Sanders in July: Many are disappointed at Obama, who is weak and flip flops too much

[Sliceo]

Speaking at a radio show hosted by Thom Hartman in July,

"There are millions of Americans who are deeply disappointed in the president, who believe that with regard to Social Security and a number of other issues, he said one thing as a candidate, and is doing something very much else as a president, who cannot believe how weak he has been — for whatever reason — in negotiating with the Republicans. And there’s deep disappointment,” he said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/sanders-obama-supporters-214636#ixzz3oAyD4eY5

[Fred Sanders]

1. The RW really, really wants anyone but Clinton to win, don't they? Their fear is my hope.

Karl Rove's Politico is all in on the desperate attempts to stop the inevitable and the good.

Attack Obama to support Sanders? Although I am sure there are many Sanders supporters that have no problem with that, which is exactly why I have a problem with them.

Understandable. Clinton has the experience, the personality, the intelligence, the money and the political support from Obama and Clinton the First.....who would want to run against all that, especially now that Bgazhi has turned and bitten it's masters, and EGazhi is going down as the biggest yawner since....well..... Bgazhi?!

[HooptieWagon]

20. LOL!

That's why HRH is desperately trying to morph into Sanders, to appeal to RWers? Carefull you don't get dizzy.

[Sheepshank]

142. That makes no sense at all

Bernie supporters have been stating for a very long time that Hillary is Republican-Light. So who is morphing?

On the off chance you were just trying to be clever and said something without thinking it through, I'll respond anyway and show you the silliness of that thought. I actually don't think it's Hillary's intention to sully the Democratic Party with an influx of no hoper, LGBT hating, non choice, gun humping, Republicans. But of course that shouldn't bother Bernie since he isn't a Democrat anyway.

[Scuba]

28. Fred, it must be tiring to get your ass kicked over and over. Maybe you should try decaf.

[Fred Sanders]

30. Disappointing non-responsive and personal deflection. You are better than that.

Attacking Obama is hurting Sanders, especially among minority voters, you do not agree with that??

[Scuba]

32. No. Sanders is not attacking Obama, but rather is criticizing some of Obamas policies.

There's a difference, and America's blacks are astute enough to understand the difference even if you pretend not to.

[Android3.14]

48. "Pretend" being the key word

Some of the few HRC "supporters" on DU are insincere to the point that I question their cognitive and emotional condition. They are obtuse to a fault and there really seems to be no purpose to their posts except to stir the shit. It's starting to become boring, and I've considered putting a few of the worst on ignore.

[roguevalley]

67. in the world of some, any deviation from the party line is treachery

see: Republicans

[lewebley3]

83. Sanders followers attack Obama, Obama is one of the best Presidents in history

I don't care for his position on the TPP, but he has been a fine
President

[Scuba]

124. I give Obama high marks on several issues, but big fat F's on many, many others.

Criticizing his policy deficiencies is not attacking Obama.

[lewebley3]

131. Obama is the leader of Dem party and over a great leader!

[lewebley3]

173. Yes, it is, any attacks on Dem hurts Dem party chances. Sanders people are bashers

[Scuba]

175. You see what adhering to Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment got the Republicans?

[lewebley3]

176. I saw what ideologues did to Al Gore: Sanders is the McGovern candidate

,

[Scuba]

181. What? Leftist ideologues made Gore do this?

[Sheepshank]

143. Hope you remember the difference during the debates

When Hillary will be clarifying the weaknesses, and non viability of Bernie's policies. It won't be an attack, it will be valid critisms.

[Scuba]

144. Just curious, just which of Bernie's policies do you consider non viable?

[grasswire]

153. after learning that some of them did the same to Hillary in 2008...

...I'm beginning to think that the only purpose is to roil Democrats and cause infighting and distraction.

[joshcryer]

164. Sanders is just parroting a "liberal" talking point...

...because it sounds really good, but it has no root in reality. Don't have a problem with it because it's half true. Obama was the "everything on the table" candidate. That is a weak starting point when you're negotiating.

I do think Obama has strengthened over the years however. After showing a lot of character and trying to work with those bastards

[Hortensis]

112. Fred's right. To win, Bernie MUST bring out 60+ MILLION VOTERS.

You may feel like a mass here, and 24,000 people gathered in one place may look like a lot, but we're talking about 60 MILLION AND MORE VOTERS.

Turning away the enthusiasm of Obama voters would be not just foolish, but DISASTROUS for Bernie. That Bernie is not inspiring by promising to build on what Obama began, to continue the Obama movement, is worrisome.

CAN a man far more famous for standing alone and alienating his colleagues than for forming alliances build the coalitions he cannot win without?

[GitRDun]

122. Wow...some common sense...nice!

I've posted this very thought or some version of it many times.

Even if he believes it, it's bad political strategy for BS to attack the President in the way he does....just alienates potential supporters.

[uponit7771]

136. Your right

[uponit7771]

135. Ad homs are the norm now

[Fred Sanders]

179. See post 174....apology will be accepted.

[Scuba]

180. I'm curious. How do you think Silceo being a troll makes you less wrong?

[Sliceo]

46. Politico quoted Sanders verbatim

Don't kill the messenger.

[roguevalley]

68. and he's not wrong. Killing the messenger is the last defense of the losing

[workinclasszero]

109. The koch bros political party is desperate to knock off Hillary

They know whatever republican teahaddist nutcase they put up will have a cakewalk beating Bernie Sanders like a drum in the general election.

[senz]

116. Nah, they see Bernie's populist anti-oligarch appeal & it makes 'em nervous.

They know their days would be numbered if he got in. With Hillary, they will continue to rule.

[workinclasszero]

121. They see Hillary as a threat

and Bernie as a joke.

[Hortensis]

127. Harsh, but this is true. BUT -- the Kochs ARE afraid of Bernie supporters.

They know enthusiasm on both the right and the left for Bernie is a smallish part of a much larger movement to bring down their empire, to cast out the people they've put in offices at all levels, and to repeal the many Koch-serving laws they've had enacted over the past 40 years.

They know those angry clouds building on their horizons are far, far more dangerous than any one man ever could be.

[frylock]

177. desperate attempts to stop the inevitable?

But it's not a coronation, so stop saying that!

[riversedge]

2. Love this Pres Obama photo from the link..

Lots of happy folks.


Sanders’ challenge: Winning over Obama supporters

By Gabriel Debenedetti

10/10/15 07:58 AM EDT

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/sanders-obama-supporters-214636#ixzz3oB1WGt4f

[leftofcool]

14. I love that photo! I am so glad Hillary is running to carry on the Obama legacy.

[lewebley3]

84. Ageed, great picture! Go Hillary

[Go Vols]

89. Yep,we need more of that :/

President Obama said his economic policies are "so mainstream" he'd be considered a moderate Republican in the 1980s.

I didn't like moderate R's then, nor now.

[99Forever]

3. Many Democrats ARE deeply disappointed with Obama.

He wasted a huge opportunity to make serious improvements for the 99% just so he could suck up to the banksters and Republicans.

I am among the deeply disappointed.

[Fred Sanders]

4. So, you support the attacks on Obama....in order to boost Sanders? I appreciate the honesty!

[99Forever]

5. What I don't support...

... are jerks that put words in other people's mouths.

[Fred Sanders]

9. Your own words....

"He (Obama) wasted a huge opportunity to make serious improvements for the 99% just so he could suck up to the banksters and Republicans."

...are an attack.

And Politico is a Rove outfit.

[99Forever]

11. Bullshit.

[Fred Sanders]

12. Your own words, you mean?

Look, here they are again:


"He (Obama) WASTED a huge opportunity to make serious improvements for the 99% just so he could suck up to the banksters and Republicans."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. As a fair and unbiased observer I must say you make a lot of great points.

Barack Obama has been a consequential and transformational president and his detractors aren't fit to carry his briefcase.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. Why, thank you, sir.

I love you too and as a demonstration of my love I want to give you an internet .

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. I can never let a blessing go unheeded.

Thank you.

[99Forever]

37. Okay then.

Heed away. I won't be seeing you around anymore. Bub bye.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

38. I am 100% sincere

Heed away. I won't be seeing you around anymore. Bub bye

There is no need to leave.

[rjsquirrel]

39. One can both agree with that

statement AND express criticism of some of the president's tactics and failures.

You can't debate alternative histories. I love our president and supported him from the very beginning. But I wanted torturers and banksters to face justice, and the wars to end, and a public option. Disgusting racist obstructionist republicans made it challenging in deep ways. I get that. I despise them.

But choices were made and I disagreed with some of them profoundly even as I think Barack Obama will go down as one of the three greatest presidents in history on many measures that matter, and the best of my now 55 year lifetime without question. I'd support a third term but I'm not into politics as hero worship or lack of self-critique. That's how republicans act.

I am deeply proud of President Obama. And of my own dedication to both of his presidential campaigns. I am disappointed in my fellow Americans for refusing to recognize his leadership adequately. But he has had failures of consequence too.

ETA: that doesn't mean Sen. Sanders, whom I support, is going to do better if he wins. Or Sec. Clinton.

[nolabels]

156. I believe the Obama Presidency is or was unique

But as for economic grade I would only render a "C+". He did what was possible and feasible but unwilling to go any length beyond that. Sort of reminded me of a vending machine in that aspect. One also must remember who he followed to understand most any direction one was to go after that would be on the up-wards trend.

Biggest thing for me though is he didn't start anymore military incursions and gave the general population a time and calmness to sort things out. Republicans thrive on upheaval and confusion, so he thwarted them there on many levels. So yea some of us think he could of done better but we also must remember we are not his shoes facing the obstacles he has had to face.

If you were to ask my brother-in-law who was born, bred and lived 94% of his life in rural Kentucky, he would tell you that Obama is not even a Human. So a little perspective is needed

[Live and Learn]

75. 'fair and unbiased observer'

Too funny.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

76. I am a paragon of fairness, objectivity, and impartiality.

I am like the DU umpire.

[Live and Learn]

78. DUzy. Funniest posts of the day.

You might want to add the sarcasm tag though.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

79. My commitment to dispassionate analysis was, is, and shall remain unwavering.

[99Forever]

21. Bullshit.

[virtualobserver]

19. really? Karl Rove Is Ruining the GOP

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/10/karl-rove-is-ruining-the-gop-111674

[pangaia]

99. No. That is NOT an attack. It is a statement of fact, or at the very least, an opinion.

[still_one]

118. actually, Politico was started by a bunch of ex-reaganites

[Armstead]

13. Explanatin of positions does not mean "Attacks"

[Live and Learn]

73. How is the truth an attack?

Even many of us that still support Obama (and think he will go down in history as one of the best Presidents) are disappointed with some of his appointments and his incessant attempts to negotiate with those that clearly would never support his policies.

Yes, he will go down in history as a great President but he could have been even better. That is not an attack, just truth.

[Fred Sanders]

80. Your last sentence is truth, but that is far from what the OP implied, that much is undeniable.

I disagree with the twice elected Democratic Party leader and President on a few things, Saudi Arabia support, more aggressive EO on guns - hopefully to change - taking too long to realize the GOP could not be progressive and sensible and do the necessary work on or for anything other than barely keeping the government open....but I do not make perfection the enemy of the good, I understand the limitations of the Executive Branch and the vicious historical sabotage of the GOP is not a point of amnesia for me, or what 2008 was like economically, I remember what Obama inherited from Day One, I remember the many treacherous acts of the true enemy, and above all I understand Obama does not have and never did posses those fabled black magic juju sticks to wave around and create a socialist paradise overnight.....and some disagree with me...so be it.

Family is just like that!

[Live and Learn]

81. I think your analysis of what Sanders 'implied' is faulty.

I'll take him at his words. He tends to say exactly what he means. Thus, no implication is necessary.

[Jim Lane]

117. A completely idiotic non sequitur by you

I personally agree with Sanders's criticism... and I agreed with it before the 2012 election, when I wasn't looking ahead to 2016, and when I voted for Obama again even though he wasn't perfect.

Some people have this all-or-nothing attitude. If you say one word of criticism of Obama, or of any other politician for that matter, you must be in full-throated opposition to that person, and disagree with him or her on everything. The inability to handle nuance has traditionally been a Republican specialty. As the primary season heats up, though, I'm seeing more and more of it here.

[Prism]

165. You do realize Clinton is taking shots at the Obama administration as well

Not just on things like Keystone or TPP, but Hillary recently threw a direct slap saying her political Benghazi troubles would never have happened if the Obama administration were stronger.

They're both taking shots at Obama, which is interesting. His coalition is a proven winner, so I wonder where either of them think they're going to pick up the slack.

[Fred Sanders]

168. "Shots"? You call those "shots"?... As in "respectful disagreement" on a couple of issues...I agree.

[Prism]

169. I can't find a link, but you should see the Benghazi statement

She basically said (and I'm paraphrasing from memory), "This shit would've never happened if I were president".

I'm sure you can find it, but yeah, she was blaming Obama for her Benghazi troubles. She called him a weakling.

I don't think there's tons of love lost between those two.

[Autumn]

25. That he did. I have always thought listening to

Summers, Geitner. and dimon were a huge part the problem and his desire to be a bipartisan president. He should have realized very early that reaching out to the GOP was a complete waste of time. I join you in being disappointed.

[99Forever]

33. Funny tho...

... that some can actually pretend that being disappointed with Obama sucking up to the Rethugs, is some sort of "RW attack." That's pretzel freakin' logic on steroids. It never ceases to amaze me just how easily neoliberals can flat out lie and think they fooling us. It 's trait they share with neocons.

[Autumn]

34. Gotta ignore that, when they go there the discussion is over.

[ibegurpard]

43. He joins Bill is the most effective privatization presidents

He wasted enormous political capital and Democratic majorities on a healthcare "reform" bill that takes public money and stuffs it into the pockets of private insurance companies. He supported...and continues to support...privatization of public education. He fought his own party on corporate trade agreements. If you're going to hold up Obama as an example of a great Democratic president then you're doing it for other reasons than his "suupport" for government as the provider for public goods and services.

[99Forever]

45. Exactly.

My eyes have been forever opened.

[still_one]

120. So tell me how was he going to get the blue dogs to vote for single-payer? He didn't have the votes

You can ignore that little detail, but that is the reality.

On education, there are definitely issues. To say he is against public education is a gross mischaracterization of the facts.

The biggest problems with Obama's educational policy was the growth of charter schools with the benefit of federal funding, and the insistence on evaluating teachers by test scores, which is not only unfair, but isn't a good bench mark. In spite of that, Obama is opposed to vouchers.

The problem with the Obama administrations educational reforms is they were not well thought out, and they were rushed into implementation without solid research. They have ignored the the major problem in public education, equity in educational opportunity. Students from affluent families continue to do far better than middle-class and lower-class families, and that is where the focus should be.

[99Forever]

126. He didn't even try.

That sir, is unacceptable. Period.

[still_one]

129. I hear you loud and clear. We're just going to disagree on this one.

[99Forever]

132. I can live with that.

:shakehands:

[still_one]

133. LOL

[ChiciB1]

123. And I AM Too! I Knew He Was More Conservative From The Get-Go, But

one huge, enormous issue I have with him is his closeness and connection with Goldman Sachs! It has upset me more than I can explain. And NOW, TPP. I give him credit for getting some good things done against a Crazy bunch of Congress Critters, who aren't all Repukes, but I doubt I would ever vote for him again.

AND, since things are so bad I've begun to wonder if I should really hold my nose and vote for Hillary. And believe me I understand the HUGE ELEPHANT of the Supreme Court and that's what keeps me on board. But my faith in Hillary is worse than I ever thought it could be. I can't apologize for feeling this way, it's who she is and whether I truly can BELIEVE the things she's saying now. And if you really read her words closely many times I'm not sure if the reason she changed her mind is actually the truth.

Like, at this point in time I don't support TPP, or maybe she said today I don't support TPP! Why not say I DO NOT SUPPORT TPP and will do what's needed to keep it from having any success.

It gets under my skin when she gives these answers, and I absolutely don't trust what IS or IS NOT in TPP because for SOME reason there's too much behind the scenes negotiation that makes me feel "something smells" in a very bad way!

Our Democrats have left us down and I feel so many regular Democrats know it in their gut!

[kelliekat44]

155. That's not true and you know it. Once reality hits Bernie in his butt..she how much he waffles. It

easy to promise but Bernie with his unrealistic socialist agenda would get now where with any Congress and his foreign policy would be disastrous. Obama faces real-time issues...some of the most daunting issues in our history. Not every decision is or will be perfect but he makes decisions based on the facts as HE knows them using information that WE do not know.

[99Forever]

158. Actually I know it IS true.

But I also know it's a waste of time to argue with those who quite simply CHOSE not to see the TRUTH. There are none so blind.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. That's because It's true.

HELLO?

TPP? Are you kidding me? The knife into the heart of our Unions and jobs?

He offered up our SOCIAL SECURITY to the GOP as a bargaining chip! An offering, if you will. Of all things.

Not one Wall St. Greedy thief who collapsed our economy to the tune of $12.8 TRILLION, has been investigated, arrested, tried and convicted. NOT ONE.

We voted for him. He's the President. He's not perfect. And ANYONE that voted for him has every right to call him on what he did and didn't do. He doesn't get a pass just because he's Obama. He's done some pretty shitty things while serving. NOT very Liberal/Progressive things at that.

[KoKo]

163. Recommend!

[sufrommich]

7. I said when Sanders announced that his call to primary Obama would

be one of the reasons he would lose the primary. I still believe that.

[leftofcool]

61. I think he might be asked about this in the debates.

[uponit7771]

137. +1

[FlatBaroque]

8. and what

the fuck is inaccurate about that statement.

Hey Sliceo, have you checked out this site? www.hillaryclintonsupporters.com, I bet you might know a few folks there.

[ucrdem]

10. He's been at it since Bill took office in 1993.

And now you know the secret of Sanders' success. Me? I've never doubted it.

[Armstead]

18. Alan Greenspan, NAFTA, Media and Financial Deregulation....

Yeah criticizing things like that is part of the secret to Sanders success. As well it should be.

[ucrdem]

94. . . . have nothing to do with the OP. nt

[wyldwolf]

15. This is how he plans to appeal to African American voters - calling Obama weak

[Fred Sanders]

23. Good luck with that for Sanders and his supporters....the opposite of what they should be doing!

[Bobbie Jo]

24. Yeah

They're on a roll on that front.

All I can say at this point is, keep it up.

[senz]

44. This is how Hillary supporters try to sow division between Bernie and AAs

It's cynical, ugly, and it won't work.

Keep trying, Snidely Whiplash.

[wyldwolf]

49. Bernie is doing a fine job of it himself

[senz]

50. Bernie does not have a racist bone in his body and you know it.

He's not that kind of person and never has been. You just make yourself look bad by propagating ludicrous falsehoods about a good man.

[wyldwolf]

52. who said anything about racism?

[senz]

57. You did when you opposed Bernie to "African American voters."

You've done it throughout this embarrassingly bogus thread.

Here's one: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=662069

And now you have the nerve to deny it? It's easy to see through you now.

[wyldwolf]

58. No I didn't

Obama is overwhelmingly popular with African Americans. Calling him weak isn't racism. It reveals a deep disagreement with his presidency. Something that won't endear Sander to African Americans.

Playing the racism card is a typical move for 'progressives' with no where else to go.

[senz]

63. LOL, how slippery. Like a boy with his hand in the cookie jar.

You can wiggle all you want; I'm done with you.

[wyldwolf]

65. LOL, how desperate. Like a boy struggling to comprehend basic definitions.

[Ed Suspicious]

95. You.

[wyldwolf]

102. No I didn't. prove it

[Ed Suspicious]

106. You were the one who performed the shiftaroo from

talking about the president as the president to talking aboutvthe ptesident as African American. You connected those dots. This was in no way about PoC until you made the shiftaroo.

[wyldwolf]

111. But that is neither racism or ...

... Or calling Bernie a racist.

It's truthfully pointing out that Bernie is calling Obama a weak president and that his African-American supporters are going to like that. Fact.

[hfojvt]

96. by speaking in July

I suppose it was Bernie's idea to drudge this story up for October.

[senz]

114. Precisely.

They must be worried.

[uponit7771]

138. By posting Sanders own words?!?!!

[senz]

150. Taken out of context, not even close to his full opinion of Obama.

It's a cheap tactic.

Obama has not been able to do many of the things he wanted to do; he inherited the Bush recession, he has been up against terrible legislative obstruction and under huge pressures from the true holders of power, the oligarchs. He wanted to bring the two sides together and learned late in the game that with these Republicans it is not possible. He populated his first cabinet with former Clinton administration people who were prone to accommodate the wishes of corporate power.

Bernie is more experienced in the ways of D.C. and has firmer, more established convictions, but he understands what Obama has been up against, he empathizes with that and has said over and over again that he likes and respects Obama. Bernie knows that Obama has not been a bad president.

I am sure that most AAs understand the situation, as well.

[uponit7771]

159. Wait..."Obama is weak in negotiating with republicans" doesn't stand by itself??! tia

[Live and Learn]

82. Your subject line dropped off some words.

It should read. '- calling Obama weak in negotiating with Republicans.' Which, I think most African Americans agree with.

[wyldwolf]

85. Nah, my subject line is complete

However, if you want to show us how Obama has been weak in negotiating with Republicans, be our guest.

[Live and Learn]

90. Then your subject line is simply untrue.

Show you how Obama has been weak in negotiating with Republicans? Nah, unlike Obama, I understand the futility of wasting my time trying to enlighten those with preconceived, yet immutable beliefs.

[wyldwolf]

92. My subject line is completely true and you contradicted yourself

He's either weak at negotiating with republicans or, like you, understands the futility of wasting his time on them.

[Live and Learn]

97. Perhaps, you should read my post again without your tinted glasses on.

It is not in the least bit contradictory.

[wyldwolf]

101. It's completely contradictory

Perhaps you should think before you post.

[Live and Learn]

103. No need to be rude.

I purposefully didn't accuse you of lacking in reading comprehension abilities. You are simply wrong on this.

[wyldwolf]

104. I'm never rude to someone else is first

If you can't take it don't dish it out

[Live and Learn]

107. Now that is a wierd subject line.

'I'm never rude to someone else is first' I'd respond but I have no idea what you said.

I can certainly take whatever you dish out but I assure you, I didn't start anything.

[wyldwolf]

108. Ah, the feigning ignorance routine

Yeah you did start something

[Live and Learn]

110. This conversation has obviously deteriorated in to unintelligible discourse.

As such, I bid you a good day. You may have the last word as I am sure you will insist on.

[wyldwolf]

113. Yeah it's a shame you had to set it down that path.

[uponit7771]

139. Your reading it wrong

[PatrickforO]

16. I'm one of them.

Drone policies.

Putting Social Security on the table to cut.

The giant welfare program for health insurance companies instead of single payer.

The DOJ FAILED to prosecute any of the Wall Street greedheads who ruined the lives of billions of people in the recent great recession.

Obama was too quick to forgive Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest of the war criminals for their malfeasance in starting the forever war.

And now the TPP, developed in darkness and secrecy, that will take away millions of American jobs, compromise governments and compromise the environment.

In the meantime, he's done some positive things as well. But the 6 things above are why I'm disappointed in him. Bernie is telling it like it is.

[Scuba]

26. + Eighty Gazillion

[HooptieWagon]

27. Absolutely!

"Hope and Change"? All we got was doubling down on corporatist 'trickle down' neoliberalism. And that's all we'll get from Hillary. No more Turd Way. Time to send the corporatists packing, and put an FDR Real Deal back in the WH.

[m-lekktor]

31. as am I. Tired of right wing Democrats. nt

[ibegurpard]

53. as am I

[ejbr]

72. ^ what he said n/t

[ybbor]

91. I voted for him twice

Worked locally to get him elected, but I am still disappointed in some of his actions. The ones you listed are on the top of my list as well, maybe in a different order.

Would I have wanted the other option? Hell no! But I do feel like I was sold a false bill of goods from the first campaign.

Critiquing is not attacking. Following along like a lap dog nodding to everything is much more destructive.

Some candidates' supporters don't like hearing their "emperor" has no clothes. And the fact that some of their previous biggest detractors are now jumping on board is laughable.

Bernie was just telling it like it is, as is his MO.

Feeling the Bern, and don't need any aloe.

[msanthrope]

157. Bernie will continue using drones. nt

[Broward]

40. His criticism of Obama is spot on.

We can no longer ignore the corporate bent of conservative Dems. If we don't attack from the left, then the conservatives that have taken over the party will continue to pull us right.

[senz]

41. Bernie Sanders Endorses Obama's Push to Protect Your Retirement. Where's Hillary?

This is a Mother Jones -- a liberal/progressive publication -- headline from yesterday.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/fiduciary-rule-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton

So keep trying to sow division, righties.

P.S. This would make a fine OP and I hope some decent commenter snatches it up.

[tularetom]

42. I go back and forth

Obama has done a lot of great things particularly on social issues and foreign policy - same sex marriage, reopened relations with Cuba, Iran nuclear agreement, etc.

But he's not been very forceful on other matters, particularly on economic issues - cat food commission, chained CPI, failure to prosecute crooked banisters, failure to go after Cheney et al for war crimes, and now this godawful TPP. Even his signature accomplishment, the ACA, is a watered down half measure that in the final analysis will do nothing but make insurance companies richer.

I think he finally gets it, but it's sorta late in the game now.

And I can't disagree with Senator Sanders when he says "there's deep disappointment".

[treestar]

47. He just said that in July this year?

He will have no chance of winning Obama's supporters then. That's a big part of the Democratic party.

[questionseverything]

51. i am an obama supporter and i support bernie

i can support the good obama did while being disappointed at what he did not do

[wyldwolf]

54. Is Obama a weak president?

[treestar]

55. Yes, calling him weak is more than disagreement with what he did

and ironic, as BS would have to be a weaker President, as he does not even have all the Democrats ready to follow what he wants ( as they did not all do for Obama).

[ibegurpard]

56. Not if you support privatization

Of public goods and services.

[questionseverything]

62. he certainly seemed weak when negotiating the public option away

but when it is something he really wants like the tpp he seems to be magical in getting his way

personally my biggest problem with current potus is him not prosecuting the war criminals from the last admin,he didn't look weak when he was defending them, i can not use the word i thought of to describe him when he gave his "sanctimonious line"

the torturers raped children in front of their parents to make them talk and i will never get past that, we now find our afghan colleagues keep little boy sex slaves and we are protecting that too evidently

i do like that he kept the middle class tax cuts from the bush era while raising taxes on the wealthy and i personally benefitted from the harp program

so it is a mixed bag for me

[treestar]

66. how is it weak when the Blue Dogs would just not go for it?

It's about the separation of powers, not about "toughness" and "weakness."

Unless you support the kind of corruption admired in LBJ, where he allegedly threatens the Congressperson with some kind of revealing of information or to withdraw support. And maybe those Blue Dogs had no such vulnerabilities.

The "weakness" meme is not applicable. It's not about that. Bernie is especially ironic with this as not even being a Democrat, the Congress will certainly use its separate powers against what he wants.

[questionseverything]

74. we had a good bill from the house

all the senate had to do was use reconciliation to pass it...once liberals ,including rachel started talking about passing it that way the senate came up with a crappy bill,passed it sent it to the house,they offered some amendments and sent it back to the senate who then used reconciliation to pass the weaker bill

so we never really needed the blue dogs

potus said,about the public option after the 80/20 thing was added and yes i am paraphrasing," i am not married to the public option if we can get to the same place by another vehicle"....and to be fair the 80/20 thing was a good addition but with no price controls the costs are still unaffordable

[treestar]

87. They did use that

to get it through at all. It was Blue Dogs/Republican Senators.

It's the separation of powers. Weakness doesn't enter into it. The Rs could call themselves weak that anything passed at all.

It was consensus of elected officials as it is supposed to be.

[questionseverything]

93. at the time i gave obama the benefit of the doubt

hindsight being 20/20 weakness is probably not the right word...manipulated.sold out are probably closer to the truth but i was trying to be polite

we had more than 50 votes for the public option in the senate, the blue dogs should never have been considered...all o had to do was call reed and say use reconciliation to pass the house bill......wooshbob and done deal

[wyldwolf]

167. So I guess in the same situation, a strong President like Sanders would have come away with...

... jack shit. But principle and all...

[questionseverything]

172. when bernie sponsored the amendment that got us the one time fed audit

it was a compromise

he is willing to compromise to get us closer to the promise America holds

his principals stay the same and have for several decades, which is why i trust him even when he has to compromise

[joshcryer]

166. "Everything on the table" is a weak negotiating position.

However, Obama did not flip flop, he held that position as a candidate.

[onecaliberal]

60. ^^^That^^^

[senz]

59. I am also an Obama supporter who supports Bernie.

Obama did the best he could under extremely difficult circumstances. Bernie is older, more experienced, has a very firm set of convictions -- and no illusions about Republicans. It will not be as easy for the 1% to pressure Bernie.

Also, treestar, I believe you are a Martin O'Malley supporter. Before Bernie declared, I was strongly considering O'Malley as an acceptable alternative to the horrendous Hillary, but the way some O'Malley supporters are attacking Bernie is, unfortunately, making O'Malley look less attractive. Maybe you should rethink this tactic.

[Live and Learn]

86. I am both an Obama and Sanders supporter.

I think you are failing to realize that many of us Obama supporters can't support Clinton now for the reasons we couldn't support her in 2008. Since then she has given us even more reasons to sincerely hope she doesn't get the nomination!

Did I mention she voted for the Iraq war?

[uponit7771]

140. The amount of dismissing Sanders own wood is gob smacking

[hrmjustin]

64. I hope he is asked about it during the debate. Not a good moment from Sanders.

[Armstead]

69. Obama won because people wanted Hope and Change

They got some change. Whether that ws not enogh, too much or just right depends on the change individuals wanted to see,

I think Sanders was saying -- and I agree -- was that in the environment of the time there was a change to reform many things. Aa significant number of people felt that Obama was not willing to try to change things as much as he could have.

It's aso possible to have mixed feelings about a politician. That's what some of the people who complain about "bashing" or "attacking" or "hating"Obama fail to realize.

[mhatrw]

70. While it's 100% true, Sanders should never have said that!

Because why?

Because he should have lied to gain votes as Hillary is lying by pretending she is progressive?

[AzDar]

71. Almost everyone I know is disappointed in Obama. So much political potential WASTED.

Bernie is being way too kind in his assessment of the president...

[MisterP]

77. we all know why he's running: Obama got a mandate and then created a literal "veal pen"

to prevent any of it from being used so he could pop the champagne with Wall Street and the MIC while the commoners tore each other to pieces over who could paint him as the most socialistic

[highprincipleswork]

88. Some people really have trouble with the truth.

I suppose we all do, from time to time, and the rightwing echo chamber that's been set-up since Ronald Raygun just encourages people in so many wrong thoughts.

The beauty of Bernie is that he tells the truth, at least better than any other politician I know. He also follows that up with actions that resonate with his view of the truth.

I like that in a leader.

(By the way, your headline, where you paraphrase what he said (not literally what he said) - the truth? Sorry to say, not so much. I think you'd have to agree it is a filtered version of the truth.)

[jwirr]

98. I supported President Obama both times he ran. I was fed

up with politics as usual. And as a civil rights worker in the 60-70s I saw his victory as finally getting a win on those issues. We had a black man in the WH.

The one thing I am very thankful for him is the impact of his family on the presidency. They have taken an office (the presidency) riddled by scandal and lies and returned it to the respect it deserves. They are a descent family with no huge scandal in the entire time they have led this country. They represent out country in a way that can make us proud.

I also understand that he did do things that needed to be done as mentioned in other posts here.

But from the first day he made some real economic mistakes. He did eventually bring us out of the recession but most of the benefit went to the 1%. He continued Ws bailout plan to the banksters with not a worry about all the bad loans the same crooks had made to the people. So the people took the hit instead of the crooks.

He appointed many on his cabinet from those same crooks. And has never even tried to make a dent in the effect on the people.

Change should have meant working for we the people and ending the raygun era trickle down policies and globalization. Even in the ACA he did not follow the policies of Europe and Canada that worked for the people but instead turned our lives over to the insurance corporations even though most people wanted a single payee program.

I wish I had seen some real change in the direction we are going but I have not. And what is worse I did not see him working for those changes. Ironically the hardest I have seen him work for any bill is when he worked to get TPA passed.

Bernie is right there are a lot of us who are disappointed.

[Live and Learn]

105. +1 And I love his family too. nt

[Indepatriot]

100. I am a staunch Obama supporter who donated

Hundreds of dollars, and more importantly, hundreds of volunteer hours to help him win the White House. I agree 100% with Bernie, and most of the Obama supporters I know feel the same way. Could Hillarians possibly be anymore thin-skinned or bigger drama queens?

[still_one]

115. "Obama is weak"? That will go over well. He gave us healthcare. I know, it wasn't single payer,

and many here still DON'T understand that WE DIDN'T have the votes for single payer or a public option. The blue dogs were never going to vote for it, among them, Bayh, Lieberman, Nelson in Nebraska, Nelson in Florida, and others, but its OK, all the president has to do is wave his wand and the red sea opens.

Millions of people have insurance now because of it, and people's lives have been saved.

He prevented a Great Depression, bailed out the U.S. auto industry, and set the economy on track for recovery. Of course his critics do not believe he went far enough. One group actually believes the financial system should not have been rescued. Obviously, there lack of history, and the consequences of that would have been horrendous, but that is conveniently ignored.

With the Dodd/Frank bill he brought regulation back to Wall Street without killing the economy.

and of course they got Syria to remove its chemical weapons, and negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran.

There are so many issues to name. Obama is NOT weak, and what he has accomplished is more than amazing since he didn't have a majority in Congress most of the time.

Yeah, go ahead and slam Obama and his weakness. No surprise that this comes from Politico, or even if it came from the NY Times, where quite a few of Politico hacks have now gone to work for the Times. I am sure in the proud tradition of Judith Miller.

Interestingly, I wonder why Bernie voted for the ACA? Wouldn't that be considered a sign of weakness. Based on this assessment, negotiating with the republicans was a sign of weakness, is an absurd statement.

http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments/

[ibegurpard]

119. No he did NOT give us healthcare

He gave private insurance companies taxpayer dollars.

[still_one]

125. You didn't answer my question. How could he have gotten single payer to pass without the votes?

[uponit7771]

147. He gave us better than what we had for most... The fact Sanders doesn't recognize the is bad judgmen

[treestar]

134. That last sentence

Indeed, if the ACA is a sign of "weakness" Bernie should have kept to his principles and voted against it.

[Stellar]

128. This whole thread from Right Wing POLITICO should go over well with OBAMA supporter. nt

[olddots]

130. I question the intent of this OP

Politico seems to me like little wankers wanting to get attention from the main stream media .

[uponit7771]

141. Sanders judgement here is bad, this was not smart...no matter what Obmam does in support this bell

[Sheepshank]

145. Bernie supporters have been informed since the beginning of his campaign

Last edited Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Dissing Obama alienates a huge swath of voters. It really doesn't serve a purpose when he is so popular amongst most Dems.

[uponit7771]

146. +1 It's an unthoughtful diss too.... Don't know what it adds to his champaign

[Sheepshank]

149. Frankly, when Bernie first entered the race.....

....I'm not sure even he thought he had much of a chance....and probably spoke without thinking long term.

Above everything else he is still a politician and he plays the games all politicians play to try and get votes, hence his pandering to try and get RW votes. It's all political maneuvering. He just wasn't using his filter in earnest back when he dissed Obama. It's clear he has decided to ignore that talking point hoping it will fade from memory, or he has evolved.

[uponit7771]

160. He hasn't evolved, I heard him on MTP and he pissed me off by not answering on what he'd

... do different than Obama.

Indicating republicans will change their minds when they see 34 trillion people support an issue is not reality

Republicans don't answer to the people, they answer to people who pay their campaigns and it's not the avg broke ass'd conservative.

He also dinged Hillary in saying "he's been consistent" and when Todd asked him why does that make a difference Sanders changed the question and answered something else.

I'm not feeling the Bern,... if I'm going to take a chance I'll take one Hillary, she's got something together so far

[Sheepshank]

170. How can Bernie say he's consistent?

Why here on DU in the last few days most everyone has noted there's been a change in his response to gun control, his reaction to BLM, his admitted anticipated use of drones. He disliked and clearly dissed the Democratic Party but choses to run on that ticket...why that must be a change, and evolving...or he is a hypocrit and a liar?

[uponit7771]

171. +1,My biggest angst against Sanders is he is intimating he can throw a stone in categories...

... he's criticized others in including Obama and Hillary.

He can't, he's "evolved" just like others during the 2015 campaign and he's not going to get a gerrymandered GOP congress to do shit... he's not offered one practical thing that has or will work.

Sanders hasn't made a case on why one should take a chance on him...

[Vattel]

148. Dishonest headline.

Sanders said that Obama has been weak in negotiating with Republicans. He didn't say that Obama is weak. There is an important difference between claiming that someone is weak and claiming that they have been weak in negotiating with someone.

[senz]

151. Very dishonest.

As I just explained to one of the righties and do not mind repeating...

"Obama has not been able to do many of the things he wanted to do; he inherited the Bush recession, he has been up against terrible legislative obstruction and under huge pressures from the true holders of power, the oligarchs. He wanted to bring the two sides together and learned late in the game that with these Republicans it is not possible. He populated his first cabinet with former Clinton administration people who were prone to accommodate the wishes of corporate power.

Bernie is more experienced in the ways of D.C. and has firmer, more established convictions, but he understands what Obama has been up against, he empathizes with that and has said over and over again that he likes and respects Obama. Bernie knows that Obama has not been a bad president."

But your point is better taken, although it requires a kind of discrimination that some either will not admit or might not be capable of.

[uponit7771]

162. Quoting Sanders words isn't dishonest, I can read them for myself and saying Obama is weak in...

... negotiation with republicans is either being a jerk or doesn't know how government works.

Either statement is bullshit coming from Sanders, overall I rarely hear the amount of support for Obama than I do criticism coming from Sanders

[chillfactor]

152. well bernie just lost my primary vote....

President Obama has been one of the strongest President's in our country's history.....and I have been around since Truman

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

154. I have been around just about as long as you and I disagree, Bernie Speaks the TRUTH

as for your deceleration that is nothing more then a matter of option unless of course you are referring how strong and resolute he has been for the 1%, corporations and Wall Street.

[uponit7771]

161. He couldn't speak the truth this morning when asked straight up what he'd do different than Obama...

... other than state some platitude about millions of people..

As if republicans answer to millions of people, they could care less if 2op3i4n23 trillion people were outside their offices they don't answer to the people

The republicans answer to those who fund their campaigns and that's it... they're gerrymandered and could care less about what people think.

His answer wasn't the truth, it was a dodge

[Capt. Obvious]

174. Previously banned troll.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=326693&sub=trans

[Fred Sanders]

178. Troll who seems to have more than a few fans at DU when he posted ludicrous anti-Obama screeds!