Matt Bai: In 200 years, Vermont has contributed nothing to American Democracy

[cali]

Last edited Thu May 28, 2015, 01:14 PM - Edit history (1)

It looks like bashing Vermont is the new way to bash Sanders. I understand journalists take sides, and Bernie Sanders deserves criticism on issues and on whether he could accomplish his agenda, etc, but this is just absurd.

And yes, Bai actually makes this claim in a piece entitled Hillary Clinton's not like the rest of us: Good!

After more than 200 years of contributing pretty much nothing to American democracy other than some inspired ice cream and a buffer against Canadian aggression, Vermont has apparently decided that once a decade it should send out some scrappy, leftist presidential candidate who will take it to the elitist Democratic establishment. This time it’s Bernie Sanders’s turn.

<snip>
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/democratic-presidential-candidate-hillary-clinton-120050918741.html


Really, Vermont has contributed nothing but ice cream to American Democracy?

Vermont was the first state to ban slavery

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys ring a bell?

In the Civil war Vermont sent 35,000 to fight- out of a population of 350,000. Most were volunteers, not conscripted.

It was a Vermont Senator, Ralph Flanders who was the first to step up against McCarthy. He introduced the resolution of censure.

Vermont has led on ensuring the rights of the LGBT community. Not just with civil unions in 1999 but laws protecting LGBT folks from discrimination in housing, adoption, workplace and more. These laws have been in place for 25 years + in a country where many states still haven't ensured the rights of the LGBT community.

Vermont has also been a leader on land use, conservation and the environment.

[Wilms]

1. And Arkansas gave us Walmart.

Arkansas is fair game now. Right.

[cali]

2. Speaking of WalMart, Vermont was the last state to get one

after a long fight to keep them out, based largely on environmental and land use laws.

[StandingInLeftField]

3. Nothing like pissing off an entire state!

I had to Google who Matt Bai was....never on my radar and never will be.

[cali]

5. he's pretty prominent and influential

and he's actually done some interesting in depth pieces.

[arcane1]

8. This does not appear to be one of them n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

16. Yeah, it sounds like an ignorant cheap shot at a pretty decent state

[BlueJazz]

4. That's nice 'cause Teexas and Florada give us a pack of cruel, nasty crook and shysters.

It's what Vermont HAS'NT done.

[snooper2]

9. Well, considering we have 27,000,000 people and Vermont has 600,000

odds are you will have more assholes in the public eye

[BrotherIvan]

6. So the racism talking point comes all the way from the top?

Fantastic.

[villager]

26. Don't all of their talking points, really?

[BrotherIvan]

27. Well, that was the wrong can of worms to open

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026747166

[NightWatcher]

7. Vermont bashing, here goes. Those Icecream eating...

I got nothing, sorry.

Signed, Guy from Georgia who resides in Florida.

[magical thyme]

10. link?

[cali]

13. thanks. added it.

[magical thyme]

14. thank you...btw

hope you don't mind, but I borrowed a few of your words, added a couple of my own, and posted a reply to misssmartpants attempted smear.

[MohRokTah]

11. Vermont is a great progressive state.

If I had a choice, I'd live there, but my wife would never appreciate the winters.

[peecoolyour]

12. As a "journalist" for Yahoo News,

Matt Bai probably knows a thing or two about contributing nothing of value.

[Flying Squirrel]

15. In every presidential election since 1992, VT has contributed

its electoral votes to Democrats. That's a pretty good contribution.

[Recursion]

17. What a weird argument

Who is this guy?

[cali]

23. he's been doing long political pieces for the NYT magazine

for years

[Vinca]

18. And don't forget the wisdom of the GOP Senator George Aiken re Vietnam.

Declare victory and get out.

[sendero]

19. And "Matt Bai"..

... has contributed nothing to the overall intelligence of the country.

[Octafish]

21. But his name sounds like Matt Taibbi and that means something...

...when trying to disinform.

But, yeah, "Matt Bai" adds zero to the national IQ.

[Sancho]

20. Haha..might as well get used to it!! Florida gets bashed (deservedly) on a daily basis!

Now that Vermont has stepped forward, every outlier event or strange person will get air time long before a reasonable political discussion.

To hell with the Chamber of Commerce commercial. Vermont stepped in it, so you may as well sit back and enjoy the attention.

At least more people will buy ice cream.

[HereSince1628]

22. WI also gets kicked in the ass pretty regularly

and will undoubtedly continue to get that until Walker is out of the gop primary field

DUers do much of their painting with broad brushes

[cali]

24. vermont has stepped forward often, dear

Usually as a leader on progressive issues. And no, Vermont hasn't stepped in anything. And no offence unlike Florida, it hasn't Whitehall over itself. Also unlike Florida, Vermont will survive climate change.

[Sancho]

25. I'm looking forward to my beachfront vacation home in Vermont!!