Bernie Sanders says Democrats are failing: 'The party has turned its back on the working class'

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

“We have tried a strategy over the last several months, which has been mostly backdoor negotiations with a handful of senators,” Sanders said. “It hasn’t succeeded on Build Back Better or on voting rights. It has demoralized millions of Americans.”

He called for reviving a robust version of Build Back Better and also called for holding votes on individual parts of that legislation that would help working-class Americans. “We have to bring these things to the floor,” Sanders said. “The vast majority of people in the [Democratic] caucus are willing to fight for good policy.”

Sanders added: “If I were Senator Sinema and a vote came up to lower the outrageously high cost of prescription drugs, I’d think twice if I want to get re-elected in Arizona to vote against that. If I were Mr Manchin and I know that tens of thousands of struggling families in West Virginia benefited from the expansion of the child tax credit, I’d think long and hard before I voted against it.”

Sanders also called for legislation on another issue he has championed: having Medicare provide dental, vision and hearing benefits. “All these issues, they are just not Bernie Sanders standing up and saying this would be a great thing,” he said. “They are issues that are enormously popular, and on every one of them, the Republicans are in opposition. But a lot of people don’t know that because the Republicans haven’t been forced to vote on them.”


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/bernie-sanders-democrats-failing-working-class-interview

[OhZone]

1. See this is why Bernie is such a mess himself -

Am I wrong seeing this as "magical thinking" - that just bring these up for a vote will FORCE Sinema or Manchin to cooperate??

Oh well.

[Uncle Joe]

4. This isn't just about Manchin and Sinema, it's for the American People

(snip)

Such votes would be good policy and good politics, the Vermont senator insisted, saying they would show the Democrats battling for the working class while highlighting Republican opposition to hugely popular policies.

“It is no great secret that the Republican party is winning more and more support from working people,” Sanders said. “It’s not because the Republican party has anything to say to them. It’s because in too many ways the Democratic party has turned its back on the working class.”

(snip)

The individual bills that Sanders favors might not attract the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster, and a defeat on them could embarrass the Democrats. But Sanders, chairman of the Senate budget committee and one of the nation’s most prominent progressive voices, said, “People can understand that you sometimes don’t have the votes. But they can’t understand why we haven’t brought up important legislation that 70 or 80% of the American people support.”

Sanders spoke to the Guardian on 6 January, the same day he issued a statement that the best way to safeguard our democracy is not just to enact legislation that protects voting rights, but to address the concerns of “the vast majority of Americans” for whom “there is a disconnect between the realities of their lives and what goes on in Washington”.

(snip)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/10/bernie-sanders-democrats-failing-working-class-interview

[OhZone]

8. We all know it's for the American people -

So he just wants a show vote - and doesn't care if it passes?

Oh-k.

So he just wants propaganda and not actual success.

That explains everything.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Without a doubt he wants it to pass

but politics and policy are inextricably tied together.

The American People lose track if you don't at the very least have "show" votes on highly popular and relevant issues of the day affecting their lives.

It's all about accountability for the American People because propaganda does affect policy and vice versa.

Once you lose the ability to effectively hold politicians accountable, the people become disenfranchised with government and the Republicans win.

[qazplm135]

20. hold the votes sure

and when they are held, and fail, I expect Sanders to NOT blame "the Democratic Party."

Deal?

[OhZone]

24. Yeah -

good luck with that.

[Moebym]

36. The people want results, not a show vote.

They are aware of Manchin and Sinema's treachery, and don't need a show vote to hold them accountable.

In fact, I can guarantee you that this show vote, should it fail, will reduce the people's trust in Congress even further.

[sheshe2]

37. +++

[brush]

2. Why does the headline bash the whole party and not the two main...

roadblocks to BBB passing—Manching and Sinema?

Is Bernie going back to his old strategy of "fighting against the Democratic Party establishment?"

[PortTack]

5. My thoughts as well! It's not the Dems..it's 2 that vote or don't with their preferred party

[JohnSJ]

7. He doesn't comprehend what a 50-50 Senate means, with two Democratic Senators being the obstacle

Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 02:49 PM - Edit history (1)

[Me.]

25. He Doesn't Want To Comprehend

HOw would he get attention without his grandstanding?

[comradebillyboy]

12. That's always been his strategy. Sanders has nothing but

contempt for the Democratic Party.

[Cha]

27. And, when the Midterms are coming

up.

[we can do it]

3. He can't help himself.

[Hortensis]

46. :) Fundamentally true, but this is also him messaging his anti-Democratic

followers to keep them reassured he's really one of them.

He's walking a tightrope between helping Democrats stop a RW authoritarian putsch, which his Democratic followers point to proudly, and holding onto his anti-Democratic, anti-establishment populist followers, who emphatically do not.

We should remember that tRump is who he'd lose a critical number of them to, just as in 2016. Probably will at election anyway, those who came back to him. No doubt some stayed with the RW populist leader.

[JohnSJ]

6. Perhaps Senator Sanders doesn't understand what a 50-50 Senate means. It isn't rocket science

Bernie.

You are from Vermont, not Arizonia or West Virginia, and you are NOT Sinema or Manchin. If you were there wouldn't be this issue.

What makes him think that reviving a robust BBB will change the views of Sinema or Manchin? A year ago when there was a robust version, they rejected it outright, and there is no evidence that their views have changed, but instead have become even more entrenched in their positions.

The headline that "Democrats are failing", is misleading, divisive and unhelpful. The problem is two Senators in a 50-50 Senate

As for bringing up individual votes on these issues, we have three chances to do that, because Congress can pass up to three reconcilliation bills per year.

[JohnSJ]

13. Yes

[OhZone]

11. He apparently just wants a show vote -

not real success.

Kinda follows his whole persona and history.

Oh well.

[Moebym]

31. The people want results, not a show vote.

We dodged a bullet each time he lost the Democratic presidential primary.

[Scrivener7]

9. .

[comradebillyboy]

14. Ever wonder why Sen. Sanders has so few legislative accomplishments?

He's simply not capable of being a team player. He rejects incremental progress in favor of empty gestures.

[childfreebychoice]

22. Not a team player...sounds a lot like manchin/sinema blockade. nt

[liberalmuse]

16. He's absolutely right.

Unfortunately saying all the right things does absolutely nothing to solve this country's major issues. I wish he were as relentless in the Senate as he is on Twitter.

[Budi]

19. What's his record on writing & introducing legislation? He's had 30+ yrs to build such creds

I guess now that he's no longer a D, these 'failures' don't apply to him.

Jfc

[samsingh]

17. only manchin and sinoma have turned their backs on the working class and democracy

[Budi]

18. Can he write the legislation he's calling for?

What's his record on writing & introducing legislation?
He should be able to easily do it with his 30+ yrs in our legislature.
Demanding & doing the work to make it happen is the key to credibility.
Otherwise its just talk.

[Moebym]

33. He's spent more time on TV doing interviews

Than in the Senate actually working on getting the bill passed.

[childfreebychoice]

21. Don't get it twisted sanders, manchin and sinema r

Failing the party, not dems. An aside, would love to know what a pres sanders would do about those two obstructionists

[George II]

23. "Bernie Sanders says Democrats are failing: Sanders also called for legislation....

....on another issue he has championed"

Where does legislation originate?

[BlueTsunami2018]

26. I don't see the party as turning its back, I see fifty-two assholes ruining everything.

Perhaps he’s right though, get everyone on record. Let the people see who is in favor of helping them and who is opposed to it. Maybe with a stark look that cannot be denied, people might vote in favor of themselves. We’re never going to get the hardcore righties but maybe some of the soft support and indies will figure it out.

As it is, it looks like we’re not even trying.

[Cha]

28. He's Wrong. I can't imagine

Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 06:30 PM - Edit history (1)

the Democratic Party is ok with him broad brushing our Democratic Party.. I know I'm not.

[sheshe2]

34. I am with you on that.

[CentralMass]

29. K&R

[Moebym]

30. You're one of us, Bernie. Supposedly.

You ran as a Democrat for president, twice.

You caucus with the Democrats in the Senate.

But when two conservative Dems are holding up the BBB - 4% of the Democratic caucus, meaning 96% of them are in support - you conveniently invoke your Independent party affiliation to criticize the party as a whole.

You don't think that, with your grandstanding, you aren't also letting the working class down?

Spare us this performance, Bernie. We've known from at least 2016 that you are all hat and no cattle.

[Budi]

40. Note how he reached way back pre-pandemic to dust off that old campaign slogan.

Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 07:13 PM - Edit history (1)

"Working class"

"Millionares & Billionares" was a populist campaign slogn too, until he became a millionare. Now its just billionares.

Wonder where he's got his millions invested?

[Cha]

32. I'm Grateful for Pres Biden!

Link to tweet

[Moebym]

35. The nerve of this man (and his supporters).

30+ years in the Senate, but he paints himself as "anti-establishment", which his supporters gleefully parrot without thinking.

In his 80s, but his supporters jeer at Biden and Pelosi for being octogenarian politicians.

Few notable achievements to his name over his lengthy career, yet he is on TV several times a week to complain about how Democrats are doing this or that the wrong way.

Independent party affiliation, but caucuses with Democrats and ran for president as a Democrat, twice. Americans rejected him twice, yet his supporters insist he was the rightful winner both times (sound familiar?).

But the media loves him for giving them endless fodder for pushing the "Democrats are weak and ineffective" narrative.

He is not an ally. True allies do not backstab as he has, many times.

[CentralMass]

38. You are quick to paint peope with a broad brush. The progressive members of both houses

have loyally supported President Biden and hus agenda a. Bernie supporters like myself voted for President Biden in the general and support him. However like any other elect the party should be held accountable to try and pass legislation for the agenda that the President ran on.
Including pressuring the one or two Senators that are blocking his agenda.

[Budi]

42. No they have not ALL supported Biden.

We have 6-9 who have consistantly voted lock step against Biden & House Democratic policies.
Just last week one of the progressive influencers appeared on a podcast declaring again, the "There's no difference between Republicans & Democrats."
So tell us how this is supporting Biden, again?

They are Not.

[Budi]

41. "It's Rigged" became a regular campaign slogan.

The big lie didn't start with #45.

[Cha]

39. The Biden Boom! Who's Paying Attention!?

Link to tweet

[Budi]

43. Well would you look at this! Can someone send this off to Bernie Sanders?

Eric Boehlert's article really says what Bernie seems to totally have missed.

Thanks for posting this, because 'someone sure seems intent on countering the truth of Biden's success.

A counter to the truth is then a lie, correct?

[Cha]

44. Exactly.. he really needs to Pay

Attention to What Pres Biden is DOING Our Dem President!

[Cha]

45. McCarthy Is Already Planning To Strip Committee Assignments From Schiff, Swalwell & Omar

Link to tweet