Seriously, Bernie?

[EffieBlack]

Wow.

But I probably should stop being surprised

Link to tweet

[comradebillyboy]

1. He won't be needing a running mate of any sort.

[still_one]

4. not nice, but very funny

[MoonRiver]

21. And true.

[NurseJackie]

15. Preach!

[crazytown]

31. Lucky he didn't say that in SC

or NC , or VA, or somewhere further south. It could have have effected his chances in the elections

[NurseJackie]

46. Good thing, eh?

[George II]

47. He only says things like that in "safe" states like Iowa and Vermont.

[crazytown]

49. And lucky it wasn't on TV either,

the ‘wrong’ people could be watching

[treestar]

39. This

[yardwork]

69. That's why it would be silly to consider it. See? Bernie is right.

[brush]

104. What is with him? Just a simple "of course" and he can't come up with it.

I'll just use an old term from the past—not ready for prime time.

[NastyRiffraff]

126. Very true

Every time he opens his mouth he puts his foot into it. He'll be left with only his cultists; not nearly enough.

[trueblue2007]

156. LIKE YOU SAID, puts in his foot ikn his mouth. And What he is saying about Biden is Sickening !!!

I AM SICK OF THIS STUFF !!!!!!!!!

[NastyRiffraff]

172. Me too

After he promised to run on the issues, he's trashing Joe Biden, and he'll do the same to others if/when they surge. Particularly if it's a woman.

Biden isn't my first choice, but he's a good man. If he wins the nomination I'll work my ass off to get him elected.

[sheshe2]

180. I would say something, yet ya know....

After he promised to run on the issues, he's trashing Joe Biden, and he'll do the same to others if/when they surge. Particularly if it's a woman.

[rgbecker]

167. Did you bother to listen to this interview?

https://contemptor.com/2019/05/05/bernie-sanders-its-premature-and-silly-to-consider-a-person-of-color-as-my-running-mate/

[StarfishSaver]

177. I watched it

It's worse on the video than in print.

[empedocles]

2. Playing to some subgroups?

[still_one]

3. Effie, glad to see you here!!!

[Anon-C]

84. Seconded!

[LongtimeAZDem]

5. While it was stupid to say, he might have had a point if he hadn't already said:

"I think we would look for somebody who is maybe not of the same gender that I am, and maybe somebody who might be a couple of years younger than me,” Sanders, who jumped into the race this week, said of a possible VP pick during an appearance on the "The Young Turks," a left-leaning web series.

Sanders says he's leaning towards selecting a woman for VP if he's 2020 Dem nominee

[ehrnst]

9. Every politician makes a gaffe. But not all get the pass that Senator Sanders does

even when he doubles down after being fact checked.

[Chakaconcarne]

23. Or on the flipside... whenever Bernie makes a gaffe he gets hammered for it...

Even on DU.

[ehrnst]

24. Not by Sanders supporters.

I find that even fact checking of Sanders is often called "a hit job" by many on DU.

I think that Sanders sets that tone.

[rzemanfl]

162. Bookmarking. n/t

[EffieBlack]

10. In the same interview - right before he said this, he said he'd consider a woman

But when asked about a person of color, he went all “Humana Humana” and said it was premature and silly to consider it.

https://m.

&t=1795&feature=youtu.be

But he did go to a big speech that MLK gave 56 years ago, so I guess this is no big deal.

[highplainsdem]

25. Agree. The contrast between the two answers, seconds apart, was really bad.

[ehrnst]

27. +1000. (nt)

[WeekiWater]

40. He has made an even stronger statement about picking a woman.

I quoted it below. You are clearly spot on to notice the difference.

[pangaia]

51. It is POSSIBLE, just possible, that Sanders felt several questions coming about a VP choice,

and didn't want to go any further with it, so he tried to shut it down. I don't know. I've seen him respond this way in the past about some issue... to answer a question or 2 and then want to not go farther with it.

But, this SURE at least looked really bad, no doubt about it..

[LongtimeAZDem]

72. If so, he could have said, "Of course I would consider a woman of color, but we're getting

ahead of ourselves."

But, he didn't.

[Hortensis]

62. Exactly. This question followed would he consider a woman,

it didn't come out of nowhere. Instead, after a strong affirmative for a woman VP, it generated a long pause followed by "silly" and "premature."

I'm taking this as further evidence for my theory that he feels black support would injure him with large numbers of the white socially conservative populists whose support he must gain. He does also need to satisfy his liberal and farther-left supporters that they're not part of an essentially white movement, but that's all.

He's really very bad at it.

[R B Garr]

96. Nailed it again, Hortensis. That's what it does look like--

a calculated response meant to appeal to subgroups. Interesting his unequivocating and immediate support and compliments for Trump on NK, an immediate okay for a woman running mate, but an immediate shutdown and dismissal of an AA running mate. Not subtle at all.

[Hortensis]

102. Also chumming for trumpsters using NK AND immigration,

adopting RW-compatible positions on both. He's 3 for 3 just in the past couple days.

[R B Garr]

140. +1000, I've heard those appeals. too.

Very telling. Also the red meat about “establishment”. He should honor that pledge he signed.

[tymorial]

87. He certainly does like to remind everyone of his presence

[Metalmom]

141. Thanks for posting that

Was looking for the complete video and wasn't having much luck.

[groundloop]

41. Would have been simple enough to say 'too early to think about this......'

If his brain had been properly engaged he'd have simply said that's it's too early to be making predictions about a running mate but that he'd consider all options and base his decision on who would do the best job for working Americans.

I'm really not sure what to make of this, but it doesn't sound good.

[Metalmom]

142. Watched the whole video posted below

He spoke very well of Elizabeth Warren, could it be he's already promised her the VP spot if he won the nomination?

[Gothmog]

6. Tulsi Gabbard will be sanders' VP Is he gets the nomination

[NurseJackie]

16. Lord.

[lunamagica]

73. What a combo...Yuck

[Gothmog]

100. agreed

[NastyRiffraff]

128. Good thing he won't get the nomination!

But yeah, he and Tulsi kinda go together.

[Gothmog]

173. Agreed-

[MineralMan]

8. Well, it wasn't going to be an issue, anyhow, but he

made it more certain not to be an issue with that statement.

[George II]

11. Pandering to the mostly white Iowa voters?

[EffieBlack]

12. Maybe. But he hasn't figured out that everyone else can hear him, too?

[Clash City Rocker]

54. Seriously. Politicians should assume that everything they say in public will make the news

This isn’t the first time Bernie has run for President. You think he would have learned by now.

[progressoid]

123. Yeah, because white people in Iowa vote for white people.

?zoom=2&resize=613%2C400

[George II]

125. What's your point?

[progressoid]

127. What's your point about Iowa's mostly white voters?

[George II]

129. He's in Iowa and says it's "silly" to consider a person of color as a running mate. Now yours?

[progressoid]

135. And how does that inform your statement about white Iowa voters?

Is there something about white Iowa voters that you think this would pander to?


Edit, I just watched the clip. He didn't say it was ""silly" to consider a person of color as a running mate." He said it was premature and silly to make that statement now.

[emulatorloo]

144. Except Iowa white caucus voters aren't racists. They are left liberal and progressives

[SharonClark]

165. Well, the Dems are, anyway.

[lark]

13. He was also going very negative on Biden again.

Flailing Bernie? Why does he sign papers not to attack Democratic seekers for the office, then turns around and does exactly that first thing? It just adds to my perception that he is not to be trusted. Hiring Paul Manaforts' partner in Ukraine to run his campaign was the first sin, not taking personal responsibility for his staffs sexual harassment and letting it continue without noticing, and now this.

IF he wins the nomination, which I think is very unlikely, I will vote for him in the general. Hell, I might even work for him because he's not the Russian/Israeli minion drumpf is and I don't believe he's a crook either.

[NurseJackie]

18. Trump would most EASILY defeat BS.

America will not elect a socialist. I promise you.

[thesquanderer]

55. re: "America will not elect a socialist. I promise you."

In 2007-8, lots of people--even Dems--were basically saying "America will not elect a black man. I promise you." You never know...

[NurseJackie]

67. Yes I do.

You never know...

Yes I do. The "black man" shared our nations values and had an optimistic and realistic view of the world and of politics. The socialist does not. Trump and the GOP will have an incredibly easy time driving that point home. BS's opponents have been very gentle with him, and I assure you that Trump and the GOP will not give him the same courtesy.

America will not elect a socialist. I promise you. Fewer caucuses, thankfully, will present yet another hurdle for BS... while at the same time protecting the sanctity of the secret ballot and "re-infranchizing" all those who had been denied the ability to participate in the process.

[lunamagica]

74. + a million!

[Gothmog]

60. If sanders is the nominee, trump will win 45+ states in the real world

[Cha]

166. Time to expose BS' voting record..

Link to tweet

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. He's not going to need a running mate, but

why is it "premature and silly" to at least consider a PoC for that position, which in his case is totally theoretical anyhow? Considering it doesn't mean he'd have to do it, especially since he won't have to consider anybody.

[George II]

22. Forget premature, why "silly" as though that's out of the question.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

53. I interpreted it as meaning it's silly to decide prematurely, but maybe that was too generous.

If he thinks it's silly to even consider a PoC running mate, then he's done.

[NurseJackie]

94. You might be right, but I'd be more comfortable with a candidate who can think on their feet...

You might be right, but I'd be more comfortable with a candidate who can think on their feet. We need someone who's prepared; a candidate who can anticipate questions; a candidate who doesn't just blurt out the first thing that pops into his (or her) head; a candidate who has internal filters and who can be polite and diplomatic (even when annoyed). Candidates who pop-off, or who lose their cool, or who can't think about what they're about to say BEFORE they say it, do not give me confidence in their ability to be an effective leader. He (or she) needs to be more refined and thoughtful. I want to see someone demonstrate that he (or she) has the temperament to be president.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

95. Absolutely.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, it still was a ham-handed response.

[KitSileya]

105. As we have seen, Senator Sanders has trouble in interviews where he cannot vet the qs

As his own local papers have amply documented, Senator Sanders has a long history of refusing interviews where he is not allowed to vet the questions beforehand. When he has to let himself be interviewed anyway, like on the national stage, he has trouble answering, like the infamous NYDN interview and more recently at the DC town hall and She the People forum. Other times he's simply lost his temper and walked out (there's plenty of clips of this on youtube, I won't link because it might get my post hidden.)

[dlk]

17. When People Tell You Who They Are...

[NurseJackie]

19. I do. I have. I did. I will. (Looks like others are doing that too.)

I believe that as a party, and as a nation, we can do better than choosing a socialist who would be easily defeated by Trump. We have so many talented and vibrant and energetic candidates... we have candidates with vigor and stamina and realistic ideas... we have candidates who are much better prepared, and who have the vision and demeanor to lead our nation and to represent our nation on the world stage. I'm looking for someone who commands respect from our adversaries.

[dlk]

103. Agreed

[grantcart]

20. Well no not seriously, more of a gadfly really.

Anybody who is surprised at this must have missed his very earnest effort to primary President Obama.

[NurseJackie]

106. I noticed. It was offensive.

[grantcart]

111. You are being polite

[NurseJackie]

118. I'm forcing myself.

It's very difficult.

[grantcart]

148. See I thought you were self medicating

[NurseJackie]

149. That's an interesting idea. I'll give it some serious thought.

[redgreenandblue]

26. Ok, I actually watched the clip. The framing is pretty dishonest.

He said it was premature and silly to talk about running mates. He is right of course

[yaesu]

28. MSM will be doing all they can to get there guy in & its not Bernie. Yes, they are out to get him

& all progressives with the help of russia, the GOP & threads that spread it.

[emulatorloo]

36. The GRU prompted Senator Sanders in 2016 in order to help Trump win.

As to the MSM, they seem hell bent on trying to destroy Biden

Of course YMMV

[treestar]

42. He said he would consider a woman

then the interviewer said "person of color?" and then he said it was premature. Right after the question about women, which he answered that he would consider a woman. Maybe it was a second thought that applied to women, too, and he seemed a bit impatient with the question. But then when running for POTUS, every word out of your mouth is parsed - better to repeat that he'd consider it, rather than making it look like a different answer.

[NurseJackie]

68. There's a very easy response to hypothetical questions like that, but it escaped him.

Personally, I think we can do better. If he's having difficulty "thinking on his feet" and coming up with decent responses to questions like that... then I have to wonder if that's a something that everyone should be concerned about. Not every situation can be controlled and scripted. Simply reading from (or reciting lines from) one of his three (?) stump speeches leaves much to be desired. No candidate should be struggling with an EASY question like that.

[NYC Liberal]

132. The response is absurdly obvious and easy:

“I think there are many fantastic Democrats from all different backgrounds who would make excellent running mates. When the time comes and I’m fortunate enough to be making that decision, I’ll pick the person who best represents the American people and can help us win in 2020.”

Easy. If you can think on your feet.

[NurseJackie]

138. I think that's an important and necessary quality for a US president to have.

Easy. If you can think on your feet.

I think that's an important and necessary quality for a US president to have. It's a quality that I haven't seen BS demonstrate to my satisfaction. I believe that we need better and that we can do better.



PS: Your sample answer was right on target.

[Cha]

170. Well said.

[EffieBlack]

78. Everyone can see the clip and the "framing" is dead on

If he thinks it’s “silly” to be discussing running mates, he shouldn't have discussed it at all. If he didn’t think it was “silly” to promise to consider a woman, he should have answered the question that immediately followed about a person of color.

Instead, he eagerly answered th3 question about a female running mate, but when asked about a black or brown one, he attacked the interviewer for asking a “silly” question - when the only difference between the question he answered and the one he didn’t was racial.

BERNIE framed this, not I.

[Celerity]

164. the framing is correct, I watched it, and he fucked up badly

Terrible gaffe. I am usually suspicious of a bash Bernie post, but this one is legit.

I cannot wait till he drops up. He has almost no chance at the nomination and even less of one in terms of beating Trump. Bernie is far too great a risk to support. If he is smashed in most of the primaries leading up to and including Super Tuesday, and truly has no real chance at being nominated, YET plows on and goes even more scorched earth, then it will be clear he is a wrecker. Just because he may have the funds to fight all the way to the last primary does NOT mean he should. For the good of the nation he will need to bow out and then campaign HARD for the true nominee, AND demand to ALL his supporters to support our nominee.

[pnwmom]

183. I did, too. And his comment sounded dismissive,

which, unfortunately, fits with a negative impression many already had.

[Blue Owl]

29. He's got Jill Stein on the speed dial, I bet...

n/t

[NurseJackie]

107. Her most vocal and enthusiastic supporters, at least.

[NYMinute]

114. There is also Susan Sarandon nt

[hlthe2b]

30. Classic "Open mouth, insert foot"... That one is going to 'hurt'

[emulatorloo]

32. Bookmarking

[LongtimeAZDem]

86. Archiving

[Mr.Bill]

33. Correct answer to this question by any candidate is

"I have an extensive list of who I am considering for my VP and I can assure you it is a very diverse list."

[NYMinute]

116. Is your last name Clinton?

[Mr.Bill]

124. Am I supposed to be insulted by that?

Is being like Clinton an insult here now?

Perhaps I misunderstand?

[trueblue2007]

157. no!!!! NO INSULT TO LIKE HILLARY CLINTON. We need to remember she's GREAT

I wish Bernie would have remembered that instead of his infernal bashing on her.

[NYMinute]

176. I am a Hillary and Bill supporter

Please see my response to Mr. Bill. Post #175

[NYMinute]

175. Sir, I PMed you and explained

Your suggestion for candidates was so astute and diplomatic, and because your ID is Mr.Bill, I jokingly said if you are Bill Clinton who is a masterful politician. It was actually a compliment.

[Mr.Bill]

178. And I answered your PM.

Did you receive my answer?

[NYMinute]

181. Yes, I did

Thank you for understanding.

[George II]

174. .

[Honeycombe8]

159. Good answer. nt

[Tiggeroshii]

34. Awful!! Except he didn't say that

He said it is premature to make that decision right now. Which is true. No shame in the lies?

[jalan48]

37. Fox News does it daily. Apparently it works.

[Tiggeroshii]

38. It does

[NastyRiffraff]

133. Then why didn't he say the same about a woman VP?

Not that it matters. He won't win the nomination anyway, so he's actually right about not speculating about a running mate. Still, he did say he'd consider a woman, so there seems to be a contradiction.

[WeekiWater]

35. Compare that with:"I think we would look for somebody who is maybe not of the same gender that I am"

That was his answer when asked "What are the attributes you would look for in a vice president?”

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

52. "Maybe not of the same gender that I am"?

Could he possibly be more evasive?

[Honeycombe8]

160. LOL!

That was funny. As in..."guess which gender I'm speaking about!" No criticism of you or the other poster. It's just that that WOULD be a typical vague political answer by a politician.

[KPN]

43. I have to agree that that was dumb on Bernie's part. He could have said the same about con-

sidering a woman, but didn't.

I love Bernie, but just don't see him as being able to pull this off or actually being the right person right now (right now being 2020).

[djacq]

44. I get "Premature" but "SILLY"?!

Hey Bernie Bros!

Senator Sanders most likely will not get the Black Vote.

He certainly will not get mine during the Primaries.

[thesquanderer]

77. Silly *because* it's premature. Obvious from his phrasing, if you listen to it. (n/t)

[ehrnst]

45. "Silly." That's a condescending way to dismiss a reporter asking a question

He's deployed that dis before.

[NurseJackie]

59. Yep... I expect more from someone who's seeking the highest office in the land.

[calimary]

48. That's something you probably won't have to worry about, Bernie.

[pdsimdars]

50. Lots of under the surface animosity for Bernie, when HE has the progressive record for 40 years

Talk about tribalism, the GOP has nothing on the left in that regard.

[bloom]

57. That's funny - because it is BS fans who strike me as tribal

most other people are not nearly as attached to their favorite candidates.

[ehrnst]

61. +1000. The accusations of "hit piece" when he's fact checked are

certainly indicative of this kind of response.

[BannonsLiver]

85. All of it richly deserved.

And earned by Bernie.

[pdsimdars]

110. That's what all the tribalist haters say. Let your thoughts and words tell who you are.

[BannonsLiver]

113. Yes, I'm sure you've believe all of that.

[pdsimdars]

120. All you have to do is have the slighest bit of objectivity and you can see they're mirror images

But for those who are unable to have unbiased, rational thought, they revert to clever quips. . .
Whether on the left or the right, non thinking tribalism is tribalism, period.

[BannonsLiver]

150. I'm sorry you feel that way.

[pdsimdars]

154. Geez and I feel sorry that you think that way.

[BannonsLiver]

155. Thanks for your concern.

[betsuni]

163. ...

[Historic NY]

56. What no 'my revolution' prospects......

[saidsimplesimon]

58. I'm always pleased when

I see a diary with your name. You often report things that sting a bit on first glance.

Upon reflection about your comment, I can most often "let go" of my "white priviledge" and see the world from a prism of color. I know "seriously" it took me two paragraphs when only your one word was needed.

[Madtown]

63. Totally out of context and not correct

if you listened to the interview that is not what he' said

https://contemptor.com/2019/05/05/bernie-sanders-its-premature-and-silly-to-consider-a-person-of-color-as-my-running-mate/

[LongtimeAZDem]

98. No, he says, "I think it's premature. It would be silly to make that, uh, statement right now."

[notinkansas]

64. Really??

Shame on you for spreading misinformation.

[mopinko]

83. really yourself. are you calling effie a liar, or a troll, or what?

it's bernie's own damn tweet.

[LongtimeAZDem]

99. Yes, he did

He said, "I think it's premature. It would be silly to make that, uh, statement right now."

[PatrickforO]

65. Well...an unfortunate statement.

My take on it, though, is that he was telling the media head that it's still early days and way too soon to even be considering anybody as a running mate. We haven't even started the actual primaries/caucuses yet.

That's my take on it. I don't think he's saying what is being read into it - that he would consider a woman but not a person of color as his running mate. That just isn't what he said.

And, note, I'm not supporting Bernie this time around, but lots of people on here think the worst of him no matter what he says. This example you're forwarding is a prime example of that. It could get all bent out of shape, and go viral so that people purposely get the wrong idea - oh, Bernie's racist.

Because he's not.

He has his problems, and certainly he is coming across this time as a sort of old grouch/curmudgeon.

But he's not racist, and I'm completely confident that he would consider both a woman and/or a person of color as his running mate.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

79. His response suggests, at best, that he doesn't think well on his feet.

All he had to do was say something to the effect of, "It's too early in the process now to make that decision, but if I am the nominee I will choose a running mate from a diverse list that will definitely include women and people of color." Instead, using the word "silly" made it sound either like he thought the reporter was rude or that choosing a PoC as a running mate was silly. I have to assume that he's not actually a racist, but if he keeps making clumsy remarks like that he makes it too easy for people to wonder whether he is.

[comradebillyboy]

89. He dosen't seem capable of thinking on his feet.

Probably why he avoids free form press conferences where he can be questioned. He only wants the press to report his talking points without any probing questions.

[PatrickforO]

108. Agreed. He could have handled the question much better. n/t

[grantcart]

112. And yet he seriously wanted to primary the first AA President.

I don't think he is a racist just insensitive and lacking in self awareness.

[PatrickforO]

115. Yeah, I can agree with that.

Racism is very tricky though. I'm a white guy in his 60s who was raised in suburbia. So, by definition, I've enjoyed white male privilege all my life - which you start recognizing once you get over the indignant 'no I don't!' first response to the concept.

I mean, I can sit here all day on this thread and tell everyone who will listen that I'm not racist, but let's think about a couple things:

First, no white man can ever know what it is like to be a person of color or a woman. Second, our society has institutional racism so 'baked in' that it is very difficult for me to claim that I'm not when I have enjoyed those privileges accorded white males.

Here's an example: Those who follow my posts on here, or even if you have casually read a few, know that I'm absolutely furious about the concentration camps the Trump administration has set up on our southern border. I'm incensed that children are ripped from their parents. I'm horrified that ICE and CBP have been so cavalier about tracking them to reunite them to their parents. I know you've read incendiary language from me about how there MUST be trials to hold these people accountable.

But, in the context of comments on these threads, it has come to my attention that we've done the same things to African-Americans held in slavery, and definitely to native Americans. Their concentration camps are called 'reservations,' and the concentration camps for blacks are called 'prison industries.'

I think this is the issue with race and the concept of racism if you are white and male. It is difficult, even if you are relatively 'enlightened,' to not hold in the back of your mind the horrific crimes committed by your own ancestors (a significant number of mine were slaveholders, and certainly some fought in the so-called 'Indian wars.'). My people moved across this land with the rest of the white settlers under the banner of Manifest Destiny.

Do I feel bad about that? Yes.

Am I afraid of retribution when white people are no longer the majority? Not as much as some, but yes.

Do I know what to do about it? No. Oh, sure, I can sit here and pontificate on the need for rampant change in our police forces nationwide, reform of the prisons, better schools and so on, but I fear that isn't enough.

And, I can tell you that I've worked hard all my life. My body is somewhat ruined from hard physical labor, which I have had to do for perhaps a decade and a half all told of the forty-plus years I've worked. I have a middle class lifestyle I'm trying to hold on to. I'm deeply afraid that the Republican tax cuts are going to cause my Social Security to melt away, or that a massive recession with austerity because the GOP has put us in a debt crisis will gobble up any pension I might get. And I'm scared Medicare will be cut to pieces by the time I get there and I will get sick and the capitalists will take everything, leaving my family destitute.

This is a fucking cruel country even if you are a white male.

I had a friend who used to say America is a great place unless you're old, poor, sick or different. Now I am three of those, and only a few checks away from the fourth.

So, I like Bernie on the issues because they speak to my own needs. But I have never had to school my kids or my grandkids in how to survive if stopped by the police.

The bottom line is we have to change our whole approach to humanity, to how we organize ourselves. We have to stop organizing around human greed and start organizing around human need. Or else we're going to end up going extinct as a species. There is only one earth, and we're all passengers on it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

168. Bravo! Thanks for that. Excellent insights.

[redstatebluegirl]

66. He isn't going to need a running mate.

He won't survive the primaries.

[DownriverDem]

70. Forget Bernie

Biden/Harris is the winning ticket!

[lunamagica]

71. He is right. It is silly. He won't get that far

[peggysue2]

75. Wow!

The Senator from Vermont spent the weekend putting his foot in his mouth. His comments about not faulting Trump on the NK issue was a doozy. Now this.

But please, Senator, continue digging that hole.

[JI7]

76. it probably just means one shouldn't assume he would be nominee

[Hassin Bin Sober]

101. That's exactly what it was.

He answered one question and, when the question was expanded, he shut the guy down because it’s silly speculation at this point.

More manufactured outrage from anonymous twitter.

[Autumn]

151. If Bernie has said, I am going to consider a person of color as my running mate,

I am going to consider a woman as my running mate, I am going to consider a white old man as my running mate, I am going to consider an alien as my running mate, I am going to consider a dog as my running mate. The reaction would have been the very same. If he hadn't said It's 'Premature' and 'Silly' and instead said it's Late and wise, it's raining and sunny, it's black and blue the reaction would have been the same. Anything Bernie says does, or thinks gets the same reaction.

Some of the comments to that tweet are brutal and calling out the tweet as bullshit.

Link to tweet

?

[Perseus]

80. Wow...He really put his foot in his mouth with this one

I decided to see/hear the interview to make sure his statement was not being taken out of context, but he did not flinch when asked about a woman as a running mate, then he did when asked about a person of color...the right answer Bernie should have been "of course, we have plenty of dedicated and very good people running for office, as well as in the party, I have many choices, race and gender should not be a consideration."...but you didn't Bernie, this one, I think, is going to byte you hard, your reaction to the question, even before you opened your mouth was very telling, your body language was one as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on your back.

[EffieBlack]

81. Exactly!

But as usual, we’re being treated to a lot of “you’re taking him out of context” and “that’s not what he meant” gaslighting, when the videotape is clear as it can be ... same ol’ same ol’

[Perseus]

93. People must watch the video

He actually jumped when he was asked about a person of color as running mate, body language tells a lot about a person because it happens automatically, even before they open their mouths.

There is nothing "out of context here", you give your thumbs up for a woman running mate, but your body language gives out your feelings even before you open your mouth, then you say it is premature and silly? How come it wasn't premature and silly for the woman?

Yeap, you are right...no doubt this time.

[Hortensis]

119. Yes, but were it and that pause deliberate?

I believe his rigid thinking doesn't allow him to be smart compared to others in his position, but I don't think he's inexperienced or brain dead either.

[mcar]

146. It never changes, Effie

One would think people learned from 2016. They didn't, apparently.

[Eliot Rosewater]

82. He is bound and determined to make CERTAIN no Democrat sits in the WH...

THAT is his agenda.

So SICK OF HIS SHIT like his ATTACKING Joe Biden

When will people get it?

[BigOleDummy]

91. I like , to an extent, Mr. Sanders...

…. But as I've mentioned before I do not think his running is necessarily a good thing. Way , way too many negatives and we NEED all the "positives" we can muster this upcoming election. Tbh, I worry greatly that he will hurt not only our chances of winning the presidency but also all the down ticket candidates which we need just as much. Why can he not just be like …… I don't know ….. an elder statesman? A guru to talk to about things and advise? His ego, and I truly believe that's what causing him to run, will hurt us come 2020.

[karynnj]

92. Ugh!

listen to the link to get the context -- which only made it worse. I had hoped he was simply making the point that until someone got the nomination, they should not be publicly speculating on who their VP choice would be.

Instead, the first question was whether he would consider a woman -- to which he simply responded, "yes". The next question was a POC and his answer was as the OP stated. Once he went down the path of not ruling out a woman (or another man), he could not go to the high road of saying it was presumptuous to speak of that because he was not the nominee. However, he could have similarly responded "yes" and then - if he chose to say both of these questions were premature.

[fleabiscuit]

97. Wow. He could have punted and said "sure" even if he doesn't know any person of color personally. nt

[Kahuna7]

109. So, Jesse Jackson was qualified to be President, but Harris and Booker...

aren't qualified to be vice president??? Got it.

[dalton99a]

117. 'Silly' to be keeping talking about 2016

Bernie Sanders: 'Silly' for Hillary Clinton to continue talking about 2016
by Anna Giaritelli | September 08, 2017 08:38 AM

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., late Thursday urged fellow 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to move on from an election she lost 10 months ago.

"Our job now is really not to go backwards, it is to go forwards," Sanders said on the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert." "I think it's a little bit silly to be keeping talking about 2016. We've got too many problems."

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/bernie-sanders-silly-for-hillary-clinton-to-continue-talking-about-2016

[WhiskeyGrinder]

121. I can't decide which pisses me off more: The fact that he's incapable of talking about race or

gender without flinching, or the fact that he doesn't feel like he has to even try.

[spooky3]

122. Even if a candidate doesn't "get it", at this point she/he

should be smart enough to say something like “I have a lot of work to do first, to win the nomination over so many outstanding people” every time anyone asks him or her about ANY potential VP.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

139. Right -- that's what's so insulting. He doesn't even bother working on a throwaway line. Why should

he? He's Bernie Sanders!

[YOHABLO]

130. Would you rather he said: ''I am looking for 'a person of color' for my running mate" not white?

It's a year and a half folks, it's way too early to start this fighting.

[George II]

131. A simple "I won't rule out anyone" would have been fine.

[YOHABLO]

136. It's too early to even be talking about this. I'm pretty sure that is what Sanders meant.

Everything is contextual. People need to quit being so sensitive and jumping on every word or phrase a candidate makes.

[emulatorloo]

145. "What Bernie really meant to say was ..."

The questions aren’t going to get any easier. Hopefully the answers will start getting better.

[mcar]

147. How come Sanders gets this benefit of the doubt?

I think what Sanders meant...

No other candidate gets this bye.

[BannonsLiver]

169. Never would be too early.

[LongtimeAZDem]

137. Asked about having a woman on the ticket, he said he'd seriously consider it. Asked immediately

after that if he's consider a woman of color, he said it's premature and silly to talk about it.

At the very least, that was idiotic.

[samnsara]

134. i like Corys response better....

[mcar]

143. He said what?

[DonaldsRump]

152. Wow

No comment, except wow...

[Kurt V.]

153. i enjoy having sanders in the public discourse. he's moving America (even if it's at a glacial pace)

leftward. but as they say in baseball, he's got some holes in his swing

[MustLoveBeagles]

158. Ouch

Last edited Mon May 6, 2019, 10:13 PM - Edit history (1)

I haven't read all the responses to this thread, but I think he would've been better off saying I won't rule ANYONE out.

[Eric J in MN]

179. He was asked if he would 'pledge' not if he would consider.

None of the candidates have pledged to choose a POC VP.

[LongtimeAZDem]

182. This is what he said:

Karl: "Cory Booker says he will name a woman as his running mate. Will you make the same pledge?"

Sanders: "I would give very serious consideration to that."

Karl: "Person of color?"

Sanders: "I think it's premature. It would be silly to make that, uh, statement right now."

Bad optics, as they say.