Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumWhy Did Bernie and His Organization, Our Revolution, Refuse to Endorse His Son Levi?
A lot of threads have been devoted to how Hunter Biden used his father's name recognition to get board positions, but how does that contrast with Bernie's long time use of campaign funds to employ Levi as a Senior Strategist even though he was not even willing to endorse his son in a campaign.
Bernie Sanders has long employed his son as part of his campaign as a Senior Strategist. Indeed, according to his linked in, Levi has long been on Bernie's payroll:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-sanders-8a112825
Was his refusal driven by a noble desire to avoid nepotism. Or, is it just a pragmatic recognition that his son was not qualified? If so, why does Bernie continue to use campaign moneys to pay Levi?
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/6/7/17438836/levi-sanders-bernie-2020-new-hampshire
Bernie Sanders wont endorse his son for Congress, citing dynasty politics
Fathers Day at the Sanders household could be awkward. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is publicly keeping a distance from his son Levi Sanderss congressional campaign in New Hampshire. The senator declined to endorse his son when Levi announced his candidacy in February, and hes still staying out of it; he says its for the sake of avoiding dynasty politics.
The younger Sanders, 49, is one of multiple Democrats and Republicans running to replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in representing New Hampshires First District. He has styled himself after his father, with his campaign website calling for a system that represents the 99 percent and not the 1 percent who have never had it so good.
But whatever Levi Sanders is putting down, Bernie Sanders is not picking up at least not enough to endorse his only son. When contacted by the Boston Globe about Levi Sanderss candidacy this week, Bernie provided a statement highlighting his support for a higher minimum wage, infrastructure spending, and free public education. As to whether voters should cast their ballots for him, he wouldnt say.
Levi has spent his life in service to low income and working families, and I am very proud of all that he has done, Sanders said. In our family, however, we do not believe in dynastic politics. Levi is running his own campaign in his own way.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)Last edited Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)
....did Our Revolution refuse to endorse him?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TomCADem
(17,378 posts)In a slap to Hillary Clinton, Bernie has bragged about his and his SuperPAC's decision not to endorse Levi Sanders, a Senior Policy Advisor for Bernie, is because he so strongly does not believe in dynastic politics.
https://vtdigger.org/2018/06/10/sanders-will-not-endorse-son-levi-new-hampshire-house-bid/
The Vermont independent has not endorsed his son, Levi Sanders, who is running for Congress in New Hampshire.
* * *
Sanders stepdaughter, Carina Driscoll, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Burlington earlier this year. Though the senator appeared in photos on her campaign material, he did not endorse any candidate in that race.
Driscoll did receive the support of Our Revolution, a political action organization born from Sanders 2016 campaign for president. Levi Sanders is not among the candidates currently backed by Our Revolution.
However, this was not true. Bernie's SuperPAC subsequently endorsed and gave funding to Bernie Sander's stepdaughter, Carol Driscoll. So, what happened to Bernie's strong stand against dynastic politics?
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2018/02/06/our-revolution-sends-fundraising-email-for-carina-driscoll
Our Revolution sent out an email Tuesday seeking $5 donations. The solicitation by the national organization could open the floodgates for Driscoll, who lags behind incumbent Mayor Miro Weinberger in dollars raised. Campaign finance reports filed this week show that Driscoll drummed up $32,000, a figure that includes $10,000 she loaned her campaign. Weinberger, a Democrat, amassed an $80,000 war chest while independent Infinite Culcleasure raised $5,000.
Driscoll applied for and received an Our Revolution endorsement last month. At the time, Driscoll said that she would accept fundraising help if the organization offered.
Our Revolution, which is based in Washington, D.C., was born in 2016 out of Sanders' failed presidential bid. Vermont's junior senator is not involved in the day-to-day operations, though former campaign staff members and longtime Sanders allies continue to preside over the organization.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)....endorsed his step daughter.
By the way Lucy Flores, who denied any connection to Sanders when she accused Joe Biden of sniffing her hair months ago, is on the Board of Directors of Our Revolution.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,753 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
billpolonsky
(270 posts)...and damned if you don't.
I think it's just a bunch of malarkey...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Autumn
(44,753 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TomCADem
(17,378 posts)And saying that he and his SuperPAC were not endorsing or supporting his son or step-daughter, Bernie's SuperPAC then started fundraising for Bernie's step daughter.
Why the inconsistency and why tell people something that is not true?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TexasTowelie
(111,292 posts)and the $100K job for his step-son. That's why never hear Bernie speak about the issue of nepotism.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)Their first year the Sanders Institute received $497,000 their first year, and paid David Driscoll (Bernie's step-son) $100,000 as Executive Director.
Then there was the deal that Jane made as President of Burlington College. Subcontracted a woodworking class to Vermont Woodworking School and paid them almost $500,000 before Burlington College went bankrupt. The founder of Vermont Woodworking School? David Driscoll's sister, Carina Driscoll.
Our Revolution not endorsing Levi to avoid "nepotism" doesn't pass, as they say, the smell test. They endorsed Carina Driscoll when she ran for Mayor of Burlington and campaigned for her.
Kind of contradictory wouldn't you say?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
It also doesn't pass the smell test when they criticize Hunter Biden.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)Or to deal with the issue that Sanders appeared to have no obvious means of support for much of his son's childhood.
Could that lead to tricky questions being asked?
Who knows?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Otto Lidenbrock
(581 posts)hillary beat bernie comfortably in the end without bringing up personal issues. probably because hillary has been a victim of conspiracies and lies about her personal life.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)And if a politician was a dead-beat dad--and I'm not making the charge against Sanders--it would be quite a problem for that politician.
And you are correct, HRC never "went low" against Sanders.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)Troublesome pattern.
Old Towne Media?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(93,851 posts)Last edited Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:06 PM - Edit history (1)
...or that his endorsement would be of no value. Levi got 1.8% of the Primary vote.
I may be biased however; Congressman Chris Pappas is the nephew of a close friend of mine...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TomCADem
(17,378 posts)Duncan Hunter and John Edwards got serious heat for using campaign funds for personal purposes. If the answer is that Levi is not competent, then why use campaign funds to permanently support him and pay Levi as a Senior Policy Analyst, especially when Bernie has been happy to attack his rivals for nepotism. It is one thing if Levi was doing his own thing, and banking on Bernie's name. Instead, Bernie is actively paying Levi with his campaign funds when Bernie's own campaign manager is dissing his role.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/09/bernie-sanders-son-loses-campaign-for-congress
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden