What else? Bring it on. I’m not worried about any of Bernie Sander’s alleged “skeleton’s in the closet.” Let’s have this discussion. Let’s compare skeletons. Better now than waiting until after the Primary election. The GOP will dredge up everything they can on whoever wins the Democratic Primary, that we know for sure. So let’s have at it, learn the truth, and learn the appropriate factual responses.
Here are the worst allegations from the GOP (and Clinton Mafia operatives like David Brock) that I can find:
Bernie Sanders is a “socialist.” He’s a “half-communist”. Well, no, he’s a democratic socialist (or a social democrat) — big difference. Democracy matters to some of us. Doesn’t it, to you? If so, then you know the difference. If not, then you’re un-American. Btw, so was Tony Blair a social democrat. *shrug* So is all of Scandanavia. So were leaders of the UK, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries we might actually learn a thing or two from, as well as teaching them. Better wealth equalities, more affordable healthcare, longer lives, lower infant mortality, less gender pay discrimination, faster internet connections, more reliable safety net, less depression/anxiety, less dire poverty, less racism, better environmental laws, etc.
He’s a Jew. Yep, so was Jesus. (Both had better career callings than carpentry, it appears.)
He’s a communist. Extreme far-left. Not really. He’s maintained a progressive position while the Koch Brothers and Wall Street have pushed the country to the right. He made a film about American Socialist leader and presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs. He’s a pragmatic progressive, in the Vermont Yankee tradition. Many US states had not voted for a far-right candidate, until they did for Reagan 36 years ago. That generation’s tide has long since turned, in American politics, as evidenced by the enthusiastic support for Sanders.
He’s an atheist. He’s a Godless Communist. No, he’s not. He does put America first, above his religion, unlike Ted Cruz. (Not a communist at all.)
He’s divorced. Yep, as was Reagan. (And *shudder* Trump.) His former-wife considers him a friend and supports Bernie for President.
He fathered a son out-of-wedlock. Yep — Levi Mott, now age 47. Levi supports Bernie for President, as does his mother (Susan Mott), and he worked on Bernie’s 2006 Senate campaign. (Anyone who calls Levi “illegitimate” or worse should be sent back to the century in which those disparaging terms originated.)
Bernie was on the dole. Yep, for a few months in the 1970s, in between jobs. He understands from experience what it is like to be poor, to be worried about putting food on the table for your family. He has worked tirelessly ever since as a public servant, to help others. His net worth today is less than $500,000 — mostly in his home. He is the voice of America, not the voice of the 1%.
He supported an openly gay, socialist man for President in 1980, David McReynolds. (1980!) A member of the Social Democrats USA party. (I’ve read this, not sure or to what extent. So what, in any case?)
He fantasizes and writes about raping women. No, this is old by now. He wrote an embarrassing one-page article in 1972 that attacked gender stereotypes of the 1970s. He’s since said that it “looks as stupid today as it was then.” He has a long record of supporting women's rights, equal pay, nondiscrimination, safety, childcare, parental leave, etc.
He honeymooned in the USSR. No, although both he and his wife Jane joked about it because they went on an official trip there the day after their wedding, along with 10 other US officials, to make ties with Burlington’s sister-city.
He loves Cuba and Nicaragua, he’s a communist. No, although he visited the Mayor of Havana and the President of Nicaragua. He was ahead of the curve in supporting normalization of relations with them (rather than seeking to assassinate their leaders or support their violent overthrow, as previous US Presidents had done). But Bernie is an avowed democrat.
He wants a revolution — he's dangerous. Yes and no; he wants a political revolution against the vested interests and partisan roadblocks that have held back progress in America. But his dangerous avuncular hair-do notwithstanding, Bernie does not support violence as a solution to political challenges.
He won’t be respected, he’s unwilling to use military force, he is a conscientious objector, he won’t defend us. Not true. He was a conscientious objector [h/t lordcropper] and pacifist in the 1960s, over the Vietnam War. He isn't, now. He has no hesitation in ordering the use of military force if needed. He supports the judicious use of force when it is needed to advance America’s interests. He did vote against the disastrous US invasion of Iraq in 2003, unlike Hillary Clinton (who voted in favor of it). He will pressure local countries to solve their own problems, rather than putting American lives at risk.
He’s not a Democrat. He is running as a Democrat, on the Democratic Party ticket. He served as Mayor, Congressman, and Senator as an Independent — he is not beholden to the DLC party establishment, he appeals to Independent voters (which are a bigger bloc than either Dems or Republicans), and he knows how to bridge party lines on issues that warrant it — like protecting our military veterans when they return home. [h/t Markkossack:] While he has not been a (D) by name, the Dems felt that he was good enough to chair the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee the last time they had a majority in the Senate, and he is now the Ranking Member (#1 Dem ) of the Senate Budget Committee, as the (D)s now are in the minority in the Senate.
He’ll be bad for the economy, he’s opposed to business, he's Socialist. Nope, wrong again. Look at what Bernie did for Burlington as Mayor. He supports economic growth that benefits everyone, not just the 1%. (We’ve been through that democratic socialist thing already, haven't we? You remember, Tony Blair? Thought so.) He is opposed to Wall Street titans controlling America, as Goldman Sachs and ilk have done, with disastrous results (which we are still digging out of). He supports a living wage, free education in public schools, small- and medium- businesses, entrepreneurship, innovation, and job growth.
He’ll raise your taxes! [h/t CwV] Only if you make more than [$1 million dollars]/year net income. [I need to look up the exact number, don’t have it handy, gotta run soon, will update.]
He’s old. Oldest nominee in 228 years. He’ll be 80 years after his first term. 6 years older than Reagan was. Do you want someone nearly 80 years old answering the red phone at 3 am in a national emergency? [h/t to pasuburbdem1] This is funny, because in 2007 Hillary made the mistake of choosing video footage of Casey Knowles in her infamous “3AM red phone" ad. Casey supported Barack Obama (and now supports Bernie Sanders). Bernie's physical and mental health has been certified by his doctor, he is releasing his medical records this week. Even Hillary's Chair, John Podesta, had to chide David Brock on this:
✔ @johnpodesta
.@davidbrockdc: Chill out. We're fighting on who would make a better President, not on who has a better Physical Fitness Test.
What else ‘ya got?