Amid Bernie Sanders's 'Resurgence' a Progressive Coalition Endorses Him

[Donkees]

The Center for Popular Democracy Action, a collective of progressive community groups, is endorsing Mr. Sanders over Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic presidential nomination.

By Astead W. Herndon
Dec. 10, 2019, 5:00 a.m. ET

Excerpts:

The Center for Popular Democracy Action, a coalition of more than 40 progressive community groups totaling about 600,000 members, will on Tuesday endorse Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont for the Democratic presidential nomination, signaling that Mr. Sanders’s political standing among the party’s left wing has rebounded — or even risen — in the months since he suffered a heart attack.

Leaders for C.P.D. Action, which includes liberal groups focusing on immigration, health care, housing and other issues, said Mr. Sanders had seen a jolt of popularity within the organization in the past two months, surpassing Ms. Warren. This is the first time the group, founded in 2012, has endorsed in the presidential race.

Jennifer Epps-Addison, the group’s co-executive director, called it a “resurgence.”

“What Bernie Sanders has built — it is not arguable,” Ms. Epps-Addison said. “It’s an exciting and different energy than we’ve seen in the Democratic base.”

For C.P.D. Action, the endorsement means it will now marshal its affiliates — more than 600,000 members across the country — to organize voters in support of Mr. Sanders in the primary. Leaders said there will be a particular focus on reaching racial minorities and a grass-roots strategy to bring new voters into the process.

“His supporters have found each other collectively, and they’ve found a voice in the movement orientation of Bernie Sanders,” Ms. Epps-Addison said. “That’s the energy we need to defeat Donald Trump.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/bernie-sanders-2020.html

[Donkees]

1. ...

Link to tweet

[Donkees]

2. Senator @BernieSanders is a powerful movement candidate.

Senator @BernieSanders is a powerful movement candidate. He's committed to building the infrastructure of people’s movements and expanding the mandate of electoral politics. He's shown a commitment to building power and giving people the tools to be leaders in their communities.

Link to tweet

[TexasTowelie]

3. Pardon me,

but descriptions of movements and elderly people in the same sentence always leads me to think of Colace. A poor choice of words from the Bernie supporter.

[Hortensis]

4. But these groups' members lean to more radical-left candidacies.

(America's current version of radicalism being just calling for more and sooner of whatever liberal Democrats are calling for on the benign end and sabotaging the Democratic Party on the other.)

And those were mostly already with Sanders. It might pull some back from Warren or Gabbard, or wherever they wandered, but not from the mainstream progressive Democratic candidates.

[corbettkroehler]

5. The Winnowing Process Took 4 Months With Multiple Qualifying Stages

I can't challenge your supposition that these members wanted Sanders from the outset. What I can do is present the following FACTS. Sanders had to win this endorsement and he was no shoe-in. He survived multiple votes over a span of 4 months.

http://organizevotewin.org/?p=2408

[Hortensis]

7. It's not a flaky organization, and it gets funding from the

kind of big foundations that vet who they're donating to and what they're doing with the money. So sure.

HOWEVER, their choice of Sanders for president, given his extremely unimpressive record in the senate, his proven, shocking lack of knowledge about how to use government to achieve his goals, and his ethics and tactics in the 2016 election, including tacitly accepting and benefiting from Patin's use of him to throw control of the nation to Trump/Republicans/kleptocrat donors, all make me seriously question the judgement and character of the members. Do they not know that Sanders tried to illicitly take the nomination when Democratic voters chose someone else? Or were they just disappointed that he couldn't pull it off?

In an era when a malignant right is using election theft and many other fascistic tactics to try to take over our democracy, what goes on earth goes on in these people's minds? Do they really imagine 2020 is about replacing the ACA with a new program?! Do they believe Sanders when he tells them "anyway," Democrats aren't much better than Republicans? Fascists all?

As I said, these days radicalism is mostly just seen in personality manifestations, rather than genuinely radical goals, and boy are we seeing it. Because supporting a badmouther like Sanders for our nominee is certainly not in the least about protecting progressive government from destruction, much less using it to achieve great things.

[corbettkroehler]

17. Unimpressive? Did Your Guy Convince Amazon And Disney To Raise Their Minimum Wage With 1 Bill?

A bill which never even came for a floor vote? Didn't think so.

[Hortensis]

25. You're kidding, right? Going on 30 years in DC and his

achievement is grandstanding as a couple of corporations do what everyon expected them to at some point anyway? You may have missed it due to the blaze of Sanders' glory, but employees were already working on hurrying that along themselves.

The kind of achievement I'm talking about would be using his stature at the center of national power (of which he has had none with his colleagues throughout his entire time there), to lead the doubling of the national minimum wage: years ago.

This is exactly what I mean, both regarding his lack of achievements AND his ethics. How dare he lead people who trust him to believe that for a U.S. senator, able to demand the attention of top executives in his offices or theirs (but didn't), posturing as a demonstrator for the cameras was a real thing? God!

I mentioned what 2015-2016 revealed about the latter, but his record, revealing of his nature and available for everyone to examine, extends forward to these days in the style of politics of his campaign, especially clarified by the behaviors of his so-called paid "surrogates," and goes back decades to when he was young.

Btw, if you believe Sanders when he tells trusting people socialism is things like roads and schools, take it from me, they're socialism the way liberals are conservatives, another of his favorite feeds for eager takers.

[corbettkroehler]

33. Cute - I Live In Orlando And Know A Whole Bunch About Disney And Its Poverty Wages

Deny facts if you like. THERE IS NO WAY DISNEY WOULD HAVE IMPLEMENTED A LIVING WAGE WITHOUT SANDERS' PRESSURE, PERIOD!

Besides, I wasn't comparing Sanders' 30 years in the Congress against Biden's similar career in terms of a bill-by-bill tête-à-tête. You used the word "Unimpressive" and Sanders' success in driving Amazon and Disney to raise their wages with a single bill which never even came to the floor for a vote impressed me greatly. Thus, I repeat my previous question: did your guy achieve something like that? Not to my knowledge. Besides, if Sanders were so unimpressive, why did your guy not lead the fight to raise the federal minimum wage during his time as VP?

Disney is the largest single employer in Florida. Within the last 4 years, the union covering most Walt Disney World theme park and hotel employees won a protracted fight and achieved a large wage bump IN NO SMALL PART on account of the Fight For 15 movement, which Sanders helped germinate. That victory spilled over to the California locations when Sanders helped lead a strike in Anaheim and then filed his legislation.

Your denials will dissuade my state of being impressed precisely 0%. Sanders is impressive.

And don't get me started on the difference between Socialism and Democratic Socialism. Germany has MUCH BETTER roads than we do. I know. I've been there. England does, too. I know. I've been there. Those are Democratic Socialist systems. Conflating Socialism with Democratic Socialism is a Republican talking point. I'll leave that to Trump's attacks on Sanders once Bernie has secured the nomination after Super Tuesday.

Oh, yeah, on the question of stature among his colleagues in Congress, was your guy ever known as Amendment King? Did your guy set a record for the number of amendments passed while a member of the minority caucus? Bernie did, a record which stands to this day. How many amendments would the Republicans have allowed Bernie to attach to their legislation without some stature? Not enough to set a record, that's for sure.

[Hortensis]

36. And Disney's labor problems had finally developed

to such a point that it had become known across the nation and around the world. It was a big scandal.

That Sanders is able to glorify himself in the minds of his followers, to the point of causing them to dismiss the value of the years of work of the labor leaders and employees in that shabby way, is to my mind a huge part of the problem politicians like Sanders present.

Good leaders uplift and enlighten those who believe in them.

[corbettkroehler]

37. Even If I Worked At Disney, You Would Dismiss Me As Clueless

Oh, please! Disney responded to the long-term scandal of its wages?! The facts fly in the face of that flawed conclusion. Don't take my word for it, though. The Orlando Sentinel just ran a devastating multipart critique of Disney World named Laborland.

The opening coverage? Magic Kingdom Park Frontierland employee Gabby Alcantara-Anderson...

In a theme park parking lot, a worker sleeps in her car. This is life in America's most visited city.


Thanks in large part to Disney's poverty wages, which remain to this day since the rise to $15 is staggered and doesn't cover all employees, Orlando ranks DEAD LAST in median wages among the nation's top 50 metropolitan areas [per Trump's Bureau Of Labor Statistics 2018 measurement.] Even as Orlando adds thousands of high-wage jobs, it adds tens of thousands of McJobs. Disney World is largely to blame because it sets the standard.

As for Anaheim's bump in pay, this local coverage proves my point. Iger opposed the increase vigorously. Sanders helped rally local support, including the promotion of a ballot initiative sponsored in part by Fight For 15. It's there in black and white. Read it if you dare.

http://ocregister.com/2018/08/10/disneyland-raises-hourly-wages-for-non-union-workers-13-90-then-15-75-in-january

Turning to Amazon, this headline nails it, Amazon is raising its minimum wage to $15 following pressure from Bernie Sanders

Key excerpt:

• The decision follows sustained pressure from Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has attacked Amazon and Bezos over the company's low wages.

Oh, right, and this decision from Bezos happened ONE MONTH after Sanders introduced his Stop Bezos Act.

But, of course, correlation NEVER is causation!

[Hortensis]

39. Sanders severely fails to meet my standards for

a person I would give power to at any level. He doesn't try to appeal to people who don't approve his behavior.

[corbettkroehler]

40. Not To Worry - He Needs 50% + 1

Should your guy secure the nomination, he'll have my General Election vote 100% and without compunction. Until then, we'll stand by.

[brooklynite]

12. The FACTS suggest that he pretty much WAS a shoe-in...

The initial vote says that he didn't hit a 60% threshold requirement which indicates that he started with majority support.

[corbettkroehler]

6. Altogether Now: "There Is No Sanders Surge"

Last edited Wed Dec 11, 2019, 11:23 AM - Edit history (1)

Cynics may continue to deny the facts if they like. Some dismissed Sanders as over the hill. The last 6 weeks have shown he merely picked up speed!

[beastie boy]

8. Ok, if you insist. There is no Sanders surge.

https://projects.economist.com/democratic-primaries-2020/

[brooklynite]

14. A precipitous decline for Warren, a slow rise for Buttigieg and Sanders is absolutely flat

[Joe941]

34. You can tell how well Bernie is doing by how much DU attacks him.

DU is going to be stepping up the attacks on Bernie over the next days and weeks - count on it.

[betsuni]

35. "DU is going to be stepping up the attacks on Bernie over the next days and weeks --

count on it."

What? Are we, members of DU, involved in the vast establishment-centrist-neoliberal-status quo-corporatist-elite conspiracy to stop at nothing to defeat Bernie Sanders blah blah blah? We're Democrats.

[LongtimeAZDem]

9. What resurgance?

[corbettkroehler]

18. The L.A. Times Just Reporting Sanders In First In The Golden State While Biden Slumps - That One

http://latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-05/democrats-2020-race-california-poll

and Monmouth showing Sanders rising 2 points nationally in recent weeks - that one

http://monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/monmouthpoll_US_121019

A 2-point rise in national polls in recent weeks MOST DEFINITELY qualifies as A SURGE in my lexicon.

[TidalWave46]

20. Love this. Absolutely love it. NT

[corbettkroehler]

22. The Hill: "Sanders, Buttigieg surge in New Hampshire as Biden, Warren slip"

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/472209-sanders-buttigieg-surge-in-new-hampshire-as-biden-warren-slip-poll

There's that pesky surge again. I guess this means that the word is more than a figment of Berners' imagination.

[TidalWave46]

24. That is not what that mean. Love it. NT

[George II]

10. Seems like every time Sanders drops in the polls we hear about a resurgence.

[LongtimeAZDem]

13. So much winning!

[ehrnst]

30. IKR?

[floppyboo]

11. And Youth Climate Strike leaders have endorsed the movement too!

Funny how that word 'movement' changes as we age lol
Very hopeful and excited for the primaries!
Go Bernie Go!

[George II]

15. Are they the group that tied up traffic in DC last week causing even MORE pollution?

[floppyboo]

26. they are the group that John Kerry cites as important intoloculars

[MrsCoffee]

16. Is that like the resurrection?

Ah, the believers.

[corbettkroehler]

23. Well, He's A Proud Member Of The Jewish Faith But Has Gone From Heart Attack To First In CA

The L.A. Times has him in first in the Golden State. If he were a Christian, that might fall somewhere in the neighborhood of Resurrection (just in time for Christmas).

[George II]

27. He's ahead in California in only one online poll which is rated B/C by 538.

BTW, the Resurrection occurred on Easter, not Christmas.

[corbettkroehler]

31. How About This Fresh Headline? "Biden narrowly ahead in Iowa as Sanders surges, Warren drops"

That poll you so easily dismiss was sufficiently newsworthy for the L.A. Times to run in a prominent spot but let's move on.

"Biden narrowly ahead in Iowa as Sanders surges, Warren drops" – there's that pesky surge again. Heart attack to surge in a matter of weeks – that's close to a political resurrection.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/474016-biden-narrowly-ahead-in-iowa-poll-as-sanders-surges-warren-drops

[TidalWave46]

19. 'Resurgence'

[Uncle Joe]

21. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Donkees.

[ehrnst]

29. Must be a comfort after the loss of the Working Families Party to Warren. (nt)

[corbettkroehler]

32. Briefly, Perhaps, But The CPD Endorsement More Than Compensates

In 2016, the WFP endorsement helped down-ballot candidates but achieved little for Sanders. The CPD is a coalition with even more experience in movement politics.



http://nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/bernie-sanders-2020.html

[ehrnst]

38. Dismissing the importance of the WFP's support sounds like sour grapes.

And certainly the ugly harassment they received after endorsing Warren doesn't support the idea that they were percieved on the far left as "achieving little" for a candidate they endorsed.

Maurice Mitchell, the National Director of the Working Families Party (WFP) and an organizer with the Movement for Black Lives, received messages calling him a “half man” and “Uncle Tom,” and telling him to “go back to his slave masters,” according to emails and tweets reviewed by TIME.

https://time.com/5681261/working-families-party-harassment/

For now, though, Sanders’ supporters are taking to Twitter to announce that they are unfollowing the party, calling the WFP “fools,” and calling the endorsement an “outrage.”

https://www.fastcompany.com/90404681/bernie-sanders-supporters-are-mad-at-working-families-party-over-elizabeth-warren-endorsement

The attacks from some pro-Sanders blogs and 'zines also started shortly thereafter:

I can imagine if Sanders had won, there would be defense of the keeping the vote confidential.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/18/lack-transparency-surrounding-working-families-partys-warren-endorsement-raises

Perhaps there was fear of harassment of individuals not voting for Sanders if the voters were identified - and with good reason, apparently.


https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/16/working-families-party-endorses-elizabeth-warren-043727

The results of the vote sparked outrage among some Sanders supporters, with pro-Sanders socialist magazine Jacobin declaring that the party had “written itself out of history.”

[corbettkroehler]

41. Sour Grapes? I Stated My Reason

It's not bitterness that Warren received the WPF endorsement this time (which I didn't criticize, by the way - she's my second choice). I dismissed the WFP 2020 endorsement (as stated in my previous reply) because WFP resulted in a nothingburger for Sanders in 2016, particularly in New York, which he should have dominated, especially in Brooklyn.

Place your faith in WFP that the endorsement will drive primary voters for Warren if you like. This Berner warns you not to get your hopes up because the 2016 process was a dud for Sanders.

[ehrnst]

42. Yes, that reason sounds like sour grapes.

This Berner warns you not to get your hopes up because the 2016 process was a dud for Sanders.

As for Bernie's chances in 2020, Bernie is no Liz Warren, that's for sure. My hopes for Liz are based in an examination of her as a candidate and a POTUS. She has the plans to back up the talking points - she's the real deal. I would say that the warning "not to pin such hopes" on a candidate is in your court.

If the WFP is such a nothingburger, why do you think they get such harassment from Sanders supporters for not endorsing him?

Doesn't seem to make sense.

What makes you say that the 2020 'process' will be different for Bernie - not a "dud" as you put it?