Sanders: Will Media Force Me to Attack Hillary Before Listening to My Ideas?

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Mediaite.com

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is Hillary Clinton’s first formal opponent for the 2016 Democratic nomination, and as the David going up against the Goliath, he’s getting lots of questions about the size of his slingshot. And he’s sounding pretty tired of it.

“I like Hillary Clinton, I respect Hillary Clinton,” Sanders told CNN’s State of the Union. “Will the media, among others, allow us to have a civil debate on civil issues, or is the only way to get media attention to rip somebody apart?” (Almost literally the next question was about George Stephanopoulos, so apparently the latter.)

Host Brianna Keilar pressed Sanders on whether he would able to throw the “sharp elbows” necessary to defeat Clinton. He said “yes, but.”

“The American people want to hear serious discussions about why they are working longer hours for lower wages, they want to know why year after year we have disastrous trade agreements, why the rich gets richer and everybody else gets poorer,” Sanders said. “Are you in the media prepared to allow us to engage in that serious debate, or do I have to get media attention on making reckless attacks on Hillary Clinton? I don’t believe in that.”

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/sanders-will-media-force-me-to-attack-hillary-before-listening-to-my-ideas/

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This morning on (useless) CNN's State of the Union. That's all the media is interested in, Bernie, the horse race. And I'm not talking about the Preakness. Sure wish we could change that. Video clip at link.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Civil debate is boring to the media. They'd prefer a civil war.

[bvf]

12. The media provides what the people

will pay attention to.

Not defending the media here, nor the cretins who lap up professional wrestling, but that's what sells in this country.

Sad.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

15. They provide what their ownership wants to see published

What the public wants to hear is only peripherally associated with that. Republican ownership has proven plenty willing to lose money to make sure their message, and no other message, gets out there?

Why do you think Hillary Clinton is ignoring them? The press is not interested in an actual debate.

Even though I am a strong Clinton supporter, I am absolutely not opposed to Bernie's run. I think it would be good for the party to air out these questions, figure out where the consensus lies, and unify around a strategy.

But the media isn't interested in that. They're Republicans looking to "concern troll" the Democratic party in hopes of damaging the Democratic nominee in the 2016 fall.

I will be sorely disappointed if HRC doesn't debate Sanders. He deserves a platform to say his piece. And I say this, even though in many places I disagree with him.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[bvf]

21. I don't distinguish between the media

and their ownership (I would have, back in the day of the Fairness Doctrine), and IMO the American public by and large would rather watch pugilistic bullshit nowadays rather than intelligent debate.

I support Sanders, and will do what I can to help his campaign, but if HRC ends up as the nominee, she will get my vote.

[zeemike]

2. Boom...hit that nail on the head.

Stay with that Bernie...don't fall for their tricks.

[JoePhilly]

3. Exactly correct. They want him to hurt Clinton

And alienate those who already support her at the same time.

[wyldwolf]

4. Translation: If the media doesn't pay attention to me I'll attack Hillary and blame the media

[Faygo Kid]

6. Did you even read his comments? Have you not seen the interviews?

He was invited on the miserable "State of the Union" and instead of talking issues, was invited to attack Hillary. Which he has not done. Geez, we know where you stand, and I have no problem with that, but at least be sentient.

[Mnpaul]

19. That is what I like about Bernie

he always manages to steer away from the muck raking and turn the discussion towards important issues. In his recent appearance on Fox, Wallace tried numerous times to steer him into an attack on Hillary but he always managed to steer the conversions to issues Wallace didn't want to talk about.

[joshcryer]

9. Absolute garbage.

That meme is coming from some but not Sanders at all.

I do think Sanders needs to go on the attack, but not on some stupid MSM talking head show where they will slice and dice what he says. He can level his criticisms in a very statesman like way at his Townhalls, and they will go over fine.

[daleanime]

10. Because he's playing 11-dimensional chess....

Didn't believe it then, don't believe it now.

[MissDeeds]

13. Epic fail

You completely missed what he said, too ready to throw mud.

[workinclasszero]

17. Yeah Bernie, what a great guy

[L0oniX]

20. Brilliant epic fail.

[Plucketeer]

5. If ANYONE in our political landscape...

has the ability to STAY ON MESSAGE, it's Bernie. Of course, the wrinkle in that is that if he's not spitting venom, the media won't find him splashy enough to spend precious air time on him.

[joshcryer]

11. That's definitely an argument.

However, that is ceding the narrative to the media. Don't even care about the media, build the base, and you will see that Sanders is able to channel the media in ways it's not going to be prepared for.

If you let the media run the narrative then they control you.

[gvstn]

7. He is absolutely right.

Over the last couple of decades political races are not about the issues but about the persons. Rarely does anyone talk about what they would do in office only about the other "guy".

Debate coverage isn't even about the issues only about the "zinger" that got the other guy. It really is pathetic. I don't care if someone made a poor choice of tie for a debate, I want to know what he will do as President and how he will get it done.

[cosmicone]

8. Very classy of Bernie Sanders

I have always admired him. Hope Hillary stays equally classy in dealing with Bernie Sanders.

[MissDeeds]

14. Very classy of you too, cosmicone

I agree.

[workinclasszero]

16. WTH Bernie's followers have been

ripping apart Hillary from day one of his campaign with a strong assist from the teahaddists to boot!

[AndyTiedye]

18. The Media Will Do Everything It Can to Help the Repiglicans Win the Election

They want to get clips of the Democrats ripping each other apart
so they can play them over and over to weaken our eventual candidate as much as possible.

It isn't just a "horse race". Their parent corporations have a vested interest in the outcome.

[Gregorian]

22. Bernie is all about civility.

Good. We can't afford to throw meat to our opponents. After all, in many areas, us Dems are on the same side.

[AlinPA]

23. That interviewer is a real media slob. She did not listen to what he said and just kept pumping

her asshole questions about non-issues. A real POS.