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TomCADem

(17,378 posts)
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:00 PM Dec 2019

Why 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 won’t endorse his son for Congress, citing “dynasty politics”

Father’s Day at the Sanders household could be awkward. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is publicly keeping a distance from his son Levi Sanders’s congressional campaign in New Hampshire. The senator declined to endorse his son when Levi announced his candidacy in February, and he’s still staying out of it; he says it’s 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 Hampshire’s 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 Sanders’s 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 wouldn’t 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.”
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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George II

(67,782 posts)
1. His reason for not endorsing his own son was because of "dynasty politics"???? Then why....
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:03 PM
Dec 2019

Last edited Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)

....did Our Revolution refuse to endorse him?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TomCADem

(17,378 posts)
11. But That Is Not True. BS's SuperPAC Endorsed and Gave Money to Step Daughter.
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 08:01 PM
Dec 2019

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/

While Sen. Bernie Sanders has been throwing his support behind candidates in state and federal elections across the country lately, he’s remained silent on one candidate close to home.

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

An organization launched by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is fundraising on behalf of his stepdaughter, Burlington mayoral candidate 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.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

George II

(67,782 posts)
14. Yes, Our Revolution, at the time headed up by Sanders' current campaign chair, Nina Turner....
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 08:27 PM
Dec 2019

....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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Autumn

(44,753 posts)
2. He knew people would complain if he did.
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:09 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

billpolonsky

(270 posts)
4. damned if you do...
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:58 PM
Dec 2019

...and damned if you don't.


I think it's just a bunch of malarkey...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

TomCADem

(17,378 posts)
12. Yet, After Bragging About His Anti-Nepotism
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 08:05 PM
Dec 2019

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?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TexasTowelie

(111,292 posts)
3. Sanders Institute
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 07:13 PM
Dec 2019

and the $100K job for his step-son. That's why never hear Bernie speak about the issue of nepotism.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

George II

(67,782 posts)
6. Avoids speaking about nepotism. Interesting.....
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 08:20 PM
Dec 2019

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?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

OldRed2450

(710 posts)
7. Exactly!
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 08:36 PM
Dec 2019

It also doesn't pass the smell test when they criticize Hunter Biden.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

The Valley Below

(1,701 posts)
8. Perhaps they didn't want to highlight the circumstances of Levi's birth?
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 09:02 PM
Dec 2019

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?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Otto Lidenbrock

(581 posts)
9. if a democrat brought that up i'd say it's below the belt and they'd go down in my estimation
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 09:05 PM
Dec 2019

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

The Valley Below

(1,701 posts)
10. We don't just run against Democrats.
Sat Dec 7, 2019, 09:09 PM
Dec 2019

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

The Valley Below

(1,701 posts)
13. And what about Jane Sanders taking a $200,000 golden parachute while driving the college into ruin?
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 08:06 PM
Dec 2019

Troublesome pattern.

Old Towne Media?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

brooklynite

(93,851 posts)
15. Maybe the answer is: Levi was a hopeless candidate...
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 08:56 PM
Dec 2019

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...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TomCADem

(17,378 posts)
16. If So, Why Is Bernie Keeping Him on Payroll as a Senior Policy Analyst?
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:05 PM
Dec 2019

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

While some may wonder if his father’s political distance contributed to his loss, New Hampshire politicos argued that defeat was inevitable: Levi, after all, lived about an hour outside of the district, and has a history of losing local elections, once finishing in seventh place in his bid for the Claremont city council. As The Boston Globe reported in February, nearly all of Bernie’s campaign aides, advisers, and allies in New Hampshire warned Levi—whose title on his father’s campaign was senior policy analyst—not to run, and not to expect their endorsements if he did. Jeff Weaver, Bernie’s presidential campaign manager, could barely disguise his disdain: “He really doesn’t know much, to be honest with you.”
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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