I am sorry Bernie folks

[boston bean]

But this Russia helping Bernie and Bernie saying zero about it until it became public is disqualifying event in my mind.

After all we have been through for the past 4 years and he says nothing! His silence has played right into their hands. Making it seem more nefarious even if it is not. People will have questions.

I think this looms as a major issue for him.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

1. Ok.

[highmindedhavi]

116. nope

[fallout87]

2. Grasping at straws

That's what yall are doing now.

[boston bean]

3. Wanting clean fair elections and transparency is grasping at straws??

[MisterFred]

5. Bernie also wants this. Opposing him does not bring about less interference in our elections.

It brings out more, because you will be giving Putin what he wants: division resulting in weakness.

[DemocracyMouse]

36. Thank you Mr Fred, well said.

[SoFlaDem]

56. Exactly

People givining Putin exactly what he wants.

[Steven Maurer]

67. Clean and fair for thee, but not for me?

If this came out about any other candidate, especially if they were doing well in the polls, the Sanders camp would be screaming "Riiigeed" to the rafters.

This is not a good look for you guys. At all.

[MisterFred]

75. Opposing anyone Putin touches puts us under the control of Putin.

If you don't like Sanders, fine. But if you oppose him purely because Putin used him as a lightning rod, then you are allowing Putin to control your actions.

We should ignore what Putin wants and continue to support whoever we would have supported if Putin hadn't attempted to interfere.

[Steven Maurer]

77. This isn't about Putin. It's about Sanders lack of transparency.

He knew Putin was trying to help him and refused to be forthcoming about it. Again, why is it that all other Democrats have to meet some impossible standard, but Sanders gets a massive pass?

[MisterFred]

79. Because he respects classified information.

This came out when Trump's administration decided to declassify it. Sanders was not transparent - because he doesn't reveal classified information.

[Cha]

105. Natasha Bertrand: IC would *not* have told Sanders to remain silent about campaign meddling

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287559600

[MisterFred]

106. A journalist's guess. nt

[Cha]

113. She also said IC wouldn't tell the campaign to keep it quiet because that, in itself, would help the

Russian efforts."

[MisterFred]

128. A journalist's guess. nt

[fallout87]

131. She was there?

No, she wasnt.

[MosesYastrzemski]

142. It did come out about Buttigieg.

A few weeks ago the headlines were talking about how Buttigieg has accepted campaign donations from Russian oligarchs. It turned out to be inconsequential, but these headlines accomplish Putin's goal of sowing division and creating chaos. Don't fall for it. Bernie is NOT a Russian asset. He has been fighting for the poor and underpriveleged, in America, for decades.

[Steven Maurer]

168. I don't think Sanders is a Russian asset

I think Trump is and Russians figure along with everyone else outside the Sanders camp that Sanders is our weakest candidate against him.

[Ahpook]

166. You Guys?

What fucking side are you on?

Hopefully you will support any of our great people to get rid of the orange turd. It is obviously not going to happen any other way.

For fucks sake, the people in this country are insane! We probably deserve 4 more years of Trump.

[Steven Maurer]

167. Reminder: We're still in the primaries

And yes, it's "you guys", since most of the Sanders camp seem angrier at what they call "establishment Democrats" than Republicans.

I'm on the side of sending the strongest candidate against Trump, not the weakest.

[Dragonfli]

163. Exactly

[fallout87]

21. I keep hearing all the complaints

Of "cheating" , but nobody can quantify how or the number of votes changed. Hmmm....

[boston bean]

25. Where have I hear d this before?

[2naSalit]

87. +1

[MosesYastrzemski]

146. This is a false accusation.

Which accomplishes Putin's goal of sowing division. If Russians are helping Bernie it is for that purpose, and Bernie had nothing to do with it. Bernie is not a Russian asset. He has been fighting for the poor and underpriveleged in this country for many long years.

[citizen blues]

74. No, it's not grasping at straws.

When someone is trying to help your campaign illegally, you report it. Period.

Just because Russia is trying to help him now, you don't know what they might have planned for him down the road. He should have been shouting this from the roof tops, telling Russia to BUTT OUT! Instead he stayed quiet. Why? Why would he not say something? Why would he not publicly denounce Russia's actions and clearly state that he doesn't want or need their help. That he's only interested in winning a fair fight.

Yes, Bernie's silence here is a deal-breaker.

[mtron32]

93. Intelligence was reported to him

Intelligence was reported to him so there was no one for him to report that to, I'm guessing they keep tabs
on all our candidates to begin with. When Trump Admin declassified the info, Bernie spoke on it. Just assume every nation is trying to fuck with us now and hope the next POTUS does something about it.

[LenaW]

138. You are misrepresenting the process.

Not sure if it's coming from a place of ignorance or not.

If you know something illegal is happening, you report it up the chain of command so it can be investigated, yes - except in this case that had already happened. The chain of command above him knew and was reporting it down to him. (Okay, you knew that, obviously.)

He couldn't say something publicly because it was classified. If he disclosed something classified to the generally public, just for the sake of making himself look better politically, that would make him less qualified to be president. (Okay, you knew that too, obviously.)

I don't get either half of your point, after breaking it down. There was no reason to report it to the people who were reporting it TO him; they already knew. And there was no legal way to report it to people like you, who don't have a security clearance (based on your understanding of how classified info works).

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

89. Yes, the desperate shots bein taken @Bernie says ALL you need to know; Bernie's got this in the bag!

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

[MosesYastrzemski]

144. Exactly.

Thank you.

[Warpy]

157. Yeah, duh, maybe because it was classified

and only leaked days ago. Timing is everything. Just ask Comey.

I see so much trash talking here and elsewhere about Sanders, relatively little about other candidates.

That tells me a lot more than the posts do.

[rzemanfl]

4. Plus ballots were cast and mailed while he sat on that information.

Please don't ask me to "quantify" that, because I can't.

[fallout87]

22. If you cant quaitify it

Why are you parroting it?

[rzemanfl]

26. Because I want a fucking cracker, okay? n/t

[Perseus]

49. Does parroting for it qualify as having your fing cracker?

If so, you had your cracker, now lets support whoever wins without creating more division.

[Celerity]

83. roflmaooooooooooooooooooooooo

thread winner

[joost5]

153. Fall in love in the primaries, fall in line in the general.

#VoteBlueNoMatterWho

ANYONE in the D column is better than drumpf. Period.

[rzemanfl]

156. What does that have to do with my cracker?

Or my socks, for that matter?

[CentralMass]

6. This russian support thing is just another dirty political op.

[Ahpook]

66. And it will get worse

This program is very successful at breaking up our party already. Bernie does not have to be the nominee, but if he is we should support him.

Everyone on this site knows Bernie has had it together since the 60's. He has never changed his message. He has never strayed.

If DU is going to play a part in this party eating each other up then fuck off.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

107. The desperation is REALLY startin' to show...this just confirms Bernie's inevitable

to win the Democratic nomination and to go on to defeat tRumpty Dumbty!!


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

[Kurt V.]

7. it was confidential, wasn't it? a big ass nothing burger

[MissMillie]

23. It was my understanding that the briefings were meant to be confidential

Kind of difficult for blaming Senator Sanders for not leaking classified information.

[rockfordfile]

68. Who leaked it?

[Grown2Hate]

110. The Trump Administration declassified it, and then Bernie spoke about it.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. If he DOES speak about it right away, he's revealing classified intel. I don't really see what he could have done differently here.

[Nanjeanne]

8. Maybe this will help you understand what actually happened. Hope so.

NSA Robert O’Brien and gives details abt Russia interference in elections as referenced to Sanders.

Open the whole thread.

Link to tweet

Also - Tom Periello - Framing this as Russia being pro-Bernie manipulates the intel (& is unfair to Sanders

Link to tweet

[FirstLight]

65. ding!

...and as another said upthread, holding Bernie accountable for NOT divulging classified intel is the thing to do? Playing RIGHT into Putin's plot.

You know they like Bernie BECAUSE everyone gets all divisive and weird about him. I don't understand why, he is not a divisive person IMO, but it's like somewhere the psyops (since 2015) trained Dems and moderates to revile him, and the behavior stuck, like a Pavlovian response!

[thesquanderer]

90. Interesting point. If the report was that Russia is doing things (supposedly) in support of Bernie..

...in order to sow discord... Well, you know, Sanders kinda DID say recently that some of the negative stuff attributed to his supporters may not actually be coming from his supporters. That could possibly have been something of a reveal here.

And what happened when he said that? The anti-Sanders people got on him for THAT. If he had said "I've heard reports that it could even be Russians behind some of these things that are sowing discord," would that have been better? worse? the same?

Face it, the people here who don't like Bernie will find fault in ANY path he takes.

And ironically... that's probably just what Russia wants.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

91. Manipulating the intel... so look for more Baseless Bernie Bashing Backlash!!

We The People see what's going on... and we've got Bernie's back!! The more people peeps unfairly attack Bernie - this being only the latest episode - the more popular Bernie becomes!! I LOVE IT.... SO PLEASE KEEP IT UP!! BASH AWAY!!


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

[redqueen]

140. Thanks Nanjeanne. I hope everyone reads these. nt

[Nanjeanne]

145. Your faith in people wanting to know the truth is admirable. But many prefer to just

keep their bias strong.

[Frasier Balzov]

9. Did you vote for him?

And, if so, would you have voted for someone else if you'd known?

[boston bean]

13. It,was,his silence.

[Frasier Balzov]

27. I'm trying to imagine

what Bernie could have said about it.

Have you seen any hypothetical comment or announcement on his part which would have satisfied his duty to disclose?

Would the purpose have been to warn someone who was otherwise inclined to vote for him to think twice?

Of course, this is assuming he was not under a greater national security duty to keep such briefings confidential.

[Grown2Hate]

111. Yeah, silent about classified material. Imagine the FIELD DAY the Trump admin would have

had with him for RELEASING classified intel. No win situation; sounds suspiciously like Russian meddling's intent.

[MrsCoffee]

130. No one in the IC would have asked him to keep it quiet because that only helps Russian efforts.

Bertrand brought that up. https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287559600

But nice fucking try.

[HopeAgain]

139. I didn't realize Bertrand was there when he was briefed.

Thanks for making that crystal clear.

[Grown2Hate]

165. Nice FUCKING try? I think Russian efforts are to divide us and get us at each other's throats.

Again, sure seems to be working SPLENDIDLY, am I right?

If I have a misunderstanding of the intelligence (I SWEAR I read somewhere that the Trump Admin JUST declassified it, and THEN Bernie spoke on it, but can't find it now, so who knows), then I apologize for misspeaking on that. Still don't know what Sanders was supposed to have said that could have pleased anyone regarding his briefing. Sounds like classic Putin ratfucking to me. We let that continue to divide us and the country's lost anyhow.

[gristy]

10. oh, please

You're kidding, right? Making a joke?

[Devil Child]

11. Meh n/t

[wisteria]

12. I agree.

[Voltaire2]

14. You've been played.

Think clearly.

[Skittles]

154. Boston Bean is not the one being played

no indeed

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

160. Sure seems that way!!

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

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Bernie's judgment is off on this one

To protect any hint of approval, he should have gone public immediately, within a few hours. It's like he was ok with the aid as long as no one knew about it. He surely should have gamed out how it would play out if he sat on it, went public, or told other campaigns. While no one is saying he colluded or conspired with the bad actors, it's still soft on integrity.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

97. -100

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

[cannabis_flower]

143. He was briefed and

It was classified info. Divulging classified information is a crime. Thepenalty for this crime is up to 10 years in prison, a large fine, or both.

https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/unauthorized-disclosure-of-classified-information.html

[lees1975]

16. Why would it be up to Bernie

to publicly announce the results of a briefing he got? He's clearly not accepting Russian help. They were informing him of it. Does he have campaign surrogates meeting with Russian agents, like Trump did? Is he coordinating campaign events and announcements with their email dumps on WikiLeaks of stolen material from other campaigns?

Look, people, you need to get real. The Trump campaign is spending money and doing its dead level best to get the orange headed buffoon re-elected, against the odds and against a very high level of anti-Trump sentiment. They are throwing in all kinds of mis-information and distractions designed to make this go their way. They are telling their supporters that in states where crossover voting is permitted to go and vote to keep the Democrats divided and split all the way up to the convention and push to get the least threatening candidate nominated. It is long past time for all this face slapping, butt kicking and finger pointing among the Democrats to go away.

It is very likely that Bernie will be the nominee. He has flaws like everyone else, but not any more or less than any other Democrat who has ever run for president, and he certainly does not have the negative image that Hillary Clinton did. If he'd been the nominee in 2016, we wouldn't be here now. He'd have been elected.

[boston bean]

18. Voter should know. Period end of story.

[thesquanderer]

84. Why do you assume it is Bernie who determines whether or not this info becomes public?

We don't know how much more Bernie does or does not know. No one else who knows is coming out with any more info whatsoever. Maybe it really was never intended for public consumption, or at least, maybe Bernie thought that was the case. There's just so much speculation about this. Really, just about no one knows anything, or if they do, they're not saying.

[patphil]

48. One thing people are overlooking here is that Bernie Sanders may have been asked not to speak of it.

It's probably part of an on-going investigation, and is covered by secrecy laws.

Of course, I could be wrong, but I think that possibility is very strong.

[uponit7771]

53. already reported that this matter is not something Sanders would have to stay quiet on. I'd like to

... hear from others members of congress but there's something wrong here and few people are speaking up on the matter including Sanders.

[thesquanderer]

82. Interesting contradiction you point out.

It's already been reported (or at least stated as opinion by pundits?) that Sanders wasn't required to stay quiet; but now that it's "out there", nobody on any side of this is saying anything (except Trump tangentially spewing his occasional nonsense). So maybe we/reporters/pundits don't know what we think we know.

There were some talking head interviews with people in Congress about it, and all the answers I heard said nothing more than what was leaked, and any question asking for any kind of clarification was met with "can't talk about what was said, classified." Maybe the part that was leaked was classified too, and only became non-classified upon being leaked?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

96. EXACTLY what I've been sayin... great minds think alike!!

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

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

99. BIIINNGGOO!! Right on ALL counts! You get the prize for Post of the Day...

Congrats on winning this custom pair of Bernie All-Star Chucks...


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

[Downtown Hound]

17. LOL.

Your desperation is showing.

[yaesu]

19. nope, not a problem, Bernie didn't ask for nor participate & we must remember that President Obama

knew about the russia cyber war and decided not to say a word, didn't want to look like he was interfering. tRump, on the other hand asked for, participated in and rewarded the russian help, now that IS a problem.

[rzemanfl]

29. No, Moscow Mitch threw a block. n/t

[IronLionZion]

33. absolutely

Bernie condemned it, Trump encouraged it.

[uponit7771]

54. He didn't denounce the help in the most generic fashion either the second he found out

[jmg257]

20. I think this issue is already over. Of course someone will likely mention

It in the debate, but no one was talking about it today at all.

[emmaverybo]

43. Where was no one talking about it? MSM isn't but people are.

[jmg257]

45. What people? Not arguing, just curious.

[emmaverybo]

71. People not at DU. Twitter verse. News forums. No, I don't think any Russia buzz will actually

figure into Bernie’s support as a positive or minus. He is a thinking person’s candidate—well except for the young folks —so they, the cerebral ones, know Bernie is not to blame. In fact, now people are making fun of people trying to make a thing of it.

[jmg257]

137. You are right - this is once again a topic of conversation on MSM - MSNBC just now.

Cheers!

[uponit7771]

55. I am, I don't trust the silence. I'm waiting to hear more but the silence on that is gob smacking

... in and of itself.

[jmg257]

57. That it is...still no reliable excuse...maybe classified but still nothing definitive

That ive heard.

[uponit7771]

59. +1, Sanders could've denounced outside involvement in US elections second he found out about help

... and been as generic as possible instead he stayed silent.

I'm livid about this, he must think the Russia thing is a hoax too ... I'm seeing a good portion of the democratic party not like Sanders where as even Obama was tolerated among the purity left.

[jmg257]

61. Thanks I appreciate your input. Thinking different now about this.

And also not so willing to downplay it.

[mr_lebowski]

112. Dude has been under a ton of fire for his supporters behavior ...

If he's the very first one to come out and say 'actually I heard Russia's helping me' people would've accused him of making it up to cover for his supporters actions ... 'oh ... SURE ... they're not the Bro's, they're the Russians!', etc. Trump would've loudly denied it and said nobody from his administration told Bernie any such thing.

I would bet that his being informed before even the Intel Committees was accompanied by a directive that this was not for public consumption.

Also EVERYONE already knows of Russian Interference, and anyone who doesn't? Wasn't going to hear about it if Bernie announced it, esp. not some generic statement. This isn't 2016, Russian interference is barely news at this point.

Why didn't any of the rest of the Dems who got the briefing last week come out with 'generic statements the second they heard?'

Why isn't Joe, Liz, or Amy blasting Bernie for 'not telling people'? Maybe cause they know that's not a fair angle of attack?

How does anyone know what exactly Bernie was told? One person's 'help' is another persons 'hurt', you know? We have 2nd or 3rd hand knowledge from unknown sources that Bernie was told Russia was helping him, but he could've very well perceived what they're doing as no such thing, and absolved himself of his need to 'tell people' on those grounds.

[uponit7771]

119. Sanders could've denounce the Russians and done it with thoughtfulness at the same time

... you're right, those scenarios could've happened if he was stupid and had half asses working with him.

This isn't 2016, Russian interference is barely news at this point.

BULL FUCKING SHIT !!!

it's news for democrats and we're not going to put up with the shit. I'd OP your statement here without your name if I wasn't so pissed at this shit right here yo. We are ... NOT ... the republicans and fuck Russia and Putin's whore Benedict Donald Trump

Fuck normalizing it in the democratic party, that's some shit here.

Why isn't Joe, Liz, or Amy blasting Bernie for 'not telling people'? Maybe cause they know that's not a fair angle of attack?

Its not doubt a fair angle of attack on Sanders !! Again, no one said denounce it the dumbest way possible but denounce never the less it seeing covers his ass and helps the integrity of US elections.

You're using a lot of words to say America's election system was helped by Sanders silence ... I verily disagree with this shit.

[Rilgin]

24. Why dont you explain exactly what the Russians Did to "help" Bernie in this election?

All the 2016 claims are missing. No emails. No electronic voting hacks since caucuses. Just what does "helping" mean? Running acar service to the polls? Phone banking? Just want does "helping" mean. If Russia is doing the swarm that all the Bernie haters complain about maybe that means that there are no Bernie Bros and they have been hammering the wrong group for years.

My guess is all that means is a claim and I mean a claim that Russia intends to "help" him in unidentifiable ways? But I don't know that's true and the OP does not know either. All I have is that intelligence agents reported to the Intelligence Committee that in their opinion (based on whatever classified information or speculation they have) something about Russia. The problem with that is that we have seen lots of intelligence assessments over the years that have been presented us as conclusions without actually proving them to the American People starting with Viet Nam going to Aluminum Tubes, Weapons of Destruction, downing of jets, etc etc. And understand this is Trump's intelligence department although we don't know anything about who prepared the assessment. It can be a dirty trick on the candidate who now is leading the polls.

At some point I would like just a little more than the word "helping" and besides defining that term, would like to know at least roughly what that assessment is based on.

I wont address two other points of your post. First, its clear that the Intelligence Committee could have released details if it was that troubling. It might just be mere speculation as alluded to above or they would have released it.

Second, every day people on this site including you have given another reason why Bernie is disqualified. Forgive me if I am not convinced by todays statement versus yesterdays and the day before and the day before that and the day before that ….. all the way back years.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

102. THIS x 1000!!

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

[uponit7771]

120. Deflection, it doesn't have to be anything but the notice of help and Sanders could've come out

... and denounced it smartly.

He didn't, fuck that ... somethings strange in the neighbor hood, call the ghost busters.

[Rilgin]

121. Actually it is a question.

It is a real question. What exactly does "helping" mean in the context of a primary. Without any context of what it means, how can anyone base any opinion on how much it concerns us.

[SMC22307]

28. No one seems to give a shit that the Russians helped Trump.

Suddenly Americans will be concerned that Russia may or may not be meddling for Bernie? Not likely.

[democratisphere]

30. What is wrong with FREE Russian Interference in our elections while you have got it!

It's free! Isn't everything?

[PufPuf23]

31. Bless your worried heart for your concern. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

104. Seriously! Seems the more Bernie's disqualified, the closer he gets to winnin the nomination!

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

[PufPuf23]

115. Looks to me like the Sanders momentum is going to cascade.

I actually prefer Warren for 2020 over Sanders after being for Sanders in 2016 but it may well be that Sanders will win the Democratic primaries in a landslide (and I will be glad).

Way too much ugliness now from the Democratic side and will likely get worse. Many vested and powerful interests are against Sanders but people, especially young voters.

Poor look and counter-productive as regards removing Trump and advancing Democratic ideals.

Sanders would still be facing uphill battles as POTUS. But what I want is that the USA is put back on track for full implementation of FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights, the economic and opportunity for everyone to fully realize all our other freedoms.

Sanders would be a long time coming for an antiwar Democrat and those of us that have persevered since the late 60s.

[Squinch]

32. I completely agree. And all the "nope, nope, doesn't matter" you're getting here is very creepy.

[Laelth]

34. Nobody's gonna care.

Perhaps they should, but Russia is helping Trump too, and nobody cares about that.

We shall see what we see, but I think you will see Bernie amass a ton of delegates on Super Tuesday, and then the panic level around here will rise to astronomical levels. This "Russian influence revelation" isn't going to mean anything. Trump has already burst that bubble.

-Laelth

[emmaverybo]

46. Helping Bernie is helping Trump, in Russia's plan.

[uponit7771]

60. This is false on its face

[Cha]

127. No kidding

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

108. You're makin too much sense... again!! What's with you?!?! hahahaha... great post!!

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

[Cha]

126. No.. none.

[Cha]

125. Not "nobody".. the gop doesn't care about putin

helping trump.. We Do.. Patriots Do.. those who don't want our country taken over by Russia.

[thesquanderer]

35. re: "disqualifying event in my mind" - Were you seriously considering voting for him before this?

Because if the people who find this disqualifying weren't going to consider voting for him in the first place, then what difference does it make?

[IronLionZion]

37. You know now

instead of finding out about it after the November election when everyone is deeply shocked by the outcome and DU goes down in a hail of cyberattacks. That was weird. But that was 4 years ago.

It's good to know about it early now. Russian interference is promoting memes on social media to divide Trump's opposition. Being aware of that helps lessen it's impact.

U.S. prosecutors found a Russian effort in 2016 to use social media to boost Sanders’s campaign against Hillary Clinton, part of a broader effort to hurt Clinton, sow dissension in the American electorate and ultimately help elect Donald Trump.

“I don’t care, frankly, who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to be president,” Sanders said in a statement. “My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do.

“In 2016, Russia used Internet propaganda to sow division in our country, and my understanding is that they are doing it again in 2020. Some of the ugly stuff on the Internet attributed to our campaign may well not be coming from real supporters.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html

[Progressive2020]

38. Intelligence Issue

In matters of Intelligence and National Security, it is good to have a candidate and potential President who can keep his mouth shut, frankly. It is not up to Sanders to inform the public about every aspect of Intelligence as it relates to his campaign or the Presidential race. The information might have come from sensitive sources, and sanders might be expected not to speak about it before it was confirmed or became public.

One of the cardinal aspects of being an Intelligence Officer is to know when to speak and when to be silent. The same is true of Presidents and potential Presidents. They need to handle intelligence carefully. Also, the information may not have been confirmed and it would be inappropriate for Sanders or anyone else to leak this sort of information. I do not think that having Russian Trolls pushing division amongst Democrats and Americans is going to be anything but a detriment to the country and also to Sanders Campaign. And now that it has become public, Sanders has made it clear that Russia needs to stay the hell out of our elections.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

39. Putin, with his bots, hackers and such, is of course helping Bernie

...because he will be the least likely candidate to overcome the rigging and cheating enough to beat Trump.

I like Bernie and his platform… but, he simply can’t be elected.

[doxyluv13]

40. No sale, Beansie!

What rule is that, exactly? Sander's was supposed to do what? Why? But then the info couldn't have been leaked on the eve of Nevada in an unsuccessful attempt to damage him.

[strongtree]

41. dont fall for the psy-op talking points

the current admin is playing "pin the tail on the donkey" ...they will always try to tar and feather the front runner ...no matter who...using selective "intelligence" and well timed disclosure.... designed to weaken and divide the party...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

109. DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNA!!!

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

[Progressive2020]

42. Also

I would note that these types of issues are designed to divide the Democrats against each other, which is why the Russians may be promoting the idea of a Sanders campaign- because he is the most controversial candidate in the Democratic Field. Democrats attacking Sanders is exactly what the Russians want. So when we in the Democratic Party fight against each other, we are doing what the Russians want. The answer to this is solidarity with whichever candidate wins the Nomination, we unify behind that person.

And before the nomination is certain, we should be careful about how we compete with one another. A lot of the anti-Bernie rhetoric is similar to some Republican talking points. "Socialist" "Can't Win". etc. We should not be doing the Russians job, and Trumps job for them. We should not be trying to fatally wound one of our potential candidates before the general election.

We should have as clean a fight as possible, so that our candidate is not wounded before they even get to go against Trump. And I feel this applies to all of our candidates, even ones I do not like much like Bloomberg. We need to have a fair primary process and not destroy ourselves with in-fighting before we even get to Trump and the General Election. That is what the Russians are trying to get us to do. So, being too divisive in the Democratic Party is in fact part of the goal of the Russian interference.

[Bluepinky]

44. Russia doesn't want Bernie, Russia wants Trump.

I suspect Bernie was not allowed to speak about this because it was a national security issue.

[SoFlaDem]

58. Please don't deny people their straws to grasp. nt

[uponit7771]

62. and they can get Trump by selecting someone who loses Florida by promoting Castro's literacy program

[Maru Kitteh]

85. Oh bull. Specifics he could not reveal but the general premise?

Give me a break.

If he was unable to say ANYTHING about it due to constraints he would have voiced that instead of lashing out at Democrats and "the establishment" and WAPO.

God is that shit getting old.

[Maru Kitteh]

47. Hiding his Russian assistance, hiding his taxes, hiding his health records.

Such a no go. We don't need more of that.

[uponit7771]

63. THIS !!!! 3 clear strikes with Sanders ... There's some there there

[dalton99a]

133. +1

[dsharp88]

50. No, NOT the same as Russia helping Trump.

Sanders is not my candidate, but the OP has this wrong.

From all accounts, Sanders has cooperated with the FBI and other authorities in rejecting Russian meddling and getting to the root of it.

Trump, on the other hand, rejected even the existence of the meddling much less helped root out its source. Intelligence and FBI investigations are not designed for public knowledge as they are going on.

[uponit7771]

64. Sanders isn't supposed to be just better than Trump but the complete opposite.

[bitterross]

51. Don't be sorry. Bernine is NOT a Democrat. He will ensure 4 more years of Trump.

Bernie will never, ever be President. The Russians are happy as hell that they have been able to prop up Bernie as a candidate. Bernie is a loser. The Russians have enjoyed Trump for the last 3 years. They are laughing all the way to the voting box about Bernie being in the lead.

[Progressive2020]

78. If Bernie Is A Loser

Then why is he winning? The idea that the "Russians are propping up Bernie" Is a joke. Bernie is winning so far because he is mobilizing the youth vote, the latino vote, the African American vote, the female vote, etc. If Sanders does what he just did in Nevada in other States, he might well win the nomination. That will be accomplished in spite of the Russians, not because of it.

[bitterross]

117. Let me quote my dear, departed, mom. Her wisdom is undeniable.

Just because a million flies light upon a pile of shit does not make it anything more than a pile of shit. It also does not make it stink any less.

[Skittles]

155. your mum was CORRECT

absolutely

it's like saying Trump must be a fine person because LOOK AT HIS RALLIES!

[rwheeler31]

52. I totally agree he should have warned his supporters

there was no restriction on him at all to do so. He is just hiding too much, his health, his taxes, his past and now this.

[ALBliberal]

69. Agree

So disappointed.

[totodeinhere]

70. Bernie's opponents are seeing the writing on the wall and they are getting desperate.

So they will try the time tested tactic of throwing mud up against the wall to see what might stick. Now they are going with one hit piece in a Jeff Bezos owned newspaper on the eve of the Nevada caucus. And of course Bezos stands to lose millions if Bernie's proposed surcharge on the rich goes through.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

103. Yup and the writin on the wall says: Bernie's the inevitable Democratic nominee & our next POTUS...

for all who care to read it!!


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

[Demovictory9]

158. dont we get to vote?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

159. Of course, but we also get to read the writing on the wall, that's all I'm saying...

Best of luck to your preferred candidate, Elizabeth, whom, obviously, I also like very much and would be more than pleased to see win!!




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

[Cha]

114. sanders is just too divisive..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Vivienne235729]

72. Bernie's silence speaks VOLUMES. I was over Bernie in 2016. Now even moreso.

He is a DISASTER. A vote for Bernie is a vote for Trump. If you're not sure, why the HELL would Russia help Bernie? Could not be more obvious.

[Progressive2020]

80. Russia Is Not Trying To Help Sanders

Russia is trying to divide Democrats against Democrats and Americans against Americans. They want you to demonize Sanders, they want to pit Sanders supporters against other Democrats, etc. The Russians know that Sanders is controversial, so they are stoking that controversy, and anti-Sanders people are falling for it. The Russians do not want Bernie elected; they want the Sanders people and the anti-Sanders people in the Democratic Party to fight each other. That is what they are doing, and people like you are falling for it.

[Vivienne235729]

92. No. Russia is very much trying to help Sanders win. They know he won't stand a chance

In the general election against Trump. People like you are refusing to accept that maybe, just maybe, you are supporting the weakest link.

[Progressive2020]

98. If Sanders

If Sanders is such a weak link, why is he currently the front runner after winning New Hampshire and Nevada? The current evidence does not support the idea that Sander is a weak candidate. He is beating other Dems like Biden in the Primaries. This idea that he is unelectable is a Republican Talking Point. What the Russians are trying to do is pit Democrats like you and me against each other. The Russians do not want Sanders elected; they want Democrats to fight Democrats so Trump can win.

[Vivienne235729]

101. This little blue bubble is NOT the entire world. There's far more people just right of cente

Or clearly right of center who will absolutely freak out over Bernie. They will come out in droves fearful of the socialism or communism that Bernie will unleash onto this country.
I'd like to think we have the majority. But we're not. We need all hands on deck. Including the independents and those conservatives who don't want the lawless fascism of trump. We have a far greater chance of winning the election w just about ANYONE other than Bernie.

[Alliepoo]

162. I absolutely agree with you, Vivienne.

[Cha]

123. The IC told BS the Russians were helping him

[NCProgressive]

73. I am with you

[DaveJ]

76. I wouldn't have mentioned it

Wouldn't intelligence officials have alerted the public if Bernie had been working for Russia before the election? (If not, then it's too late anyway)

[JeaneRaye]

81. Say hello to another 4 years of Trump.

If everyone thinks like you, we will get another 4 years of Trump. I don't care if the candidate is Tulsi Gabbard, I am voting for whoever it turns out to be and I wish everyone else would do the same.

[Cha]

122. This is still the primary.

[JeaneRaye]

129. I know that

I'm saying that with attitudes like the one I was responding to, we may just get another 4 years of Trump. I'm in Nevada so I already voted in my caucus, but I'm voting for the candidate in November, whoever that may be.

[Cha]

149. The Vetting still needs to happen. Glad to see it.

[yuiyoshida]

86. I agree BB...

I would love to speak my mind but don't want a hide or locked posting.

[Jarqui]

94. I cannot pass judgement fairly without all the facts

I do not know the nature of the briefing and if it was classified.
I have not heard Bernie's response to these claims.
etc

Until I know more, I'm not rushing to any judgment one way or the other.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

100. Wait...WHAT?! Don't rush to judgment til all the facts come out?! Wish more peeps thought like you!!

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

[thewhollytoast]

118. mi made x boa

[Meowmee]

124. Agree

Dnc needs to tell him to drop out before it is too late. He can’t be the nominee after this.

[MrsCoffee]

132. *cough*TadDevine*cough*

Bernie was dismissive of their help in the past. Russia didn’t just start helping Bernie this election season.

[kentuck]

134. Didn't several Senators know about it and said nothing?

Didn't Trump know about it also?

If others thought it too secretive to release, why should Bernie think differently?

[mopinko]

135. that he was not on top of this BEFORE they told him is disqualifying.

he went into this w/o a plan for the bros, who he knew would be back. were back. he still doesnt have a plan.

bernie's social media director went on rachel right after the election, and said that they saw it happen, but didnt know what to do about it. ok, you've had 4 years to figure it out. now do something.

how does he not know that they are building him up to take him down?
ans- too stupid, or duplicitous, to be the leader of the free world.

[LAS14]

136. Why would it loom as a major issue for him when nothing Trump has done...

... has fatally loomed? We're in a new world. The bar is set so low it's getting muddy.

[Mira]

147. Listen to this, maybe,

and expand your way of looking at it.

https://anchor.fm/rumble-with-michael-moore/episodes/Ep--40-EMERGENCY-PODCAST-SYSTEM--Russian-Bot-Bros-eb0ah1

[Hekate]

148. "They" will never give up, tho, because he can do no wrong. That's what always amazes me...

That's what amazes me. The other night a DUer plaintively asked what we wanted Bernie to do, if we weren't for him?

My answer was very simple, and the same as it has always been: loudly, immediately, and without hesitation repudiate the people who make him look bad and claim to be his followers. How hard is that, really. Just say their behavior has no place in the Revolution and if they keep it up they are trolls and not any part of his plans.

No weak sauce. No both-siderism.

I'd cut him quite a lot of slack if he did that. Honest.

Our DU friend moved on and never came back with a reply. And of course Bernie, with chances from 2015 onward, has never given a full-throated denunciation of trollish behavior. And as we all know, he's capable of quite full-throated denunciations of anything that displeases him.

[subana]

150. it should give everyone a reason to ask...

...if this is really the guy we want at the top of our ticket!

[Gothmog]

151. Bernie Sanders never had any intention of informing the Public

Link to tweet

[Tweedy]

152. the Senator received a classified briefing

He could not disclose it. Senator Sanders did hint at this in the last debate.

It is disturbing that some in the Sanders campaign are angry with the Washington Post for reporting this. The press needs to be reporting this stuff, folks!

Yet, Mr. shirtless thief, he who steals trillions from the Russian people, is seeking to divide us with garbage like this.

The soviets once thought they could defeat U.S. by dividing us and encouraging U.S. to split into 7-8 countries. The soviets, like Mr. Putin (long time kgb thief, before the Wall fell) seriously misunderstood our country then &
They still do.

We won't keep a sadist in office just because the Russian top thief & his cronies pays a bunch of people to discourage us from voting. It isn't going to happen.

[McKim]

161. I Already Heard this at the NYTimes and endlessly on MSNBC

I already heard this endlessly at the NYTimes and MSNBC. Thanks for the reminder to donate again to Warren and Sanders.

[warmfeet]

164. Quite so.

I think you are implying that you do not want to vote for the Democratic nominee. Noted, and reported.