Live Blog: Yet another chance to hear Bernie Downer endlessly give his old Stump Speech in the Democratic Debate on PBS
Posted: February 11, 2016 Filed under: Civil Rights, Live Blog 153 Comments
Another Democratic Debate is being held tonight at 9 PM ET live on PBS and streaming on YouTube
This should be interesting after a day of BernieBros whitesplaining civil rights in extremely racist and rude ways to Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was distinctly unimpressed with Sanders civil rights creds and endorsed Hillary Clinton.
Civil rights leader John Lewis on Thursday dismissed Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ 1960s work on racial equality, saying, “I never saw him. I never met him.”
The Georgia congressman — a stalwart of the Freedom Rides through the South, lunch counter sit-ins and the 1963 March on Washington — raised questions about Sanders’ involvement in the movement when the Vermont senator was a college student.
Lewis has endorsed Sanders’ chief rival, Hillary Clinton, and his comments come at a critical time as the two White House contenders focus on the upcoming primaries in Southern states with predominantly African-American Democratic voters. He made the remarks at a Capitol Hill news conference where members of the Congressional Black Caucus’ political action committee delivered a full-throated endorsement of Clinton.
On his campaign website, Sanders says he has a “long history of fighting for social equality and the rights of black Americans — a record that goes back to the early 1960s.” While a student at the University of Chicago, Sanders was involved in the Congress on Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He also was arrested while protesting segregation.
“I never saw him. I never met him,” Lewis told reporters. “I chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee for three years from 1963 to 1966. I was involved in the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the march from Selma (Alabama) to Montgomery and directed the voter education project for six years. I met Hillary Clinton, I met President Clinton.”
The Sanders campaign had to heel their trolls.
This is another opportunity to relearn patience and dedication.
PLEASE do not engage in what is described as “bernie bro” activity. Do not diminish statements made by Lewis for the sake of defending Bernie. Right or wrong this is something that the campaign needs to deal with before we can get involved.
I have not seen any overt or subvert racism, but I know how this can sometimes devolve. Opportunities like these arise and give us a chance to grow. They are not chances to grab and hold the attention of our brothers and sisters to “explain” to them how Bernie is better. And racism can come in many forms. Assuming that African Americans or other people of color are not educated on Bernie and need to be “brought to the light” is a stance full of pity and arrogance… and is incredibly demeaning to those whose respect we need and must earn.
Needless to say, the African American Twitterati will pretty righteously pissed.
We also found out that the Hilary and Bernie split the Democratic vote in New Hampshire so that he won with votes from non-Democrats. Plus, Al Sharpton complained about Bernie Downer’s tin ear on intersectionality of racism and economic issues..
Bernie may have some ‘splaining to do.
So, join our live blog as we watch what goes down and comes up..
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Thanks for this, Dak!
Yes – thank you! I have PBS on now and look forward to the commenters!
It’s on CNN here.
You’re welcome! My computer just had a few hiccups right after you called so I had to actually get it up from my phone!!
I’m sick of these things. We all know all we need to know. This is all about making money for the media.
Thank you Dak, BB………..I wondered why is this debate in Wisconsin?
I don’t know.
Thank you. I’m here, watching via PBS Newshour on youtube.
“Billionaires” right off the bat. I was going to propose a drinking game for every time he says “billionaires” but he beat me. I’ll just sip my herbal tea.
I wouldn’t want booze attached to that game. I’d be so drunk I’d have to stay in bed!!!
Bernie giving his same old stale stump speech.
I am not surprised to find out that “non Dems”voted for Bernie. The rats are out and about.
YES, THANK YOU PBS!
Judy Woodruff can’t get Bernie to answer her question, “How big should government be?”
The back and forth on healthcare: Bernie repeating stale soundbites and Hillary being specific and holding him to account for his grand plans.
More fuzzy math in Bernie’s health plan:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-health_us_56b25e8fe4b04f9b57d83008?section=politics
His voice over time has been getting on my last nerve. I cannot separate him from Larry David.
I can’t stand to listen to him anymore.
Grrrr. “Secretary Clinton, you’re not in the White House yet.”
I’m glad he said that. It made him look small.
Bernie rambles like your drunk uncle on Thanksgiving. Wall Street, billionaires, middle class, blah blah blah but no numbers, no specifics.
Exactly. He reminds me of Trump: “it’s going to be great!
And he thinks a Republican congress is going to go along with his proposals ???
These kids have no sense of history. They take the strides made for granted.
Bernie, how are you going to pay for all that free education?
I know, right? We can’t even pay for the K-12 schools we have.
Good for Hillary, “I’ve been a leader on women’s issues…” not like this guy who just seems to have noticed that women vote.
Wow, now we have a debate! On women!
I can’t believe I get to watch a debate that’s not on split screen, that is on dial up, lol. Sanders, talking about injustice for incarcerated black men.
Thank you Bernie and Hillary for having this debate in WI.
Clinton, first spoke about it Obama’s policing commission, systemic racism in this state (WI) and others. must change many things.
Bernie says the young people “do marijuana”. He’s so cool, no wonder the kids love him.
Clinton How would you improve race relations? We are seeing the dark side of the remaining racism in part because of media. Obama pointed out the problems and now we know how bas it really is in public.
Oh FFS. Question is about race relations and Bernie starts blubbering about Wall Street again.
lol
Sanders falling back on black poverty and the economy.
So race relations would be better under you? Hmmpt
He really didn’t answer that question.
Bernie’s going to get the black kids back in school instead of “hanging out on street corners”.
Why does it feel like 1975 whenever he talks?
He s his own truant officer.
I got that.
Last train to 1975 was 2008.
Gwen we are sitting in one of the most racially diverse communities, How are you going to help whites who are losing ground?
Clinton wants to address distressed communities, clybourn 10,20,30 proposal. Coal towns need help and revitalization.
Gwen to Sanders is this race? Sanders yes. but it is economic too.s
The despair of the middle class.
He throws NAFTA at her. NAFTA was Bill’s thing, Bernie. He’s getting confused again.
Billionaires! Drink!
Awwwww! Hillz voted for comprehensive immigration reform in ’07, Sanders voted against it.
Zing!
Bernie says he voted against it because the Southern Poverty Law Ctr said it was bad. And so did the AFLCIO.
Hillz says it was Ted Kennedy’s bill so he should know.
Bernie loves Ted Kennedy but he’s doubling down on the AFLCIO.
Clinton voted for comp immigration, the ICE raids are bad. Repugs will help. Sanders voted against it because of the guest worker program.
Children from Honduras were processed and some were sent back, the trip was horrible, I do agree with one of the great deficits of that time, children need representation.
Here he goes again with the billionaires and I’m guessing the solution to helping senior citizens is going to be to blame Wall Street.
The AFL-CIO has a different agenda when it came to Ted Kennedy’s bill. It’s like let’s put a life boat full of Syrian kids in the ocean, and see if half of them will drown.
Sanders , lift the cap on taxable social security to 250000. Isn’t what she said before?
But he wants her to say it again because progressives online have said she should.
Yeah Hillz! More revenue into SS but need to help women and poor seniors!!!!
Clinton agrees more money has to go in. Agrees, low income and widows especially because when their men die, they lose half their income.
Sanders, just tried to take over her thing on passive income. Clinton we are in vigorous agreement.
I am one of her small donors . Very small.
Clinton donations, Super pacs we do not coordinate with pacs. we have more than 750,000 donors and many are small. Sanders, obama and I have more donors together than any before.
Technically Bernie you don’t do a super pac, somebody else does it for you.
Sanders, we have a corrupt system, super pacs.
Herd we go with Wall Street.
He’s lying now that he doesn’t have a super pac. He can’t have a super pac by law. Campaign has to be separated from pacs.
Clinton you are mixing apples and oranges. Yes, she needed to say that about Obama’s money.
Whoa! She throws the gun lobby at him!
Sanders, is going deep populist, if its money its bad
He constantly intimates she is corrupt.
He’s influenced by the media.
This fucking holier than though act from Sanders is starting to turn my stomach. It might help if he were capable of modulating his voice even a little bit. But everything he says is at full volume.
It’s so stale. Same old same old.
He’s always patronizing about his explanations too. It’s all like let daddy show you why you’re wrong …
Yep, the attitude is showing more and more.
Dodd Frank, Again we need to do more. It was a whole bunch of financial institutions . Lets not kid ourselves there are new problems on the horizon.
I can’t stand it when he waves his finger while Hillary is talking. He isn’t even listening to what she’s saying before he starts waving his hands around.
Who is he speaking to that needs to hear this again and again?
Wow, i just figured out one problem with PBS, so many fewer breaks and more information, my fingers are tired.
I wish it was on PBS here.
PBS Talking heads are saying she is specific and detailed, he is inspirational, less information.
Yup
Hey, Bernie, name the first woman justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court!
Shirely Schlangger, 1976
Follow up question from FB, Sanders are there any areas of government to reduce.
Clinton training programs can be streamlined
Bernie did not even answer the question, “are there any areas of gov’t you would reduce?” and they don’t follow up at all.
Bernie looks exhausted. His face is bright red.
Lord … He’s damn vote for the iraq resolution does not answer a specific policy question
You can’t coordinate with a country when a presidential candidate insults their religion.
In regards to the prior question…….we lost a lot of good paying jobs across the board with the Sequester that was done in 2010 or was it 2012……..lots of good state jobs were lost in red states, and that was a mistake we made.
Hey guess what everybody, Bernie voted against the Eyerack war! Who knew?
He’s a broken record like Rubio
(giggle)
OMG he has turned it into a song. Iii vooted aginst the war in IIraqqk
He is much like Rubio. Repeats the same talking points regarding the Iraq war. Jesus.
He’s waving his finger again! He hates when Hillz calls him out on his stupid votes.
A vote in 2002 is not now. She finished that well. Obama voted against the war but he turned to her. Sanders didn’t roll on that one at all.
Bernie questioning Hillz’ judgment but don’t mistake that for attacking her, he never does that.
He wants to keep using that one item, over and over again about Hillary’s vote, and not the totality of the situation as it is then, and now.
Boy, he keeps waving those fingers around.
Sanders has read a book and now we are going to attack Kissinger, not his friend and will not take advice. And we are no into the Vietnam War.
WTF was that all about Henry Kissinger? Bernie really is stuck in the 1970’s.
She cited him in the last debate as someone who agreed with her on something.
Please Hillary, Don’t defend Henry Kissinger. No, no no!
Why the hell are they letting him ramble on? We don’t give a fuck about Henry Kissinger!
Clinton good response, We still don’t know who Sanders uses as mentors, Kissinger, is good on China. She got a good response on that. Domino Theory That wasn’t Kissinger It was John Foster Dulles in the Eisenhower admin.!!
Now my friggin’ hands are flying all over the place…….Vietnam, Henry Kissinger………
Hillary’s right, we want a cease fire NOW. Putin wants it on March 1, we need it now. Get it now.
Even though we are getting corridors of cease fire and humanitarian help, but it hasn’t gotten rid of the extremists, so we have work to do.
Clinton. We shouldn’t promise normalization with Iran.
Would you meet with an adversary without conditions, I said no, Obama said yes in 2008, we did not.
Refugees, what should we do? Clinton I’m pleased that Nato is going to patrol to prevent tragedy. Work with Turkey provide support financial daily support and take refugees here.
Padding.
The question was who would influence your FOREIGN policy and Bernie is blubbering about FDR’s domestic policy.
BS is just rude. Waves his hands, coughs, holds one hand up, clears his throat, makes faces, coughs some more, gets the mic and says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
I am sick of him. Just another man who thinks anything he says is important when in fact it is just iname. GET OFF THE STAGE YOU OLD FOOL.
rant off
Sanders, can you name 2 leaders one local and one foreign you would influence you? FDR, and ? I zoned. What was the second one?
Churchill
I couldn’t hear him say it either!
Winston Churchill although Sanders said he doesn’t agree with Churchill’s politics so I’m not sure WTF he was talking about. I think that was the only foreign leader he could think of.
Churchill was a leader of the UK Conservative Party. So it’s not real clear what kind of influence Sanders hopes to absorb from Churchill. Returning to the gold standard? Denying India independence? Being anti-war? Wait, Churchill won a war, but isn’t that a bit different?
She is blasting Sanders for criticizing Obama.
Boy, Hillary is going after that black vote!
There it was, you go Hillary, bust his ass, it’s our democratic party.
Yes it IS!
Clinton, Mandela and Obama, and Sanders you sound like a Republican when you criticize him. Sanders takes umbrage.
No, no Hillary. Don’t go there.
Hillz says she is not a single issue candidate. Feel the burn Bern!
Get it on Hillary, Unions and Workers in Wisconsin, Governing ripping up apart. I am going to tear the barriers down.
What a great closing by Hillary!
Clinton I am not a single issue candidate, flint, miners or any other American today put down, lgbt, root out barriers. Wi We have got to stand up for unions and working people. If we to stop the money today we would still have the indeference of the Scott Walkers. That was a fine closing statment!!!!
Good point given we keep hearing the same damned thing from Bernie
The one word she used in regards to Coal Miners , was Generations…….she was going after that they have a way of life, that is very deeply rooted from generation to generation. That hit home, because of my Kentucky Coal Miners.
Bernie keeps repeating Hillary’s ties to Wall Street, as though that is going to get him all the votes in the world. It will not.
Great closing statement by Hillary.
She nailed it , good Lord she did it, that last punch did it.
She played low key and nice throughout the debate and then she went for the kill at the end. I loved it!
By the by, who are the two people, that would influence your policy………….Harry Truman, for Nguyen Vinh Giap……….
Nguyen…….defeated the US during Vietnam.
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Tad Devine says Bernie won. What a shocker.
She was the only one who brought up – Women’s Rights, Union Rights, and Guns.
Yep.
The CNN panel is praising Hillary to the skies.
Gosh.I don’t know what to say about that.
It was only temporary, lol.
Chris Matthews was on her side too.
The last part is going to get the headlines. First Sanders takes a cheap shot with regard to Kissinger, who certainly isn’t a mentor of Hillary in general. Then Hillary questions Sanders’ support of Obama. Interesting, in that I probably agreed with Sanders at the time in those criticisms. However, he is now running for President as a Democrat. Unfortunate that no one ever asks him about his support or non-support of other Democrats over the many years he has been in politics. Hillary took someewhat of a risk in that he’ll cement the Democratic Left vote, but she is going for all the others. I’ll bet money that Rachel Maddow is all over Hillary for this, which is a good test case of it. If Hillary is responsible for all her votes and whatever is in her book, then Sanders is responsible for what he has said.
I saw a Chuck Todd report yesterday that is a perfect example of the on-going campaign to take down Hillary Clinton.
They claimed to be examining her record as a Senator. Todd ticked off her accomplishments, bills sponsored, bi-partisan co-sponsorships, leadership and responsibility with armed services, a really a note perfect virtuoso performance as a dedicated and selfless public servant and cast it all as a negative. MSNBC presented her as a conniving scheming self-serving grifter, who was somehow doing all this grueling work as a con game to get her into the Whitehouse. It was as ugly and unfair as anything I have ever seen.
Hills did what all the others claim we should do, but never actually do. Even while holding the line on the issues that we will never agree on, Choice, Gender Equality, Guns, Race, etc., Hills was actually getting things passed where there was no “disagreement.” Children’s and veteran’s issues, many things where there was enough agreement to move forward. The opposite of gridlock. But somehow that is ammunition against her. Somehow that was naked greed and ambition proving that she must be stopped.
WTF?
I have to say, I watched MSNBC after the debate and Matthews was holding Tad Devine’s feet to the fire for that fake photo they put up claiming that Bernie was involved in a civil rights sit in in Chicago. Matthews also seemed to be leaning toward Hillz winning the debate last night.
Obviously, I’m biased, but I think last night was the beginning of the end for Bernie. The split screen was not his friend. It was Kennedy/Nixon all over again when it came to optics. Bernie was red faced and waving his arms around while Hillz kept her cool. Until the end when she blasted him for attacking President Obama and then closing with “I am not a single issue candidate”. I think this was her best performance so far.
I thought Bernie was getting himself so worked up that he might collapse on the spot last night
Now ‘they’re’ checking into her Senate record. ‘They’ are pathetic
As a democrat Hillary served 8 years in Senate (107th-111th) 2001- 2007. She sponsored 711 pieces of legislation, and co-sponsored 2,676 pieces. The pieces of legislative that made law was about 76 pieces.
Bernie as an Independent, Vermont, served in Senate (110th-114th) from 2007-current, and Vermont at Large House (102-109th) 1991 to 2006. He is still registered as Independent. That is 25 years. He sponsored 735 bills, and co-sponsored 5,301 pieces. His pieces of legislation made into law is 15.
Basically you can see that Hillary surpassed him in every aspect. She’s super hardworking and smart, and knows how to get the job done. Most of her bills were signed by G.W. Bush………
Bernie holds the record for the most open ended spending bills without any means in them to how they will be paid. Another reason why he has more co-sponsored bill. He can’t work with people.
I keep reminding people Hillary isn’t going to raise taxes on struggling Americans, while Bernie will raise taxes on us, even those struggling to make it on fixed incomes.
Thanks, all, for your comments. Catching up late after too long a migraine.