Sanders allies expect him to make second White House bid

[LiberalLovinLug]

164. Because of his track record, he has a lot of rope.

And because there is usually a good reason behind these kind of cherry picked criticisms. Even if some say he made a mistake, his heart is usually doing things for what he believes are the right reasons.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernies-vote-on-sanctions-was-about-protecting-the-iran-deal-from-trump_us_597df7f8e4b0da64e879b55e

Bernie’s Vote On Sanctions Was About Protecting The Iran Deal From Trump:

In response to the criticism, Sanders tweeted: “I am strongly supportive of sanctions on Russia and North Korea. However, I worry very much about President Trump’s approach to Iran. Following Trump’s comments that he won’t re-certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement I worry new sanctions could endanger it.”



On his tax returns. I 'd like it if he would have just released the long version. But he released more than Trump. We know for instance that "in 2014, the couple paid $27,653 in federal taxes, resulting in an effective tax rate of 19.6 percent on $140,994 in taxable income." Which, as this article points out, "Sanders' return reveals that his annual $156,000 Senate salary was less than Clinton received for each of the three speeches she gave to Goldman Sachs for a total figure of $675,000."
He's not some billionaire cheating the system. One of the poorest members of the Senate. It may not be a good thing he didn't release them, but really, is that issue so important to cut ones nose off to spite him?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3543028/Bernie-Sanders-releases-tax-returns.html


What may be in play was he did not want to feed the trolls with a red herring to chew on about how this champion of socialism, one whose own tax proposal would eliminate a lot of the loopholes that everyone else uses, he uses as well if one were to go over the details...gasp. He may have been paranoid how it would be used against him in the race. I don't know for sure. But he had a lot of critics ready to pounce on whatever they could to chisel away at his image. Because as we know, the further to the left you are, the higher the standard you are held to. Mother Jones says it best:

https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/04/no-bernies-taxes-dont-show-hes-hypocrite/


Either way, I'm sorry, but not releasing his long form return in '14 is just not enough of a deal breaker to negate his value in so many other areas. I just think that one must weigh the foibles of any politician, and the degree to which they really matter, against what they have done for the issues that are dear to the heart of most Democrats, and what he brings to the national discourse. (Reminds me again of Franken's situation)