Sanders supporters deny coordinated attacks on O'Rourke's progressive credentials

[Yosemito]

Source: The Hill

Supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) are denying that there is a coordinated campaign among them to discredit Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) ahead of a potential presidential primary battle between the two, according to NBC News.

NBC News reported increasing examples of Sanders supporters criticizing O'Rourke, who ran a tight race this year against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in traditionally red Texas.

But with O'Rourke now considering a presidential run, Norman Solomon, who was a delegate for Sanders at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, told NBC News that Americans are seeing "underneath the superficial gloss of projections onto Beto."

"I think this week can be understood as a kind of turning point, where — for the first time really — millions of Americans are seeing pieces that look underneath the superficial gloss of projections onto Beto," Solomon said. 

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/422674-sanders-supporters-deny-coordinated-attacks-on-orourkes-progressive

---

The headline is a lie. No Sanders supporter is quoted denying anything in this article.

[itsrobert]

1. Looks like a Beto hit piece.

They think they are fooling us.

[JI7]

3. who is fooling who ?

[getagrip_already]

30. The new russian candidate needs to just go home back north...

What he is doing is going to tear this party apart. It will be fueled by russian assets throughout the primary and into general election, and he is still playing dumb and innocent. This is how trump will win. This is the only way to put dems into civil war; and it will work. There is too much anger against him to not work, especially with this crap going on.

Stop. Just. Go. Away.

[iluvtennis]

2. I stand with Beto.

[NurseJackie]

4. Silence can be a denial too.

No Sanders supporter is quoted denying anything in this article.

Silence can be a denial too.

[getagrip_already]

31. more importantly..

sanders has done nothing to stop it. nobody fired. nobody politically exiled. He is directing it. The clever agent has advisers and he is behind it all.

[onit2day]

33. That is because nothing is going on.Sanders never runs by putting people down

That's why I know this article is just meant to divide. Known as the most honest man in congress, Sanders focuses on his own programs, which the majority of the nation agrees with. But it seems I routinely see Sanders hit pieces on DU but seldom aimed at his policies. We should refrain from attacking candidates based on assumptions of behavior rather than what they stand for. Sanders deserves our respect just like Beto. Hell they might end up sharing the ticket. Merry X-Mas to you all.

[yardwork]

37. Sanders never runs by putting people down?

I thought we were talking about Bernie Sanders. Who are you talking about?

[msongs]

5. no politician is above scrutiny. then again this could all be russian propaganda lol nt

[still_one]

6. I think Solomon's assessment of "superfical gloss", may have a blind eye to where the

superficial gloss is coming from

[George II]

7. It's The Hill. No wonder the headline deviates from fact.

And the author is playing fast and loose with what little facts they present.

Hm, interesting that Sirota says Cruz and O'Rourke got more "campaign donations from the oil and gas industry" than anyone else. Did Sirota take a look at where they're from? TEXAS! And what is the major industry of Texas? OIL AND GAS!!!

Texas politicians certainly aren't going to be getting much money from the pineapple or lumber industries!

Quick campaign finance lesson for Mr. Sirota - if a car mechanic working for an Exxon station contributes to O'Rourke, it's considered from THE OIL AND GAS industry!! If the guy who fixes pipes in a refinery contributes, it's considered from THE OIL AND GAS industry.

Amazing that these people want to cut the average working American out of the political process merely because they work at a job in the OIL AND GAS industry.

[Cha]

23. ..

Link to tweet

[Catch2.2]

8. This is the same BS.....

....that happened during the Presidential election. Please don't fall for it again. Remember the Bernie Bros, etc. That was all a ploy by Russia (and most likely Trump campaign) etc. to sow divide. Both Bernie Sanders and Beto O'Rourke are great candidates. Lets not fall for the crap that divides us, that's what they want!

[thewhollytoast]

9. Thank you. T

[elleng]

10. Yes, Thank you, and let us NOT allow DU to become a vehicle for disinformation

(which seeks to divide Dems, as has happened in the past.)

'Both Bernie Sanders and Beto O'Rourke are great candidates.'

[guruoo]

18. Thread winner. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. THIS!!!! +1,000

[airmid]

28. +1000

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. + 1000

I hope more do not follow the example of the few predictable ones that infiltrate these threads and are so eager to attack our allies.

insulting Bernie's supporters intelligence again and again. His support went up to 48% near the end of the primaries. I wish they'd just stop and think for a second before writing in here daily about how Democrats (who lean more Sanders and the progressive wing) are actually working for Putin.

They seem to deny that Putin was even a problem during the last election. That he didn't then, and is not in any way responsible now, for trying to divide Democrats with this kind of tactic. Using Russian trolls pretending to be Bernie supporters, to try and rile up the most unstable ones........all the while, they themselves can't see how they are actually being divided away from fellow Democrats, and falling for Putin's machinations.

[Power 2 the People]

11. The article states the opinion of Norman Solomon and only quotes Norman Solomon.

It is reckless to paint with such a broad brush based on one man's opinion.

I think most of us are in agreement with Jon Favreau on this:

But Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for former President Obama, told NBC News that he doesn't think "there's much appetite among Democratic voters to relive some of the dumb Twitter fights that we saw in the 2016 primary."

"There are plenty of progressives who might run — from Beto and Bernie to [Sen.] Kamala [Harris] and [Sen. Cory] Booker and others — and I think it’s more productive to focus our time and energy talking about why we support the candidates who inspire us," he added.

[left-of-center2012]

12. From the link: "coordinated attacks on O'Rourke"

Only two names are mentioned in the linked article as attacking O'Rourke.
Norman Solomon and David Sirota.

Doesn't sound like much of a "coordinated attack by Sanders supporters".

[Yosemito]

15. That's false. NBC mentioned Nomiki Konst and Melissa Byrnes

Besides Sirota and Greenwald.

[jpak]

13. Fucking Russian Troll Bulshit

Yup

[bitterross]

14. You mean here on DU, Right?

I see these anti-Bernie and the AOC posts from people with less than 1000 posts and who have been here for a short time and I think "Russian Troll." I'm not saying the OP is a Russian Troll. That might be against the TOS to name-call. I'm just saying low-post, short-timers like the OP make me think about the possibility of Russian Trolls here.

[groundloop]

16. You can certainly suggest that their ideas sound trollish without calling someone a troll

And, IMO, these types of posts sound trollish and are counter-productive. I supported Bernie in the last primary (and OF COURSE enthusiastically supported Hillary in the election).... right now I'm leaning toward Beto and will say that both Beto and Bernie have a lot of great ideas.

[Yosemito]

17. Is NBC News a Russian troll?

It's much easier to go after a nickname in a message board than after NBC News.

[left-of-center2012]

19. As we approach the primaries ...

I suspect we'll see more.

[guruoo]

20. Gentlemen, you can't fight in here...

[elmac]

21. well, at least we know NBC is working for russia

I'm keeping a list.

[Cha]

22. There were "attacks on Beto" at The Gathering

so we're just suppose to disregard those?

Link to tweet

[Eric J in MN]

40. Such as? NT

NT

[Gothmog]

24. CNN-Bernie Sanders Supporters should worry about Beto

Harry Enten has some good analysis https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/politics/bernie-sanders-beto-orourke-supporters-2020/index.html

The Beto O'Rourke 2020 train seems to be gaining steam. Those backing other potential candidates want donors and pundits to slow their Beto roll, however.

Among the most prominent critics are supporters of Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders who believes the Texan isn't progressive enough.

Sanders fans have at least some reason to worry. O'Rourke or really any other candidate with outsider appeal could eat into Sanders' base of young, independent-leaning voters.

If Sanders is going to win in 2020, he'll need to hold onto his support from 2016. He won more than 40% of the national primary vote, though he lost by low double-digits to Clinton national

[Gothmog]

25. From Governor Howard Dean

Link to tweet

[Hestia]

29. WTFH? Why are we concerned with who is running for president in 2 years when we have a

gov't shut down now, an "acting" Defense Sect, doing a run-around on Senate confirmation, the winners of the last election haven't even been sworn in yet, with 'pugs trying to jerk the purse-strings from the incoming Democrats, keeping the Democratic platform from being enacted, as per the voters will.

There is a whole slew of items that need to be addressed now.

I always like the quote "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans" John Lennon

I think it applies aptly right now.

[Eric J in MN]

42. Some candidates will probably announce next month. NT

NT

[Cha]

43. I think those who are interested in

Democratic candidates for 2020, in almost 2019, are quite capable of multi-tasking.

And, I can see why they think it's imperative since we have a madman in there now killing the country and the planet.

[Cha]

34. Laurence Tribe disagrees..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[JI7]

36. i guess Levi is a Russian Troll

[Demsrule86]

35. Dear Sanders supporters...I voted for Sen. Sanders in 2016 in the Ohio primary.

My kids convinced me. I liked both candidates. In 2020, hell would freeze over before I voted for Sen. Sanders in an Ohio primary. I want nothing to do with a non-Democrat running in a Democratic primary. That being said should he manage a win, I would vote for him in a general. But I remain convinced Sen. Sanders would lose a general and we would get Trump or some other right wing loon for four more years and God knows how many judges said loon would nominate and confirm.

[GulfCoast66]

38. Let me just throw this out there...

I personally heard Bernie Sanders supporters boo the greatest living American, John Lewis, at our last convention. As did most posting on DU. No Russians doing the booing.

And I am supposed to be skeptical that they would attack a House Member that just lost a Senate race if he is a threat?

I want make clear...Bernie did not boo. But sat there with a shit eating grin.

Folks, this is a fact. Not fake news. We all saw it. And it was, and is, indefensible. That when I lost any Bern I had.

[Eric J in MN]

41. Bernie was smiling because he liked

...listening to a speech by John Lewis. Not because of booing.

[Cha]

44. I heard the BS fans boo, too.

And, I saw them all over twitter dissing him.

[Eric J in MN]

39. No direct quotes saying something

...doesn’t mean the journalist lied.