Discussion: Sanders Backtracks Comments Calling Progressive Groups 'Establishment'

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Discussion for article #244983

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Hmmmm…

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RUN. ON. THE. ISSUES.

Stop the silly semantic games on both sides and stop alienating each others’ camps. This is silliness.

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Stop the silly semantic games on both sides and stop alienating each others’ camps. This is silliness.

Co-sign +1000 times.

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It appears that Bernie has his own tin ear. Unless you are focused only on his pet issues – fundamental as some of those are – you are establishment. This is nonsense.

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((Shrugs shoulders)) Eh.

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seems he realized the error in his statement and is correcting himself.

whether it is true backtrack or imperfect word choice he is correcting., we can only infer (our respective camps will infer as they will).

Either way, I appreciate his willingness to clarify and admit the mistake.

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He really isn’t very good at this “national election” stuff is he?
He is used to running in a VERY small state almost unopposed and not having to work for it, ever.
Now Bernie seems to be in over his head half the time, constantly REACTING and not thinking it through first. If someone disagrees with him or calls him out over a policy he FREAKS and gets angry and starts wagging his finger and shouting at people, not understanding WHY anyone would not agree with him.
Not good.
I like Bernie, I like some of his policy ideas, but I don’t think he is ready for the National Stage yet.
He gets angry too easily and then sticks his foot in his mouth. That WILL be used against him (as it currently is) and he doesn’t seem to be able to handle it.

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It would be useful (and informative for us all) if somebody asked Sanders what national groups meet his approval.

As a decades-long supporter of Planned Parenthood and HRC, I’d sure like to know.

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In over his head.

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Putting down serious national advocacy groups is not a “silly semantic game.”

Bernie’s “clarification” doesn’t ring true to me, given that most of what he’s said for years proves he’s the perpetual, professional “outsider” who doesn’t approve of much of anybody else.

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He’s sorry Hillary wouldn’t let him get away with vilifying an organization that didn’t endorse him.

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Agreed. Wow, I can remember back when HRC used to have the word “Fund” in their name and literature. I strongly support both groups as well as being a big Sanders fan.

OT, where in VA are you. Here in Charlottesville, it’s been snowing heavy for the last thirty minutes or so.

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Many Bernie supporters have a need to themselves as special. Enlightened. Morally superior. Beyond grubby politics.

Even Bernie can succumb to this. That’s why he said what he said.

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And about his “speaking truth to power” schtick – he is the power! He’s a current member of one of the most powerful groups in the world – the U.S. Senate.

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Richmond. Ditto.

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If this is an example of how he operates in the Senate and elsewhere you can sure see why Hillary has more endorsements than he does.

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First, it’s not a put-down. It was pretty much the truth. Just as the NRA could be accused of being part of the GOP’s “establishment,” these groups work closely and almost exclusively with the Dems and their campaigns and have for a very long time.

Second, fighting over whether the label of “establishment” applies to them is indeed a “silly semantic game” and bears no relation to the substance of the issues attached to these groups. It’s a fucking distraction.

Third, “clarifications” never ring true when they are the result of having attempted to engage in puerile political attacks and character assassinations. This is no different than Clinton or McCaskill yammering about Bernie being a “socialist” with the intention of conveying the same implications as the GOP/Teatrolls attempt to convey when they use the word improperly, trying to tap into residual Cold War emotionality towards it. Bernie shouldn’t have said this in the first place and neither should Clinton be saying similar shit. It’s all meaningless nonsense and, again, has nothing to do with the issues, which I think fits neatly into the definition of “silly.”

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I’m kind of weary of this train of thought that suggests that an organization is either ‘the political establishment’ or they are ‘standing up and fighting important fights that have to be fought.’ Can’t they be both? Maybe HRC and PP have been so successful because they are able to work within the political establishment to push their agendas? Isn’t that how American politics is supposed to work? And what about the Sanders camp? If he’s elected President, he automatically becomes the defacto ‘establishment.’ At that point will his supporters turn against him out of some kneejerk anti-authoritarianism?

I get that Sanders is against the ‘establishment’ in an abstract sense, but what is he for, and how does he plan to achieve anything without some sort of establishment built around him?

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@K_in_VA

Bracing it here in SE PA, where the storm arrives tonight through Sat. Hope you guys are warm and safe!

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