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Live Blog: Yet another chance to hear Bernie Downer endlessly give his old Stump Speech in the Democratic Debate on PBS

GTY_sanders_clinton_smile_jef_160211_12x5_1600Another 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..

Comments

153 responses to “Live Blog: Yet another chance to hear Bernie Downer endlessly give his old Stump Speech in the Democratic Debate on PBS”

  1. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    Thanks for this, Dak!

    1. Delphyne49 Avatar
      Delphyne49

      Yes – thank you! I have PBS on now and look forward to the commenters!

      1. bostonboomer Avatar
        bostonboomer

        It’s on CNN here.

    2. dakinikat Avatar

      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!!

  2. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    I’m sick of these things. We all know all we need to know. This is all about making money for the media.

  3. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Thank you Dak, BB………..I wondered why is this debate in Wisconsin?

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      I don’t know.

  4. Riverbird Avatar
    Riverbird

    Thank you. I’m here, watching via PBS Newshour on youtube.

  5. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    “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.

    1. dakinikat Avatar

      I wouldn’t want booze attached to that game. I’d be so drunk I’d have to stay in bed!!!

  6. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Bernie giving his same old stale stump speech.

  7. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    I am not surprised to find out that “non Dems”voted for Bernie. The rats are out and about.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      YES, THANK YOU PBS!

  8. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Judy Woodruff can’t get Bernie to answer her question, “How big should government be?”

  9. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    The back and forth on healthcare: Bernie repeating stale soundbites and Hillary being specific and holding him to account for his grand plans.

  10. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    His voice over time has been getting on my last nerve. I cannot separate him from Larry David.

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      I can’t stand to listen to him anymore.

  11. Riverbird Avatar
    Riverbird

    Grrrr. “Secretary Clinton, you’re not in the White House yet.”

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      I’m glad he said that. It made him look small.

  12. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Bernie rambles like your drunk uncle on Thanksgiving. Wall Street, billionaires, middle class, blah blah blah but no numbers, no specifics.

    1. Riverbird Avatar
      Riverbird

      Exactly. He reminds me of Trump: “it’s going to be great!

  13. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    And he thinks a Republican congress is going to go along with his proposals ???

  14. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    These kids have no sense of history. They take the strides made for granted.

  15. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Bernie, how are you going to pay for all that free education?

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      I know, right? We can’t even pay for the K-12 schools we have.

  16. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    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.

  17. roofingbird Avatar

    Wow, now we have a debate! On women!

  18. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      Thank you Bernie and Hillary for having this debate in WI.

  19. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton, first spoke about it Obama’s policing commission, systemic racism in this state (WI) and others. must change many things.

  20. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Bernie says the young people “do marijuana”. He’s so cool, no wonder the kids love him.

  21. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  22. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Oh FFS. Question is about race relations and Bernie starts blubbering about Wall Street again.

    1. Pat Johnson Avatar
      Pat Johnson

      lol

  23. roofingbird Avatar

    Sanders falling back on black poverty and the economy.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      So race relations would be better under you? Hmmpt

      1. dakinikat Avatar

        He really didn’t answer that question.

  24. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    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?

    1. Pat Johnson Avatar
      Pat Johnson

      He s his own truant officer.

      1. Fannie Avatar
        Fannie

        I got that.

    2. roofingbird Avatar

      Last train to 1975 was 2008.

  25. roofingbird Avatar

    Gwen we are sitting in one of the most racially diverse communities, How are you going to help whites who are losing ground?

  26. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton wants to address distressed communities, clybourn 10,20,30 proposal. Coal towns need help and revitalization.

  27. roofingbird Avatar

    Gwen to Sanders is this race? Sanders yes. but it is economic too.s

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      The despair of the middle class.

  28. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    He throws NAFTA at her. NAFTA was Bill’s thing, Bernie. He’s getting confused again.

  29. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Billionaires! Drink!

  30. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Awwwww! Hillz voted for comprehensive immigration reform in ’07, Sanders voted against it.

    Zing!

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      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.

  31. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton voted for comp immigration, the ICE raids are bad. Repugs will help. Sanders voted against it because of the guest worker program.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      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.

  32. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    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.

  33. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    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.

  34. roofingbird Avatar

    Sanders , lift the cap on taxable social security to 250000. Isn’t what she said before?

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      But he wants her to say it again because progressives online have said she should.

  35. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Yeah Hillz! More revenue into SS but need to help women and poor seniors!!!!

  36. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton agrees more money has to go in. Agrees, low income and widows especially because when their men die, they lose half their income.

  37. roofingbird Avatar

    Sanders, just tried to take over her thing on passive income. Clinton we are in vigorous agreement.

  38. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    I am one of her small donors . Very small.

  39. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  40. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Technically Bernie you don’t do a super pac, somebody else does it for you.

  41. roofingbird Avatar

    Sanders, we have a corrupt system, super pacs.

  42. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    Herd we go with Wall Street.

  43. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    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.

  44. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton you are mixing apples and oranges. Yes, she needed to say that about Obama’s money.

  45. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Whoa! She throws the gun lobby at him!

  46. roofingbird Avatar

    Sanders, is going deep populist, if its money its bad

  47. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    He constantly intimates she is corrupt.

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      He’s influenced by the media.

  48. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    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.

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      It’s so stale. Same old same old.

    2. dakinikat Avatar

      He’s always patronizing about his explanations too. It’s all like let daddy show you why you’re wrong …

      1. roofingbird Avatar

        Yep, the attitude is showing more and more.

  49. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  50. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    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.

  51. roofingbird Avatar

    Who is he speaking to that needs to hear this again and again?

  52. roofingbird Avatar

    Wow, i just figured out one problem with PBS, so many fewer breaks and more information, my fingers are tired.

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      I wish it was on PBS here.

      1. roofingbird Avatar

        PBS Talking heads are saying she is specific and detailed, he is inspirational, less information.

        1. dakinikat Avatar

          Yup

  53. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Hey, Bernie, name the first woman justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court!

    1. Fannie Avatar
      Fannie

      Shirely Schlangger, 1976

  54. roofingbird Avatar

    Follow up question from FB, Sanders are there any areas of government to reduce.

  55. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton training programs can be streamlined

  56. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    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.

  57. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    Bernie looks exhausted. His face is bright red.

    1. dakinikat Avatar

      Lord … He’s damn vote for the iraq resolution does not answer a specific policy question

  58. roofingbird Avatar

    You can’t coordinate with a country when a presidential candidate insults their religion.

  59. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    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.

  60. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Hey guess what everybody, Bernie voted against the Eyerack war! Who knew?

    1. dakinikat Avatar

      He’s a broken record like Rubio

    2. Pat Johnson Avatar
      Pat Johnson

      (giggle)

  61. roofingbird Avatar

    OMG he has turned it into a song. Iii vooted aginst the war in IIraqqk

  62. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    He is much like Rubio. Repeats the same talking points regarding the Iraq war. Jesus.

  63. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    He’s waving his finger again! He hates when Hillz calls him out on his stupid votes.

  64. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  65. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Bernie questioning Hillz’ judgment but don’t mistake that for attacking her, he never does that.

  66. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    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.

  67. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    Boy, he keeps waving those fingers around.

  68. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  69. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    WTF was that all about Henry Kissinger? Bernie really is stuck in the 1970’s.

    1. Pat Johnson Avatar
      Pat Johnson

      She cited him in the last debate as someone who agreed with her on something.

  70. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    Please Hillary, Don’t defend Henry Kissinger. No, no no!

  71. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Why the hell are they letting him ramble on? We don’t give a fuck about Henry Kissinger!

  72. roofingbird Avatar

    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.!!

  73. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Now my friggin’ hands are flying all over the place…….Vietnam, Henry Kissinger………

  74. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Hillary’s right, we want a cease fire NOW. Putin wants it on March 1, we need it now. Get it now.

  75. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  76. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton. We shouldn’t promise normalization with Iran.

  77. roofingbird Avatar

    Would you meet with an adversary without conditions, I said no, Obama said yes in 2008, we did not.

  78. roofingbird Avatar

    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.

  79. roofingbird Avatar

    Padding.

  80. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    The question was who would influence your FOREIGN policy and Bernie is blubbering about FDR’s domestic policy.

  81. Dee Avatar
    Dee

    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

  82. roofingbird Avatar

    Sanders, can you name 2 leaders one local and one foreign you would influence you? FDR, and ? I zoned. What was the second one?

    1. Pat Johnson Avatar
      Pat Johnson

      Churchill

      1. Fannie Avatar
        Fannie

        I couldn’t hear him say it either!

    2. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      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.

      1. quixote Avatar

        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?

  83. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    She is blasting Sanders for criticizing Obama.

  84. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    Boy, Hillary is going after that black vote!

  85. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    There it was, you go Hillary, bust his ass, it’s our democratic party.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      Yes it IS!

  86. roofingbird Avatar

    Clinton, Mandela and Obama, and Sanders you sound like a Republican when you criticize him. Sanders takes umbrage.

  87. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    No, no Hillary. Don’t go there.

  88. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Hillz says she is not a single issue candidate. Feel the burn Bern!

  89. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Get it on Hillary, Unions and Workers in Wisconsin, Governing ripping up apart. I am going to tear the barriers down.

  90. Pat Johnson Avatar
    Pat Johnson

    What a great closing by Hillary!

  91. roofingbird Avatar

    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!!!!

    1. dakinikat Avatar

      Good point given we keep hearing the same damned thing from Bernie

    2. Fannie Avatar
      Fannie

      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.

  92. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    Great closing statement by Hillary.

  93. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    She nailed it , good Lord she did it, that last punch did it.

  94. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    She played low key and nice throughout the debate and then she went for the kill at the end. I loved it!

  95. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    By the by, who are the two people, that would influence your policy………….Harry Truman, for Nguyen Vinh Giap……….

    1. Fannie Avatar
      Fannie

      Nguyen…….defeated the US during Vietnam.

  96. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  97. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Tad Devine says Bernie won. What a shocker.

  98. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    She was the only one who brought up – Women’s Rights, Union Rights, and Guns.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      Yep.

  99. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    The CNN panel is praising Hillary to the skies.

    1. roofingbird Avatar

      Gosh.I don’t know what to say about that.

      1. bostonboomer Avatar
        bostonboomer

        It was only temporary, lol.

    2. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      Chris Matthews was on her side too.

  100. William Avatar
    William

    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.

  101. Ron4Hills Avatar
    Ron4Hills

    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?

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      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.

  102. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    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.

    1. Joanelle Avatar
      Joanelle

      I thought Bernie was getting himself so worked up that he might collapse on the spot last night

  103. joanelle Avatar
    joanelle

    Now ‘they’re’ checking into her Senate record. ‘They’ are pathetic

  104. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    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.

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      Thanks, all, for your comments. Catching up late after too long a migraine.