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Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Bernie Sanders's attack machine comes back to haunt him [View all]Gothmog
(145,289 posts)47. How Negative Is Sanders Willing to Go?
Link to tweet
F
or example, the Sanders campaign sent out an edited transcript of something Biden said about Social Security, claiming that he agreed with former Republican Speaker Paul Ryan. Politifact rated that statement false. Here is the part of the speech they left out.
Now, I dont 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 dont 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.
Since the campaign got caught in that lie, Sanders supporters have attempted to claim that Biden has been advocating for cutting Social Security for 40 years. As is often the case with disinformation, that is based on a half-truth. To solve a budget impasse in 1995, Biden supported a freeze on all federal spending, including cost of living adjustments to Social Security. Then there was his support for an Obama proposal to change the way cost of living increases were calculated, including both the income tax tables and Social Security. But the Sanders campaign turned those positions into an accusation that Biden attempted to slash Social Security.
An honest look at the totality of Bidens position on Social Security would come from listening to Jared Bernstein, a progressive economist who served as an advisor to the former vice president.
.....Some of us spoke up when Sanders hired David Sirota because his modus operandi was obvious to anyone who knew his history. Sirota has a reputation of being a ruthless attack dog. The campaign had to know that when they hired him. But now it seems that Sirota went too far with his attacks and his boss has been forced to apologize.
It is clear that the Sanders campaign will rely on attacks against his opponents. But this latest incident demonstrates that they are still struggling with where the boundaries are for those negative attacks. It is good to know that, at least for the candidate himself, accusing Biden of being corrupt is outside the boundary.
Now, I dont 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 dont 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.
Since the campaign got caught in that lie, Sanders supporters have attempted to claim that Biden has been advocating for cutting Social Security for 40 years. As is often the case with disinformation, that is based on a half-truth. To solve a budget impasse in 1995, Biden supported a freeze on all federal spending, including cost of living adjustments to Social Security. Then there was his support for an Obama proposal to change the way cost of living increases were calculated, including both the income tax tables and Social Security. But the Sanders campaign turned those positions into an accusation that Biden attempted to slash Social Security.
An honest look at the totality of Bidens position on Social Security would come from listening to Jared Bernstein, a progressive economist who served as an advisor to the former vice president.
Link to tweet
.....Some of us spoke up when Sanders hired David Sirota because his modus operandi was obvious to anyone who knew his history. Sirota has a reputation of being a ruthless attack dog. The campaign had to know that when they hired him. But now it seems that Sirota went too far with his attacks and his boss has been forced to apologize.
It is clear that the Sanders campaign will rely on attacks against his opponents. But this latest incident demonstrates that they are still struggling with where the boundaries are for those negative attacks. It is good to know that, at least for the candidate himself, accusing Biden of being corrupt is outside the boundary.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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Lacks the racism and misogyny of many of Cenk's screeds. But he's a Left Wing hero now.
ehrnst
Jan 2020
#84
i didn't bother to read it. why the hell would i. after trump she'll be calling dems socialist again
Kurt V.
Jan 2020
#20
How entitled does someone have to be to 'splain to someone else what they *really* think?
lapucelle
Jan 2020
#76
Certainly Cenk used to be a RWer....and very racist and misogynist. Expelled from Justice Dems even.
ehrnst
Jan 2020
#89
His comment came after he was asked about Hillary's people calling him unqualified.
aikoaiko
Jan 2020
#13
He isn't a dem..he's an independent. He's using the dem party to run his campaign as he did in 16
Thekaspervote
Jan 2020
#31
Again, there's more to the Clinton/Sanders "qualified to be President" dustup
TiberiusB
Jan 2020
#23
sanders was such a weak candidate that he has never been vetted and was treated with kid gloves
Gothmog
Jan 2020
#43
Her analysis is spot on. In doling out honest criticism of Sanders, she shows she is certainly
emmaverybo
Jan 2020
#45
Hillary Clinton was correct to be worried about sanders' bogus attacks and lies on real Democrats
Gothmog
Jan 2020
#46
sanders is such a weak general election candidate that trump will easily win 45+ states
Gothmog
Jan 2020
#57
Thank you!! Politics is a very messy business. It's not about purity and governing just the far left
Thekaspervote
Jan 2020
#64
Coming back to haunt him? Looks to me like it's propelling him to Number 1 position!
m-lekktor
Jan 2020
#95