Sanders Defends Decision to Speak at Vatican Amid NY Contest
Source: ABC News
Sanders has a 10-minute speaking slot Friday at the conference organized by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which serves a role at the Holy See similar to a think-tank. Dozens of speakers will commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Centesimus Annus," a high-level teaching document by Pope John Paul II on the economy and social justice at the end of the Cold War.
"I obviously would not be leaving in the middle of a very hard-fought primary here if this were not an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime," he said in a phone interview. "I am deeply impressed by the commitment of the pope to speak out about economic and social and environmental injustice and I would be kicking myself if I refused this opportunity."
The chancellor for the pontifical academy, Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, has said he invited Sanders because the Democratic senator from Vermont was the only U.S. presidential candidate who showed deep interest in the teachings of Pope Francis. The pope is not expected to attend the conference.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/sanders-defends-decision-speak-vatican-amid-ny-contest-38370179
If running for President isn't the top priority for someone who IS running for President, maybe they should reconsider...
= new reply since forum marked as read
Oh well. 
the big lie long enough some will start to believe them.
It is an old dirty trick so of course the Clinton Machine does it.
Tsk tsk
His choice, he's made it, and I can live with it. If I were invited, God knows I would go.
that are dissing him in thread after thread would be flat-out with thread after thread: He was invited by the Pope, They were supposed to break bread, even...Bernie skips golf outing with the Pope. And the 10-minute speech? I can't even begin.
Send a google live stream 
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But this time I'm just laughing at how riled up all the Hillary supporters are, as if this is in any way a bad thing.
What a balls-up. Nearly 10,000 air miles round trip with his retinue, for a 10 min. after-thought up-down, Hi/Bye gig.
No meet and greet with His Holiness (i.e. the Pope, not St. Bernardo), so no photo op.
I FLEW 10,000 MILES AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS VATICAN POST CARD OF ST. PETER'S!
A definite plus for his "foreign affairs" portfolio--should really bulk up his "international" experience.
They just can not let it go.
I guess Hillary's invitation was lost in the mail.
I am grateful that Bernie's political positions are recognized and lauded around the World.
All the way to Hong kong and they don't get to even meet her????
What a snub! What a disaster!
or something.... 
OK....?
There are Americans in Rome.
Sooooo totally different than the Hong Kong fundraiser. ..
for the cognitive dissonant among us:
seriously, this is a tremendous legitimating move by the Vatican: he's being recognized as a senior statesman and as important as Morales and the other leaders of countries invited; his ideas, his movement are what the beating heart of 1.3 billion members and believers across the planet feels it needs to hear: this is world-leader stuff
and of course it shows he's confident enough in his nationwide trendline to skip directly campaigning for 2 days
he's gonna go into the convention as the popular frontrunner with a mass movement unconditonally demanding change to politics and an irreversible end to the now-exposed corruption of the DNC, the ability to pull in indys by the millions, the ability to keep indys instead of making them sit home in droves and rally the Republicans to vote against her, with favorability ratings through the roof, with leads over the Republican 10-15 points better than Clinton's, no cumulative unforced errors, no indictments, no Panama Papers, no MCC/Foundation pay-to-play, no condemnation by Jimmy Carter, no protests by Hondurans after the NEXT murder there
he's the sure shot, she's the poison pill who'd be okay with losing the GE if it meant her faction now had absolute grip on the party--and since hers is the faction that's thrown election after election, it'd be on purpose
meanwhile Clinton has every thumb put on every scale for her, every lie said for her, every flack and flunky out to bail for her, every endorsement, every road cleared, every path smoothed, and all it does is turn people off more and more
"If running for President isn't the top priority for someone who IS running for President, maybe they should reconsider..."
You wish.
Sorry, but some candidates won't pass up an opportunity to accept an invitation from the Vatican to speak for social justice even if it conflicts with running for the President! Shocking to Hillary Glee Club. I'm sure you're proud of your own belief that if it were Hillary, she'd put much more importance on herself and speaking in another fundraiser for fat cats to, you know, prioritize on what is really important....more personal power!!!
Italy - interview
Interview - Italy
Oh, I can't pass up Italy!
The flip sweat is real!
re:
First, the two aren't mutually exclusive. I doubt this trip is going to make the difference between whether he does or does not get the nomination. Politically, it's even a tough call between how many more delegates he'd get with 2 more days of campaigning in New York, versus the positive press nation-wide for the trip.
Second, it is not hard to understand there may very well be things that are more important than being President, even for people who are running for President. Family might be a common one. Personally, I think that Bernie entered the race, not so much to become president, but to promote his ideas. Actually having a shot at the Presidency might have been an unexpected bonus.
