Bernie is really not to be trifled with. Just because he doesn't run attack ads of his own doesn't mean he won't counterpunch - and he's got a mean left hook. (pun intended) - Reddit user Eternally65
I just received this e-mail from the Sanders campaign.
Christopher -
I am not going to start a Super PAC. I am not going to go around the country talking to millionaires and billionaires begging for contributions.
But those millionaires and billionaires are talking about us.
Just yesterday, a Super PAC supporting one of our primary opponents started running ads attacking our campaign.
Let me be very clear: the disastrous Citizens United decision that gave rise to the Super PACs embraced by our opponents undermines American democracy and moves us towards an oligarchy in which the economic and political life of the country is increasingly controlled by a handful of billionaire families.
Candidly, I did not think their attacks would happen so soon.
But know that their early involvement is a testament to the movement and momentum we're building together.
And we can also make them pay a price.
Stand up to the Super PAC attacking us by making a $100 contribution to our campaign today, and send a powerful message that you have had enough of the billionaire class buying elections.
Real change only comes about when a large number of ordinary Americans speak, vote, and get involved in the democratic process.
If we stand together, we will win.
If we are divided, the big-money interests win.
People should not underestimate us.
Bernie Sanders
Make your contribution to Bernie and make them pay!
Now join me below the squiggle to relay a story of another time an opponent of Bernie Sanders went negative... only to feel the BERN with with a 30% loss.
That politician, Republican Rich Tarrant, felt the BERN so bad that he has now left politics altogether and now regrets going negative on Bernie Sanders.
And now onto another example of so much pure and unadulterated BERN that I gasped it was so awesome. Really he's going to destroy the Republicans in the general election.
When he was running for Senate in 2006... his Republican opponent ran tons of negative ads.
After Bernie's response Bernie won 2 to 1 and the Republican opponent left politics and now publicly regretted the ads. (A reddit user directed me to this ultimate smack downs of smackdowns)
Let's go to the source... and prepare yourself. This BERNS so much you're going to feel the sting.
Congressman Bernie Sanders held one-on-one meetings with members of the media in an effort to counter what he calls a series of negative attack ads being aired by Republican Rich Tarrant.
Tarrant, the multi-millionaire co-founder of IDX in South Burlington, has spent nearly $5 million of his own personal wealth in the past year on radio and television advertising, largely to educate voters about his own Horatio Alger-inspired story of rising from relative poverty to being one of the state’s wealthiest individuals, co-founding a successful software company along the way.
However, in recent weeks Tarrant has begun to highlight more starkly what he claims to be a voting record that is in contrast to the popular mythology that Sanders is a champion of children, farmers and veterans, among others. He has also criticized Sanders’ voting record for being weak on beefing up U.S. security and terrorism.
In response, along with a 30-second television spot, Sanders has launched a section on his website — www.bernie.org— dubbed “The Truth.” On the page, he lays out aspects of his voting record that counters Tarrant’s claims.
“At least we hope to set the record straight,” said Sanders.
The television ad opens with, “I’m Bernie Sanders and I approved this message because dishonest ads should not be part of Vermont politics.”
Sanders then continues, “For months my opponent Rich Tarrant has been spending millions telling us about himself. Well, it’s his money and he can spend it if he wants to. But, he has no right to distort my record or what I stand for.”
Tarrant’s ad claims that Sanders voted against a bill creating the Amber Alert system nationally, and which also put in place harsher sentences for repeat child molesters.
Sanders admits he did vote against the bill, but says he supports the Amber Alert program and has written letters to that effect. He claims that he voted against the bill because the sentencing provisions were, in his opinion, unconstitutional. Only a handful of House members voted against the bill, 400 approved it.
“I do not apologize on a number of instances of being in a minority; I helped to lead the opposition to going to war in Iraq, but was a minority in voting against it, and I was in the minority in voting against the USA PATRIOT Act,” said Sanders. “I understand that defending the Constitution puts you in a small minority in Congress, but I don’t apologize for it.”
http://www.vermontguardian.com/...
BERN!!!! Ouch that hurt.
Sanders is accustomed to opponents of taking negative swipes at him and his record. Parke did it in a series of radio ads in the 2004 U.S. House race, as have past challengers, including Republican Peter Smith, whom he defeated in 1990, and Susan Sweetser in 1996. In that race, Sweetser hired a private investigator to look into Sanders’ past, including interviewing his former wife.
...
Sanders said past negative ads have backfired against his opponents, and he believes Vermonters will reject Tarrant’s approach.
So what happened?
Bernie won 65.4% to 32.3%
Attack Bernie Sanders at your own peril. You will FEEL THE BERN.
I think Reddit user Eternally65 said it the best:
Bernie is really not to be trifled with. Just because he doesn't run attack ads of his own doesn't mean he won't counterpunch - and he's got a mean left hook. (pun intended)
10:16 AM PT: UPDATE:
Great quote in the Hill article:
“I don’t think going after Bernie is the best strategy because what you’re doing is giving him bundles of oxygen. On the other hand, if they ignore him, he can generate more and more buzz.”
http://thehill.com/...