What Can Bernie Do About His Supporters? A Whole Lot Better

[TomCADem]

Bernie has at best disclaimed responsibility for their behavior and, at worst, has argued that "all campaigns need to crack down," which brings to mind Trump's "all sides" defense of his racist supporters. Can Bernie do more? Absolutely.

First, President Obama was class personified even in the midst of a campaign. He was respectful of John McCain:

John McCain, in turn, was not afraid to disagree with supporters who were spouting the worst Fox News attacks on President Obama:

In sharp contrast, Bernie's campaign has argued that reports about the behavior of supporters are not true and due to media bias or they have tried to argue that everyone behaves the way their supporters due. Even as his surrogates actively encourage attacks on well known Democrats:

Bernie has made a career of burning down the Democratic party to elevate himself. His unwillingness to accept responsibility in reminiscent of Trump. The next time Bernie Sanders campaign cheer leads the booing of another Democrat, consider the example of President Obama:

[George II]

1. He never once mentioned Tlaib, who disrespected Hillary Clinton, of all people, and is still....

....silent about what his National Press Secretary said about Bloomberg twice in the last day or two.

He can't disclaim responsibility for his own employees or his own close surrogates.

[TomCADem]

2. Exactly. How Does A Candidate Set The Tone For Supporters? An Example...

Should a politician be held responsible for the behavior of his supporters? Do supporters take cues from the political leaders they support? If you believe that Trump is responsible for the mean spirited actions of his supporters, should we also hold Bernie Sanders accountable for being complicit with respect to the bullying behavior of his supporters? I think we should.

Bernie could do far more to tone down the bullying antics of his campaign and his supporters, but he chooses not to. What could he do? Well, here is an example from President Obama.

Don't Boo. Vote.

[frazzled]

5. I can tell you how pervasively Obama's tone filtered down

to his supporters.

We had passes to the election night event in Grant Park in 2008, because we had worked on the campaign. No one knew whether he would win or not, and you had to leave early to stand in line, which stretched for a mile. I was a little fearful of going, because I don’t like crowds and I hate noise. Chicago can be a rowdy city. There could even be trouble.

But we left to go and boarded the L train. Everyone seemed to be headed to Grant Park, and the tone was hushed, almost like church. When we got out to proceed down Michigan Avenue thousands of people were walking in total silence, right in the middle of that huge street. Tense, but respectful. People of all ages and colors and and ethnicities. And we stood in line for an hour or more in patient, hushed tones, a couple of young guys near us giving the updates from their phones from time to time (not everyone had a smart phone at that time).

That calm demeanor pervaded the crowd even after the moment that victory was assured and the speeches began. No yelling or cheering or whooping. Mostly tears and hugs. And rapt attention to the speakers. Silence and quiet joy among tens of thousands. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life.

[Cha]

3. Oh Yeah!

Link to tweet

[TomCADem]

4. Classic BS Campaign Move. Can You Imagine Him Deflecting as President?

So, even if he managed to win, when he fails to get anywhere close to single payer in his first two years, I am sure it will be everyone's fault except his own as Republicans stand to gain a commanding majority during the midterms of 2022.

[Moderateguy]

6. Huh, so not all the different from the current occupant of 1600 Penn

[Cha]

7. It's said.. how you run your campaign is

how you would run your office if elected