Bernie's 2002 Republican opponent once wanted more debates, but Bernie Sanders spurned him

[Cali_Democrat]

Interestingly enough, there were 6 debates scheduled. The same number of debates the DNC scheduled for the 2015/2016 primary season.

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<....>

Sanders has joined that call, and his campaign website includes a petition calling on the DNC to add to the schedule.

“The best chance for this country is discussing the issues that matter,” according to Sanders’ website. “Republicans aren’t going to do it, so we need more Democratic debates.”

One person who finds that stance a little odd is William Meub, a personal injury lawyer in Rutland.

Meub was Sanders’ Republican opponent in his 2002 House of Representatives contest, and pressed hard for more than the half-dozen debates that were scheduled.

Feeling that his calls were ignored, he went to Sanders’ Burlington Senate office and interrupted a news conference that Sanders was having on the state’s dairy economy.

<...>

The two went back and forth several times, with Sanders saying they would have a chance to debate because several encounters were on the books.

Meub replied: “You used to say you’d debate 10 or 15 times. Live by your words Congressman Sanders!”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/09/23/what-does-hillary-clinton-have-fear-from-bernie-sanders-debate-playbook/V4p6WjjFHpDXfvKU7YDYkN/story.html

[randys1]

1. Ugh, let's not defer to what a republican said at some point. We know odds are

he was being a hypocrite himself at the time.

I am firmly behind either HIllary or Bernie, as I have said many times.

We dont have to do this, we really dont.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Vermont public radio has a transcript of the exchange:

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/67850/meub-sanders-clash-over-debate-schedule/

[marym625]

3. Seriously?

You're comparing the Presidential democratic primary, to a Senate campaign, against a Republican?

Wow!

[Cali_Democrat]

10. Bernie's opponent wanted more debates and now the shoe is on the other foot.

Personally, I think there should be more debates.

But it's interesting when you look at what happened in 2002 when his opponent was calling for more debates.

[HerbChestnut]

11. Don't get sucked in...

Cali's made it pretty clear he/she is out to get Bernie. Seems like every one of his/her posts is anti-Sanders.

[Luminous Animal]

15. FYI, the DU member known simply as "Cali" is a fervent Bernie supporter.

[HerbChestnut]

19. Yeah I know, I was just shortening the name. Sorry if that caused any confusion.

[Luminous Animal]

23. The only reason why I pointed that I is because I kept getting

confused by two posters with monikers thats started pit the same but ended up differently. As did their approach to civil rights. And when other posters would refer to just the first part of the name, I would be confused who they were talking about. I finally did get in context (kinda like having 3 friends named Heather)

[Cali_Democrat]

17. ...

[HerbChestnut]

21. LOL

I was being serious though. I've noticed that many of the threads you create try to paint Bernie in a negative light one way or another. I don't like singling people out like that, but it does seem pretty obvious. It's one thing to support a candidate (I assume you support Hillary based on your posts), but it's another to go out of your way to constantly criticize another candidate.

[marym625]

26. I know

Notice how s/he ignored the fact that was a State wide Senate race and there were 6 debates. Debates no one was told they cannot go outside of.

Absolutely ridiculous comparison. But, that never stops certain third-wayers

[Cali_Democrat]

30. Name calling results in 10 more anti-Sanders threads as per rule #1102367. nt

[marym625]

34. I didn't call anyone a name

But points for humor! You're still down for using a Republican opponent's, that lost, rantings and posting a misleading, at best, OP. But still, that was funny

[Art_from_Ark]

14. Really

When one is grasping at straws to build their strawman, any straw will do.

[marym625]

27. +100

[beam me up scottie]

4. #thingsrepublicanssaidandrepeatedondu

[Cali_Democrat]

6. See my post above

Vermont public radio maintained a transcript of the exchange.

[beam me up scottie]

8. #thingssaidondutodefendopsaboutrepublicans

[marym625]

28. +100

[LiberalArkie]

32. Results

On Tue Oct 6, 2015, 12:27 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

#thingsrepublicanssaidandrepeatedondu
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=649514

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Insulting the OP by calling him a republican because this poster doesn't like the news article.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Oct 6, 2015, 12:35 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: #growup
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Meh....
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.
Cannot reply to automated messages

[beam me up scottie]

33. The alerter lied about my post?

The title of the op says:

Bernie's 2002 Republican opponent

Why am I not surprised?


GOOD jury!


Thanks for posting the results!

[virtualobserver]

5. no worries, after she drops in the polls, Hillary will call for more debates

[Bloofer]

7. Are you suggesting Bernie is a hypocrite?

?

[Cali_Democrat]

9. That appears to be the case.

At least when it comes to debates.

[artislife]

16. like Hill is!

Funny how information only goes one way..

[Armstead]

12. You've fond it. The smoking gun

A guy interrupts a press conference about ag issues, and Sanders gets testy.

That's it! Bernie needs to drop out now.

[Luminous Animal]

13. Well, if Bernie barges into a Hillary news conference about a pressing policy

issue and demands to take over that news conference with his own demands, and then grandstands about it afterwards by holding his own news conference… then yes, I'd say he is a hypocrite. But since he hasn't, I am embarrassed on your account for trying to present the situations as equivalent.

The transcript...

(Host) Congressman Bernie Sanders was set to talk about farm issues Monday when his Republican opponent tried to steal the limelight. GOP candidate Bill Meub says Sanders has ducked debates, a charge Sanders emphatically denies. Meub went to Sanders' office and challenged the incumbent to face him on the issues.

VPR's John Dillon was there.


(Dillon) Sanders had just started his news conference on the dairy economy when Meub burst in.

(Meub) "I have not been able to get any dialog with Congressman Sanders. It's time for a debate."

(Dillon) Sanders was not happy about the intrusion. He asked an aide to show Meub the door.

(Sanders) "We are dealing about the agricultural crisis in the state-"
(Meub) "And I think it would be appropriate. I think you and I ought to be having debates."
(Sanders) "I think we have scheduled at least six debates, but right now-"
(Meub) "I'm sorry-"
(Sanders, shouting) "This is not a debate!"
(Meub) "I want to have about 8 debates in the next few weeks-"
(Sanders) "Oh, you may have what you want. I have scheduled at least six debates. Thank you very much."
(Meub) "You used to say you'd debate 10 or 15 times. Live by your words Congressman Sanders!"
(Sanders) "Excuse me! Thank you very much! This is an embarrassment. We're talking here with the Farm Bureau about an agricultural crisis and you come barging in. You should really know better...."

(Dillon) Outside on the street, Meub held his own impromptu news conference. He says there are only four debates scheduled, and all those are late in the campaign.

(Meub) "We should be talking about Iraq. We should be talking about Social Security, the business climate. He's running away. He's using a rose garden approach."

(Dillon) Sanders says his schedule is tight because Congress will probably stay in session through the middle of October. But he says Meub's claims are bogus, since they've agreed to at least seven debates. Sanders says Meub's tactics are a campaign ploy.

(Sanders) "It's insulting to agriculture in the state of Vermont, to the farmers, to the people who are here, just to come in and get his picture on television. And it bothers me. But bottom line is, I like debating. We are stuck in Washington much longer than I thought. But I am disturbed by the infantile behavior I saw today."

(Dillon) Sanders appeared at the news conference with two dairy farmers and the head of the Vermont Farm Bureau. The congressman says he wants to learn why milk prices paid to farmers have fallen sharply, while the prices paid by consumers have stayed about the same. Sanders says he's asked the major supermarkets and milk processors to meet with farmers and consumers to look into this issue.

For Vermont Public Radio, I'm John Dillon in Burlington.

And really. You think 6-7 debates in a state with a population of 600,000 people (and a rather homogeneous population at that) is equivalent to 6 debates scheduled to address the issues of a vastly diverse population of 300 million people?

[mythology]

24. Obama had 3 debates with Romney and McCain

That's a broader more diverse electorate than the Democratic primary.

Why are 3 enough there?

[marym625]

29. don't bother with facts or logic.

Notice how you didn't get the canned response? Or any response at all? The OP is misleading and pretty Damn close to a lie. Additionally, touting a crazy republican's thoughts on Sanders, a republican that lost to Sanders, is about as far out there as you can get in trying to find something bad about Sanders. And still, a total fail.

[workinclasszero]

18. Oh look...Bernie evolved. /nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. Despite appearances, Hillary is not a Republican. Nor is she demanding more debates.

[highprincipleswork]

22. This is no comparison, at least for someone who wants Democrats to win

To compare what happens in the contest between a Democrat and a Republican to that which happens in selecting the best candidate to represent the Democrats seems like faulty thinking to me.

I would think you would want your Democratic representative to do anything they can to win election.

Within the party, to tip the proceedings to those who already have name recognition and to tilt all advantages away from other contenders, despite many logical reasons it is not in the best interest of the Democratic Party to do so - that seems highly suspicious and fraught with disaster.

If people who are for other candidates discern that there is a real betrayal or rigging of the nomination process at hand, they may very well be disinclined to support the winner. And I mean in any way, donations, volunteering, and even voting.

What would be lost if more debates would be held? Debbie Wasserman Schultz's arrogance and pride would be hurt. Hillary could do better or do worse, it's hard to say. The many, many loyal Democrats who are complaining would feel better and be more likely to participate in the result. The Democrats would recapture the airways that have been taken over by the Republicans in the absence of Democratic debates. There would be a chance to see and decide who really is the best candidate to represent us, as experienced in the here and now.

This is not a good or logical comparison.

For the sake of all, particularly the Democratic Party, there should be more debates. To have them as they are now smacks of corruption, and I personally want no part of it.

[marym625]

31. it's not even a true statement

The transcript, in part, is posted above. This is just more twisting of the truth from a crazy republican

[GeorgeGist]

25. a congressional district is just like a nation.

Said no one ever.