Just remember, Dirt or No Dirt, the GOP will Destroy our Nominee

[berni_mccoy]

John Kerry had a squeaky clean record. And yet, his character was assassinated. I know, I was there. I worked for his campaign in 2004 and after he lost in that election is when I came to DU.

If John Kerry was running today and hadn't in 2004, he would be no doubt a favorite. I wonder if people here would be swift boating him like they are Bernie Sanders.

The shit that is being thrown at Bernie is unbelievable. And it's being done for one reason and one reason only: he's the front runner.

This is not vetting people.

Taking writings he made more than 40 years ago out of context and then applying some strange perverted innuendo on them is indeed Swiftboating Bernie.

Taking his desire to enact Medicare For All and demonizing it because he (falsely) hasn't explained how he is going to pay for it (which he has) is Swiftboating Bernie.

Taking his ideology of Democratic Socialism and turning it into the next Red Scare isn't vetting Bernie, it is Swiftboating him.

When I was working for John Kerry's campaign, I was really surprised by how low Republicans would go to falsely attack and ultimately demonize an American War Hero whose interest was the Selfless Service of his country.

I'm more disappointed today to see it happen within our own ranks against someone who ultimately cares about the betterment of every human being in this country.

[Rorey]

1. Sanders doesn't even come close to having a squeaky clean record

Oh, and welcome to the primaries. Some of us realize we need the strongest candidate for the GE. Treating candidates with kid gloves during the selection process is political suicide.

[Rorey]

10. The GOP already have their cakes baked for the cakewalk they're going to have

If Sanders gets the nomination. You can count on that. They've been storing those cakes since 2016.

[democrattotheend]

19. Agree 100% about your last point

In 2008 I felt pretty confident that nothing new would come out about Obama in the last months of the campaign, because Hillary is a fighter and if she had something that could have sunk him she would have used it. I don't think she went nearly as hard on Bernie because she didn't have to. And none of the other candidates have made it this far in a presidential primary before. So I want everyone vetted now, when people still have time to use the information when they vote.

[a kennedy]

2. I hate what they're doing to Bernie.......I understand him being the front runner

But I hate what they’re all doing toward him.

[Rorey]

12. I kinda hate what Sanders has been doing to Democrats

Even while he's running as a Dem, he bashes us.

[jimfields33]

16. I'm thankful he's not running as an independent

I am stunned by some who want him to run as an independent. Do you have any idea what the result of 2020 will be? I’m not sure some do because it’s mentioned a lot.

[Rorey]

18. I do agree nt

[corbettkroehler]

3. I Couldn't Agree More

Some people may have missed the headline in 2005 because the reporting was fairly quiet but the leader of the Swift Boat Veterans admitted that Karl Rove paid each of them many thousands of dollars to tarnish Kerry's distinguished (and conspicuously gallant) Navy service.

On the bright side...

Link to tweet

[corbettkroehler]

11. I Shudder To Imagine The Commercials Run Against Your Guy! (n/t)

[demmiblue]

17. ...

[lapfog_1]

4. I'm not out to trash Bernie

I don't even know much about his record.

But the repukes WILL trash him... and there is plenty there to work with.

I think the reason Obama won was that he was squeaky clean... even though they tried to make up crap anyway (born in Kenya, muslim, crack addict, etc)... but there was no paper trail and not much in way of video or recordings or even personal accounts from people.

Bernie... well he does have a very long history... and there is a lot of stuff in his history (stuff he may no longer believe) that would be troubling to the average voter.

Mostly I want to beat Trump... and Bernie seems unlikely to me to be able to pull that off (after the GOP gets through with him). The Orange Anus in the White House should be the easiest person to ever run for that office to beat. And yet, I worry about it... and everyone else here should be worried about it. If Bernie is the nominee, we better all get as many of us out to vote, especially in the swing states, as we possibly can.

[uponit7771]

5. Not all of them, Sanders has no historical swing state appeal outside of MOE, Biden has the most

[myohmy2]

9. not to worry...

...trump's no Mother Teresa...

...we've got plenty to shove up trump ass when the time comes...

...and Bernie's just the man who can do it...

[Moderateguy]

13. While I agree that they will try to destroy our nominee but it will be worse for Sanders...

They can try to call the other candidates socialists, but they have no video of it coming for the horses' mouth. And before anyone says it, most of America does not know there is a difference between a socialist and a democratic socialist

[Rorey]

20. Some folks think everyone knows what they know

You're so right. Most of America doesn't know there's a difference, plus there are a lot of people who equate socialism with communism.

Case in point: My ex-husband was very favorable about Sanders at the beginning of the 2016 campaign. Once he heard the word "socialist", he was done. And there was no coming back. (He became a MAGAt.)

If Sanders does happen to get the nomination, I hope that his supporters realize that they've got a lot of educating and convincing to do, and get out there and pound the pavement, use social media, etc. And I hope they realize that getting all haughty about the fact that the general public isn't informed is NOT a way to win them over to their way of thinking.

Personally, I think they'll be fighting a losing battle with the electorate as a whole, and if Sanders gets nominated, we'll have four more years of Orangeface. I sincerely hope that this time people put country before their fandom over a particular candidate.

[ibegurpard]

14. yup and remember Max Cleland?

There's no one they won't demonize.