Bernie Sanders: I will not be a spoiler who ends up helping to elect a right-wing Republican

[bigtree]

Mother Jones ?@MotherJones 5m5 minutes ago
Bernie Sanders: I will not be a spoiler who ends up helping to elect a right-wing Republican http://bit.ly/1CVEh0F

MJ: Are you running for president?

BS: I am thinking about running for president. I want to make sure that if I do it, I do it well. Not just for my own ego, but if we run a poor campaign then what I believe in becomes discredited. I am trying to ascertain if I can do it well. I am not like a billionaire who says, "Well, I have decided to run, I have given my campaign manager a billion dollars, we're off and running." This is a different type of campaign. It has to be thought out.

MJ: Would you run as an independent?

BS: There is growing frustration with the two-party system. If I were a multibillionaire the answer would be pretty simple: I would have the financial resources to set up a political infrastructure in 50 states. If you run within the Democratic Caucus, there are a lot of people who would say, "Why did you participate in a party that doesn't stand for very much?" On the other hand, you would be in the debates, get more media attention. But no matter what I do, I will not play the role of a spoiler who ends up helping to elect a right-wing Republican.

MJ: What happens if we go into the Democratic primary with no serious progressives in the race?

BS: It would be very, very disappointing—not just for the progressive movement but for the American people and our political system. We just came from an election where 63 percent of the people did not vote. Eighty percent of young people did not vote. I think the American people are hurting, frustrated, angry, and they want to get an understanding of what's going on and how we can change the system to improve the lives of working families. And those ideas are not in this political debate

.

MJ: If Hillary Clinton became president, would that be a step forward or a step back?

BS: It depends. I have known Hillary Clinton for many, many years. At this particular point, we have no idea of what she will campaign on and what she would do if she were elected president. What I know is, I voted against the war in Iraq and helped lead the effort against that. I was one of the strongest voices in Congress against the deregulation of Wall Street. I believe in a single-payer national health care system. I do not want to see the United States entangled in a never-ending war in the Middle East. I am opposed to the Keystone pipeline. And I am very strongly opposed to the trade policies that we've had for 35 years, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That's my reckoning. You'll have to ask Hillary what her views are.

[wendylaroux]

1. Wish he would run

as a democrat,VERY good chance of winning.
He would have votes from left,middle and right.imo.

[QuestionAlways]

19. I love Bernie, and

I support most everything he said. Bernie Sanders may very well run in the Democratic primary, take part in debates, and win the hearts of many Democrat activists. And these are good things that will strengthen the progressive movement within the Democratic party, and make our candidate stronger. But I will not vote for him. He will have a difficult time getting pass the fact he is a self-described Socialist, you know those Russians called themselves the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. More then 40% of American voters describe themselves as Independents, which means most of them are centrist, or they do not pay much attention to politics or issues. They are predominately your low information voters. We can not take a chance that Bernie will scare them into voting for a crazy RW Republican, since Bernie is a Red, who as we have been taught for the last 100 years is a very bad thing. Once again people will vote against their own self interest since it is the patriotic thing to do. I can not take a chance that the next Supreme Court appointments will be a Clarence Thomas. We will have our debate as Hillary politely uses Bernie as a foil to prove she is no radical.

[wendylaroux]

21. I think

that, as he has always been a registered Independent, he will attract a lot of people,from all parties.
I don't think he will end up running,he wants what is best for the country.
Sure would love to have him as prez. though.

[Scuba]

25. I think the premise that most Independents are centrists is flawed. Many simply ...

... see nothing from either party that appeals to them.

I'd love us to run a nation-wide progressive campaign and see if that doesn't change things.

[BrotherIvan]

35. ^^This!^^

We have been brainwashed to believe this country is center-right. The campaign of Senator Obama tells a different story.

[arcane1]

31. Right-wingers and idiots do make up a significant portion of the electorate, it's true n/t

[Zorra]

2. Perfect. Run, Bernie, run!

[hopemountain]

3. sanders is firm, steady,

and strong. he is my #1 choice of possible candidates.

it is curious to see the delay in announced candidacies for the democratic nomination. am thinking it is as much a financial monetary saving choice to keep the voracious piranhas on the right at bay whilst the msm & gop hyperventilating attacks & steaming piles of propaganda lies & memes lessens.

i don't think the gop can find anything on sanders or believe he may choose to run - hense, no attacks. yet.

[BrotherIvan]

4. Can you believe it?

A politician just clearly stated what he believes. Without any catchy phrases like campaign managers want. Just straight out said it. I support Bernie Sanders because I believe the same things.

What I know is, I voted against the war in Iraq and helped lead the effort against that. I was one of the strongest voices in Congress against the deregulation of Wall Street. I believe in a single-payer national health care system. I do not want to see the United States entangled in a never-ending war in the Middle East. I am opposed to the Keystone pipeline. And I am very strongly opposed to the trade policies that we've had for 35 years, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That's my reckoning. You'll have to ask Hillary what her views are.

These are policies that traditionally Democrats support. The idea that a Sanders candidacy is dead in the water before it starts is nothing but propaganda. It's giving into the right wing/Third Way view that our country is only fit for Neoliberlism at best. It is a constant drumbeat on DU and it does nothing but pull our party further right.

[bigtree]

6. I can't remember ever disagreeing with what he's said

...he's a reality-based pol with his head in the right place.

I hope he can recruit a good team to help him organize his 'movement' so that it gets enough traction to make the kind of campaign he's described a reality. Events and how the political landscape strikes most Americans might just help him make that prospect a realistic one. The Democratic party doesn't share the republican agenda, but there hasn't been enough pols making enough of a contrast between where they stand and where the corporatist party makes their bread and butter. Sen. Sanders has been a consistent advocate for a clear break from the co-opting politics practiced by our present class of legislators in Washington. It's interesting how this current Senate minority is lining up behind many of his initiatives. That's a good indication that he's able to lead, not only the political cabal in Congress, but has a potential to move the nation, as well.

[Nay]

7. He's refreshing, isn't he? Then we have Ms Clinton, who has a staff working out

how and what she want to say about issues. You'd think by now that the words needed would simply flow out of her mouth because she's been fighting for <insert cause here> forever. This is why so many DUers are leery of a Clinton run; we just don't get the feeling that progressive ideas have ever been near and dear to her. She has trouble talking about them without a whole team behind her.

[arcane1]

32. Imagine the applause that reply would receive in a debate!

[JEB]

5. I don't know

of a better candidate than Bernie. Straightforward common sense without the triangulation and equivocating.

[KingCharlemagne]

8. Democratic Socialist here: Kshama Sawant of Seattle might make a better candidate against

HRC, not least because gender would be off the table as a consideration in any face-to-face match-up between the two. Unfortunately for America, Sawant is not native-born and thus ineligible for the office of POTUS. Also, Sawant is not a Dem and would have to change her party registration to Dem to run against HRC in the primaries, just as Sanders will have to do. Sawant is an actual Socialist and I strongly doubt she would be willing to change her party registration in order to take a run at HRC. Still, it would make for some very interesting theatrics, as a true Socialist went up against a representative of the classical bourgeoisie.

[F4lconF16]

20. +1000

So glad that we have her up here. She's going to wrap up her election this year nicely, I think, though the &$*#^$&* Dems are running three distinct spoiler candidates against her to try and pull off support. It's disgusting.

She would destroy HRC in a debate, though.

[Jefferson23]

9. Highly recommend. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Bernie would have my vote.

nt

[Jim Lane]

11. He's being too charitable to Clinton.

From the OP: "At this particular point, we have no idea of what she will campaign on and what she would do if she were elected president."

The main reason that some progressives want an alternative to Clinton is that we do have an idea of what she would do if she were elected president.

[Corey_Baker08]

12. Thank You Bernie Sanders!

[Maedhros]

15. I very, very, very much do not want Hillary to be President.

However, I think insulting her does the progressive cause no favors.

[erronis]

16. Totally agree. There is a bit too much personal vitriol when it comes to Hillary.

I wish she would start making some strong statements about her true beliefs and positions. It is somewhat telling that she is still keeping her weather finger in the air to see where the fair winds blow.

I believe that HRC could be a strong POTUS and definitely has the smarts and background to understand a lot of the world and US politic.

I do worry about her ties to the wallstreet and other moneyed interests. She has not shown much interest in calling out W$ and what they've done to the economy (2008-) while still reaping ever-increasing bonueses.

I haven't heard boo from Hillary about our rich-vs-poor divide that is ever increasing, or about our crumbling infrastructure (physical and intellectual).

I haven't heard Hillary talk about how she is going to get us our of our foreign imbroglios.

So, other than that she is a front-runner, is potentially the first female POTUS, is a smart lawyer who is married to Bill - what are her qualifications?

I'm wiling to listen but there's nothing coming from her to make me get excited - other than voting against the thundering horde of elephants.

[pangaia]

30. Well,

I guess we know just where you stand.

I'll have the prime rib, potatoes au gratin and caramelized onions.
Oh and a '66 Bel Grave, thank you.

[dbackjon]

14. Note - even Bernie knows HRC is better than any Republican

DU take note.

[frylock]

17. put it on a bumper sticker

[groundloop]

18. Choice 1 - Bernie Choice 2 - another progressive Choice 3 - HRC Last Choice - any repub

I fully understand all the discord over Hillary's record as we head into the primary. I sincerely hope and pray that we can all get behind whoever our nominee is for the general election, anything less is throwing support to the opposition.

[Hekate]

22. He puts personal ego aside. I really like that guy. nt

[SidDithers]

23. Fuck Ralph Nader...nt

Sid

[bigtree]

24. »

[Cha]

26. I didn't think so.. Bernie looks at the big picture.. mahalo bigtree

[WillyT]

27. K & R !!!

[Scuba]

28. "You'll have to ask Hillary what her views are."

Or look at her track record, which she'd very much like us to forget.

[DonCoquixote]

29. this is why Bernie

is the very firebrand Nader wishes he could be. While Nader goes about stumping for Ron "I will destroy the EPA and Scoial Security" Paul, Bernie has a heart and a sharp mind to back it up!

[raven mad]

33. IF he runs.........

I'll be as hard behind him as I was for Barack Obama.

[MissDeeds]

34. Bernie has my full support

K&R

[Cheese Sandwich]

36. He's great on the issues but other candidates will fight dirty.

Not sure if Bernie is too nice to fight back and throw hard punches during the debates.

[raging moderate]

37. Bernie will do the best thing always.

We can count on him to do the very best thing he can. Always.

[freshwest]

38. K&Ring.

[Scurrilous]

39. K & R