Opinion: Democrats looked ready to unify. And then Hillary Clinton had to go and raise her hand

[Autumn]

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-21/democrats-unify-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders

JAN. 21, 2020 12:21 PM

On Monday, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates — who have run a pretty chill primary, all things considered — linked arms at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally in South Carolina. Their message was clear: Even as the race narrows and the Iowa caucuses loom, the field is joined in common purpose. Or enough common purpose to keep things civil.

It was a nice twenty-something hours. Because this morning, former candidate Hillary Clinton popped up to zing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — even demurring on whether she’d support him were he to win the nomination. In an upcoming Hulu series, Clinton says Sanders “was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done.” When asked if that assessment still holds, Clinton told the Hollywood Reporter, in an interview published this morning, “Yes, it does.”

It’s mind-boggling to see a woman against whom “likability” was so ably weaponized argue that Sanders is unlikable. It’s particularly absurd for Clinton, who was so frustrated by Sanders’ late support of her as the Democratic presidential nominee, to say that she’s unsure if she would support him should he get the nomination. (I’d vote for a sentient sock should it win the Democratic nomination, or even former Vice President Joe Biden, should it come to that, which is to repeat myself.) It’s wild to accuse a competitor’s campaign of relentless negativity while being relentlessly negative three years later about that same campaign.

Meanwhile, the current candidates, including Sanders, have largely kept their messages to the issues. When Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s campaign circulated the rumor that Sanders had said a woman could not win the presidency, Sanders denied the exchange, all while praising Warren as a candidate and a person — an exceptionally difficult line to walk. When a prominent Sanders supporter published an op-ed last week saying that Biden represented Washington, D.C., corruption, Sanders immediately went on television and said, “It is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way. And I’m sorry that that op-ed appeared.”

[W_HAMILTON]

1. Already posted and subsequently eviscerated here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287437453

[BannonsLiver]

17. Yes, and I'm sure the OP knows that.

Think of it as more of a strategy than an oversight.

[TwilightZone]

23. Agreed.

The coordination is rather obvious and has been for a while.

[apcalc]

34. Yes, just DROP IT.

There is NO POINT to keeping it going.

We have bigger fish to fry.

[dem4decades]

2. Bernie had to apologize to Biden for a unifying act?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

3. Yup... that was nice going!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Gothmog]

4. I will support the nominee of the party

I really doubt that sanders was ever going to be the nominee of the party. sanders has been declining in polling and was never going to bet enough delegates by himself in the real world. There are far too many real Democrats who have good memories and who will not forgive or forget.

[calguy]

5. I'm one of them

[George II]

6. I dOn'T gEt ThE pOiNt.

[zentrum]

7. I trust Bernie, warts

...and all.

[MoonRiver]

8. I don't.

[Horizens]

78. Neither Do I

And I don't understand why were no allowed to criticize (expose) him here on DU. After all, he's not a Democrat.

[Hav]

9. The funny thing is that the author

had to go through all the recent controversial issues caused by Bernie or his campaign because ignoring that and talking about unity would have been too hypocritical otherwise.

Among pretty much all candidates, it's Bernie's campaign that presents the by far greatest danger to unity. But sure, it looked like unity for a few hours because Bernie just had to settle the latest controversy by apologizing for unfounded smears amplified by his campaign.

[Quixote1818]

10. Strange how all this negative stuff broke just recently, when Sanders

Started getting traction.

[Autumn]

11. Yeah that was noticeable. I was happy to see him and Liz arm in arm at the march and shaking hands.

[BannonsLiver]

18. He's 4th in Iowa and not ahead in NH

If that’s gaining traction I love it!

[Quixote1818]

19. A few days ago polls had him ahead in Iowa and betting sites are still predicting him to win there

and in NH. So yes, they went on the attack as soon as he started to move into position to win the first two states.

Betting sites have pretty good track records:

https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/5241/Who-will-win-the-2020-Iowa-Democratic-caucuses

https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/5344/Who-will-win-the-2020-New-Hampshire-Democratic-primary

[Autumn]

25. He could win by 2 million votes and some folk would still say he's losing.

[ChubbyStar]

22. Speaking of 4th...

4th of July!

[msongs]

12. democrats were ready to unfify? well that leaves one person out lol nt

[Progressive dog]

13. Three simple points

1)Hillary isn't running for President against Bernie. Of course he won't waste his money on ad buys against her.
2) There was something that I saw recently about Bernie and doctored videos of Joe Biden speaking.
3) What Hillary said about Bernie is true, what Bernie advertised about Joe Biden was a lie.

[booley]

47. So let me help you with oen of those

That video wasn't doctored.
Biden has years of history saying he would cut Social Security and quite a bit of it has found itsef on video

But the video in question — of Biden’s 2018 remarks to the Brookings Institution think tank — was not doctored by Sanders, whose campaign this month stepped up criticisms of Biden’s record on Social Security.

Sanders’ campaign did say in a recent campaign email that “Biden lauded Paul Ryan for proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare” — which PolitiFact said Sanders’ campaign got wrong. But there is no evidence that the campaign altered any video.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/18/joe-biden-falsely-attacks-bernie-sanders-100811

This put into question his sincerity about f he means what he is saying now about Social Security, especially when Biden won't explain why he changed his mind right when he decided to run for President.

So that point is false.

For the other two, 3 counterpoints

1. Hillary still has influence (or at least thinks she does) on the democratic party. She has spoken to every candidate except Sanders. So it' willful obtuseness to act as if she is a nonentity here.

2 Why is Sanders responsible for Bernie of Bust people but somehow someone like Clinton is excluded? Makes the whole "Unity " thing from centrists appear as a sham just to shut up anyone who challenges their power.

Your third point is just false on both part. But that's is a longer conversation you clearly don't have any interest in having to see as to how you just assert it despite the facts. So I guess I won't' delve into it either.

[Progressive dog]

75. Even Bernie apologized for making those false claims

about Biden and corruption by his surrogate, Zephyr Teachout.
This is the point that Joe Biden made about social security and medicare at Brookings in 2018.

Now, I don’t know a whole lot of people in the top one-tenth of 1 percent or the top 1 percent who are relying on Social Security when they retire. I don’t know a lot of them. Maybe you guys do. So we need a pro-growth, progressive tax code that treats workers as job creators, as well, not just investors; that gets rid of unprotective loopholes like stepped-up basis; and it raises enough revenue to make sure that the Social Security and Medicare can stay, it still needs adjustments, but can stay; and pay for the things we all acknowledge will grow the country.

That's the part of the video that Bernie's people cut.

Biden then referenced PolitiFact, and called the video "doctored" and "a fake." We didn’t declare the video fake or doctored, though it was taken out of context and misrepresented Biden’s positions.

The video ignored the complete passage which showed that Biden wanted Social Security and Medicare protected.

"Paul Ryan was correct when he did the tax code. What’s the first thing he decided we had to go after?" Biden said, with a slight smirk. Biden then leaned into the microphone and said in a deep menacing voice: "Social Security and Medicare." (If you listen to the audio, Biden appears to be mocking Ryan.)

Biden continued: "Now, we need to do something about Social Security and Medicare." He then sarcastically whispered: "That’s the only way you can find room to pay for it."

The Sanders campaign omits what Biden said next (our emphasis is in bold):

[McKim]

14. Infighting Hands the Election to Trump

Infighting hands the Election to Trump. The media loves it and even tries to stir it up. Just STOP it! This video of Hillary’s was a BIG mistake. I want us to stop it!

[Autumn]

15. This is a message board, this is news, it will be posted. That's how message boards work.

[Squinch]

28. And I suppose we must have TWO threads on each of the more nonsensical articles.

[Autumn]

29. Yeah, it happens. I notice some you have no complaints about so there's that. nt

[Squinch]

43. Ahh. So not only is it personal, but it's all about me, then? Ok. You go with that.

[Autumn]

44. Not about you at all. You only cross my mind when you respond to something I post, then

I feel I should be polite and at least acknowledge what you have to say even though I disagree.

[Tiggerbay]

16. Moderates seem to only want unity if their candidate wins

Not so much when it comes to a progressive. After lurking for the last month on here I am really shocked at the hatred against the left of center candidates and may. Just pick one of them at this point.

[BannonsLiver]

32. Irony is dead.

[fleabiscuit]

40. Oh I hope not. Irony is one of my most favorite tingly things.

[Ghost Dog]

20. So Hillary would rather support

Trump?

[BannonsLiver]

31. Yeah, that's what she said.

You’ve figured out her diabolical plot.

[fleabiscuit]

41. Ha! LOL.

[booley]

48. or imply she would support no one

I think the point is if this had been the other way, would the reaction from centrists be the same?

[radical noodle]

72. Oh come on...

Hillary will always vote for a Democrat. We all know that.

[StevieM]

76. She didn't say that she might not support Sanders if he is the nominee.

She has repeatedly said that she will support whoever the Democratic candidate is.

[highplainsdem]

21. That piece really downplays the divisiveness created by the Sanders campaign. That's been

the obstacle to unity.

And btw, if Sanders was really sorry about that op-ed smearing Biden, he'd not only disavow its author, but he'd fire Gray and Sirota for trying to get more people to read it.

Just tut-tutting about his supporters', surrogates' and staffers' bad behavior isn't adequate. Or convincing.

[Autumn]

24. Whatever. No apology from Bernie would be enough for some.

[highplainsdem]

30. How impressed would you be by an apology and denial of responsibility from a rival who employed

people using lies to attack you, and who continued to employ them?

[BuffaloJackalope]

60. And when has he actually apologized for anything, ever?

[Autumn]

61. I don't know of anyone trashed by a former politician that has apologized to that person

who trashed them. Do you? Pretend for a second she said those things about another person, like say Biden. Ya'll would have her under the bus faster than you could say BOO.

[BuffaloJackalope]

65. So, the answer is "no, Sanders has never apologized" for the divisive things he has said & done.

[Autumn]

67. Since you don't get it. I'll clear it up for you. Sanders does not owe Clinton an apology.

For anything.

[BuffaloJackalope]

68. Talk about not "getting" it ...

[mcar]

26. ...

Link to tweet

?s=20

Of course she will do what Bernie Sanders' current national co-chair, current top surrogate and current national press secretary would not do in 2016: support the eventual Democratic nominee no matter who it is.

Link to tweet

…

[Omen78]

27. I wish she would just stay out of it...

Unless she wants to throw her support behind someone. I like Bernie and would have voted for him in 2017 and will vote for him in 2020 should he become the nominee. I’m more of a Biden or Klobachur kind of realist.

[Bluepinky]

53. I agree, she should stay out of it.

I’m not sure what her motive is, except to keep herself in the news? I’ll vote for any nominee who wins the primary, and if Hillary feels differently, she should keep quiet. This is win or lose, and if we lose, we can say goodby to our democracy.

[comradebillyboy]

62. I am always interested in what Hillary Clinton has to say. I am very glad that she

is free to speak her mind. Her opinion carries a lot of weight with me.

[Beakybird]

33. I agree with Clinton, but the suggestion that she wouldn't support Bernie as nominee was a faux pas.

[Demsrule86]

39. Sander has no reason to complain as his campaign has folks who didn't vote for the nominee in 16.

[Wawannabe]

74. Hello!

Bernie’s indicated same and he made no friends in 2016 with the convention bullshit.

It is a faux pas for her, huh? I don’t see it that way.

He should not be the nominee in 2020.

[Gothmog]

35. Clinton say she has grown worried that attacks fromSanders'campaign could hurt the future Democrats

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

36. She was a lot rougher on Obama than Bernie was on her.

The party survived that just fine. Obama was a decent, forgiving man.

[Demsrule86]

38. She and Bill worked their hearts out for Obama in 08 and Bill did in 12...she couldn't as was SOS.

Sanders barely lifted a finger to help Clinton in 16. And the party has been injured by his repeated attacks since... I will vote for Sanders in a General but never in any primary.

[brush]

77. We did not survive his attacks on her and the party in 2016 though.

trump got the WH. IMO she's doing a service to the party, just as she did with her warning about Gabbard.

She wants to see a Democrat win the presidency and fears, as I do, that Sanders endangers that. And even if he wins the nomination, it'll be McGovern 2.0—the presidency on a platter to trump again.

[Autumn]

79. Bull. The electoral college gave Trump the presidency. He got the states that were considered the

Blue Wall. Ask yourself why.

[brush]

80. Yeah, sure. Ask yourself if his campaign-long attacks on the party and his late...

and obvious reluctant support of Hillary didn't contribute to the trump "win".

[Demsrule86]

37. Opinion...Sanders campaign has been lying about Biden...there was no unity...

Sander has my vote in the General ...other than that I have no interest in anything he says or does, and...I sincerely hope he is not our nominee.

[fleabiscuit]

42. Well, ain't this an interesting karma laden twist. nt

[LanternWaste]

45. This is beginning to look like Sanders' Bridge Too Far moment.

Looks bad when Sanders denies his own culpability and then places both the responsibility and the consequences of his actions on everyone but himself (and his staff of course... his staff is as innocent as is he).

His martyrdom routine used by far too many of his surrogates has become tired and transparent.

[R B Garr]

46. Clinton is just stating facts and details.

Just because they aren’t on Twitter like AOC is doing doesn’t mean they aren’t facts and details.

[booley]

50. LOL

Oh wait, were you serious?

Remind me, what is the favorability rating of Sanders versus Clinton?
What legislative accomplishments did Clinton do versus Sanders?

My personal opinion but I dont' think being in a bubble will win us elections.

[R B Garr]

52. This is just a lead in question about 2016, so I'll

pass except to say she beat him by millions. Millions translates to lots of popularity, you betcha.

[booley]

49. "Hillary Clinton who?"

I get that some might not want to talk about this since it seriously undermines the Unity attack they level at Sanders.

Especially when it hasn't been Sanders who has leveled such obvious personal attacks

And no, pointing out someone s record is not a personal attack.

But the best defense of this you guys seem able to muster is Hillary Clinton who?

Must be awkward when after accusing progressives of being disloyal and driving division, for one of the most prominant centrist Democrats to say what she did.

Though ironically this will probably help Sanders. When Clinton said "no one likes him" she didn't' mean the American people. She was talking about the Washington establishment. And no one likes them so that's a plus in many a book.

[Autumn]

51. Bernie has always taken the high road. Funny how these things always rise when he goes up in

the polls.

[Hortensis]

54. Autumn was ready to unify, and we blew it.

Don't expect that moment to fly by again.

The piece she posted is by opinion contributor Melissa Batchelor Warnke, who writes on "gender, power and pop culture" and is also the author of

"Opinion: The Democratic debate confirmed it — we’ve entered the ‘Bernaissance’
Young people want someone like Bernie Sanders who will fight for them. They deserve that."

and "This Heated Outdoor Furniture Will Save Your Holiday Cocktail Parties."

Presumably it was the little spat on national TV and everyone's wish to sweep it out of sight asap that lead her to believe Sanders was tabling his LW revolution to fight the Republicans shoulder to shoulder with the Democratic Party. Or perhaps she was mislead by Sanders' very sincere apology for one of his blatant lies and Biden's gracious acceptance.

[Autumn]

56. If by Autum you mean me, I'm not ready to unify. I'll do that when the primary is over. What I won't

do is bother reading your post past the headline.

[Hortensis]

63. Yes, those headlines are the hooks that get us, aren't they?

It was the improbable joke in yours that seduced me in here hoping for a good punch line. Had to settle for a chuckle over my own image of Sanders yearning for world peace while he was at it.

[Blue_Tires]

55. How were the Dems supposed to "unify" when Sanders isn't one?

And who in fuck's name is Melissa Batchelor Warnke?

[Autumn]

57. What the fuck was your unity pledge that Bernie signed stating that he was running as a Democrat

and should he win the nomination he would continue as a Democrat? Was that all smoke and mirrors the party leadership put out there?

[Blue_Tires]

58. Some "unity"... He's been working against the Dems from the start

and personally for the record I didn't want the Dems to allow his ass in the race to begin with, after he and his people absolutely fucked us in 2016 and handed the White House to Trump with a bow on it...

If St. Bern is such a perfect candidate and guaranteed winner of all 50 states, he doesn't need our fucking help. Let his ass go back to Independent then and see how long he survives.

[Autumn]

59. Which in no way has anything to do with him being a Democrat. I will be fine when he goes back to

being an Independent Senator from Vermont should someone else be the nominee, I know I would but I don't stay where I'm not wanted. Good thing that Democratic leadership isn't as stupid as some. They know that had he ran as an Independent that would have cost the Democratic party dearly and made a third party a force.

[Blue_Tires]

64. You grossly overestimate your boy's chances

He started this primary season with the most money, name recognition and nevermind the fact that he's pretty much been campaigning nonstop since 2016 -- By every measure he should be running away with this primary but instead he's barely treading water... Why is that? Instead of filling his campaign staff with people who know how to actually win, he specifically went out of his way to hire people who voted Stein/Trump or stayed home... Why?

St. Bern knows he "isn't wanted" and he has no love or loyalty to the party, but he knows he fucking needs the party for legitimacy, media exposure and fundraising/volunteer infrastructure so we're just a means to his end. And there's no way he could be trusted to stay a Dem as POTUS when the going gets tough...

No, by all means let St. Bern run third party/Indy without Dem support; I triple dog dare you. He'd turn into the invisible fucking man and run out of cash by the fifth week. And as for him "costing the party dearly" as you so eloquently put it -- He was technically a Dem four years ago and he STILL COST US DEARLY! If St. Bern wants to ratfuck us again it's his choice, but I'll be damned if he uses party money and resources to do it...

[Autumn]

66. He's not my boy. Nasty dog whistle though. nt

[Blue_Tires]

70. It's called AAVE -- Look it up?

Or is your world really that white?

Regardless, I'm done playing with the likes of you since you're willing to talk about EVERYTHING under the sun except address my points.

I bid you and your intellectually bankrupt campaign farewell...

[Autumn]

71. No, as a POC my worlds not white.It's not my fault you didn't like what I have to say.. so farewell

[Wawannabe]

73. Bull shit!

Bullshit. Bullshit!