April 14, 2016

Confessions of a Democratic Whore: An Open Letter to Dr. Paul Song

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2016/4/14/confessions-of-a-democratic-whore-an-open-letter-to-paul-y-song

Spandan Chakrabarti



Dear Dr. Song:

I am a little perplexed.

Yesterday at a Bernie Sanders campaign rally in New York City, you riled up a giant crowd by describing unspecified Democratic members of Congress and Hillary Clinton as "Democratic whores" beholden to the pharmaceutical industry that is the chief roadblocks in the path of achieving a single payer health care system.

After an inconvenient social media reaction, you first claimed that you did not mean to include Hillary Clinton among such "whores" though any reasonable construction of your own words would indicate that you did - after all, her husband did rescue your sister-in-law from a North Korean prison at the asking of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - but that you had certainly meant it about Democratic members of Congress, whom you had been referring to in that way for years. Then you even walked that back and said you were sorry for using the term 'whore' against Democratic members of Congress.

Here's where my perplexity comes in. Dr. Song, as you well know, a single payer system merely makes the government the only payer in the system, but it doesn't necessarily address the payees, like pharma, directly. That is the difference between a single payer health care system and a socialized one. I am not saying that you should know this because you have "spent [your] adult life fighting for health care for all", but because you are yourself a rather major beneficiary of the pharmaceutical industry. You have been in the upper echelons of that industry for some time, and you're even a minority shareholder of a privately held pharmaceutical company in New York.

I'm sure your well-deserved windfalls from your pharmaceutical career helped pay for your lavish wedding which was featured in InStyle magazine, and this magnificent home in Santa Monica, California. So you could understand if some people thought that for you to be calling other people whores to the industry that made you rich is, well, a little rich.

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April 12, 2016

CONVERSION: With a Powerful Essay, Famous Social Activist Tom Hayden Switches From Bernie To Hillary

http://bluenationreview.com/famous-social-activist-tom-hayden-switches-from-bernie-to-hillary/

By Susan Madrak

“Tom Hayden? Tom Hayden?” I said to myself when I saw The Nation today. If you asked me who were the least likely activists to support Hillary, Tom Hayden would have been on the list — especially since he was already supporting Bernie. But here’s what he writes today: “We still need the organizing of a united front of equals to prevail against the Republicans. It will take a thorough process of conflict resolution to get there, not a unilateral power wielding by the usual operatives. It’s up to all of us.”

Tom Hayden was one of the highest-profile student radicals of the sixties, and an author of the Port Huron Statement, calling for the complete reformation of the Democratic party. (On a more mundane level, he was married to Jane Fonda at the height of her activist years.) He also ran successfully for the state legislature in California, and is on the board of Progressive Democrats of America. He is an anti-fracking activist.

And as of today, Hayden is a Hillary supporter. It was her nuanced position on fracking that finally made him switch — that, and the tactics of California fracking opponents. Hayden explains:

Hillary wants limits on fracking: a ban where individual states have blocked it, like in New York; safeguards against children’s and family exposures; a ban where releases of methane or contamination of ground water are proven; and full disclosure of the chemicals used in the process. Bernie’s position is that he’s simply against all fracking. But Hillary’s position goes beyond what virtually any state has done.

As Hayden points out, Bernie’s fracking ban doesn’t include a strategic plan for implementing his policy.

There is no recognition of the overwhelming wall of opposition from the Republican Congress, which can only be broken on state-by-state organizing. The climate clock is ticking towards doomsday. Where are we moving next, beyond waiting for the overthrow of Citizens United?

(More in link)

April 11, 2016

Hillary Clinton meets with the NY Daily News

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/4/11/1513870/-Hillary-Clinton-meets-with-NY-Daily-News

By dsvelca



Following Senator Sanders' much discussed interview with the NY Daily News, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the same editorial board. Link below:

www.nydailynews.com/…

I tried to incorporate some quotes from the article but it’s much too long. Every question, as usual, was answered in her usual wonkish, dripping in details matter. If you’re a supporter — you should be satisfied, if you aren’t, this is not likely to change your mind.

Happy reading!

April 11, 2016

I worked hard to get Barack Obama elected, now I am working hard for Hillary Clinton. This is why.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/4/11/1513734/-I-worked-hard-to-get-Barack-Obama-elected-now-I-am-working-hard-for-Hillary-Clinton-This-is-why

By MagicBeaned


Hillary Clinton 2008

I worked hard to help Barack Obama become President of the United States in 2008. We fought a very rough battle to defeat Hillary Clinton for the nomination and when she conceded graciously and embraced her opponent to join forces in taking the White House back from the Republicans, I immediately began hoping that the forces of history and politics would put me in a position to work hard for her in 2016. America’s first black president, followed by America’s first woman president? That is something worth fighting for, something I am proud to be a part of.

The photograph in this diary captures my favorite moment in the 2008 primary, and it shows many of the reasons that I am more excited than ever to see Hillary win the nomination and the White House. I forget exactly when she had that drink on the plane, but it was near the end of the nasty scuffle with Barack. It shows a real human being, very comfortable with herself. It shows a person that I want to lead our country.

When all politics are set aside, I think we can each get a good idea of who a candidate is by seeing how they act and move and smile and laugh. Barack Obama was a terrible disappointment to me, as a teacher, when he sold out the entire American public school system to the testing industry and continued the billion dollar empire of Jeb Bush and company. Barack Obama is still the best person who has been President of the United States in my lifetime, in my view.

I was born when John F. Kennedy was president, so I have seen a few. This past 8 years has been so wonderful, watching caring loving intelligent passionate hilarious brilliance in the form of Barack and Michelle Obama. Nobody else even comes close. Politically, there have been many failings. Personally, I have loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to see Hillary and Bill back in the White House, especially because this time they are grandparents. Babies on the lawn, joy on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, the Clintons can’t hold a candle to the Obamas when it comes to melting into a glowing ball of love magic, but I still see them as the best people in the 2016 race.

(More in link)

April 8, 2016

Sanders Walks It Back: ‘Of Course’ Clinton Is Qualified to Be President

http://www.mediaite.com/online/sanders-walks-it-back-of-course-clinton-is-qualified-to-be-president/

Speaking at a town hall-style interview on The Today Show Friday morning, Sen. Bernie Sanders walked back his comments Thursday that Hillary Clinton was “not qualified” to be president.

Asked if the former secretary of state was qualified, Sanders replied, “Of course.” He added: “I hope that we get away from these attacks, which by the way, the media likes very much and start focusing … on the real issues.”

Sanders seems to be on something of a minor apology tour after the unusually rancorous tone he struck with his fellow candidate lately.

“On her worst day, she would be an infinitely better president than either of the Republican candidates,” he said on Today, echoing remarks he had made on late night television the previous night.

(Video in link)

April 8, 2016

Sanders Walks It Back: ‘Of Course’ Clinton Is Qualified to Be President

http://www.mediaite.com/online/sanders-walks-it-back-of-course-clinton-is-qualified-to-be-president/

Speaking at a town hall-style interview on The Today Show Friday morning, Sen. Bernie Sanders walked back his comments Thursday that Hillary Clinton was “not qualified” to be president.

Asked if the former secretary of state was qualified, Sanders replied, “Of course.” He added: “I hope that we get away from these attacks, which by the way, the media likes very much and start focusing … on the real issues.”

Sanders seems to be on something of a minor apology tour after the unusually rancorous tone he struck with his fellow candidate lately.

“On her worst day, she would be an infinitely better president than either of the Republican candidates,” he said on Today, echoing remarks he had made on late night television the previous night.

(Video in link)

April 8, 2016

Roland Martin Grills Bill Clinton #BlackLivesMatter Protesters: What Do You Want the Clintons to Do?

http://www.mediaite.com/online/roland-martin-grills-bill-clinton-blacklivesmatter-protesters-what-do-you-want-the-clintons-to-do/

by Tommy Christopher



As former President Bill Clinton addresses the fallout from his exchange with #BlackLivesMatter protesters in Philadelphia on Thursday, News One Now host Roland Martin welcomed those protesters, Rufus Farmer and Erica Mines, to find out more about why they protested the former president. President Clinton took heavy criticism for things like telling the protester to “hush up” and for defending a remark that Hillary Clinton has already apologized for by accusing the pair of defending gang leaders, but has since expressed regret over his part in the exchange.

On the substance, though, Clinton spent a lot of time defending the 1990s policies the duo were protesting, and on Friday morning, Roland tried to drill down on the specifics of their grievances.

He began by asking why they weren’t protesting others who supported the law, such as Vice President Joe Biden, who authored and pushed the 1994 crime bill. “Vice President Biden does deserve criticism for it,” Farmer replied, “Vice President Biden was not the one in Philadelphia yesterday.”

Erica Mines also added that they have issues with others, including Senator Bernie Sanders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus at the time, who supported the bill.

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April 8, 2016

Roland Martin Grills Bill Clinton #BlackLivesMatter Protesters: What Do You Want the Clintons to Do?

http://www.mediaite.com/online/roland-martin-grills-bill-clinton-blacklivesmatter-protesters-what-do-you-want-the-clintons-to-do/

by Tommy Christopher



As former President Bill Clinton addresses the fallout from his exchange with #BlackLivesMatter protesters in Philadelphia on Thursday, News One Now host Roland Martin welcomed those protesters, Rufus Farmer and Erica Mines, to find out more about why they protested the former president. President Clinton took heavy criticism for things like telling the protester to “hush up” and for defending a remark that Hillary Clinton has already apologized for by accusing the pair of defending gang leaders, but has since expressed regret over his part in the exchange.

On the substance, though, Clinton spent a lot of time defending the 1990s policies the duo were protesting, and on Friday morning, Roland tried to drill down on the specifics of their grievances.

He began by asking why they weren’t protesting others who supported the law, such as Vice President Joe Biden, who authored and pushed the 1994 crime bill. “Vice President Biden does deserve criticism for it,” Farmer replied, “Vice President Biden was not the one in Philadelphia yesterday.”

Erica Mines also added that they have issues with others, including Senator Bernie Sanders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus at the time, who supported the bill.

(More in link)

April 8, 2016

Clinton Leads Sanders 56%-38% in New York

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/4/8/1512669/-Clinton-Leads-Sanders-56-38-in-New-York

By Scan



Start spreading the news...the end of the Democratic primary is near.

Clinton leads Sanders 56%-38% in New York, according to a new Emerson College poll. Don't worry about this opening line, however, as their last poll was clearly an outlier. This margin is about what we’d expect when looking at all the polls.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has gained significant ground on Hillary Clinton in the upcoming New York primary, shaving off 30 points from the massive lead Clinton held in New York just three weeks ago. He now trails the former Secretary of State by 18 points (56% to 38%). In a March 17 ECPS poll, conducted in the days following Clinton’s decisive performance on Super Tuesday II, she was winning by 48 points (71% to 23%) among Democratic primary voters in New York.

Just to be crystal clear: Bernie did not gain thirty points in three weeks. This is the only poll showing such a wild, absurd swing. A 48-point win would be fantastic, of course, but an 18-point margin would be just as deadly to Bernie's remaining nomination chances.

Furthermore, there's some data in here that suggests Clinton's solid lead isn't going anywhere.

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April 8, 2016

Obama warns Dems against 'Tea Party mentality'

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/275546-obama-warns-dems-against-tea-party-mentality

By Jordan Fabian



President Obama on Thursday warned Democrats against adopting a “Tea Party mentality” that could lead to deep divisions within the party and harm its chances of winning national elections.

Following the rise of the Tea Party and Donald Trump, Obama said infighting within the Republican Party is much worse than it is on the Democratic side.

But he urged his party’s voters to be mindful of that danger in the midst of a heated primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

“The thing Democrats have to guard against is going in the direction that the Republicans are much further along on, and that is this sense 'we are just going to get our way, and if we don’t, then we’ll cannibalize our own, kick them out and try again,' ” he said at a town-hall meeting with law students in Chicago.

In that scenario, Democrats could “stake out positions so extreme, they alienate the broad public,” Obama added. “I don’t see that being where the Democrats go, but it’s always something we have to pay attention to.”

Obama’s comments come amid a major dustup between Clinton and Sanders that has Democrats concerned about keeping their party unified.

Sanders on Wednesday accused Clinton of being not “qualified” to serve as president because of her willingness to use a super-PAC and support for the Iraq War and free trade agreements.

The president did not name Clinton or Sanders. But he offered a staunch defense of his incrementalist view of politics, which has sometimes come under fire from the Vermont senator.

"That’s how change generally happens,” he said, citing the example of his signature healthcare law.

“It’s not perfect. There is no public option, not single-payer,” he said. “If I was designing a system from scratch, it would have been more elegant. But that’s not what was possible in our democracy."

The president also sought to downplay the divisions between Clinton and Sanders.

He said the debate among Democrats is “is a little bit more about means, less about ends,” noting that both candidates broadly agree on issues like the need for universal healthcare and combating climate change.

Obama said he understood the populist sentiment that has driven Sanders’s candidacy. But he said the answer is not to abandon a compromise approach.

“The danger, whether for Democrats or Republicans, is in a closed-loop system where everybody is just listening to the people who agree with them,” he said.

“And that anybody who suggests there is another point of view ... well, then you must be a sellout or you must be corrupted or you must be on the take or what have you," he added. "That is not, I think, useful.”

Obama could be a unifying figure for Democrats in this fall's election.

His approval ratings are at 50 percent or higher in most opinion polls, making him the most popular figure in his party.

(More in link)