kind of meh on him, but I can see why people are attracted to his brand of populism.

[handmade34]

55. I frickin' hate him

this is all so wrong... he is really making a bad move for our Country

[kennetha]

57. Can't stand him

I change the channel every time he comes on.

[spicysista]

59. You know what it is...

[MineralMan]

60. Some people like him. Some people loathe him.

That's a potential problem for him, I think. Some of the people who loathe him are essential voters for any Democrat who plans to win.

So, I don't know. Personally, I like what he says. I have real problems, though, watching him speak. His wooden, repetitive hand gestures are distracting to me. He badly needs some coaching.

[EffieBlack]

72. You seem to care at least enough to take the time to respond.

And thanks for the kick.

[pnwmom]

76. Everyone should care

who cared about whether Hillary was likable, or Kamala Harris, or Amy Klobuchar, or Kristin Gillibrand, etc.

[Lucid Dreamer]

63. For me, he could get on the road to "likeable" by withdrawing from the race.

Otherwise... no!

[Pachamama]

64. Because the answers would be very negative

I like the message from Bernie Sanders - not the messenger and most people I speak to feel the same way.

Most common description I hear about him is a crotchety old man who shouts at people to get off the lawn....not very inspiring in most peoples minds for a leader.

[forklift]

69. I'm undecided

but I think Bernie is very much likeable. He is like a gentle, loving grandpa.

[BannonsLiver]

71. Not in the least.

And I would classify at least 60-70 percent of his supporters I have encountered in real life exactly the same way.

[Vinca]

75. He has his moments. He used to always show up for a local parade and events in

southern Vermont (Strolling of the Heifers in Brattleboro if you're interested - lots of fun). The crowd loved him and he loved the crowd. You'd catch him later in the day at the cow milking contest. On the national stage he comes off cranky, but there is one thing I do like about him now. He's not afraid to go after Trump. He'll call Trump a scam artist and a criminal to his face and not pussyfoot around like the majority of other candidates do.

[oasis]

78. He can be "tolerable" under certain circumstances. nt

[aikoaiko]

79. I think we've seen plenty of threads asking the inverse?

"Is Bernie divisive?"

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

83. I think he's likeable. I think I'd enjoy having a beer with him.

I think there are better candidates in the Dem field. But if he won the nomination, I'd gladly vote for him in the general.

But, I'm pretty easy. I'd enjoy having a beer with Harris, Klobuchar, Brown, O'Rourke, Booker. That would be enough. Six candidates, six beers, I'm already past my limit.

[Adrahil]

84. He pisses me off.

I get mad just seeing his sanctimonious mug.

[AncientGeezer]

86. He's likable...I met him in Vt 3yrs ago..seemed fine

I met Klobuchar last yr...also likeable.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

89. Absolutely

These are the types of approval ratings that win general elections against an underwater loser like trump.

Gotta have positive approval ratings.

[betsuni]

92. I can't think about Bernie without thinking about LIKABILITY.

And all the rest.

[KayF]

93. ain't this likeable?

[lapucelle]

96. Not so much at Middlebury College in his home state.

[Power 2 the People]

101. You're right Effie.It's a stupid barometer of competence invented by the tabloid culture of our MSM.

[mtnsnake]

104. I love the old fart because he's one of the toughest politicians we have going for us

He isn't my number one favorite of all the candidates who've announced, but he's a strong number 2 on my list, and if he wins the primary I"ll be incredibly confident that he will kick Trump's ass, no problem. Besides, right now, I think Bernie can pull more independents and fence sitters to our side than anyone else can.

[ecstatic]

108. There's definitely a double standard in the media.

But if they ever bothered to ask me, my response would be: No, he's not likable to people outside his target audience--the people he refers to as the "hardworking whites" / "white working class."

I first learned about him years before he ran--he'd made appearances on MSNBC every now and then, and he was VERY rude & dismissive of the issues that I care most about. Then his name started being tossed around DU as some sort of savior who was much more progressive than President Obama. Though Bernie has done and said some things that I liked since then, he's continued to make tone deaf comments which make it impossible for me to shake my initial impressions of him.

But for me, there's a far more important question that is NEVER asked regarding Bernie or white males in general: Is he qualified? Nobody ever asks that.

[Yonnie3]

111. Locking ...

Admin has asked that we lock all active primary threads in General Discussion.

If you like, please repost in the Democratic Primaries forum and continue there.