Bernie Still Determined to Attack Hillary, Further Degrading His Own Brand

[yallerdawg]

Source: Blue Nation Review by Peter Daou

Weeks ago I argued that Bernie Sanders had already done damage to his own brand but hadn’t yet realized it.

His fateful (and likely fatal) decision to go hard negative on Hillary in 2016 was one of the reasons for Hillary’s clean sweep on March 15th and her prohibitive delegate advantage.

*****

I’ll repeat: Bernie’s Wall Street dog whistle is a barely concealed attempt to accuse Hillary Clinton of corruption, despite the fact that he lacks a scintilla of evidence to support that claim.

No matter how lofty and inspiring his message (and progressive values are inspiring), it is deeply unjust – and frankly, reckless – to run a campaign premised on the destruction of Hillary’s character through false innuendo.

If Bernie and his campaign want to keep running in the face of improbable odds, then how about running against what Republicans stand for? How about making proposals on issues and letting the people decide if they like them? How about dropping the artful smears against Hillary?

Read it at: http://bluenationreview.com/bernie-still-determined-to-attack-hillary/

[DURHAM D]

1. Why doesn't he attack the Teaparty instead? nt

[pdsimdars]

11. Because we're in the PRIMARY

that's when you are supposed to vet your candidates.
I guess if your candidate has a lot of bad baggage, I can understand how you'd want to skip that part.

[DURHAM D]

20. If he had attacked the real enemy he might of started his

revolution. Big mistake.

[yallerdawg]

37. Why 'join' the Democratic Party to repeatedly call it "corrupt" and "rigged"?

With all his talk about super PACs, Bernie has been outspending Hillary by big margins — and she’s still winning big. Perhaps impugning her honesty and integrity isn’t such a smart strategy?

[merrily]

77. As if she and her PACS and surrogates have not attacked him--and his supporters? Please.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

53. haha... yes! Keep tellin it like it is Bernie... some just can't handle the truth.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2016!!!

[riversedge]

2. I agree--the over the top harsh negitivity is what is

going to further do him in. IMHO

[yallerdawg]

39. Never good to stick with the same strategy...

when you are losing.

[tazkcmo]

3. LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[pdsimdars]

12. You should paste that link in there. PERFECT!!!!!

[marions ghost]

36. Gotcha ^^^

[CharlotteVale]

64. Snort.

[GreatGazoo]

4. Isn't the beeter question: If you really believe HRC has math on her side, why are YOU attacking

Sanders still?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. Great question! (love beets BTW)

Bernie & Elizabeth 2016!!!

[pangaia]

5. What a load of crap.

[Armstead]

6. He is attacking THE SYSTEM

Since Clinton is part of the corrupt matrix of wealth and power, she gets the fallout.

Sorry but that's the way it is.

[pdsimdars]

15. And a big Hallelujah and Amen to that!!!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. ^^THIS^^

[NWCorona]

7. He is still running for president

[pdsimdars]

8. Ha ha

When you said "it is deeply unjust – and frankly, reckless – to run a campaign premised on the destruction of Hillary’s character through false innuendo"

I would say it differently

it is deeply just – and frankly, honest – to run a campaign premised on the vetting of Hillary’s character through telling historical facts about her

[Jitter65]

9. I think this is one of the reasons the supers will not cross over to help him. He only attacks the

party, Hillary, and now Trump. Hillary has raised much money for down ticket Dems. It really is a pipe dream to believe that they all would turn their backs on her in favor of Bernie.

[pdsimdars]

17. it might be if they believe in a name or an ideal

[MBS]

21. I think you're right about this.

Also, considering that the supers are either elected Democratic representatives or serious volunteer activists for the Democratic party, Bernie's professional history as an independent has to be a problem for them from the get-go. Certainly, I could easily understand how an independent would not/could not be the first choice for folks who have devoted big chunks of their lives to working within the Democratic party, even if Bernie is working within the system now.

[Human101948]

25. You're probably right...the powers that be will vote for the status quo...

Hillary Clinton Is Exposing the Dark Underbelly of the Democrats’ Money Machine

In February, the Democratic National Committee rolled back an internal policy, pushed by Barack Obama in 2008, that barred it from taking contributions from federal lobbyists. Campaign finance reformers were rightly outraged. In addition to the questionable “optics,” it gave big corporations yet more ability to influence the party. At the same time, this was exactly the kind of inside-baseball, process-based story that tends to fall on deaf ears.

But it quickly blew up into a major controversy, due largely to a common misperception that the DNC had relaxed the prohibition in order to help Hillary Clinton win the Democratic primary. Headlines like “DNC makes ‘sweeping’ changes to save Hillary,” “How the DNC Helps Clinton Buy Off Superdelegates,” and “The DNC Just Declared War on Bernie Sanders’ Political Revolution” quickly spread across social media, enraging many Sanders supporters. Largely lost in translation, however, was the fact that the DNC was working with the campaigns to raise money to support the eventual Democratic nominee—and Democrats up and down the ballot—in the general election, not in the primaries.

The DNC’s decision should have outraged people on its merits. But the story only caught fire because it fit so neatly into a common view among Democratic base voters that the DNC has its thumb on the scale for Hillary Clinton.

http://www.thenation.com/article/hillary-clinton-is-exposing-the-dark-underbelly-of-the-democrats-money-machine/

[global1]

32. They Are Dems First.....

If they sense that the GE will go the way of the Repugs because of Hillary - they'll turn their backs and support the candidate that can beat the Repugs. If that happens to be Bernie - so be it.

They are not crossing over now - because they - like Bernie - they realize that there is half the country that didn't get a chance to voice their opinions yet.

Down ticket Dems will attach to the coattails to whichever candidate will get them re-elected. They're fickle and like most Americans - want to keep their job.

[NurseJackie]

46. I doubt he actually believes such a thing would happen. Instead ...

... he's using it as a gimmick to give false-hope to his supporters. Perhaps so that they'll continue to make donations? (I don't know.)

I've criticized Bernie for many things, but his INTELLIGENCE is not one of those things. He's smart enough to see the numbers. He's smart enough to know what the future holds for his campaign. He's smart enough to know that he doesn't stand a chance of winning the nomination.

So, considering how smart he actually is, we can only assume that there must be some other motive for him to continue to peddle the fantasy that he's going to SWEEP the remaining primaries and caucuses.

But even then, it's not enough for him to merely "win" the state... he MUST do so with an overwhelming BLOWOUT each time. That's just not going to happen.

[workinclasszero]

10. This:

His fateful (and likely fatal) decision to go hard negative on Hillary in 2016 was one of the reasons for Hillary’s clean sweep on March 15th and her prohibitive delegate advantage.

Didn't Bernie promise never to go negative?

I guess its like his "supers are evil and undemocratic/against the will of the people"...till he needed to subvert the will of the people and flip supers to win

[Loudestlib]

86. If facts are a negative to your candidate, you should rethink your choice of candidate.

[Trust Buster]

13. Being a Hillary supporter, I understand Bernie's motivation.

He has small caucuses like Idaho, Utah, Washington and Hawaii coming up in the next 10 days that he can flood the zone with his supporters and win. So he still wants to compete against her. But he needs to cease and desist his attacks in a couple of weeks when New York and Pennsylvania weighs in. As for burning bridges, the guy us 74, this is his biggest and final salvo.

[pdsimdars]

19. Translation -- Bernie needs to stop campaigning or our candidate might not win.

Isn't that they way losers think?

[-none]

59. That's what this thread and many others reads like.

[griffi94]

14. This is where I think the years of being smeared by the GOP

actually helps Hillary.
So much baseless innuendo has been slung at her for so long
it's lost it's potency.
Bernie's not doing anything that RW media hasn't been doing for the last 20 years.

And they don't even use a dog whistle, they just make shit up and speculate wildly.

Maybe this will yield results for Bernie but it hasn't yielded anything for the GOP.
She's doing very well with Democrats.

[pdsimdars]

22. And that's the problem == she is ONLY doing well with the Democrats -- only about 30% of voters

Bernie does well with all the parties.

[OwlinAZ]

28. She is not doing well with most Democrats in Michigan

[griffi94]

29. Well, he hasn't done well enough to be winning.

In fact he's in a bit of hole and is going to need
some blow out wins in some delegate rich states.

In any case, moderates, AAS, women, and more than enough indies
will break for her in November.

She did beat Bernie decisively in the swing states of OH, FL, and VA.

It's hard to make the argument that he's the most electable if he can't
get out of the primary.

[Dawgs]

49. Totally missed the point about Hillary.

Why should we surprised.

[griffi94]

55. And you totally missed the point

about Bernie having to win the nomination first.
It's hard to make the case that he's the most electable
if he can't get out of the primary.

Which part of that is incorrect.

If he's the nominee, I'll vote for him but he has to win the nomination first
and right now he's behind.

[morningfog]

16. BNR is not a reliable source. Rat Fucker Brock's rag.

[virtualobserver]

47. I hate the smell of Brock droppings in the morning....It smells like....oligarchy.

[Art_from_Ark]

61. Yuck-- that's worse than the pig farm I used to live near

[UglyGreed]

18. Propaganda courtesy

of David Brock

[Jefferson23]

24. The righteous Brock. lol

[UglyGreed]

31. Anything to win

[Jefferson23]

34. Anything, just like last time when she ran. n/t

[UglyGreed]

38. They have honed

their daggers and now it is time to slice and dice. Very respectable and something to admire.....

[Jefferson23]

43. The irony of this OP is rich, isn't it. n/t

[yallerdawg]

60. I know!

They think this OP is about Bernie!

[Jefferson23]

79. No worries, we're well aware of Clinton's Brock campaign. n/t

[Buns_of_Fire]

48. With their access to capital, why not scoop up Al Jazeera America?

Rename it "The Hillary Channel". Here Comes Hillary! Keeping Up With the Clintons. The Bill Show. Make a couple million. Retire.

[NowSam]

23. Laughable

Bernie has raised a very legitimate question as to the intention of those who paid millions for speeches over years.

Let's wait until after the next round of primaries to see what damage his brand took for daring to ask such a bold question.

In my estimation Hillary has decimated her brand by her own campaign tactics and stealing the Bern.

[B2G]

30. No kidding. They think Sanders is 'going negative'?

They ain't see nothing yet.

Just wait until the GE.

[pdsimdars]

26. My bottom line on all Posts like this "stop attacking Hillary"

They don't want Bernie to campaign against Hillary. That means they obviously feel that when someone campaigns against her she will LOSE.

Isn't that the fundamental way all losers think?
Simple as that.

If you can't handle someone campaigning against you, then maybe you shouldn't run for office.

[Jefferson23]

27. Voters get to decide what that money means to them, she does take it, she courted WS.

Voters decide how to interpret what it means..and Brock should help her
with a fact. Hillary's low trustworthy ratings were low BEFORE a voter
asked for her to release the transcripts at a town hall meeting.

[casperthegm]

33. Is it wrong to compare and contrast candidates?

I've not seen any HRC supporters take issue with her shots at him regarding the auto bailout double down lie, the one issue candidate smear, and the Koch brothers insinuation.

Now it seems that these threads often have a lot of back and forth but seldom break things down, issue by issue. I've done that below. If you disagree with what I've stated for Clinton's positions or actions feel free to reply with what you think is incorrect, as I think it's important to have a dialogue on the issues, rather than smear candidates with general terms.


Clinton’s position on Keystone (or lack of one). She waited until the same week that Obama made his decision before announcing where she stood. In my opintion that's not standing up for the environment. That's politics.

Clinton accepts Wall Street money. Whether it's impression or reality, it's there and it can't help but make me wonder. Generally speaking, it's hard to imagine the banks and Wall Street throwing all of that money at her and saying "here you go, we don't expect anything in return."

Clinton refuses to release the transcripts. I'm well aware that the HRC supporters see this as a non-issue. This is a fact/opinion matter. Fact is they are not released. Opinion is whether or not it matters. It matters to many of us because we feel that the Democratic party should expect more from their candidates.

Her opposition to Glass Stegall.

She supports fracking.

Her Iraq vote. You may be sick of hearing about it but it's a big deal. It was poor judgement and lack of foresight. Sanders saw that it would destabilize the region. And it did. Now we not have the legacy of the Iraq war, we have the current ISIS situation.

Speaking of that, there is the no-fly zone proposal. Another poor foreign policy decision. What happens when Russian jets cross that line? You have to be prepared for that and I don't see it.

The email and server investigation by the FBI. Sorry, it's real. It very well could end up being nothing in the end, but what if it's not? What if it drags on until the general election and then she gets indicted? Then you end up with a republican in the White House. Unless you work for the FBI or DOJ you can't simply wave it off, as if you know nothing is going to happen.

Gay marriage. You can see how she has flip flopped over the years, as confirmed via politifact. Another change based on the political winds.

She supported NAFTA

Her support of the TPP – before she changed and now opposes it.

These are all things that I, and I suspect other people are very concerned about when it comes to HRC's credentials. They are real issues, not stuff that is made up. I think it warrants a real discussion.

[FlatBaroque]

51. You are trying to have an intelligent debate with people who have no interest

in anything but advancing the interests of their Queen.

[casperthegm]

63. It's so frustrating

Why don't we see more conversations that compare and contrast the candidates?

Let's line 'em up and compare. Bernie has flaws. I'm willing to acknowledge that. I think when the comparisons are done though he is the clear winner.

Enough with the rhetoric of one is a "good leader" or "has experience." Let's run through the actual issues. Why is it so tough to get those conversations going here? I thought when I joined the DU we'd see more of that, instead of the insane jabbering out there on places like yahoo...

[yallerdawg]

66. Repeating the speculation and innuendo does not make it fact.

Every point has been endlessly debated and refuted ad nauseum.

But it's like the Little Dutch Boy and the dike. Pointless.

See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda. - George W. Bush

[FlatBaroque]

72. Your statement is farcical in every respect

I bet you are a lot smarter than I think you are.

[MoonRiver]

35. Bernie and/or his advisors don't appear to be fast learners.

I expect the bitter, negative attacks not only continue, but escalate in vitriol. Hopefully that will guarantee his campaign "berns" out sooner rather than later, giving Hillary more time to just focus on the tRump.

[JaneyVee]

40. Tad Devine and Jeff Weaver destroyed Bernie.

[yallerdawg]

68. But they do know how to maintain the cash flow.

Nothing cynical about that.

[Live and Learn]

41. Bernie has never attacked or needed to attack Hillary. She does it to herself.

And then blames Bernie for it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. I really don't think he cares all that much who wins the general election.

[florida08]

44. omg

Really? The candidate who takes private prison money that incarcerate blacks unfairly, who supports the party that has Debbie Wasserman Shultz as their chair who is all for charging low income emergency loans 300% should not be question??
Artful smear? Hardly

It seems there are as many progressives in the bubble as conservatives these days.

[FlatBaroque]

45. Excellent journal for the well informed that Blue Nation Review.

[PeoViejo]

50. Calling Hillary's lies is not an attack.

Bullshit is Fair Game.

[PowerToThePeople]

52. this whole op is bullshit

hillary-propaganda.com

[ladjf]

54. This hit piece is nonsense. nt

[Shadowflash]

57. If by 'attack'

You mean 'point out policy positions and past statements and votes to contrast between them' then, yes, you are correct.

[noamnety]

62. "WALL STREET DOG WHISTLE"

Am I the only one staring at that phrase in disbelief?

[ucrdem]

65. Attacking Hillary IS his brand.

And Barack, and Bill, and Chelsea, and TPP, and NAFTA, and the Clinton Foundation, and on and on. That's how he launched and that's how he's run since day 1.

[revbones]

67. Wow. Hillary supporters attack any negative article about Hillary as a right-wing smear

Yet cite Blue Nation Review - a wholly owned entity of her super-PAC - as truthful.

Wow. Words fail me here at the level of hypocrisy.

[yallerdawg]

70. And yet...

Do working Americans really care about a super PAC? No.

If they did, Hillary wouldn’t have millions more votes than her rivals, Democratic or Republican. She wouldn’t have so many endorsements, won so many states or had the support of so many prominent public figures.

[revbones]

71. Or perhaps they just don't know much about them... nt

[Lizzie Poppet]

69. Why ignore Hillary's staggeringly huge and varied downside?

Not just because it's going to be SO much more relentlessly and viciously exploited by the GOP nominee, but because it indicates a person totally unsuited, in terms of character, to the presidency...

[yallerdawg]

76. 'Socialist' is the downside America is not ready for.

Most Americans have a low opinion of every politician there is, it is part of the rightwing plan to de-legitimize "government" itself.

After 25 years of unrelenting attack and smear, you really think Hillary can't take it?

[Lizzie Poppet]

87. Yes, that deliberate mislabeling worked well, didn't it?

Good strategy to count on low-information voters to not know the difference between "socialist" and "democratic socialist."

That said, I certainly agree with you about the decades-long effort to paint government as the enemy, perhaps an even more destructive legacy of the Reagan (long may he rot) years than deregulation. When the government is, at least in theory, us, that attitude's pure poison.

[yallerdawg]

89. I'm impressed, LP.

That is a critical, fair, and even-handed response.

The kind of discourse we should be having regarding our primary candidates.

[Lizzie Poppet]

91. Thank you so much.

GD: P is basically a flame forum, and while I'm not a long-time DU'er (c. 5 years), I'm not sure I've ever seen this level of division. I rather suspect it is, for many, irreparable, and they'll be leaving after June or November. I'll likely be one of them.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

73. Poor, poor, Hillary. Tsk. Tsk.

[Orsino]

74. "Wall Street Dog Whistle"?

To what impulse do you imagine it panders? Do you believe it unjustified?

The corruption is plain. It's not a dog whistle.

[SHRED]

75. Well there are events that Bernie isn't invited to

[wendylaroux]

78. Facts are not attacks.

[Kip Humphrey]

80. Thanks for clarifying. I always suspected that to attack Wall Street is to attack Hillary

and vice versa. Thanks so much for this confirmation!

[frylock]

81. Brock Nation Review

[nc4bo]

82. Does Brock own this publicarion too? nt

[21st Century Poet]

83. If Sanders is hard negative, then I am Super Man.

Bernie Sanders's campaign is quite possibly the mildest one to have ever been run, certainly the mildest one to get so far. Most primary campaigns are so brutal, it's surprising that anyone comes out alive the other end let alone goes on to win the presidency. It would have been much more negative if more people had thrown their hat into the ring.

[JackRiddler]

84. How did I know this was Brock?

[winter is coming]

85. You know what really damages your brand?

Using the smear merchant who slimed Anita Hill to spew propaganda for your campaign.

[Lizzie Poppet]

88. Winning is all that matters to the Hillary camp.

How you win is irrelevant...

[kath]

90. Propaganda from BROCK'S website

Yeah, I'm really going to pay attention to that shit...