Why Doesn’t Bernie Sanders Get Called Out as A Hypocrite?

[NCTraveler]

Vermont Senator Is Not Against US Militarism and Benefits from Private Sector He Demonizes

-snip-

Let’s have a look at his voting record in Congress. Since his announcement that he would seek the nomination, Bernie Sanders has criticized US military interventions in other countries.

But when the United States intervened in the Kosovo war in 1999, Sanders supported the war and voted for it in the House of Representatives. His defense of the military action was so firm that when anti-war activists occupied his office in protest, he personally ordered their arrest.

Even though Sanders calls himself a “fierce critic of the Iraq war,” in 2003 he voted in favor of a resolution that gave more powers to then President George W. Bush to intervene in Afghanistan and Iraq.

His silent support for the Iraq war was such that in 2008, when Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced a 35-point document to impeach President Bush, Sanders said it was “impractical.”

https://panampost.com/nelson-albino/2016/02/17/why-doesnt-bernie-sanders-get-called-out-as-a-hypocrite/

[bigtree]

1. there's always an excuse for him

...when there's not, the response is, 'he's not perfect.'

No, he's not.

[NCTraveler]

9. I have seen claims that he reminds people of another carpenter...

more often than I have seen "he's not perfect."

[boston bean]

11. They've got this tied up with a bow.

Just say everyone else is corrupt, but him.

Prove he aint perfect, well we've already proved to you yours isn't either, so there!

[uponit7771]

2. IOKIBDI, nuance for Sanders ... none for anyone else

[AgingAmerican]

3. You guys have so little to go on....

It's gotta suck majorly...

[bigtree]

7. this reveals the hypocrisy of many complaints about Hillary

...apparently, much of what you're 'going on' applies to your own candidate.

[AgingAmerican]

17. It's gotta suck

You guys comb over every little tidbit trying to find something, anything to attack with. Nothing ever sticks. It's gotta suck majorly.

[bigtree]

21. I'm reading the same forum as you

...nitpicking describes the entire Sanders support tactic and strategy.

Hypocricy, be damned, if it sounds good, throw it at Hillary.

[Andy823]

43. Exactly

The front page is full of "anti Hillary" threads, this board is a constant repeat of the same negative things over and over and over, and yet they don't seem to see their own hypocrisy when they lay the blame for all the "nitpicking" on the "other" side.

What I always find amazing is how some of the same posters who used to call everyone who actually supported President Obama, robots walking lock step and never seeing his faults. Now these same posters have taken the "idol" worship to new heights as they constantly ignore any disagreement with Bernie as "propaganda", lies, slander or they use the old tactic of going after Hillary when questioned about Bernie.

[jeff47]

4. Because when an article lies, it isn't Sanders being hypocritical.

Sanders has never claimed to be a pacifist.

[bigtree]

10. that's not a defense, it's an excuse

[jeff47]

20. The article lying is a pretty damn good excuse.

The claim is Sanders is a hypocrite because he supported some wars.

Sanders never claimed to oppose all wars.

What, exactly, is the hypocrisy?

[bigtree]

23. you go with that

...it's clear to me that his support of military action is an open question, despite all the hullabaloo about his IWR vote.

[jeff47]

26. What's the open question?

He said he opposed the Iraq war, for reasons specific to the Iraq war.

What's the controversy?

[noamnety]

29. It's more hillaryous than that.

The complaint is that he once supported a Clinton war. Therefore, we should vote for another Clinton.

[NCTraveler]

16. Can you point to where the article claims he said he was a pacifist.

Seems the inaccuracy is in your post. Can you link to that claim in the article? Additionally, you didn't state the "lies" in the article. Can you provide the "lies" as well. I will state here I believe the article to be accurate.

[jeff47]

22. When it attempts to claim hypocrisy for supporting Kosovo and Afghanistan.

That would only be hypocritical if he opposed all wars.

He opposed the Iraq war. That opposition does not require him to oppose all wars.

ETA: It's also extremely misleading to put the non-impeachment on Sanders, when Pelosi "took it off the table" in 2006. Or are you going to claim it's practical for a Senator to cause the House to impeach a president, when the leadership has already refused?

[NCTraveler]

40. "He opposed the Iraq war."

It is one hundred percent accurate that Sanders played a role in building public support for the Iraq War, that he voted on legislation one hundred percent knowing bombs would be dropped on Iraq, and that was done by Sanders in the years running up to the IWR.

Those are facts.

[jeff47]

41. So Sanders should have voted for deployed soldiers to starve.

That is what you are demanding when you claim Sanders should have opposed funding for the Iraq war after it started.

Take a look at what you have become. Is Clinton worth doing this to yourself? Is she worth demanding soldiers sent into a terrible mistake of a war starve while they are there?

[NCTraveler]

42. I never claimed any such thing. Very strange.

I'm not talking about funding. At all. Do you seriously not know that four years before the IWR Sanders voted yeah on a bill that helped cement WMD's in the Americans minds and was also followed up by multiple days of bombings. His vote was necessary to do so.

I am finding many have no clue about Sanders record.

[jeff47]

44. The bills you are talking about were funding for the Iraq war.

You are claiming Sanders should have opposed funding after the troops were already in Iraq. That they should be denied food and supplies so that a politician could prove....something or other.

Do you seriously not know that four years before the IWR Sanders voted yeah on a bill that helped cement WMD's

You're now claiming a 2003 bill was 4 years before the Iraq war vote? 'Cause the article is talking about the 2003 funding bill.

I am finding many have no clue about Sanders record.

I am finding many have no clue that time flows in one direction.

[MohRokTah]

5. The projected facade is slowly crumbling.

I guarantee the Republicans will expose Sanders for what he is.

Hillary is always too nice when it comes to her primary opponents.

[HERVEPA]

12. "Hillary is always too nice when it comes to her primary opponents" You forgot the sarcasm thingy

[cali]

6. Because he isn't.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511264748

[Arazi]

8. Sanders has never said he's a pacifist

not sure what the point is here

[bigtree]

18. the point is his inconsistency in opposing military action

...including voting to fund the military actions he claims he opposed.

His military intentions are a big question mark for me. In the Mideast, for example, he's as Israel-centric in his policy as Hillary.

No, he isn't a pacifist, but his supporters attack Hillary Clinton like he is.

[boston bean]

19. NEVER??????

[Arazi]

27. Post a link then where he says he's a pacifist

Ill wait. Meanwhile here's some light reading and tv watching


http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Bernie-Sanders-May-Not-Be-a-Hawk-but-Hes-Also-No-Dove-20151016-0032.html


https://m.

[boston bean]

28. He isn't one now. I will agree wholeheartedly!

[brooklynite]

36. “As a college student in the 1960s he was a pacifist,” campaign spokesman Michael Briggs said..."

I guess people "evolve". good to know.

[karynnj]

13. because he is trustworthy

As to the Iraq impeachment idea, the House peaches and then the Senate tries the case. Sanders was a Senator. Not to mention, it was clear it was going nowhere.
I do not recall HRC being out there.

[GreatGazoo]

14. Because it is a losing strategy against someone as consistent as Sanders, and then there is this:

[Avalux]

15. This sauce is so weak it's needs to go in the garbage. n/t

[Jester Messiah]

24. Because he isn't one.

Smear-artists notwithstanding.

[tk2kewl]

25. who's administration would be more likely to address Bush war crimes?

[div style="font-size:200%;display:inline-block"]□[/div ] Clinton
[div style="font-size:200%;display:inline-block""]□[/div ] Sanders

and whose more likely to commit new ones?

[boston bean]

30. Well probably neither.

Since Sanders said Kucinich's plan to do so, was not practical.

[tk2kewl]

31. *more* likely

and there was a part 2

you can't possible think Clinton is close to Dennis in matters of war and peace can you?

[boston bean]

33. answer is the same.

[tk2kewl]

34. you can't possible think Clinton is closer to Dennis in matters of war and peace can you?

[boston bean]

35. What was the question again?

[noretreatnosurrender]

32. Because He Isn't

Nice try but it's more of the same silliness that's used to try to tear down Bernie's trust and character numbers to more closely match Hillary's numbers. The only ones buying this line of attack are Hillary supporters.

[libtodeath]

37. What a pantload of desperation.

[noamnety]

38. Is this the impeachment thing they are talking about?

"Kucinich himself participated fully in the farce. He introduced the resolution Monday and read out the 35 articles of impeachment for crimes ranging from the lying pretexts given to the American people for the war in Iraq to torture at the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and illegal domestic spying. Then he moved to send the resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman John Conyers has long rejected any effort to hold Bush constitutionally accountable. This move will have the effect of burying the bill indefinitely.

The 251-166 margin of the vote, held on a roll call Wednesday, saw all 227 Democrats—including Kucinich and his lone co-sponsor, Robert Wexler of Florida—joined by 24 Republicans move to dispose of the resolution. Voting against were 166 Republicans, who sought to force a debate on impeachment for the purpose of embarrassing the Democratic Party leadership."

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2008/06/impe-j12.html

Am I reading that right? Every dem voted to bury it, including the sponsor, Kucinich, and the complaint is that Bernie said it was impractical?

[thesquanderer]

39. Simple. He's never been the extremist some have painted him as. (n/t)