The Ex-Bernie Staffers Behind Beto's Campaign

[TexasTowelie]

When former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke finally announced his presidential campaign Thursday morning, an experienced crew of digital strategists was ready to make the most of the moment, through social media engagement and small-dollar fundraising.

It wasn’t their first rodeo. Many of O’Rourke’s key staffers — particularly from his online team — spent the 2016 campaign working for another crowd-pleasing populist: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

At least eight former Sanderistas have decamped to O’Rourke’s campaign, according to online records. Several held top jobs on the Vermonter’s 2016 campaign before joining up with the Texan’s 2018 U.S. Senate race and 2020 presidential run.

“I have friends in both campaigns whose skills and talents I admire, but Bernie’s loss is Beto’s gain,” said Michael Briggs, who served as Sanders’ top spokesman in 2016 and who has not joined a 2020 campaign.

Read more: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2019/03/14/the-ex-bernie-staffers-behind-betos-campaign

[itsrobert]

1. Well, I guess the Bernie camp is right to be Terrified by the Beto campaign

That's why Bernie campaign started pushing out so-called "dirt" on Beto. Beto is eating into votes for Bernie.

[Cha]

2. Omg.. that name Michael Briggs

sure rings a bell!

Anybody?

[TexasTowelie]

3. I searched and found a video from Fox News, but I will not include the link. nt

[Cha]

4. I found it..

Link to tweet

Hopefully he's calmed down and realizes.. we're actually very nice people. And, some of us really like Beto.

So he can stop with the insults.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/12876484

[itsrobert]

5. Maybe he has become woke

He's no longer in the Bernie culture.

[Cha]

6. That could happen..

[dalton99a]

7. Beto filled a void for Bernie folks in Texas last year

They came out and voted for Beto, and it looks like they're staying in Beto's camp

[Hortensis]

10. Choosing a principled leader should be very good

for them as most people tend to adopt the principles (or lack of them) and goals (avowed, anyway) of each new leader. Unfortunate, but true.

Nevertheless, I'm not crazy about hearing Beto's taken on some who assisted Sanders in his 2015-2016 behaviors. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas can apply to even a good boss who doesn't keep careful distance and strong moral leadership. And "A man is known by the company he keeps," of course. He'd better elevate that company fast.

[MH1]

8. Aha, so that's why Bernie has to staff his own campaign with Stein supporters. nt.

[BlueFlorida]

13. I think real Democrats had second thoughts about Bernie

and now it is slim pickings.

Stein supporters on the other hand are still committed to Bernie.

I wonder why?

[MH1]

16. Hmm, tough one ...

why oh why are Stein supporters so committed to Bernie?

Although, bigger question is why should we want anything to do with someone who worked so hard to get us Trump.

[BlueFlorida]

17. +1,000,000 nt

[Cha]

19. lol

[Gothmog]

9. I know a couple of bernie staffers working for Beto

[KitSileya]

11. Considering what Senator Sanders has admitted happened to staffers in his previous campaign

It might not be surprising if they found a better boss to work for? Pay inequality is bad enough, but harassment is even worse, and one of the worst harassers was clearly in the good graces of Ms. Sanders just a few months ago, so these staffers had no reason to think the work environment in the new campaign would be any better than in the last. That was before the Senator's current campaign staff unionized to protect themselves, of course, but these former staffers probably weighed the pros and cons and decided the cons weighed heavier.

[ehrnst]

12. I also wonder if that's why his current staff unionized. (nt)

[George II]

14. I would put money on it.

[namahage]

15. Which he then took credit for,

much like Donald Trump taking credit for a surge in female employment, particularly in Congress.

[Cha]

18. KICK!

[Maru Kitteh]

20. Nice! Good "gets" there for the Beto campaign.

Our best candidates are moving forward with POSITIVE energy - not angry, lip-spittle ranting and raving.

[betsuni]

21. +1

[Blue_Tires]

22. They're probably there to sabotage the campaign from within