Sanders: 'One of us ran against Obama; I was not that candidate'

[Flying Squirrel]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/269217-sanders-one-of-us-ran-against-obama-i-was-not-that-candidate

Boom.

[thereismore]

1. She sure threw the kitchen sink at Obama to stop him. nt

[DonCoquixote]

2. OUCH

and he sure as hell did not imply that Obama should have been getting him coffee either

[Iggy Knorr]

8. yeah or carrying Sanders' bags...

"A few years ago this guy would have been carrying our bags" Bill Clinton

[SammyWinstonJack]

112. Did Bill Clinton say that about Obama?

[brooklynite]

3. Running against someone who ISN'T President isn't the same....

...as suggesting someone run against someone who IS the President.

[EndElectoral]

9. Yes, it means you have a strongly different viewpoint for how the country should be led.

Wait...that sort of is the same either way, isn't it?

[Bobbie Jo]

21. Ya think?

The comment was really kind of lame.

[AgingAmerican]

45. Being president does not put a person above critique

And her sleazy attacks against him are highly relevant, because it shows her to be a major hypocrite.

[jfern]

48. Bernie supported and campaigned for Obama in 2012

[azmom]

4. And she ran a racist campaign at that.

Shame on her.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Exactly... and now she can't wrap herself tight enough with Obama.

[amborin]

49. so transparent; at one point during 2008 she even hinted at his assassination

the woman is abhorrent

[Iggy Knorr]

51. nah now they are best buds

lots of 3am phone calls, naturally!

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. I agree. She has absolutely no shame. She lies with such ease. nt

[SoLeftIAmRight]

5. That will sting for a long time...

Hillary stands strong with Kissinger

[Empowerer]

6. That was just weird

[SidDithers]

7. Only one of them called for Obama to be primaried...

Which one was that?

Sid

[tk2kewl]

12. And why did he do that?

Because he thought Obama was a weak disappointment and a a poopy head? Or is it possible that he actually articulated some policy disagreements?

[Live and Learn]

23. Nobody did that. But you knew that. nt

[Ed Suspicious]

61. The one who gives a shit about people like me.

[m-lekktor]

73. so fucking what. nt

[uponit7771]

95. So Sanders should make sure he tells everyone in SC and NV and the SEC states that he wanted the fir

... first black president to be primaried because he thought he was weak and rightward...

That would be honest

I'm sure Sanders will be saying that over and over again in the next month or two ... no?

[Matt_in_STL]

111. Why does it matter that he was the first black president in the context of this?

Bernie disagreed with policy issues and wanted someone to push President Obama to the left. That's a far cry from the racist dog whistles and outright racism displayed by the Clintons in 2008, especially in SC. How do you think the voters in SC would feel when reminded they should be carrying Bill's bags?

[uponit7771]

117. Because a good portion of the people he'll be talking to are black.... now, my question I asked ...

... in my post?

tia

[Matt_in_STL]

122. Per your question

It is out there that he suggested a primary opponent for President Obama. I highly doubt he brings it up unless asked because that isn't something that you throw in a speech. Hillary wouldn't throw in her Kissinger issues or where her money comes from and I wouldn't expect her to, unless asked.

Now, answer my question. Where does race fit in his suggestion of a primary opponent unless Bernie suggested that he be primaried for being black?

[bravenak]

124. Rec!

[RufusTFirefly]

10. But she had the support of "hard-working Americans, white Americans"

That made it OK.

[EndElectoral]

11. She made a lot of references to the coal industry tonight...What was that about?

[AzDar]

20. Their check cleared? Just a guess...

" It's What They Offered..."

[Live and Learn]

24. LOL nt

[RufusTFirefly]

25. Hahaha!! I was going to offer a more analytical response, but...

... I liked yours much better. I realize I can't top it.

Well played!!

[jillan]

37. Yes - I was wondering that too!! That deserves it's own thread. What was that?

[amborin]

50. didn't see debate; just guessing w/o knowing what she said; to attract white male miners in south?

[NanceGreggs]

13. That was a really dumb statement on BS's part.

Democrats run against each other in a primary race so voters can determine who they want as their nominee in the presidential race.

THAT'S how it's done, Bernie. THAT'S why you're running, isn't it?

To equate that with wanting to primary a sitting Democratic president is beyond ludicrous.

[Live and Learn]

26. I think he was pointing out the ludicrousness of the Hillary meme. And, it worked perfectly. nt

[NanceGreggs]

32. No, it didn't.

It made him look ridiculous. HE is running in a primary race right now, which is part of our process for electing a nominee. He made it sound as though Hillary did something untoward by having been part of that process when Obama was running.

Is he suggesting that Obama - or any other candidate - should run unopposed in a primary contest?

It was a childish, petty remark - and made no sense whatsoever.

Bernie's not stupid. I'm sure he thought better of that comment the minute it was out of his mouth. It only served to underscore the fact that HE wanted to primary a sitting Democratic president - and was foolish enough to suggest it when he KNEW the Dem Party (of which he is not a member) would never have gone along with it.

[jonestonesusa]

35. Please.

One election season Obama's inexperienced and unqualified, eight years later she's riding his coattails. Pandering. Shamelessly.

You say Sanders' remark was childish and petty. One thing's for certain. It's true! Clinton ran against Obama and now she's claiming to be Obama. Hardworking people, white people was so long ago. Who remembers???

Want a childish and petty remark? Try "artful smear." Or implying that Sanders was a champion of deregulation due to his vote on that Bill Clinton finance bill. That insinuation won't even work for a speech event at Goldman Sachs. Even they know better!

[NanceGreggs]

42. So it's "pandering" ...

... to say that she wants to build on the legacy of a very successful president - a president she campaigned for, and served under as SoS?

What should she be saying about Obama, according to you? That she never liked him, disagrees with his policies, and wants to take the country in a completely different direction?

HRC and Obama have worked closely together and are friends. She' be a damned fool to NOT campaign on wanting to follow his very remarkable and productive presidency.

"Clinton ran against Obama."

And your point is what? Bernie is running against HRC. If she becomes POTUS, does that count against Bernie in some way? Would that mean he'd done something wrong by running against her?

[jonestonesusa]

56. She and you could do one key thing.

Stop implying that Sanders is the enemy of Obama's legacy, especially when he contributed to the Affordable Care Act, Dodd Frank and other signature legislation of this administration. If its her preferred approach to emphasize her work in the administration as part of her campaign strategy so be it. But I don't appreciate racial smears during campaigns, and that definitely happened in 08, and in reference the legislation that I mentioned, I prefer credit where credit is due rather than distortion of the record. It's politics, I get that, stances change. But trying this hard to claim the Obama record and leave out the Sanders' contributions is over the top.

[NanceGreggs]

62. Where did I imply ...

... that Sanders is the enemy of Obama's legacy?

[jonestonesusa]

74. I don't know if you implied this

But your candidate sure does. Talking point #1 in Iowa: Bernie wants to dismantle Obamacare and start over. Bernie voted for the bill and helped shape it. Simple fact, but anything goes in a campaign, right?

[NanceGreggs]

76. Bernie does want to dismantle Obamacare.

He wants to start over and replace it with something he thinks is a better system. He doesn't deny that - in fact, he's running on that idea.

[Lordquinton]

86. Wrong.

[NanceGreggs]

87. No, not wrong.

Bernie believes that a Medicaid-for-All system would be better, which would replace Obamacare.

[Live and Learn]

108. You mean the Affordable Care Act? Obamacare is actually an 'artful' smear generated by the GOP.

And it is simply an act of law. So yes, if Bernie gets a better plan through, the act MIGHT be replaced with a new name and better coverage. Or, they could keep the same name only enhance the act to include Medicare for all instead of MANDATORY INSURANCE for all. My bet is they do rename it but in either case we all win and it is a vast improvement over the Affordable Care Act.

You know, kind of like the coverage you get in Canada. And Obama would still get credit for what he had done. Bernie isn't running on taking Obama's credit away.

[Dawgs]

116. Uh, he's for MEDICARE-for-All, not medicaid.

Or was that some kind of smear against a single payer system?

[Live and Learn]

64. +10,000 nt

[uponit7771]

96. The root of Sanders campaign meme is Obama was a disaster, they don't think he was successful

... but they're not will to go into the SEC states saying that because they know they don't have the strength of their convictions nor the support of dems in those stats with the consummate Obama bashing

[Live and Learn]

105. Bull! I do believe you just dissed a majority of DU members since they both supported Obama

and now support Bernie. In fact, I suspect that if you actually do some research, you will find that most DUers that didn't support Obama during his run are supporting Hillary now.

This ridiculous meme has rung its course.

[Live and Learn]

63. +10,000 nt

[mhatrw]

41. Keep telling yourself that. The line was a death blow to Hillary's Obama lover "southern strategy"

for everyone who remembers the poo she flung at Obama in 2008.

[NanceGreggs]

44. Well, according to DU ...

... that was Death Blow #26,422.

And yet she's still standing, she's still the front-runner, and she'll still be the next POTUS.

[mhatrw]

52. Yep. She and her army of corporate and bankster lobbyists are undead.

[Flying Squirrel]

55. Bernie is the current front-runner.

36 pledged delegates to 32. All the rest can change their minds and many will if he ends up with more pledged delegates.

Are you angling for a Fox News position?

[Live and Learn]

67. I think for quite a while now. Why should only one DUer get all the glory? LOL nt

[Live and Learn]

65. +10,000 nt

[Live and Learn]

68. And saying Bernie called to have Obama primaried wasn't childish, petty and nonsensical?

Besides being a lie?

[uponit7771]

97. Its a fact, he did it more than once too... link inside

http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/07/22/277124/bernie-sanders-primary-obama/

[Live and Learn]

103. He didn't call for anyone to primary anybody. He claimed we should use the Democracy we have to

push for what the people want including the right to run against someone in a primary. What the hell is the problem with that? What are elections for if nobody is going to run?

Silly meme!

[dchill]

91. He is a member now.

You don't like more Democrats?

[NanceGreggs]

94. Oh, I like Democrats very much.

What I am suspicious of is "Democrats of Convenience".

Read my sig line - you'll get the point.

[Live and Learn]

104. So you agree that we should hold everything you have said against you should you ever run as

a progressive, I take it?

[bettyellen]

90. I really think she did the same with the Kissinger. Arguing foreign policy is not his strongpoint...

and neither is accepting politicians have to be polite in all sorts of company, as part of their job.
I know people love the idea of a DC reduced to rubble, but they need to grow up.

[Live and Learn]

106. Do you really? Kissinger?? Anyone arguing Kissinger's foreign policy needs to be dismissed.

And everyone should be polite, especially foreign dignitaries. It is called diplomacy for friggen sake.

Nobody wants a DC reduced to rubble. We are trying to spare the country from that but some here seem to want to insist upon it before they get the message.

[polly7]

114. “Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people.”

“Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.”

[RufusTFirefly]

29. "To equate that with wanting to primary a sitting Democratic president is beyond ludicrous."

Damn straight.

As we all know, sitting presidents need to rest comfortably and should never be subjected to the cheeky indignity of objections or refinements to their policies.

When the president is a member of our party, whatever s/he says goes!

[NanceGreggs]

34. It has nothing to do with ...

... "sitting presidents resting comfortably".

It has to do with a non-Democrat who wanted the Democrats to primary a sitting Dem president, knowing full well the Party wasn't about to entertain any such idea. He was grandstanding, trying to draw attention to himself at the time.

Equating two primary opponents vying for the Party's nomination and his wanting to primary Obama came off as sounding like he doesn't even understand the difference between the two. And that's sadder still.

[jonestonesusa]

36. Independent thinking. Who needs it

when you can choose a party leader and follow them no matter what? Is that your implication?

Dissent is healthy, even in the DEM party and among its allies. Nothing wrong with being independent, especially when you take principled stands on difficult votes. Kudos to Sanders for putting principles first, during and after political campaigns.

[NanceGreggs]

54. Choose a party leader and follow them no matter what?

When Obama faced re-election in 2012, there was no "no matter what" involved.

He was a popular president, the Democrats were happy with his policies and direction, he was admired the world over, he had restored the country's image globally after BushCo had tarnished it so badly, the economy was better, great strides had been made despite the obstructionism of the GOP - I could go on.

Stop making it sound like the Party just shrugged its shoulders, sighed, and said "Well, we're stuck with this Barack loser, so let's just make the best of it."

Sanders thought it a wise move to suggest that Obama be primaried, KNOWING FULL WELL that suggestion would NEVER have been acted upon given Obama's popularity among Democrats.

So one can only wonder what his motivation was in doing do - other than grandstanding in a bid for attention.

[jonestonesusa]

66. I don't know.

Implying that potentially, a primary challenge might be healthy? Worse political offenses have occurred. Exploiting a short term news story for political points four years later? Let me guess, another Clinton campaign.

Was it OK when Ted Kennedy primaried a DEM president? Didn't just talk about it, did it?

Everything but the real issues. Is there a lesson here for why a huge Clinton lead has become a horse race?

[jillan]

38. Oh no - Bernie was against TPP! So he stood up to the President! We don't live in China.

We do have the right to criticize our President.

[Live and Learn]

69. Who exactly did that? It sure wasn't Bernie. nt

[uponit7771]

98. Well, we all know primary challenges of sitting presidents work out GREAT for the party in power...

.... like it always has in history (roll eyes big time)

Come on people, we've gone over this.. Sanders did NOT show good judgment in his call to have Obama primaried... it was stupid

[Live and Learn]

107. He didn't CALL to have him primaried. In answer to a question, he claimed that it wouldn't

be a bad idea to primary him in order to bring him back to the left. It is called DEMOCRACY. I applaud him for saying it and I am a big Obama fan.

[uponit7771]

118. nope, he did... multiple times, its a Sanders camp meme that it was only once

[Live and Learn]

128. Bull! nt

[Logical]

58. You lose credibility more and more every day. nt

[NanceGreggs]

60. So says an anonmymous guy on the internet ...

I am crushed.

[Live and Learn]

70. Anonmymous? Are you just making up words now too in addition to memes? nt

[NanceGreggs]

72. Oooh, a typo!

I guess you win the argument.

[Live and Learn]

78. I take it you agree on both accounts, then. nt

[NanceGreggs]

81. That a typo means an automatic loss ...

... for the person who posted said typo?

Yeah, that makes sense.

[Live and Learn]

82. That you make up memes, like you just did again. nt

[NanceGreggs]

88. If you want to count a typo ...

... as being some kind of victory, please proceed. Whatever gets you through the night - ya know?

[Live and Learn]

92. Why are you so hung up on the typo? You are missing the point.

I mean, why would a writer be so obsessed with their typo as to miss the entire theme?

[uponit7771]

99. This is false on its face

[Live and Learn]

109. What face is that? nt

[TTUBatfan2008]

14. If she is gonna wrap herself in the Obama flag...

She better be prepared for some scrutiny on the 2008 campaign, namely the racist stuff that her campaign did at the time.

[uponit7771]

101. That'd be fine since he choose her as SoS... Obama didn't take it that personally then I'm not eithe

....but there's no way Sanders is going to embrace people like Killer Mike and Cornell West and then think somehow people are going to forget his consummate bashing of Obama...

Calling him weak and rightward.

Screw that, be honest Sanders and tell people what you REALLY have thought of Obama throughout the years

[Skwmom]

16. With the subtle digs against Obama coming from Camp Clinton, they really have nerve. n/t

[John Poet]

17. I loved that comeback!

End of argument.


Hillary's professed devotion to Obama's program doesn't ring true, when she pays consultants and lobbyists who tried to stop ACA/ "Obamacare from becoming law.

[AzDar]

18. I love Bernie's expressions of disbelief as she spews her bullshit... he shows enormous restraint.

[taught_me_patience]

19. Bernie really looked horrible there

Getting angry, red faced, flustered, and flailing about with his arms. Then he went off the rails with a statement that does not relate to what she was talking about.

[AtomicKitten]

22. He's sick. Did you hear his cough? His chest and sinus congestion are audible.

[phleshdef]

30. It was directly in response to his criticism of Obama.

No one has campaigned longer and put Barack Obama though the ringer more than Hillary Clinton... it just happened to be before he ultimately beat her.

[Live and Learn]

71. Yet, talking about Hillary's looks is sexist? You guys are too much. nt

[livetohike]

115. He always looks that way. Count me as not charmed by his rage. n/t

[EndElectoral]

27. Instead of waving his finger, Bernie needs to hold up a sign that says "Lies" or "Bullshit"

[SammyWinstonJack]

113. LOL!

[BeyondGeography]

28. I didn't really see his point there

It seemed liked the kind of half-formed response that you make when you're rattled.

[Myrina]

125. The point was, she is using POTUS to legitimize

... herself with BLM. But you can't say you're all about him, BFFs, "meet my black friend Barack. See how much I love black people?" etc when you ran against him & engaged in the semi-veiled smear attacks that her camp ran with in the 2008 primaries.

[BeyondGeography]

127. That's what I meant about it being half-formed

"It's a little funny hearing this unconditional support of Barack Obama after all the criticisms you had of him in the 2008 campaign," or some such retort would have completed the circle.

[riversedge]

31. That sure was a stupid comment from Sanders. just plain stupid

[Hydra]

33. It's kinda weird and creepy watching Team Hill use Obama that way

We all know they don't like each other and aren't on the same page, and she absolutely will try to overwrite his legacy if she makes it into office.

[jonestonesusa]

39. Iran and Syria, what will the policy be?

Restraint under a Clinton presidency as under Obama? Maybe. But if you think this is a certainty, you're fronting.

[FrenchieCat]

40. "we all know"?

Is that the similar to "some say"?

[Hydra]

43. You could always try reading about it

It's not like it's a big secret that they aren't best of friends...and I hear one of them thinks the other is going to ruin everything if they don't figure out how to turn it around.

[rbrnmw]

46. did you read it in an Ed Klein book?

[zappaman]

93. Drudge Report. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

119. FrenchieCat, you know all of this, you taught it to all of us!!!!!! 2008 quotes from you!!!

"Should North Carolinians also ponder whether to vote for someone who's husband is a serial adulterer, a disbarred attorney, and an admitted liar to millions? I mean, really, which spouse is immoral here?"

"Hillary says what Hillary wants to say......."Screw 'em," she told her husband. "You don't owe them a thing, Bill. They're doing nothing for you; you don't have to do anything for them."

" Fellow Democrats who promotes racism......isn't a Democrat in my book.Please don't quote Aretha Franklin. Bill Clinton has not respected a soul this primary season."

These are all from one thread titled "Michelle Obama on Bill Clinton: "I want to rip his eyes out!"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5835470

[Renew Deal]

47. That wasn't a good response

He was clearly beaten at that point.

[Drunken Irishman]

57. No...but Bernie did actively say someone should run against him in 2012.

[Flying Squirrel]

59. Too bad Bernie didn't. I'd have voted for him. nt

[Geronimoe]

75. Which made sense

if you wanted to force Obama to move to the left instead of just being challenged by the radicate right.

[Drunken Irishman]

77. It made no sense.

[uponit7771]

102. +1

[Oilwellian]

85. Yes, that was the same time Obama put SS on the table

to negotiate with Republicans. It wasn't his finest hour.

[pugetres]

79. It is a good thing

to have a simple reminder about how ugly the 2008 democratic race was.

[JVS]

80. He wasn't explicit enough. He could have pointed out that he has never gone as negative on Obama...

as she did, and given a couple examples.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

83. That's all he had to say to cause flashbacks.

[merrily]

84. She didn't just run against him, either.

Senator McCain and I are ready for that 3 a.m. phone call; Senator Obama is not.

And we can't forget the low nature of that campaign, either.

http://jackpineradicals.org/entry.php?209-Democratic-Primary-2016-Will-religious-bigotry-work-this-time

[bettyellen]

89. So he brings up 8 years ago or 50 years (!!!) when it comes to foreign policy while avoiding today?

[whereisjustice]

100. oh my god, I can hardly stand to listen to Hillary's horrible rendering of history... shame

on her and shame on a cynical Democratic National Committee for shoving her down our throats. Over and over I find people want to like her, but then they her words and research her past, she's clearly unelectable.

[Skid Rogue]

110. 20/20 Hindsight

If my memory serves me right, Hillary formally announced her intention to run for President before Obama. So, if anything, he ran against her. Not that it matters, the whole thing is a non-issue.

[BKH70041]

120. Ted Kennedy wanted to primary a sitting Democratic president.

Just sayin'.

I thought the whole topic was silly from both sides. Neither came out looking particularly strong.

[EndElectoral]

121. This tactic by Hillary was her lowest point in the debate.

She knows she has a record of opposing Obama on numerous issues, and is trying to split hairs when Bernie has also disagreed with Obama.

Not her finest moment.

[bravenak]

123. Isnt that what he's doing now?

[KingFlorez]

126. She was in that race before Obama

It's not like she set out to take him on or anything. Quite an irrelevant point.