A campaign official for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) presidential campaign has been advising supporters against accusing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) of sexism over his comment about whether a woman could win the 2020 race.
The knife wound in Senator Sanders’ back remains.
(Which is fine by me, if in fact he said it. All’s fair in love and politics)
Not a fan of Sanders, but also not sure why this is considered so off-limits for discussion.
There’s certainly plenty of speculation and even polling about Buttigieg being gay and whether that would prevent him being able to be elected.
There have also been questions about age, whether people are too old/ too young to win.
In an ideal world, none of that would be an issue, but we’re dealing with the world we have, not the one which we might like to have.
So it’s great to take principled stands, but does nothing for you if there’s still enough anti-women or anti-gay folks out there that you lose the elections because a chunk of the electorate is voting using that as a primary consideration.
The statement is more an appraisal of existing sexism than it is itself sexist. (Well, the “alleged” statement, the exact content of which still is in dispute.)
Regardless, it’s clear Warren herself doesn’t want to bicker with Sanders.
It’s obviously not off limits as a topic for peoplw to discuss and glad they are trying to communicate that this is a nothing-burger. Hopefully warren will take the same tack at the debate and this will pass.
Actually, it is about sexism. Note Sanders and his supporters conduct in 2016.
and I think it’ll be really bad news for us if that becomes what this is about (i.e. press asking her if she thinks Bernie is sexist).”
“Is that what this is about broadly? Absolutely,” the staffer wrote. “But no one here is actually claiming Bernie himself is sexist (regardless of your own personal beliefs on that topic).”
“Claiming you’re worried a woman can’t win/flagging that she’ll receive sexist attacks is something many, many people feel,” the staffer also wrote, echoing Sanders’ explanation of his comment.
No, that’s not what it’s about. That’s what some people want to make it be about. And that’s OK, but let’s not be disingenuous about the motive and the shift of focus–even Warren knows what it isn’t about. And is honest enough to say it. I give her a +1 for that…
He is not sexist, he just doesn’t care about sexism. I seem to recall
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) claims he had no knowledge of the allegations of sexual harassment and gender pay discrimination in his 2016 presidential campaign during an appearance on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.
“Yes, I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case,” Sanders responded.
One wonders if he is too busy to know what his campaign is doing again. And if elected president, will he be too busy running the country to know what his staff is up too.
Focus people, Trump is the enemy, not anyone running against him (ok, except Tulsi)
There might be some merit to discussion of the electorate’s ageism, racism, misogyny or homophobia but Sanders’ comments (as reported) fit within an established narrative.
The “Sanders is a misogynist” meme sticks because it’s a pattern.
He’s called women’s issues “a distraction”.
Sanders surrogate calls Hillary Clinton a “whore”. Sanders offers a tepid tweet & refused to further address the comments.
Paying women less than men for the same work in his 2016 campaign. His response? ““I was a little bit busy running around the country.”
Bernie Bro toxicity in 2016 has carried through today, but Bernie refused to deal with it until forced to – and then with a grudging “I apologize if some women felt mistreated…”
Bernie endorses renowned sexist Cenk Uygur, then has to walk that back. Again, grudgingly with a “I hear my supporters who were frustrated and understand their concerns. Cenk today said he is rejecting all endorsements for his campaign and I retract my endorsement.”
Sources:
Maybe it can be de-escalated but I don’t see how it can be undone.
Sanders is too old to understand sexism. Give him a break.
Very fair points. Had forgotten some of that stuff with the 2016 campaign
Bet ya this is a Russian ploy. Sew dissent and sit back and watch.
“Do I believe a woman can win in 2020? Of course! After all, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by 3 million votes in 2016.”
Bernie, let me fix it for you. “Do I believe a woman can win in 2020? Of course! After all, Hillary Clinton beat me by 4 million votes in 2016.”
Yah well unfortunately it’s too late for that. The unattractive tit for tatting is already news. We need to do better than this.
No one in Warren’s campaign I guess but plenty of people here!
No. It doesn’t have to be done explicitly and it wasn’t explicit here. All that’s necessary is to imply and then let voters connect the dots.