Why doesn't Brian Schweitzer just run in the Republican primary? Dude is a f*cking FAKE!!!

[Cali_Democrat]

Last edited Thu Jan 16, 2014, 02:31 PM - Edit history (1)

- He uses Republican talking points when discussing the ACA

- He supports the building of Keystone XL

- He supports expanding coal production.

- He's darling of the NRA and received an "A" rating from them.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116138/brian-schweitzer-2016-populist-hopeful-nra-darling

Edit to add:

- He also said medicaid was one of the least effective programs ever (h/t geek_tragedy)

[hrmjustin]

1. I gather you don't like him.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. Nah

He's also racist IMO.

When he was asked if Obama has done anything positive, he just went and mentioned Obama's race and his role as the first black president ---->>>http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024334348

That's it? The only positive thing Obama has done is have black skin while in the White House?

Fuck Brian Schweitzer.

[Bjorn Against]

14. No one has been able to provide me a quote of him making the racial comment being alleged of him

I asked in that thread for a quote of Schweitzer saying the only positive thing Obama has done is be black, that quote was never provided. Until I see an actual quote I am going to have to assume that is a smear, if he had actually said that then it should not be difficult to find a quote and if no one can find that quote then I have to assume Schweitzer never said it.

I do have serious reservations about Schweitzer, the NRA and Keystone issues alone make me very wary of him. At the same time however I don't think he should be smeared and this seemingly unfounded charge that he said that being black was the only positive thing Obama has done, until someone can provide evidence that he actually said this I have to consider that allegation to be a smear.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

34. I have asked several times for a direct quote on that too

It seems the reporter makes this statement, not him. That would normally be very troubling to people here in an article about a Democratic candidate for any office, but apparently for those here who find Schweitzer to be an annoying speed bump in their long term view of how the primary should shake out, such journalistic standards are not of any concern.

[Bjorn Against]

79. It is quite sad that some people are trying to present this as if it were fact

No one has been able to provide me a quote which even comes close to saying what they insist Schweitzer said, it is an obvious smear that is as dishonest as anything Fox News does. I am not even a huge Schweitzer fan, but I don't think he deserves to be lied about.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

111. Not really a fan of his either....

....but when you point out the flaws in the story to the people upset about it and they just keep repeating the same flawed parts of the story as their proof, it's like beating your goddamn head against a wall.

[JTFrog]

38. He said it in an interview.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/dem-thinks-he-can-win-the-anti-obama

This Democrat thinks he can win in 2016 as the anti-Obama
01/15/14 04:00 AM—Updated 01/15/14 12:11 PM
By Benjy Sarlin

Brian Schweitzer, the former two-term Democratic governor of Montana, is rarely speechless. Once he gets going on a topic, he’s almost impossible to stop. As he builds up steam, he’ll slap his knee to emphasize his points. He’ll slap your knee to emphasize his points. Good luck getting a word in edgewise for that follow-up question.

But at the moment, Schweitzer is rubbing his chin, looking up at the ceiling, searching – unsuccessfully – for just the right words. The question was simple enough: Is there a single thing President Obama has done that you consider a positive achievement?

Finally, he spoke.

“My mother, God rest her soul, told me ‘Brian, if you can’t think of something nice to say about something change the subject,’” he said.

But he couldn’t help himself, slamming Obama’s record on civil liberties (the NSA revelations were “un-effing-believable”), his competency (“They just haven’t been very good at running things”), and above all, Obamacare (“It will collapse on its own weight”).

Eventually, he paused to acknowledge Obama’s historic role as the first black president. But by that standard, Obama’s usefulness ended the day he took the oath of office.

Unless the reporter just flat out made it up. In which case, I'd expect Schweitzer would have said something about that.

[Bjorn Against]

41. I am still not seeing a direct quote anywhere in what you posted.

That article does not quote him as saying anything close to what is being alleged that he claimed.

[JTFrog]

44. Right.

Maybe the reporter was just making it up.

I imagine it's possible.

[Bjorn Against]

45. Actually the reporter does not even claim what people here are claiming

The reporter just said that he paused to acknowledge Obama's role as the first black President, the reporter never says that Schweitzer claimed that being black was the only thing Obama did right as some on DU are alleging.

[JTFrog]

69. It didn't take a "direct quote" for me to understand the exchange.

The question was simple enough: Is there a single thing President Obama has done that you consider a positive achievement?

Finally, he spoke.

“My mother, God rest her soul, told me ‘Brian, if you can’t think of something nice to say about something change the subject,’” he said.

The reporter then claims that he follows up anyway with some negative comments and that "Eventually, he paused to acknowledge Obama’s historic role as the first black president."

Are there any quotes in that exchange where he says Obama did anything positive? Do you think that he acknowledged Obama's historic role as the first black president as yet another negative or a positive? Can you understand how the reporter's account of the exchange might lead to some DUers alleging what they have?

[Bjorn Against]

74. If Schweitzer said something there would be a quote to prove he said it

Last edited Thu Jan 16, 2014, 09:31 AM - Edit history (1)

You are not even able to come up with a quote from the editorial reporter that says what is being claimed, instead you spin an editorial reporter's words and present that spin as if it were Scweitzer's own words. It is extremely dishonest.

[bananas]

81. It's the "Dean scream" and "Al Gore claimed to invent the internet" gambit. nt

[JTFrog]

84. I didn't spin anything.

I simply read an article and had a different perspective than you. It's really not that complicated and hardly makes me dishonest.

Do you think Schweitzer will call the reporter out for lying about him?

[Bjorn Against]

85. If you claim someone said something they did not say it is dishonest

And no I don't think Schweitzer will comment on the article, and he will certainly not comment on your personal interpretation of the article. No politician is going to respond to every false allegation made against them.

Your interpretation of an article is not the same as a quote that contains a person's actual words.

[JTFrog]

88. Why are you trying to make this so personal?

I haven't claimed anything. The reporter did. No need to be so nasty.

Have a great day.

[Bjorn Against]

89. I am not being nasty, I am simply asking you to back up your claims

I never made anything personal, I ask everyone who has made this accusation to provide evidence. So far no one has been able to do so.

[Boom Sound 416]

17. Did he mean get elected twice?

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. Sounds a lot like Gerri Ferraro there. Yup, sadly, we've got some too!

[former9thward]

2. He is the one potential candidate not on Social Security.

It is time for the SS generation to move on.

[upaloopa]

7. Is age descrimination a bad thing here.

Replace the descriptor with any minority or gender and it would not be ok.

[former9thward]

19. The Constitution discriminates by age when it comes to the President.

When you get that fixed get back to me.

[upaloopa]

22. Your post didn't come from the Constitution.

When you make up a better excuse get back to me.

[former9thward]

24. I discriminate by age when voting for President.

I don't need to make an excuse. Did you vote for McCain or Reagan?

[upaloopa]

25. Well that is a better excuse.

When will Hillary get SS? Bil is my age so he gets it.
My vote for Obama wasn't because of his age. I did vote for Carter but never considered his age.

[former9thward]

26. Carter was 52 when he was elected.

Hillary hit SS a year ago. You may not have voted for Obama because of his age but plenty of people did.

[upaloopa]

31. Who the hell else were they going to vote for?

It was either Obama or stay home I guess.
Young people have it much harder than I did but remember we have kids and grand kids that we care about as much as we do ourselves. We are not as self centered as is made out here on DU.

[LanternWaste]

55. yet I'm seeing quite a few statements attempting to rationalize that discrimination

"I don't need to make an excuse..."

Nor rationalizations either... yet I'm seeing quite a few statements attempting to rationalize that discrimination, regardless of whether one admits it to them-self or not.

[WinkyDink]

11. Alexander Pope has a reply for you:

''We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow;
Our wiser sons, no doubt will think us so.''

Alexander Pope (1688-1744), British satirical poet. Essay on Criticism.

[former9thward]

20. What was appropriate 350 years ago ...

May not be so today.

[WinkyDink]

59. Yes, that is the way with TRUISMS. *sarcasm*

[Electric Monk]

4. 138 recs and counting, in a pro-Schweitzer thread

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4333473

Perhaps you meant to reply there instead of starting a new thread?

[laundry_queen]

5. No, pretty sure all the new threads are on purpose to flood GD.

There should be a rule against that.

[bvar22]

35. Their purpose is NOT to convince anyone of anything.

It is to thoroughly hijack, pollute and therefore eliminate public spaces where real discussion and organization can occur. Occupy is disbanded with clubs and pepper spray. Dissent and organization online are disrupted with surveillance and propaganda.

It is no accident that propaganda brigades post new threads on discussion boards far out of proportion to their presence in the community, and that they nearly *always* demand the last word in any interchange.

The goal is to disrupt the important public space for liberal thought, discussion, and organization that these boards offer, and to keep the participants busy instead batting off the corporate lies and talking points.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023359801
Sun Jul 28, 2013

[laundry_queen]

56. You speak the truth. +1 nt

[Capt. Obvious]

77. You mean starting another new thread

[cali]

6. who cares? why are you throwing such a silly fit over this?

he's a non-factor. do you ever post about issues? EVER?

[laundry_queen]

8. +1

Not getting the hysteria, but getting annoyed with all the ZOMG!$!! posts.

[cali]

10. I think it's Obama adulation taken to the nth degree. a bit disconcerting

to see politics through that prism.

[laundry_queen]

15. Not sure disconcerting is the right way to put it

WTF?!? is more like it. Should see the other threads on this. Everything they've ever accused 'liberal dems' of doing to Obama they are doing to Schweitzer. And still no policy discussion....'cult of personality' is what it's all about.

[VanillaRhapsody]

30. now its a new word "adulation"?

We just suffered through GW Bush...and we have a Democratic President....THE MOS successful one we have seen in our collective lifetimes...

Still not good enough for some democrats!

[bvar22]

36. No. "Adulation" is an OLD word,

but the activity is centuries old,
and still lingers into these modern times.

[VanillaRhapsody]

51. Recently applied to people who SUPPORT the current Most Successful Democratic President

of OUR collective lifetimes...

Call it what you will...Support or "adulation"....the facts remain the same!

[VanillaRhapsody]

52. definition...

ad·u·la·tion noun \ˌa-jə-ˈlā-shən, -dyə, -də-\
: extreme admiration or praise


Yes I admire him....and I do praise him for the immense success he has achieved...while being attacked from both the Right and the Far Left!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

92. By any reasonable measure...

Bill Clinton is clearly the most successful Democratic president most of us have ever experienced. Older Dees may have good arguments about Kennedy or even Roosevelt. But in recent times, Bill Clinton would be the most successful. No, this doesn't mean I'm a huge fan of Clinton.

[hfojvt]

39. I think it is more about

Hillary adulation.

And anybody who might take her on must be attacked.

[morningfog]

80. Sheep + flame bait = this OP.

[flamingdem]

9. Wow, didn't realize he's such a

loooser, yeesh.

[HangOnKids]

70. loooser?

Is that a word? No it is not.

[Vashta Nerada]

12. Ewww.

I don't think I like him anymore.

[BlueMTexpat]

13. No, he isn't really a "fake."

He's been a heck of a lot better for the state than any GOPer would have been and has been generally progressive for the state. But you have to see things in context. Those from urban (urbanized) areas often have difficulty understanding those of us who grew up having to drive for miles and miles and miles before ever finding a town larger than 1,000 and where the population of the entire state (the fourth largest geographically in the nation) barely hovers around one million.

But I do believe that several of the things he has been saying since he declined to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Baucus arise from pique because he has been subject to lots of Dem criticism lately, a lot of it from fellow Montana Dems.

Take what he says now with a well-deserved grain of salt. But he's not all bad.

[Union Scribe]

16. Lol.

He's really got you lot rubbing your fingerprints off on your keyboards eh? Funny thing is I wouldn't know who the hell he is but for the furious efforts to sink him here.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

40. I'm fascinated as to who chummed the waters today

Apparently someone felt an unfavorable article playing up some distaste he might have for Obama on the issues was needed about Ol' Brian, who has as much a chance in a primary as Martin O'Malley or any other number of darlings tossed around. Don't know who's scared of him, or someone who sees themselves as "the only possible choice" doesn't want to pay lip service to the left for even a second.

[Union Scribe]

83. Quite. Strategically I think they need to reconsider

the 'Hulk Smash' response to what would otherwise be minor stories, because all these threads are just getting his name out there more. But like you said, once that chum is in the water it's on.

[LAGC]

18. Republican talking points when discussing the ACA?

Oh? Since when have the Republicans wanted single-payer?

While its true that a pro-energy, pro-gun Democrat can suck a lot of wind out of GOP sails in flyover states, that's not necessarily a bad thing at all.

Putting several mid-western states back into play, including possibly even turning Texas blue, would more than make-up for what few anti-energy, anti-gun folks choose to sit the election out.

If nothing else, he'd make a great vice presidential running mate for whomever wins the 2016 nomination.

[Cali_Democrat]

37. pray tell

how is he going to get single payer through Congress when a public option couldn't even make it out of committee in 2010?

Single payer is nice, but the ACA is what we have now. Talking about how it's going to collapse and using republican talking points when describing the ACA is just stupid and it helps Republicans.

[LAGC]

42. Quite simple really.

We need to give him a solid Democratic super-majority in Congress in 2016, which will be easier if we win more traditional red states over. We'll probably lose some seats in 2014 as the president's party tends to during mid-terms, but presidential voting years are when congressional candidates can really ride on the coat-tails of whomever is at the top of the ticket.

And the public option only failed because of Lieberman's betrayal.

[jeff47]

62. So you think he can get through Congress what he could not accomplish in his own state.

Uh-huh.

Would you like some oceanfront property in Iowa? I can get you a fantastic deal.

[freshwest]

58. If he couldn't get his own state to go for single payer under the ACA like VT, why expect him to do

it as president? He's a fossil energy candidate, nothing more or less. He belongs on a ticket with Rand Paul.

[Montana redneck]

86. Great points

The people on this forum don't realize a lot of democrats are not like them.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Or, Hillary, who supported Bush's wars and still supports drone war.

[RedstDem]

23. i disagree, he is more real than any third way dem

I like him a lot, definitely more than the clintoes and that side of the party...

[arely staircase]

29. maybe george zimmerman can campaign for him

. Schweitzer signed an array of NRA-backed bills into law, including a 2009 “stand your ground” bill that the NRA called a “victory.”

[RedstDem]

76. hillary voted to drop bombs on an entire country

that was completely innocent...a whole country of trayvons.

you OK with that person?

[G_j]

28. thanks

never heard of this guy until today, probably the third time I've heard you repeat this

[Cha]

32. I thought he Was giving CChristie a run for his

fucking money.

[kentuck]

33. It's a roll of the dice...

They all pretend that they have some progressive streak about them but attempt to broaden their appeal by supporting issues that most progressives do not completely agree upon.

I suppose they want most people to think they are somewhere in the proverbial "middle"?

[Tarheel_Dem]

43. CD, we know exactly who these people are. Loud, SMALL, always on the internet & pissed!

Jill: 'I got 0.37% of the national vote', and almost knocked Obama off his perch'.




Roseanne: 'I got 0.03% of the vote, and nobody even knew I was runnin'. I came so close. dammit'.

And of course, the reigning champ & "The Biggest Loser" since the Corvair:


Ralph: 'I'm banned from every retirement village in Florida', that's why I look droopy and sad. Won't somebody love me?'

[LAGC]

46. Oh stop it.

Just stop.

Schweitzer isn't running as a third-party candidate nor has he ever threatened to. If he loses the nomination, he'll support whomever wins just like he threw all his support to Obama in 2012.

If nothing else, I hope Hillary picks him as her running mate just to piss all the naysayers off.

[Tarheel_Dem]

90. Why? On most things it sounds like he's to the right of HRC. His initials speak volumes "B.S."!

[Cali_Democrat]

50. Nice post!

Perfect!

[ecstatic]

64. lol! nt

[Jamaal510]

73. ROFLMAO

"Jill: 'I got 0.37% of the national vote', and almost knocked Obama off his perch'."
"Roseanne: 'I got 0.03% of the vote, and nobody even knew I was runnin'. I came so close. dammit'."

[Cali_Democrat]

49. I'll continue posting this "crap"

[last1standing]

53. The ROFL smilie makes your post like it's trying to hide bitterness and anger.

Just thought I'd let you know.

[Cali_Democrat]

54. Thanks for the headsup. n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

48. Pulling all the troops out of Afghanistan in exchange for no new gun laws...

Is a tradeoff that I'd be very willing to take. But if Hillary says she is willing to pull all of the troops out of Afghanistan AND push for new gun laws, I'd be more interested in her candidacy than I am currently.

[jeff47]

65. Why do you think there would be no new gun laws?

There's no reason we can't pass a federal Stand Your Ground law.

[Hippo_Tron]

112. I guess we could, but for what purpose?

The feds rarely try murder cases and usually the ones that they do involve murders of federal officials or murders in federal buildings.

[99Forever]

57. Who cares?

Let the jerk get trounced. It would give the antisocials in the Gungeon someone to vote for.

[2naSalit]

60. Lookie here...

http://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/40832/brian-schweitzer/

[BklnDem75]

61. I doubt winning is his goal...

I won't be surprised if he's sticks around until the end to siphon votes from the left.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

63. How many OP's have you written about the man today?

Running scared? I wouldn't worry too much; he won't be the nominee. But you're kind of making a mess of GD. If you'd get your emotions under control, you could probably handle it all in one thread without this irrational fear that not enough people will see your proclamations.

[HangOnKids]

71. Off Snowden and onto this quest?

Oh dear Gawd. Hilarious.

[hobbit709]

75. +1000

[Matariki]

66. Got the talking points, huh?

[Cali_Democrat]

68. Delivered to my inbox this morning

I gotta make a living, doncha know....

[HangOnKids]

72. Thank God

We have all been so worried about you having enough to eat.

[uponit7771]

93. The one where "real" liberals support stand your ground laws?! lol... He's more conservative

... than boehner but of course people hate Obama so ... it's ok

[AgingAmerican]

67. He is a conservative Democrat

AKA a 'bluedog'.

AKA moderate Democrat.

[djean111]

78. As are Obama and Clinton. They may, in fact, be blue-doggier.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

107. Lol.

Supports labor, single payer, is against unfair trade deals and unnecessary wars.... If that makes him a blue dog then Obama and Clinton are tea partiers.

[AgingAmerican]

110. He is from Montana

He is anti-corporate in a lot of ways. He is an odd one, for sure.

[MineralMan]

82. Because he's today's NotHillary.

The reality is that he won't be a contender anyhow.

[LondonReign2]

87. The BOG has their marching orders

Someone didn't express enough fawning adoration for the President, time to spam GD with repetitive retribution threads

[Cali_Democrat]

97. Actually....they're not really marching orders

Just talking points that are emailed on a daily basis.

I gotta make some benjamins too!

[polichick]

91. Sure seems to upset you.

[PowerToThePeople]

94. Clinton/Scweitzer (R) 2016 n/t

[ForgoTheConsequence]

106. I've been pulling for this.

Heads on here would explode.

[NCTraveler]

95. I have seen more attacks against this guy in the last day...

than I have seen against republicans. What's the deal? Why is he so significant?

[PowerToThePeople]

96. Inquiring minds want to know

I wonder the same thing. Seems to have appeared out of nowhere. I think it is distraction, just like bridge-gate. We have not been talking about TPP, EUI, Domestic spying, or any other "real" issues in GD recently.

[NCTraveler]

98. I have never heard of the guy until yesterday.

Now I see this op and others tearing him apart. He must be a pretty significant player to be receiving this much time and scorn.

[PowerToThePeople]

100. I have heard of him

Only because he is in my part of the nation. It was substantial when a D won in Montana. I did not know his positions though. He appears to support a lot of non-left ideas.

[brooklynite]

99. If you're still dreaming about Warren running, continually beating up on Hillary gets dull.....

[NCTraveler]

101. I think I am missing something from your post.

Whoosh. Went over my head. Not the first time, won't be the last.

I do have a strong feeling this op is not dreaming about Warren running. I'm pretty sure they are politically opposed to her views.

[uponit7771]

102. I've seen more attack against Obama than republicans daily here, they hate him almost as much

... as the republicans...

It's funny "they" want a person more conservative than Obama... just slightly different looking... sigh

[NCTraveler]

104. If he is more conservative than Obama he should probably be in the Republican pary.

Your point about attacks on Obama are true. I would call it criticism more than attacks. But there are plenty of attacks.

Who are "they"? Is there a large contingent pushing for him to be president?

[Capt. Obvious]

109. They who want a white president

That's how it read to me

[Bradical79]

103. I'm leaning away from voting for him for those reasons

But what are Hilary' s stances on those issues and what makes our outgoing president a better Democrat considering what all is in the TPP?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

105. Hillary supports Keystone.

She also supports the death penalty, she voted for the Iraq war, and supports tracking.


When it comes to unions, healthcare, trade, Schweitzer is far to the left of Hillary.

[bravenak]

108. That dog won't hunt.

He's annoying.