Sanders will lead Democratic drive to organize rallies in every state against Medicare/Medicaid cuts

[think]

Sanders will lead Democratic drive to organize rallies in every state against Medicare/Medicaid cuts

By Meteor Blades
Thursday Dec 29, 2016 · 10:55 AM EST

In what Tim Fernholz at Quartz calls the Democrats’ “first major gesture of opposition” to the incoming Trump regime, Senator Chuck Schumer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Bernie Sanders have put their signatures on a letter to congressional colleagues Wednesday that might have come as a surprise to many of them. It encourages them to join with Sanders to help organize pre-inaugural rallies in their states to rouse opposition to a Republican-driven budget bill “that will severely undermine the health needs of the American people.” Leftover money from the Sanders campaign will fund the organizing effort.

The expected budget bill provisions, as you see in the full letter below, are a direct attack on Medicare and Medicaid, the three say, and will likely include hikes in prescription drug prices and a threat to nursing home care for millions of Americans.

Called “Our First Stand: Save Health Care,” the resistance rallies are slated for Sunday, Jan. 15. Here’s Fernholz:

Sanders, whose run for the Democratic presidential nomination this year emboldened the left wing of the Democratic party, has seen his cachet rise in a party looking for leadership following Hillary Clinton’s defeat in November. Amidst the recriminations and a messy race to head up the party’s national committee, it hasn’t been clear who would be the face of Democratic opposition to Trump. Now, we have an answer.

While Sanders’ harsh critique of the millionaire and billionaire class turned off professional Democrats who benefit from the global economy during his primary run, the election results have convinced party leaders that they need to better articulate how their economic policies will lead to broadly shared prosperity...

Read more:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/29/1615387/-Sanders-will-lead-Democratic-drive-to-organize-rallies-in-every-state-against-Medicare-Medicaid-cuts

[flamingdem]

1. Great! The irony will be if the deplorables attend

[guillaumeb]

2. Or an opportunity to educate?

Not as likely, but stranger things have happened.

[portlander23]

3. Job #1 is for us to show up

It's not going to be good for the party if it throws a rally and no one attends. I'd say maybe even call your local Dem representative and ask them if they got the letter and where to show up. It might not get covered on the TV media, but man I want to see crowds of people on social media showing up to protest Trump.

[guillaumeb]

5. Agreed. Television loves crowds. Witness the coverage of the Tea Party.

[portlander23]

8. Tea Party had a lot of money behind it

And Fox News would cover one guy on a corner in a tricorne hat. We're going to have to be our own media.

[RealityChik]

65. Yeah, but Tea Party started with less than 100 people so...

Why NOT us? All we have to do is BE THERE where it counts. What do we have to lose? Not nearly as much than if we stay home. Even if it doesn't produce the results we want the first time. Consider it the first of many...

[RKP5637]

76. OMG, we will know the brainwashing is irreversible if the deplorables show up to protest!

And why are you here protesting? Because I want my Social Security and Medicare taken away that Obama created with Obamacare.

[Chemisse]

77. Welcome them to our side - on any issue we can.

Let's turn them into Dem voters.

[pnwmom]

4. Actually, Schumer, Pelosi, and Sanders will TOGETHER lead the resistance.

They all signed the letter, according to the first sentence of the article.

Here is a copy of the letter referred to in the article.

https://berniesanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/161222-Dear-Colleague-Health-Care-SIGNED.pdf

[pangaia]

6. ?

[baldguy]

14. Sanders is not a Democrat.

[pangaia]

15. Oh god, not this again...

[baldguy]

17. United we stand, divided we fall.

Sanders has chosen not to join the Democratic Party. Repeatedly.

The facepalm belongs to anyone dealing with the "Sanders is leading the Democrats...." bullshit. It has no factual bass, It never did.

[NWCorona]

24. Bernie does have a democratic party leadership position

So there's that.

[baldguy]

29. And what party is that?

[baldguy]

37. "Democratic Party" is a proper noun, and therefore should be capitalized.

[NWCorona]

57. Lol ok

[pangaia]

59. Thank you lower case baldguy.

I will be sure to remember to shake it off after I pee, also.

[tecelote]

68. United we stand, divided we fall.

Exactly.

Enough of this Bernie isn't a Democrat crap. We need to unite with Democrats and Independents to save our country from the party trying to destroy it all.

You said it... United we stand, divided we fall.

[baldguy]

71. What Sanders is doing is usurpation, not leadership.

[Act_of_Reparation]

70. Our electoral system is organized in such a way that a two party system is inevitable.

That means party affiliation is - for a significant number of people - a matter borne more of consequence than natural inclination. Like it or not, the Democrats need to appeal to all liberals to keep winning elections, and one of the ways they can do that is by forging alliances with left-leaning independent politicians with widespread popular appeal.

Telling potential allies to fuck off is not one of those ways.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. That's all they have... don't people realize Bernie gives us the best of both worlds, fighting for Democratic values, while appealing to independent-minded thinkers as well?

People shouldn't get SO hung up on labels!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!

[pangaia]

60. Yeah, but.... why doesn't he join the democratic party?

I'm kidding. I'm kidding..

[TonyPDX]

16. Quick-- you'd better tell Pelosi and Schumer.

[pangaia]

21. Careful what you say. We must mind our words.

I have learned the hard way..

[RKP5637]

28. I'll make a note of that! ... that said, the democratic party needs all the help it can get!

I'm an unaffiliated voter, I always vote a straight democratic ticket, so I guess I should stop that?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. Bernie transcends party labels... the sooner people begin to realize that, the better!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!

[FailureToCommunicate]

30. This gentleman makes a thoughtful and cogent argument against Sander's leadership on this issue...

Not.

[H2O Man]

36. silly

[Doitnow]

41. Well, he is more of a Democrat than a lot of them that have a "D" in front of their name.

Bernie is showing them how to actually BE one.

[dae]

42. Exactly. Remember the DINO "Blue Dogs"?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

61. THIS!!! You said it!! Bernie will NEVER bow to the money interests... that's for damn fuckin sure!!

[pangaia]

63. +156,984,394

[baldguy]

62. That's what the Republicans WANT you to think.

"Both parties are the same" is one of those BIG LIES the fascist/RW Republicans are so fond of.

Their minions don't believe it. Why do you?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

64. lol, the poster did NOT say the parties are the same... but, a lot of Dems could afford to take a few lessons from Bernie on how to better distinguish themselves as a voice for the PEOPLE!!

If that is not blatantly obvious after the disastrous election result that put that Nazi pig, Donny Tiny Hands, in office, nothing will ever change.

[baldguy]

73. It's a variation on a theme. Sanders on one side, the GOP and the Dems on the other.

It's a load of RW bullshit that Sanders is happy to exploit. And he's happy to damage the Democratic Party with it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

79. So Bernie, who leads by example in opposing the Fuhrer-Elect more vigorously than any other Senator, is somehow damaging to Democrats & acknowledging Bernie is RW bullshit?

I must say Baldguy, you got me on that one... you really do. Perhaps, the poster is merely saying - AS DO I - that the EXEMPLARY leadership Bernie has shown in opposition to that Cheetoh-faced racist pig will inspire more Democrats to follow his lead. To me, that's a GOOD thing!! l And, it most certainly does not lump Democrats and Rethugs in the same category.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, which we all must respect, but, if you rethink it a little, you'll see that Bernie is doing the Democrats - indeed, the entire country! - a service. For that reason, Bernie (and his supporters) should be applauded, rather than condemned.

Just a slightly different take for your consideration Baldguy.

[jack_krass]

72. I dont care.

[baldguy]

74. And that's the problem.

[jack_krass]

75. Nope, its not because Bernie is more Democrat than most Democrats

[Chemisse]

78. Let's move forward.

Old resentments are just baggage at this point.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

80. You are correct Sanders is not a Democrat...

as I am not a Democrat, I'm an independent also.

I work with grassroots Democratic groups in Michigan. I worked with the Sanders campaign and then worked with the Clinton campaign after he was out of the primaries.

No one in any of the groups I work with has the vitriol that you have expressed against Sanders.
These are deeply Democratic people. Most,if not all, were glad that the issues brought up by Sanders in the primaries were shown the light of day. Not all agreed with parts of them but politics is mostly compromise. You never get all of what you ask.

Oh, of course in the heat of the battle both sides expressed their reservations of each candidates views some of those "expressions" were rather loud and boisterous. They were put away when there was only Clinton to promote.

If I followed your logic, I would not be working for Democrats. I would not be tangled in the grassroots of promoting the Democratic agenda.

I ask, should I quit?

[sheshe2]

7. My thoughts exactly. nt

[SidDithers]

9. Funny how they always forget to mention the actual Democrats...nt

Sid

[think]

10. You'd have to ask the Quartz reporter Tim Fernholz. Either he has a bias for Sanders or because

Sanders is the out reach chair for the Democrats in Senate.

Sanders may have suggested it as an idea and Schumer and Pelosi signed on.

Schumer stated in an interview sometime ago he liked Sanders idea of getting the people more involved:

“Bernie convinced me of this. Bernie asked me to do it, to organize it,” Schumer said, adding that he agrees with Sanders’ idea that the DNC needs to become more of an activist and organizing operation.

“So when we’re pushing for a strong college bill on the floor, there are hundreds of thousands of people on campuses across the country emailing, and tweeting and calling and protesting. And when we do minimum wage, there should be minimum wage workers all over the country pushing for that,” Schumer said. “That’s what Bernie wants to do with the DNC, and I completely agree.”


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-schumer-is-all-in-on-bernie-sanders-democratic-party_us_58307a38e4b030997bbfc3cc

[Raster]

13. Thank you for adding some much needed context.

[Me.]

31. So Bernie's In Charge Of The DNC Now?

It's not for Schumer to say

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. Bernie is the "heart and soul" of the Senate... just a fact and Schumer is smart to recognize that.

[Me.]

66. If You Think That Back Bencher Is The Heart & Soul Of The Senate

Then there's bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

67. You obviously have NO clue what's coming. Yeah, go ahead, call Bernie a "Back Bencher"... but, then, guess he'll be President "Back Bencher" to you!!

Bernie will NOT be denied... just wait!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!

[Me.]

81. Thank For The Laugh To Start My Day

[sarcasmo]

18. Schumer will bow to Trump.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. Hope you're wrong... expect Bernie to hold Schumer's feet to the fire.

[nini]

19. My head hurts from constantly seeing these subject lines

I'm seeing all kinds of things about Pelosi, Schumer, Patty Murray, Al Franken, Pelosi, Waters, Booker, Warren etc etc etc.. but you'd think they'd all disappeared by many of the posts here about Sanders.

[sheshe2]

40. ++++++++++++

[tecelote]

69. Please post!

I'd love to see more articles about Democrats taking up the fight. I see Bernie a lot too. But, we need more on the front line.

We need to feel that our party is not just going to fall in line like it looks like many are. We need to show that we have a backbone.

Post everything you see in the news about the people you mention.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

11. You gotta give Bernie credit... the guy's a dynamo with more energy than colleagues half his age!!

Bernie showing the kind of leadership the Democratic Party needs right now... GO BERNIE!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!

[RKP5637]

32. I think he does more than many of the democrats do. He reminds me of democrats from way back that

knew how to kick ass. LBJ types.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

44. Yup, yup... Bernie is such an inspiration. Dems could take lessons from him on how to conduct themselves... beyond just issues.

[RKP5637]

45. But many don't seem to want to hear from him, at least it seems that way on DU. I get baffled

by it all. I can see why dems often lose.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

50. Give it time... people slowly comin to the realization that Bernie was right on so many levels. It's just startin to sink in.

[pangaia]

55. Because, as I have been told time and time again, bernie is not a democrat.

Me, "yes is is a democrat."

They" No he is not. He never joined the party."

Me. "So what."

They, " But why doesn't he just JOIN?"

Me, "How the fuck should I know. Why don't you ask him?"

They, "You despise Democrats.!" (THAT one is a real quote.)

Me, eyeballs just go around in circles...and I click "LATEST THREADS"

[pangaia]

53. [phone]

[PatsFan87]

12. This is a great idea!

I can't wait to attend.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. Can't wait! So many I know are amped to take on Cheetoh Face! Thank you Bernie for leading the charge!

[Feeling the Bern]

20. But, but, but. . .according to a lot of people here, he's not a real Democrat, cost HRC the election

and should go form his own Democratic Socialist Party and get the fuck out of ours.

At least that's what I've read many, many times.

Now he's good again? I am so confused.

[pkdu]

34. You stated 5 things - the last one is incorrect. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

47. Yeah, cuz Bernie leads by example on how not to take money from corporate America and represent Main Street...

He gets it... that's the REAL problem with Bernie. Bucking the system doesn't make you popular with the elites... why they want him to go away.

[zentrum]

22. And who knows

……Hillary might actually join him. I mean, it was supposed to be about us the people, right? And Bernie didn't win but is still fighting for us.

Those would be quite the rallies and be a lot of pressure on the press to report and on the Repubs to back off.

[SunSeeker]

23. Woulda been nice if he had led rallies in ever state during the GE to get Hillary elected.

Hell, she agreed to give him a private plane to do so.

[NWCorona]

26. A lot of things would have been nice but we can only move forward now.

[Me.]

27. If He Had JUst Campaigned In Florida As He Promised To Do

It would've been great

[pkdu]

35. But he went to California...that must have helped in the Rust-Belt with wwc voters nt

[democrank]

25. Such a good idea....a rally in EVERY state.

That's leadership I can support.

[Equinox Moon]

33. Look, it's like this...

Bernie supporters adapted to supporting HRC. Now, it is time for the HRC supporters to adapt to Bernie being in the outreach leadership role.

Dear ones, we have work to do! We are fighting for the future of the America we envision.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

48. Yes, Bernie is someone we should be able to unite around in fighting the racist policies of the Fuhrer-Elect.

[H2O Man]

38. Recommended.

Bernie provides leadership for more grass roots democrats than anyone else in Congress.

[dae]

43. He certainly does.

[RKP5637]

46. K&R !!!! n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

49. No question, which is why Bernie needs to be stopped in some people's minds... God forbid we put power back on the hands of the people!

[SMC22307]

39. K&R