Bernie Sanders questions Obama's leadership

[onehandle]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by one_voice (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Politico

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Bernie Sanders questioned President Barack Obama’s leadership in a new interview, suggesting that he would be able to close a divide between Americans and government that the Obama administration has left open throughout his presidency.

It’s the latest salvo from Sanders, who has — intentionally or unintentionally — been engaging in an escalating war of words with the man who eight years ago was building his own political revolution.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-slams-obama-219131

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Derp!

[pnwmom]

1. He was the one who said Obama should be primaried in 2012. He doesn't respect Obama. n/t

[Cheese Sandwich]

8. Bullshit. Bernie has a lot of respect for Obama and worked for his election both times.

Primaries are part of democracy. Suggesting a possible primary challenge was no big deal like yinz are making out .

[pnwmom]

10. Suggesting a successful President needs a primary challenge is disrespectful.

All a primary challenge does to an incumbent is harm them in the general. No President in history has ever improved his chances with a primary challenge.

[Cheese Sandwich]

14. Obama was prepared to cut Social Security benefits

By adopting a chained CPI.

Fuck that shit.

[TheProgressive]

39. Exactly correct...

I believe Sanders was on the Thom Hartmann show and Sanders' comment was 'off the cuff'
and meaningless...

[Duval]

41. Thanks! I posted this later, didn't see your post.

Sorry Cheese Sandwich.

[Cheese Sandwich]

51. you're right

at least that's how I recall it

[notadmblnd]

56. Obama did cut Social Security.

Three times in fact. This current year being the 3rd cut.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

16. ...

Poutrage noted.

[PatrynXX]

26. took alot of guts to say what he did and turns out Obama should have. It would have stirred the base

again. Plenty of respect for Obama and to say otherwise is pure fiction ie Bernie is more for Obama than most of us are for a Hillary ticket in November.

[pnwmom]

40. How did it take any guts at all for Bernie to gripe about Obama, as he had every

Democratic President, starting with John Kennedy?

[cascadiance]

57. It takes guts to criticize someone when they deserve it and praise them also at other times.

Because people like you try to rationalize someone criticizing people for legitimate reasons (like the social security question mentioned earlier, as well as Obama doing more work for Republicans and corporate interests with his support of TPP and other free trade deals that hurt most Americans with lost jobs, etc.). When Obama campaigned on "renegotiating NAFTA" and didn't follow through on what he seemed to hint he'd do in cutting back on NAFTA and expanding free trade instead, then YES, he deserved criticism and not idol worship that some feels he needs to give Obama all of the time.

[Duval]

35. That is not true. He suggested it when Obama was considering cuts to SS.

It has been explained in depth on DU already. Bernie campaigned for Obama and has a great deal of respect for him.

[Dustlawyer]

61. They don't have anything real to go after, so they create shit, Hillary should know

about that herself! They take things out of context as they did here; or they say he is not Jewish enough for Israel; or they attack his civil rights record (pure Rove); accuse him of being a hypocrite for a Wall Street fundraiser that was actually raising money for the Party; another attack that he doesn't do any fundraising for the Party...

I have no sympathy for Hillary now. I stated here at DU many times that the email thing of Hillary's was BS. I was glad she did so well in testifying to that assholes committee. But now, she is guilty of the same thing the Republicans do, whether they are manufacturing Benghazi crap, or whatever the Clinton scandal dejour is. While they may find something real on her like they did Bill, they never will with Bernie.

Bernie wants just to talk about the issues, Hillary should too! We may be better at debates, but apparently Hillary prefers Republican campaign tactics

[vdogg]

45. Yup

He doesn't like the man one bit. His actions have proven this.

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. Never question Obama's leadership? What is this North Korea?

[thereismore]

4. I love Obama but he ain't Chairman Obama. nt

[PatrynXX]

32. Obama once upon a time welcomed it

I still think he does. I voted him in twice hoping he'd help bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats alas he worked so well we had too many conservatives as Democrats. I believe he had a sigh of relief when Republicans won in 2014 because now we could get somewhere , harder to attack your own fellow Democrats er Conservadems. and the ones that lost ran away from him anyway.

[thomservo]

3. Remember this?

[thereismore]

5. She is a saint, I tell you. The only guardian of Obama's legacyyyyyyyyy!

[pnwmom]

12. Sanders isn't doing much to honor Obama's legacy, and this is one more example.

Sanders is certain he'll be so much better at handling the challenges of the office. What an ego.

[thereismore]

15. Hillary isn't doing much to honor Obama's legacy, and this is one more example.

Hillary is certain she'll be so much better at handling the challenges of the office. What an ego.

[PatrynXX]

38. +1 N/T like seriously? she's to Obama's right

[paleotn]

64. Chained CPI and TPP....

...WITH a democratic controlled Congress we got insurance reform and no public option. Better than nothing, but not nearly what this country needs.

[Duval]

44. Yep! Glad you put it up!

[Justice]

6. Not sure why Bernie said this. Seems very tone deaf to have knocked Obama

[kennetha]

9. Cause that's what he believes

And after awhile, he's true attitude about Obama was bound to come out.

[PatrynXX]

42. Given the source kinda depends on the questions.

Republican site meh. as far as I know Obama isn't running for a third term no matter how many Crazy Gun Nuts think otherwise (my dad is one of them)

[lsewpershad]

7. Bernie will

bring the people with him... he will choose people who will work for the masses not the rich and powerful

[pnwmom]

13. He won't bring the minority electorate with him if he keeps talking down Obama. n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

17. I hadn't realized that you speak for all minorities.

That must be some heavy crown you wear.

[pnwmom]

18. I don't. But I can read the polls. n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

23. Did you tead the polls from the last caucus and primary?

[pnwmom]

30. With a minuscule number of African American voters? No. We'll see about S.C. n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

34. So your answer is no.

Thanks for the honesty.

[Plucketeer]

27. Eggzactly!

Obama inspired the masses with his false promises of Hope n Change. Then when the masses delivered for Obama, he assured them he'd take it from there.

Single payer? Nope! not EVER.

End these illegal wars? Still waiting for that one - of course, he's still got a few months to wind them up.

SS on the table? You gotta be kidding! Wha - what's that Mr. Speaker? Chained CPI - yeah, we might could do that!


Yeah - Obama "took it from there". With the help of corporate backing that OOZED from every crack and crevice if the Oval Office. And that's why there's STILL leeches like the Health Insurance Bilkeries that make money from fear.

[Andy823]

50. So tell me

When all those promises Bernie is making don't materialize because congress won't be helping a president Sanders get them passed, what will the coalition Bernie is relying on do? Obama did a hell of a job with what he had to work with.Don't forget the fact that republicans decide on day one to stop him from accomplishing anything.

The CPI thing never happened and never would have, Obama knew republicans would not accept his deal, he used it to show just how lame they were, and how they would never agree on anything he proposed.

I bet that Bernie's coalition is not going to be happy either after the second year and nothing has come to be. As for single payer, even Bernie admitted there were not enough democrats to vote for it, that's why it didn't happen.

[Plucketeer]

58. You need to listen to what Bernie's saying

He's saying - STRAIGHT UP - that he can't do a thing UNLESS....... he has the power of the people to wield like a magic sword! Have you not SEEN the crowds? Have you not SEEN the lines? If as with his directive to donate last Tuesday night, he directs his faithful to storm their congress-dolt's offices - and they DO SO - shit's gonna happen like no overdose of Ex-Lax could EVER manage. Think that can't happen? WHERE was he six months ago???

[Firebrand Gary]

11. This is the problem right here!

President Obama has more than lived up to his expectations, only a fool would disagree otherwise. This is the mentality that gave us consequences of the 2010 elections!

[rury]

20. +1Zillion!! K&R!!

[BillZBubb]

21. Cool your jets, there, Firebrand.

Obama has not lived up to his expectations--particularly for those of us on the left. He's been a good president, but he could have been great.

The mentality that got us the 2010 and 2014 elections is embodied in Hillary's candidacy. We didn't offer people a compelling reason to vote for Democrats. The "we're moderates and not as crazy as the republicans" isn't a winning campaign premise.

[dorkzilla]

29. THANK YOU!

I voted for the guy...I have a great deal of admiration and esteem for him. I LIKE the man. But in no way did he live up to expectations.

We don’t have sacred cows in this country.

[Firebrand Gary]

37. In the interim

of our agreement to disagree, you can keep talking about change while we get it done.

[BillZBubb]

54. I don't think Hillary changing back to supporting TPP is the kind of change we want.

Do you?

[bowens43]

28. Really? Set the bar pretty low did you?

[Justice]

48. Absolutely correct.

[rury]

19. I'll be writing somebody in on my ballot this year

I don't trust Clinton and Sanders disrespects President Obama and runs around with Cornel West who always bashes Obama as well.
He might be right about being able to get more cooperation from Congress than President Obama. He's white after all.

[BillZBubb]

22. OK.

So, you're not voting for a Democrat then?

[bowens43]

24. who hasn't? Anyone paying attention has done the same. Obama wasn't ready for primetime

[Andy823]

52. Total bull

He has accomplished a hell of a lot, saying otherwise is just bull. Do a search on the things he has accomplished. I took us out of the mess Bush left us in, gave us the ACA, and hundreds of other things. Bernie is making a mistake here, and he will find it out the hard way.

[pandr32]

25. Sure--Bernie will magically be able to bring everyone together

He will be able to do what no-one has managed to do before. After we solve all our problems here with Bernie's insight and magic, we can send him off in the world as our CIC so that he can do the same for everyone else in the world, too.

[dorkzilla]

31. You’re implying that Hillary WILL be able to do that?

You’re having a laugh...

[Justice]

49. Clinton is saying she will defend our positions not that she will wave a magic wand

[dorkzilla]

62. Bernie isn't talking about waving a fucking magic wand

Where do you people come up with such nonsense?

[MrWendel]

36. I just want to know...

what Bernie will do with the republican congress that Obama couldn't. No answer yet, even from Bernie so far.

[mak3cats]

33. So? This is a free country, at least for now (eom)

[SoLeftIAmRight]

43. TPP TPP TPP

This is more than enough to tarnish anyone's legacy.

[TwilightGardener]

46. Hillary Clinton questions Obama's leadership ON THE WORLD STAGE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251809527

Here's one more, from Rachel Maddow:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025663720

[Mike Nelson]

47. I expect this would be a theme...

...if Bernie should be lucky enough to run in a General Election. I expect he would be critical of Obama then - now, it's a mistake, in my opinion. Don't agree with it, in any case.

[retrowire]

53. That's excellent.

We should always question our leaders. Question Bernie, question Hillary! Question Obama.

I applaud Bernie for this.

[wendylaroux]

55. It's ok to question people,things,events.

I'ts a good,thing. PBO does ,Hillary does.Everyone does.
You need to stop inflaming people.THAT isn't good.

[jalan48]

59. Sounds like Sanders is supposed to pass a "purity" test.

[hollowdweller]

60. Most of us on this forum have questioned Obama's leadership at one time or the other.

Big deal.

Many, including Krugman were PISSED when he didn't go for medicare for all.

A bunch of us were upset that he supported the cat food commission.

Lots of us were upset when he blew off Dean and gave Rahm so much pull.

When he did not appoint Elizabeth Warren to head the agency she spearheaded and did appoint a lot of Wall Street guys to his team.

When he cut the sequester deal with Boner.

When instead of using his considerable political capital and bully pulpit to fully discredit trickle down and deregulation in the wake of the financial crisis, and instead wasted valuable time trying to make nice with the GOP congress that had stated from the get go that they were actually willing to slow the recovery in order to deny him any successes.

I don't see how what Sanders says is any different than the opinions we expressed here, most of us.

[FailureToCommunicate]

63. Oh for crying out loud. Listen to the interview. Bernie didn't question his leadership with a

"salvo" of any sort. He answered the reporters question about whether Obama had been able to 'bridge the divide with Republicans' and Bernie said no. Something Obama himself has openly publicly regretted.

[one_voice]

65. Locking..

doesn't meet SoP for LBN. Please re-post in GDP