Mrs. Clinton, You Already Beat Bernie Sanders. Trump Is the Opponent Now.

[Autumn]

Listen, I get it. It must be hard, after a bitter defeat that kept her from being the country’s first female president, to see her former rival rise in the polls, beloved by his supporters.
But considering the stakes, it’d be best if Mrs. Clinton worked through all that on her own.

It wasn’t so long ago that Mrs. Clinton made similarly pointless comments suggesting that another Democrat in the race, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, was the favored candidate of the Russians. All that did was help Tulsi Gabbard, who some have feared might wage an independent campaign in November. Her relevance was briefly inflated by being the object of Mrs. Clinton’s public ire.

If interest in Mrs. Clinton is high enough to warrant a documentary, fine. But in the middle of a presidential campaign, does she need to be so distracting?

And, as a reminder, after the 2016 Democratic convention, Mr. Sanders campaigned vigorously for Mrs. Clinton. “We have to do everything that we can to elect Secretary Clinton!” he roared to crowds while stumping for her in North Carolina days before the election. “Sanders has been one of the real champions of this campaign,” The New Yorker reported at the time.

It’s really not too much to ask Mrs. Clinton to return the favor, or if that’s too hard, to stay out of the primary contest entirely. That’s not because it’s the gracious thing to do, though it is the gracious thing to do. It’s because an electoral victory by Mr. Trump, as Mr. Sanders made clear when he campaigned for Mrs. Clinton, would be too much for the country to bear.
Democratic voters know that. Does Hillary Clinton?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/21/opinion/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders.html?fbclid=IwAR1kb5W9ueu1toPciOgwRo1Lf-Qd5fBGa2eePIFe76-FEF1cXriTfEagKLM

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. Eye roll

The woman everyone loves to attack. Even if it means rewriting history.

Let her speak the truth.

[Autumn]

5. No one is stopping her from speaking her truth. nt

[Retrograde]

15. No, just criticizing her when she does

speak her mind.

[ehrnst]

19. As always... (nt)

[Autumn]

35. If Bernie were to say he didn't like her the shit would hit the fan. And you know it.

[Demsrule86]

63. Sanders has had plenty to say about Clinton after the 2020 general...we can't discuss the

16 primary of course here, and maybe the shit did hit the fan... that may be why he appears to be losing the primary. How deliciously ironic if true...I bet if Sanders had worked his heart out for Clinton in the 16 General, he would be doing much better. There are still hard feeling about this and that won't change IMHO.

[Eliot Rosewater]

102. Most people like her, though. Well, almost EVERYONE who has met her that is.

[Demsrule86]

114. I love Hillary and was fortunate enough to meet her once. She would have been a great

president and spared us Gorsuch and Kavanaugh...babies in cages, tax cuts, health care cuts and maybe war. I hate those who did not vote for the Democratic nominee in 16 with a burning passion of 100000000 suns. And that goes double for Stein.

[mcar]

172. I volunteered at several rallies in FL in 2016

Didn't get to meet her but I was impressed by how warm and down to earth she is.

[Demsrule86]

174. I volunteered in Ohio. My small city went for her...wish all of Ohio had.

I now live in Cleveland.

[Bev54]

129. There is also still animosity

because Bernie did little to help those down ballot dems in 2016. Hillary raised a lot of money for those down ballots.I don't know if that is different this year or not, I am just not interested enough to check.

[delisen]

137. Bernie did not build the Democratic Party;he just wants to plunder what others have built.

[Locrian]

76. If Benie said 1/10000 of what she said

there would be non-stop HOWLS of anger and righteousness.
Party unity etc non-stop.

The double standard and hypocrisy is astounding.

[Autumn]

103. It's not astounding. It's how it is. Been that way a while and it won't change.

[Demsrule86]

115. I could post all the stuff Sanders said since the 2016 General but I won't...let's just say

he wasn't very nice and leave it at that. So no that is not true.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

149. Yes indeed!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[ehrnst]

193. It's what he didn't say when "endorsing" her on the campaign trail that really

communicated how he felt.

[George II]

2. She's been in the public eye for 40 years, she did an interview, she was asked a question...

Do people want her to lie?

[Autumn]

37. She can say whatever she wants. No one is stopping her.

[lapucelle]

87. Well then expect to hear more: the documentary on HRC's life is premiering

at the Sundance Film Festival which runs from January 23 through February 5 and will then be available in four installments on Hulu.

In the course of filming the documentary, HRC was asked for her perspective on and opinion of a variety of people. She was candid, plain-spoken, and honest.

AS for poor Mara Gay, she seems confused. Isn't she aware that she is a member of the board that signed off on this statement concerning BS just last week?

Only his prescriptions can be the right ones, even though most are overly rigid, untested and divisive. He promises that once in office, a groundswell of support will emerge to push through his agenda.

snip=====================================================

Three years into the Trump administration, we see little advantage to exchanging one over-promising, divisive figure in Washington for another.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/19/opinion/amy-klobuchar-elizabeth-warren-nytimes-endorsement.html

Mara Gay and the NYT Editorial Board can say whatever they want as well. No one is stopping them. Like HRC, they too recognize a responsibility to tell the unvarnished truth when so much is at stake. Free speech is not a privilege reserved to the press. .

The most notable thing about HRC's candid perspective and the Editorial Board's blistering assessment of BS is how remarkably similar they are.

[Autumn]

89. Maybe she's not a fan of either. Well enjoy watching it when it comes out. I think I'll pass.

[lapucelle]

106. It was the entire Editorial Board of the NYT that signed off on the dismal assessment of BS,

not just one opinion writer.

[Autumn]

108. I don't have a clue what editorial bout Bernie you are even talking about. This one under discussion

is about Clinton and the young woman who wrote the piece in my OP is on the editorial board too. As for their opinion of Bernie I'm fresh out of fucks to give about what anyone thinks of him.

[George II]

136. Yet you posted an OP all but telling her to shut up.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

151. True... and then, like anyone else, she should take responsibility for what she says.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[karynnj]

186. Having been in the arena for 40 years, she knows how to deflect a question

I think she either wanted to say these things or the person doing the documentary really did her a disservice. She has already made it abundantly clear that she does not like Sanders and blames him for hurting her run in 2016.

There are other people who have run narrow races, but no one who has so aggressively blamed everyone else. The DU JK forum followed everything Kerry from 2005 on. There was never a time where he blamed John Edwards - pathetic as he was as VP nominee - or any wing of the party for not going all in. He never even blamed the media for playing with the SBVT liars even after multiple things they said were proven lies.

Al Gore, clearly had 2000 stolen from him by GWB's brother's team in Florida. He fought it to the Supreme Court, conceded with dignity and left the country for at least a year. He NEVER argued that Bill Clinton actions - like giving a big interview on how he was putting his life back together post Monica on the weekend before Gore's convention - when the attention should have been on Gore - not Bill and Monica.

[notinkansas]

202. She was asked a question?

The former secretary of state can't muster enough diplomacy to not trash a Democratic primary candidate?

I don't know what she's thinking. She's better than that.

[DURHAM D]

3. Hillary still doesn't understand that this sort of comment

is only allowed when you have a penis. Further, it is better if you wear it on your face.

[MineralMan]

34. Bingo! So here come the people with those appendages,

telling Hillary Clinton, "Be a good girl dear, and let the men handle this..."

Feh!

Speak up, Hillary! Tell it like you see it! You have absolutely nothing to lose!

[Demsrule86]

69. And they called her 'Mrs Clinton'...condescending and dismissive. Typical for how women are

treated.

[MineralMan]

72. Well, they didn't like her before, and they still don't.

She beat Bernie Sanders by 4 million votes and was the Democratic nominee for President. She won the popular vote nationwide, as well, but was denied the White House due to subterfuge and pissed off Jill Stein voters.

Some people simply cannot stand the fact that a woman can defeat their "guy." It pisses them off, big time. So, now, as a non-candidate and a private citizen, she isn't supposed to say what she thinks, because, well, reasons or something.

I find it very annoying, not to mention disrespectful of someone who won the popular vote as a presidential candidate.

It's small of them. Let her speak her mind.

[karynnj]

91. They endorsed her over Obama in the 2008 primary

In addition, they wrote many many favorable articles about her over the year. In fact, the first mention of her I remember was in a NYT magazine profile on Bill Clinton that was VERY supportive and spoke of how he married a fellow Yale lawyer as bright as he was. They were full of praise about her time in the Senate. They also were thrilled when she was named SoS.

I don't think they would have attacked her had she written an oped on an issue dear to her, endorsed a candidate or challenged a Trump action. I think this oped was because - even after TWO books on what happened in 2016, both times blaming Sanders among others, she opted to participate in this documentary that drops in the 2020 primary.

I saw a different oped in the LA Times that spoke of how reading this the morning after all the candidates marched together on MLK day had seemed to signal a return to unity - even as each candidate would struggle to differentiate themselves in a way that made them the nominee.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

159. How quickly they forget!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Eliot Rosewater]

104. And someone here said

that if someone else said 1/1000 of what she has the world would come apart and we would all lose our minds.

I am glad that person qualified it by naming that person because even though that person has said many, many negative things about not only Hillary but ALL democrats, that persons campaign people and supporters do almost NOTHING else but BASH democrats.

[Demsrule86]

116. Yes, Sanders had plenty to say after 2016 and when this primary began, I don't recall him being

told by any media to sit down and shut up.

[Autumn]

79. "They" didn't call her anything. A young black woman called her Mrs. Clinton. A young black woman

who happens to be a member of the NYT's editorial board and who from her twitter feed seems to support Warren. Is that one of those women that can speak her mind or must we now be dismissive of her for the horrible name she called Hillary?

https://www.nytimes.com/by/mara-gay

[Demsrule86]

117. I don't give two fucks who she is...if she is writing for the New York times, she should understand

how condescending and dismissive this is ...and maybe a person who supports Warren shouldn't even be on the editorial board...guess that explains the endorsement and all. And since she is a woman, she absolutely should know better. Sen. Clinton or Sec. Clinton...not Mrs. Clinton which is not acceptable.

[Autumn]

156. Here you go you can teach her what she is and isn't allowed to say.

Link to tweet

[Demsrule86]

165. She can say and did say what she wants to ...but it doesn't mean what she did was right...you can

try to make this about race all you want. It is not...the New York Times is to blame for any inappropriate comments from their writers. They set the rules and are responsible.

[Autumn]

167. The horror of being respctful and calling Hillary Clinton, former first Lady and married to

Bill Clinton.. Mrs. Clinton. Well, take it up with the NYT's editorial board, she's a member maybe she will apologize to you. I'm sure there a Contact Us link somewhere on their site.You damn right it's not about race. You are demanding that she let Clinton have her voice and say what she wants while you want to silence hers.

[Demsrule86]

176. Mrs. Clinton and she trashed Clinton...it was condescending and sickening.

And not just the 'Mrs' part but the entire article. A brilliant woman... basically told to STFU...sorry. I don't agree with you or the article. I cancelled the New York Times in fact.

[Autumn]

179. Well you got to do what your convictions demand. nt

[Demsrule86]

182. I agree with that. I still think she shouldn't be writing this sort of thing.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

152. THIS!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[karynnj]

88. I think it is the NYT stylebook - they printed a recent John Kerry oped and in the note at the end

they wrote that "Mr Kerry" noting that he was a former SoS - because it was relevant - but not mentioning 28 years as Senator. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/opinion/john-kerry-trump-iran.html I found nothing disrespectful here.

Now, elsewhere, I have read that the title of President, vp, Senator etc can be used by someone who formerly attained that honor, but titles for appointed positions - like SoS - are not supposed to be used once out of office. Yet, I have seen both HRC and JK referred to by that title.

[Demsrule86]

118. She was a Senator and so was Kerry.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

154. The NYT is in the right here... respect!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[democrattotheend]

195. Isn't that just NYT's style?

They use "Mrs." and "Mr." for everyone, even when they have other titles like president or secretary.

[mcar]

177. I've seen at least two OPs today

telling her to STFU. Here, on Democratic Underground. Sometimes I wonder where I am.

[MineralMan]

192. Biases and prejudices are usually unconscious.

People just reflect them without realizing it. Thinking is required before speaking or writing.

[comradebillyboy]

55. Hillary unleashed! I love her. Keep on telling the truth Hillary.

[JudyM]

64. It'd be good for Sanders if she did that.

[Go Vols]

85. +1

[delisen]

146. Clinton is smart and tough and has said se will not stop

fighting for women and girls. a force to be reckoned with.

[jrthin]

4. There aren't enough FU's I can give to the NYTs. nt

[The Valley Below]

6. Sanders is alienating very wing of the Democratic Party by embracing the dirty-trickster tactics

of Sirota, Turner, and Joy Gray.

If his campaign thinks they can engage in a scorched earth when we have Trump to defeat and that Democrats won't push back, then they are deeply mistaken.

They should stop these tactics. Now.

[Quixote1818]

196. Or maybe Sanders was just giving back what they have been getting?

VOX: The anti-Bernie Sanders campaign being pushed by former Clinton staffers, explained
Former Hillary Clinton aides really want Bernie Sanders to get the Clinton treatment.

By Tara Golshan Mar 8, 2019, 2:30pm EST


https://www.vox.com/2019/3/8/18253459/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-2020-relitigate-primary

[The Valley Below]

197. Gaslighting.

[Me.]

7. Does BS & His Team Know That?

Cause you could fool me given how they keep going after real Dems.

[Autumn]

8. His comment was "on a good day my wife likes me" so yeah, he seems to know how to respond decently.

Most of us aren't easy to fool . Considering there are many of your "real Dems" that support Bernie.

[Me.]

9. So Yeah, I'll Wait UNtil His Surrogates Do His Talking

Again

[Autumn]

10. I'm sure you will.

[Demsrule86]

11. It was a fucking dismissive comment...condescending...and another indication that as a woman,

why I find him unacceptable as a primary candidate...sure a general I will vote for him...but not a primary.

[Autumn]

14. Should he have said thank you Hillary?

[Demsrule86]

17. You should have said 'I disagree but I respect your right to have a different opinion'.

I respect your right to believe what you believe although just as you think I am wrong...I think you are wrong...last I checked we live in a free country and have first amendment rights.

Sanders has every right to say what he says...I object to the lies but hey Fox News won a court battle to keep spewing their lies, but I digress. There can be real world consequences for speech so Sanders' speech/tactics may backfire and shrink his support or cause a failure to expand his support...both would decrease the likelihood of his wining the Democratic Party nomination.

[Autumn]

21. I should say " 'I disagree but I respect your right to have a different opinion'."

Why? You don't respect my opinions on Bernie why should I respect yours?

[ehrnst]

26. That would be a start.

An apology would be appropriate, but I know it'll never happen.

[Autumn]

32. He didn't give an interview trashing her, he owes her nothing and certainly not an apology. One and

done ehrnst.

[ehrnst]

45. It's not one specific interview I'm talking about.

You know that.

That's the reason for the over the top response, after all. Hit a deep nerve?

His book "Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In" alone contains several things that Hillary deserves an apology for.

[marble falls]

43. At least do not hold your breath.

[ehrnst]

57. Oh, I won't. (nt)

[Me.]

28. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Hassin Bin Sober]

30. Oh good lord. No it wasn't.

[JudyM]

58. I agree with you. I thought it was a self-deprecating bit of humor intended to deescalate, which

interpretation is consistent with what he directed his campaign folks: to let it go, rather than react.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

68. Exactly

But the Bernie outrage Wurlitzer....

[Demsrule86]

16. But not enough Democratic for Sanders to win the nomination...so he is going scorched earth

which is only going to make him less acceptable in the primary...and I think the polls are beginning to show this.

[Autumn]

18. He seems to be rising in the polls.

He will only be less acceptable in the primary to those who have carried a grudge. I think Hillary's remarks about him will give him a boost.

[Demsrule86]

71. What poll? It seems he is losing to me...he is not even expected to win Iowa..

[ehrnst]

22. But if someone else makes a similar factual comment about him....

Most of us aren't so easy to fool....

[George II]

38. I wonder how many good days he's had recently.

[Autumn]

40. Everyday seems to be good for him. Those of us who follow him see that.

Anyway, I'm bored with this whole thing.

[sheshe2]

134. Not Jane?

MY WIFE.

[delisen]

140. He was misrepresenting what she said by answering in that way.

She was referring to his peers in Congress.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

155. We don't count apparently!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[The Valley Below]

12. I stand with HRC and the Democratic Party.

The dirty tricks campaign of Sirota and company are helping Donald J Trump and causing the Democratic Party great harm.

Time to unite against this BS.

[Skidmore]

13. +1 nt

[Lordquinton]

92. And unite behind BS

when he wins the primary, right?

[The Valley Below]

93. He won't win and I actively oppose his candidacy for our nomination.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

158. DAMN RIGHT!! Those who proclaim PUMA should be called out!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Demsrule86]

20. The New York time even disparages women in their salutation...Mrs.Clinton...how

about Secretary Clinton or Sen. Clinton...men keep their titles but women...get stepped on all the time...New York Times, I cancelled my subscription and there are not enough FU's in the world for your paper.

[Autumn]

25. Hillary trashes Bernie and he deserves it. Someone calls her Mrs. Clinton and they are trash?

Alrighty then. Oh, by the way I don't own it so it's not my paper.

[marble falls]

41. But she didn't call him Mr or Mrs Sanders.

[Autumn]

44. Well. That just makes a world of difference.

NOT.

[marble falls]

47. And to think I was worried you wouldn't get the joke.

<sarcasm>

[Mariana]

99. Why on earth would she call him Mrs. Sanders?

She did, however, call him Mr. Sanders. You didn't even have to read the whole essay to find it, it is in the excerpt in the OP:

And, as a reminder, after the 2016 Democratic convention, Mr. Sanders campaigned vigorously for Mrs. Clinton. “We have to do everything that we can to elect Secretary Clinton!” he roared to crowds while stumping for her in North Carolina days before the election. “Sanders has been one of the real champions of this campaign,” The New Yorker reported at the time.

It’s really not too much to ask Mrs. Clinton to return the favor, or if that’s too hard, to stay out of the primary contest entirely. That’s not because it’s the gracious thing to do, though it is the gracious thing to do. It’s because an electoral victory by Mr. Trump, as Mr. Sanders made clear when he campaigned for Mrs. Clinton, would be too much for the country to bear.

[marble falls]

109. Reread the article, no where does it quote Hilliary Clinton referring to Bernie Sanders ...

as either Mr or Mrs Sanders.

Jeepers, Sandy!

[Demsrule86]

61. Yes, I am tired of women being treated this way...perhaps Mr. Sanders might feel differently...hehe

[Autumn]

65. I'll give you that some people stick up for women here. Well some women anyway. nt

[Demsrule86]

66. If you are talking about Warren or Klobachar, I like them both...how do you feel about Tusi?

Sen. Warren is my second choice. I was outraged by how she was treated at the debate...still am.

[still_one]

52. Same here.

[Demsrule86]

62. It is not Mrs. Clinton but Secretary or Sen...the Times can fuck of today and twice on Sunday.

[still_one]

73. The sexism is alive and well today

[Demsrule86]

121. Yes it is...everyday is anti-woman day it seems. And I would like to apologize for saying Warren

couldn't win a General folks. I think Biden is a better nominee but she is my number 2...and as has been pointed out to me, Hillary did win. I was wrong. I am sorry.

[still_one]

138. +++. I think the question is can a candidate who is too far to the left or right win a general

election?

[Demsrule86]

178. I think that is true and a fair question...and it holds true for both men and women.

[karynnj]

95. Men keep their titles??? From just a few weeks ago - look how they refer to John Kerry

Mr Kerry. Even though he was also Secretary of State and a Senator for 22 years more than Clinton was. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/opinion/john-kerry-trump-iran.html Nor is this new. Google found many hits for NYT Mr Kissinger - here's one.
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/books/on-china-by-henry-kissinger-review.html So, it's not just Democratic women, but even Republican men.


I assume that the way both were referred to is what the NYT style book suggests.

[delisen]

148. Let's remember what the NYT did to Jill Abramson nt

[Demsrule86]

166. Yep, she was treated unfairly.

[jalan48]

23. It's gotta be tough to be on the sidelines after so many years being in the game.

[Autumn]

29. Yeah it seems to be. Oh well, either move on or stew about it. The ones who should be trashed by

her are Trump, Russia and the EC. Those are some of what caused her to lose, not Bernie.

[jalan48]

33. Yep, I think it would be great if she was appointed to an ambassador position if wewin the election.

[delisen]

50. Clinton is very much in the game.

The game is bigger than being a candidate.

[lapucelle]

105. HRC is at the Sundance Film Festival this week for the premier of the documentary about her life.

******************************************************************************************************

Earlier this month, HRC was in Ireland where she was appointed chancellor of Queens University in Belfast.

******************************************************************************************************



*******************************************************************************************************


Speaking of sidelined, I wonder how the esteemed fellows of the former Sanders Institute are doing now that it's been shuttered.

Sanders Institute has little to show for first year and $500K

https://vtdigger.org/2018/07/29/sanders-institute-little-show-first-year-500k/

Sanders Institute to suspend operations

https://vtdigger.org/2019/03/15/sanders-institute-suspend-operations/

[jalan48]

113. And yet, here's Bernie right in the middle of a race for the Presidency.

[treestar]

120. Why is he running again?

I can imagine the agonizing if Hillary had dared to run again.

[jalan48]

122. He's very popular with the voters.

[treestar]

125. Hillary was more popular with the voters, having beaten him

so she could have run again too. I just imagine the outrage, though.

[jalan48]

128. I think some are envious of his popularity.

[delisen]

143. and many of us don't want Jill Stein operatives in the White House

trying to run the Democratic party. The Republican party turned into the party of Trump, thanks to Putin; the Russians promoted both the Stein and the Sanders campaigns in order to thwart Clinton and her human rights
agenda.

I ave not hard either campaign acknowledge or disavow the Russian agenda.

Please correct me if I am wrong.I would actually be happy to be wrong.

[jalan48]

144. LOL

[treestar]

191. What popularity!

He lost to Hillary. Now he is losing to Biden and Warren.

[karynnj]

189. Actually that seems the norm - it was ok for HRC to run after losing the primary in 2008

It was ok for the unimpressive John Edwards to run in 2008, but John Kerry, who nearly won a very tough race, was strongly discouraged.

[lapucelle]

131. Still in the middle of trying to get elected for the chance to run for president,

as he has been for the past five years.

That is a very, very, long middle. When it ends he can always re-open the institute.

I nominate John Kusack as a fellow!

[jalan48]

132. You can't keep a good man down.

[lapucelle]

135. There plenty of good men and woman down

in Washington serving their constituents or up home paying attention to their districts.

It's the career politicians forever in the middle of doing something else who need to focus a bit more on public service and a lot less on self-service.

[jalan48]

141. No six figure speaking fees for Bernie when he leaves office.

[lapucelle]

153. BS made his first million writing a book about losing an election.

He'll make his second million doing the same this summer.

*******************************************************************************************************

As long as you mentioned six figure sums, I'll just drop this here.

Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders nonprofit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The watchdog group Common Cause filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, alleging that Our Revolution, a political nonprofit organization founded by Bernie Sanders, violated campaign finance law by accepting donations in excess of federal limits while boosting his White House ambitions.

The complaint comes after The Associated Press reported earlier this month about the donations.

snip==================================================================================

The campaign finance act says groups established by federal officeholders or candidates cannot raise money for federal electoral activity that exceeds the limitations of the law. Those contributions are currently set at $2,800 for candidates and $5,000 for political action committees.

Our Revolution has taken in nearly $1 million from donors whose contributions exceeded those limits and whose identities it hasn’t fully disclosed, according to tax filings for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Much of it came from donors who contributed six-figure sums.

The group has paid for some social media ads backing Sanders’ campaign and is working to turn out voters who will support the senator in the Democratic presidential primary. The group will not have to disclose its 2020 spending until after the election.

https://apnews.com/cd7a58676b6fc8cbe2f9783f469d0bee

[jalan48]

157. Well, our politicians deserve half a million dollars for a few hours speaking. I mean, they have

been slaving away for years for the citizens.

[lapucelle]

163. Who are the anonymous donors depositing six figure sums with Our Revolution?

Common Cause Files Complaint Against Pro-Bernie Sanders Group Our Revolution for Violating Soft Money Ban

WASHINGTON - Today, Common Cause filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging reason to believe that Our Revolution, a nonprofit political organization established by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2016 and now supporting his 2020 presidential campaign, violated the federal ‘soft money’ ban. Sen. Sanders has been a longtime critic of super PACs and so-called “Dark Money” groups. The complaint documents that Our Revolution has solicited contributions explicitly to elect Sanders president, received contributions far in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit and spent funds in connection with federal elections, including current voter mobilization efforts supporting Sanders in Iowa.

Under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, an entity directly or indirectly established by a federal candidate or officeholder is not allowed to “solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with an election for Federal office” unless the “funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements” of federal law.

According to Our Revolution’s tax returns showing contribution amounts but not contributor names, data compiled and first reported by the Associated Press, from 2016 to 2018 Our Revolution raised almost $1 million dollars from contributors who gave in excess of the applicable $5,000 contribution limit, including multiple contributions of between $100,000 and $300,000. Our Revolution has not disclosed any of its contributors to the FEC, as required by federal campaign finance law.

“Americans expect and deserve to have our campaign finance laws enforced and they expect political organizations to abide by the law, regardless of their political views,” said Paul Seamus Ryan, Common Cause vice president for policy and litigation. “The facts surrounding Our Revolution, including its founding by Sen. Sanders, its receipt of six-figure contributions, its failure to disclose donors to the FEC, and its political spending in Iowa and elsewhere, point to a clear violation of the federal soft money ban. Common Cause is a nonpartisan organization and we work to hold power accountable regardless of party affiliation or policy positions. It is critically important that the soft money ban be enforced, or outside groups founded by candidates will become a commonplace means to evade contribution limits and disclosure requirements.”

https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2020/01/22/common-cause-files-complaint-against-pro-bernie-sanders-group-our-revolution

[George II]

190. What politician has made a "half a million dollars for a few hours speaking"? I don't know any.

[George II]

187. He sells those books on Amazon and Walmart. Go figure.

[mcar]

181. ...

[lapucelle]

185. Take another bow for the reminder about six figure sums.

I knew that I had read that term somewhere this week.

Who are the anonymous donors depositing six figure sums with Our Revolution?

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287440417

[George II]

188. What does that have to do with this discussion?

[ehrnst]

24. Yet more evidence that the "corporate media" is out to get Bernie...

[samnsara]

27. so shes to sit down and shut up? hmmmmmm.....

[yardwork]

31. "Mrs. Clinton."

Geez.

[Demsrule86]

67. That is exactly what I say...condescending bullshit from the Times.

[TDale313]

81. Yeah, that bothered me too.

Belittling to her many accomplishments. I actually don’t think her comments were particularly helpful, but this article is horrible.

[tirebiter]

36. If you're a liberal that loves Sanders

Just be aware that love is not a two way street in this case.

[marble falls]

39. You do know this is a primary season, not the general election, right? Trump ain't in it.

[Autumn]

42. I think we all know this is the primary season, that's why Bernie, among some others is

running to knock out the Republican opponent. That would be Trump.

[marble falls]

46. Bernie throws shade, Kamala Harris threw shade, Cory Booker threw shade, you and I ...

throw shade: Hillary Clinton gets to throw shade. Some of us don't want Bernie just because he can beat Trump: they all could/could have beaten Trump.

I supported Bernie last time right up till the convention. Then I supported Hillary 100%. This time I do not support him so far in the primary, if he gets the nod I will support him 100%.

Trump is not the issue that separates one candidate from another in the Democratic primary.

Hillary Clinton has problems with some of Bernie Sander's stands, so do I and so do a lot of others. Hillary has the right to bring up her concerns and I have the right to hear them and judge their pertinence on my own. Constructive criticism isn't Bernie bashing.

[peggysue2]

48. As far as I'm concerned?

Hillary Clinton can say anything she damn well pleases. She's earned that right. She no longer gives a f*ck and I say hooray for that.

Preach it, Sister!

[still_one]

51. Exactly, and it is no surprise that the typical Hillary haters are out in force.

[delisen]

49. H Clinton is not a distraction. H. Clinton is the show. Pelosi is the show.

Clinton does not make pointless comments. Anyone who thinks so is not paying attention.

Clinton has been very measured in her public comments and her public appearances. She knew what the Russian threat was about and sounded the alarm when many others did not and then sadly, tried to "normalize" what should never have been tolerated. We have wasted a lot of time listening to normalizers.

Like Pelosi (another much maligned political figure) Clinton is aimed at what is best for our party, our nation, and our democracy.

Warren is the show. Klobuchar is the show.

These demands that women should shut up are like the duck and cover drills of the 1950s in the face of nuclear warfare threat.

A lot of people are chattering their prejudices, trying to silence voices which need to be heard.

Better to listen and learn from these women who have worked over decades without the self-aggrandizement and ego so many political figures exhibit.

I am glad Clinton has been able to draw out the deep prejudices that keep us weak.

There is no charismatic knight in shining armor coming to rescue us and our democracy. We are at a crossroad and the sheer complexity of the issues we are facing will lead many to look for a "strongman " leader with simplistic answers.

It is how the Athenians lost their nascent democracy.

[flying_wahini]

53. Last time I checked it was called free speech.

[Mariana]

83. Exactly.

Sec. Clinton exercised her freedom of speech in the interview, and Ms. Gay exercised her freedom of speech in this essay.

[Blue_Tires]

54. Hillary isn't even in the race...

So maybe it's the Berners who should be targeting Trump instead?? Assuming that they'd even want to, of course.

[Autumn]

56. No shit? I wasn't aware. Bernie is however in the race on the Democratic ticket.

[Blue_Tires]

74. So why is your entire campaign talking about HRC instead of, you know, impeachment?

Look, I get it -- St. Bern always gets a boost from playing hero to the evil Hillary boogeyman, but y'all gotta learn how to keep your eyes on the prize

[Autumn]

75. Why are we talking about her? Hillary herself made it news.

My eyes are on the prize. The one who is actually in the race. After you calling Sanders "boy" in your last post T wasn't going to respond but I think I'll clean up my DU experience a little bit with a tool the admins made just for that.

[Blue_Tires]

98. And you're the ones keeping it in the news...

And I said "your boy"... Go brush up on your AAVE while you're at it, kid...

One good turn deserves another so you keep on fuckin' laughing and we'll both see what's what in November. I get the sneaking suspicion that you'll be long gone by then already once I clear out my ignore list.

[ismnotwasm]

59. Hahahahahahahaha

God I love Hillary. Knew that would get sooo much attention.

[Gothmog]

60. Hillary Clinton is correct to worry about the effect of sanders' lies and negative attacks

Link to tweet

[SidDithers]

70. She realizes that beating Trump is the ultimate goal...

and that's why she's speaking out about Bernie, to keep him from getting the nomination and re-electing the orange asshole.

Sid

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

77. That's *Secretary* Clinton.

Or do only men get to keep their titles while women just revert to “Mrs.”?

[lapfog_1]

78. Mr. Sanders campaigned vigorously for Mrs. Clinton.

hmmm... not exactly how I remember it, but whatever.

When we have a nominee, I expect Hillary will support that person, until then it is "primary politics" and Hillary can say whatever she wants.

[StarfishSaver]

80. The proper form of address is "Senator" or "Secretary"

[Autumn]

84. You go right on and take a young black woman to task for failing to use one of the many

titles that Hillary has had that you prefer someone writing about her use. I'l not be doing that. I'm sure you can find her contact information. She is also on Twitter. Knock yourself out.

https://www.nytimes.com/by/mara-gay

Link to tweet

[StarfishSaver]

97. I will indeed call ANYONE I like to task for being disrespectful

And as a black female "elder," I will be particularly hard on a young black woman for being so dismissive of a woman who helped pave the path she now walks. She should know better and I would expect her to do better.

[Autumn]

100. Be sure and post it for us. As as elder POC I look forward to seeing it. nt

[samnsara]

82. Secretary Clinton has a reason to say what she did

[elleng]

86. Thanks

[Autumn]

94. I think she got nervous with his rise in the polls, she's entitled to her opinion. I don't think it

will affect Bernie in any way. Some older Democrats will pay attention to what she says but they support Biden anyway. Younger people don't care what she has to say from what I've seen on FB.

[sheshe2]

142. FB?

Seriously?

[MrsCoffee]

96. If she really wanted to return the favor, she would call him unqualified.

She owes him nothing.

[jcgoldie]

107. Seems some folks always got time to scapegoat Hillary Clinton

Still seems to work for Donald Trump, why not here too eh?

[Autumn]

110. I agree scapegoat works real well here. But in truth it's rarely Clinton that is being scapegoated.

The only reason she's being discussed now is because she made news.

[treestar]

111. All this complaining indicates a fear that Hillary is influential

and that her comments will have an effect.

[Autumn]

112. Not really.

[treestar]

119. Then what is the point of the article?

[Demsrule86]

123. Outrage I think that someone would dare say they don't like Sen. Sanders or should I say Mr.

Sanders?

[Autumn]

124. It's an opinion piece on what a famous person had to say. Newspapers often do those. nt

[treestar]

126. That person wants Hillary to stop talking

therefore, that person thinks Hillary's talking would have some effect and be influential, or they would not need to order her to quit talking.

[Autumn]

130. It's clear this young black woman is politely asking Clinton to stay out of the primary.

She made it clear she thinks Clinton's actions are at this time distracting and divisive. I think she's as entitled to her opinion as much as Clinton is.

[sheshe2]

145. Hmmm

Autumn
130. It's clear this young black woman is politely asking Clinton to stay out of the primary.

Calling her MRS Clinton was not polite, not by a long shot. It was dismissive.

She made it clear she thinks Clinton's actions are at this time distracting and divisive. I think she's as entitled to her opinion as much as Clinton is.

And BS and crew are not? They attack Democrats on a daily basis. Guess she does not see that as divisive.

[delisen]

160. Pease do not speak H. Clinton. You are so powerful people might listen to you.

They may stop running scared and start to think. They may even agree with you.

How doe this differ from " Lock er up! It is just a matter of degree.

Lock er up or shut her up. No wonder H. Clinton is laughing.

The problem has never been just Republicans; it has also been Democrats who have harbored prejudice against powerful women.

We see it with Pelosi too. Fortunately both are strong patriots and are not running away.

[TwilightZone]

180. Conversely, Clinton has as much right to speak her mind as anyone.

Including the author.

[Gothmog]

207. Why is it okay for sanders supporters to boo John Lewis and Michele Obama

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

208. When someone responds to an old post of mine I suspect their motives Goth. There are more current

events to discuss. Do so there.

[pansypoo53219]

127. all i know is, she did not beat the mother fucker in the white house. so, why muddy shit? we NEED to

WIN! PERIOD!

[delisen]

164. I f we need to win, then we need to confront Putin and Facebook as well

as candidates who benefited from Putin's machinations.

We need to confront the fact that many were manipulated in to believing lies-tis includes many people who have convinced themselves that they were too smart to be duped.

The Russian machine is geared up for Part two and people want to silence Clinton and not Putin. How weird is that!

[EveHammond13]

133. he's kicked her plenty. she can't kick back?

[spin]

139. Perhaps Hillary anticipates a brokered convention and if that happens...

may offer herself as the candidate who can beat Trump.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

147. ...

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[MuseRider]

150. I thought Trump was the enemy?

Blah blah blah. Whatever. We have much to do and we do not need to fight our own (?). Sometimes those we think are our own are actually only their own.

[Autumn]

162. Yes. She states in the article that Trump is the opponent we need to fight against.

She's a tiger on Twitter. I signed up just so I could retweet her stuff.

Link to tweet

[Kurt V.]

161. many ppl have this whole cult of personality thing regarding politicians. i dont get it.

[Bradshaw3]

168. Me either

Politicians are just people, like Hollywood stars, or "royalty" or anyone else. Some are good, some talented or very talented, and some not so much of either; most are mediocre. But our species seemingly hasn't developed to the point where we can get past this need to elevate human beings to some higher level than they deserve.

I read one disgusting comment on here that the person supported the ACA over more comprehensive public health programs simply because it was Obama's program. When people on liberal sites think that way it makes you wonder if our species will ever truly progress.

[mcar]

169. You mean Secretary Clinton, right?

Or is the former Senator, SOS and Presidential candidate merely a reflection of her husband?

[mcar]

170. Oh, and this is a lie, BTW

It wasn’t so long ago that Mrs. Clinton made similarly pointless comments suggesting that another Democrat in the race, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, was the favored candidate of the Russians.

[Autumn]

171. Here you go. Let her know about the "errors" you found, I'm sure she will correct them.

Link to tweet

[mcar]

173. I will

Thanks.

[lapucelle]

183. Gay needs to either read WaPo or to pay attention to the corrections in the paper she works for.

Tulsi Gabbard misquotes Hillary Clinton’s jab at her

“Hillary Clinton emerged recently to claim, with no basis in fact, that I am being ‘groomed’ by the Russian government to undermine America.”
— Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), in an opinion article in the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 30, 2019

Clinton told Plouffe that the GOP strategy will have “two parts.” First, she said, Republicans would demonize the Democratic candidate so that even if voters find Trump’s behavior distasteful, they might be reluctant to cast a ballot for a Democrat. “I think it’s going to be the same as 2016: ‘Don’t vote for the other guy. You don’t like me? Don’t vote for the other guy because the other guy is going to do X, Y and Z,’ ” Clinton said.

Second, she said, Republicans would encourage a third-party bid so that those voters disenchanted with Trump and the Democratic nominee would have another option.

“They are also going to do third-party again, and I’m not making any predictions but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate,” Clinton said.

Here’s where it starts to get confusing, especially because a lot of the early reporting on Clinton’s remarks did not provide the right context — that she was talking about what Republicans were planning.

snip===============================================================================

“I don’t think it’s up for debate, as Plouffe’s question is pretty clear, that Secretary Clinton was talking about the GOP, not the Russians, in her grooming comment,” Merrill told the Fact Checker. “What I don’t understand is how the Wall Street Journal can publish a piece that is factually incorrect, especially when this same thing happened with the New York Times last week and they addressed it immediately.”

snip===============================================================================

The Pinocchio Test

The initial news reports got it wrong, perhaps fueled by the “nesting doll” comment, with many saying Clinton said the Russians were grooming Gabbard for a third-party bid. Still, Clinton certainly said Gabbard was backed by Russian bots and even suggested she was a Russian asset.

Within a 24-hour news cycle, Clinton’s staff made it clear she was talking about the GOP, not the Russians, eyeing Gabbard as a possible third-party candidate. A simple listen to the podcast confirmed that.

In other words, this was all cleared up 12 days before Gabbard published her opinion article, making the inaccurate version of “grooming” statement the very first sentence. So there’s little excuse for getting this wrong.

[mcar]

184. Yeah, she didn't do her research

Typical of NYT opinion columnists.

[enid602]

175. regrets

Ain't it funny, Bern? What goes around comes around. Any regrets?

[democrattotheend]

194. I don't blame her for being bitter

There was no excuse for him taking so long to endorse her in 2016, and he should have done way more to dispel the myths among his supporters that she had somehow stolen the nomination from him.

She was a class act after she conceded to Obama in 2008 and she deserved the same from Bernie in 2016. And I say this as someone who supported him until the last votes were cast in 2016.

[Gothmog]

198. This is sad but to be expected by groups that boo John Lewis

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

199. Took a while huh?

[Gothmog]

200. This is so very sad

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

205. Way to lose votes

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

203. Bingo

[DonaldsRump]

201. Bern, become a Democratic Senator, and I might actually consider you

Today, I don't.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

204. Exactly

He's a Democrat every 4 years then goes back to being and independent.

Bernie acts like he's going to wag his magic finger and all he promised will come true.

No. He needs Congress to be involved as well.

Being a Democrat and working to elect more Democrats needs to be part of what he does.

[Gothmog]

206. Good luck on getting support from Clinton supporters

Link to tweet