It's not your everyday Americans at Bernie Sanders' kickoff rally.

[Agschmid]

Last edited Tue May 26, 2015, 11:38 PM - Edit history (2)

The long-shot presidential contender launches campaign from the People’s Republic of Burlington.

[center][/center]

BURLINGTON, Vt. — These weren’t your everyday Americans who came out to support Bernie Sanders on Tuesday.
The self-described democratic socialist kicked off his long-shot run for the White House in his adopted hometown of Burlington, Vt., a lakeside city full of characters who might not have passed the pre-selection process for Hillary Clinton’s tour of roundtables.

And while Sanders, the state’s independent U.S. senator, may be way behind in national presidential polls, in Burlington, he’s a local hero.
In the afternoon, a “people’s assembly” of hundreds of Sanders supporters gathered in City Hall Park, where dreadlocked guitarists played in the morning and patrons browsed at the nearby Hempest, which advertises itself as the largest organic hemp product store in the world.

The People for Bernie rally was organized by several former Occupy Wall Street activists, including Ready for Warren co-founder Charles Lenchner. Activists wearing shirts denouncing fast-track trade authority, fracking and George W. Bush held hands in a circle and used the “people’s mic,” a call-and-response tactic used in the Occupy protests to help amplify people’s voices in the circle.

“Everyone who’s afraid of the word socialism, take a step in!” Lenchner said, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd when no one did.

“There is nothing mainstream about our movement,” said People for Bernie co-founder Winnie Wong.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/its-not-your-everyday-americans-at-bernie-sanders-kickoff-rally-118294.html#ixzz3bIj18KI7

[TM99]

1. Wow, this is very disingenuous

and I sometimes have a hard time believing you when you say you support Sanders.

First of all, there were thousands in attendance. The passage you are quoting discusses a separate "people's assembly" of only a fraction of those that were in attendance at the kick-off event.

Second of all, not being 'mainstream' hardly means not being everyday Americans. OWS was and is men and women of all colors, creeds, orientations, and affluence who agree that the corporate control of our government harms the majority of Americans.

Lastly, the far right Tea Party Republicans will attack his 'socialism' but hell they believe already that all Democrats are socialist even when they are not.

This was a shitty Politico article that focused on one small faction of his supporters with a sensationally slanted & biased title that does not speak at all to the rest of the piece or the full extent of the event.

[TheNutcracker]

2. +1000 Every rally pic of Bernie shows the faces of America. Every one!

[ladjf]

28. I saw the tape this morning. That was a huge crowd of many thousand. nt

[Agschmid]

4. Here are some actual quotes from the article, since you seem to think it was negative about Bernie.

Thousands attended Sanders’ rally Tuesday, with attendees spilling out along the park as the venue filled to capacity on a sunny and hot early evening.

He decried the influence of money on politics and the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, vowed to take major action on climate change and infrastructure, voiced his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal and called income inequality “the great moral issue of our time.” He echoed his support for raising the minimum wage and called on corporations to pay more taxes.

“As mayor, I worked with the people of Burlington to help turn this waterfront into the beautiful people-oriented public space it is today,” he said. “To those who say we cannot restore the dream, I say just look where we are standing.”

He’s also begun to creep up in the polls, separating himself from likely Democratic candidates former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

[hr]

Not sure how you saw that article as negative? Also I think him not being part of the mainstream is a great thing, and something most if not all his supporters find admirable.

Now when it comes to the People's Assembly portion of the article what the heck is wrong with that? I lived in Burlington VT and participated in several events and rallies just like it for several progressive candidates including David Zuckerman, Chris Pearson, and Kesha Ram. So for you to say that was something negative also just isn't true. I think it was kind of cool there was a grass roots rally as well, such a Burlington, VT moment. Remember this is the city which occasionally just has parades up an down Church St. and every Friday there were war protesters at the top of Church St. (heck probably even some people from here!).

The article is actually pretty good and pretty positive without much bias, I suggest re-reading it.

Believe me or not that's your call but know that sometimes I don't participate in group think, sorry.

[TM99]

6. I said I had some misgivings and

it has nothing to do with group think. It just has to do with how you choose to communicate.

Why didn't you lead with those quotes? Why didn't you counter the biased title as you are doing now?

And finally why didn't you add what you do now to your initial OP?

[Agschmid]

8. I posted the first 4 paragraphs...

I always post those paragraphs, you can't post anymore due to copyright infringement. And I assume (apparently incorrectly see down thread) that people actually read the article before they comment, so I don't usually parse it out.

I usually don't add much text to my OP's I prefer to respond in the thread.

I know it's asking a lot but trust me I am a supporter. And yes I do communicate "directly" and "abruptly" it's just my style. Sorry if that rubs you the wrong way.

ETA: I also don't see the title as biased but that's just my interpretation... Heck there is a guy that rides around Burlington on a bike with his orange tabby cat sitting on his lap and holding onto the handle bars. I don't really see him as a "everyday american" but that's what makes Burlington and VT special, and endearing.



Right outside the liquor store... oh Pearl St. beverage, the good ole' days.

[TM99]

9. OK.

Thanks for clarifying.

I would like to hear more commentary from you having lived there than just an article (which I did read) that has a mixed feel to it.

[Agschmid]

10. I'll try to do that in the future.

For now, goodnight.

[TM99]

11. That would be nice.

Thanks.

[B Calm]

22. Wow, now that's a cool cat! Hell my cat gets sick riding in a car.

[sabrina 1]

15. Actually he is very mainstream according to recent polls showing just how much his views on nearly

all of the most important issues correspond to those of a majority of Americans.

What exactly does 'not mainstream' mean?

I don't consider the Millionaires Club known as the US Congress to be mainstream at all.

They live in a bubble where the only real working class people they meet or care to meet, are the maids and cooks who work for them.

I know, I spent nine years watching how our politicians live and those who fund them.

Very few of them would deign to be caught sitting down for coffee with any of the people who worked for them, or who worked to help make their political events happen.

So can you explain 'mainstream' to me because having seen the inside of our political system I see Bernie as one of the few who represent us, who is actually representative of mainstream America.

[Agschmid]

17. To me it's means...

- Different
- Special
- Enegergizing

So can you explain 'mainstream' to me because having seen the inside of our political system I see Bernie as one of the few who represent us, who is actually representative of mainstream America.

I think you also defined it well, if "most" politicians don't represent us but Bernie does that makes him not necessarily mainstream.

Since when did mainstream become a dirty word?

[sabrina 1]

30. But he's not different. Well, he's different from his not-so-mainstream Corporate funded colleagues.

But when it comes to the people, he is much more like them than any other candidate in this race right now. And that is what resonates with people, once they get to know him.

The only obstacle to him winning right now, is name recognition. And his supporters are doing a very good job of changing that. They are using all the tools available to them to make sure his name will be a household name by the time the primaries roll around.

Mainstream generally means 'ordinary people', not the millionaire class, working people, minorities, the people who make up the majority.

To be different from the average Politician in our current system is what makes him mainstream.

[clarice]

32. "Mainstream ??????!!!!!!! "nt

[madokie]

25. Spot on

[WorseBeforeBetter]

3. Oooh, "dreadlocked guitarists" and hemp.

I participated in Occupy Raleigh and lemme tell ya, we all were about as mainstream as they come... all ages, colors, genders, orientations, collars, etc.

Such manipulative bullshit from Politico, per usual.

[appalachiablue]

12. +1. Wait a minute, it was in the People's Republic of Burlington? I thought it was in the Conch

Republic, in Key West. Far out man-

[WorseBeforeBetter]

14. I wonder if the article mentions bongos.

I wonder, but not enough to click on the link. CorporateMedia and Sensible Centrist crap blogs *loved* them some bongos.

[appalachiablue]

16. I noticed that, Politico left out the bongo drums AND the pagan ceremonies, and groovey poetry

readings in honor of Kerouac, Ginsberg and Leary. Also the magnificent communist workers May pole rally, and the kibbutz daycare for pit bulls, lizards, boas and kids. Wow, they missed a lot. But that guy in the photo who rides around with a yellow cat on his bike? Whoa, scary--that's not unconventional, or bohemian, that's a cult worshipper...

[Agschmid]

21. Part of what makes Burlington special...

[appalachiablue]

35. Yeah sure you're the expert-

[WorseBeforeBetter]

31. All-American Dorothy rode around with a Toto on her bike...

a dude with an orange kitty is just as All-American. I say that as a mother to an orange kitty. I live in a part of NC where riding the streets would be a death-wish, but the Greenway? Maybe!

[appalachiablue]

34. Yes bicycle riding is, well, for foreigners, strange people-the 'socialists' that live in Europe

and bear berets, are lazy, don't work like 'mericans. My great grandfather rode a bicycle to his job at an ironworks in PA at least 10 miles a day into his 70s. ~ Bet your orange kitty is a sweetie! Some really crazy OPs are popping up, so bizarre.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

38. Cool. My family is from PA, too.

Roofers, gas station owners, bakers, electricians. Not very glamorous, but they forged (nod to your great-grandfather!) a good life.

Yep, crazy. Disgustingly Rovian, even. And the indignant "how dare you tell me what I meant" game afterwards is always entertaining...

[WorseBeforeBetter]

39. Charles P. Pierce weighs in.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6734476

In case you hadn't seen it!

[beaglelover]

5. If Occupy Wall Street people are involved, Bernie is doomed! LOL

[Agschmid]

7. They aren't really...

Does anyone read the damn article?

[sabrina 1]

33. They are involved, all over the country, and they are among the best organizers in the country right

now.

Their movement was so successful, they changed the conversation in this country and helped pave the way for a Candidate like Bernie. Very powerful and ongoing movement. Way more successful than even they expected, spreading like wildfire across this country and the world, when it was only supposed to be in one city and for less than one week.

Amazing the impact they have had.

You're a bit out of touch it seems.

Any candidate would give half their Corporate Funding to have OWS endorse them.

Bernie represents the People, not Corporations.

[appalachiablue]

36. Totally, OWS has done a lot, student debt jubilees, organizing with the Third Annual March

against Monsanto worldwide last Saturday. Some people are really uniformed, parochial.

[Bonobo]

13. Great headline. Not! And I love what you chose to put in bold!

“There is nothing mainstream about our movement,”

Indeed. What would Sanders do without supporters such as yourself.

[Agschmid]

18. At least I'm not smacking people into submission...

Just saying.

[cali]

19. I read this piece. thought it was contemptuous, biased and dismissive

as well as inaccurate. Burlington has its share of characters but they are the minority. The point of this article is obvious; to marginalize Bernie. I find it difficult to believe you can't recognize that. It's as in your face as it could possibly be.

[Agschmid]

20. I don't read everything with contempt.

I don't see how an article can marginalize someone, you really think Bernie is going to lay down because Politico told him too?

Wow, I've never posted an OP with such a bad reaction to the source. I guess now I know what it feels like.

Yesterday I was just excited to see the amount of coverage for him.

I've lived in VT it's a special place, I've participated in some of the rally's like the one described in (3 paragraphs only) of the article... It's fun, it's different, and there is nothing wrong with it.

What the heck...

[cali]

23. it's not about reading it with contempt. it's that it was written with contempt

And sure the media can marginalize a candidate.

This wasn't some hippie festival. It was the kickoff to a campaign of serious ideas.

[Agschmid]

24. Yes and 3 paragraphs were devoted to the "hippie festival"

The entire rest of the article was about the launch of the campaign and how Bernie can do good things for America.

Wow, interpretation is everything huh?

[appalachiablue]

37. +1 Quite true-

[BeyondGeography]

26. Harmless article, but the equivalent is never written about Tea Party gatherings

by the likes of Politico. Certainly not as a morning-after analysis of a candidacy announcement.

It's the post-60s construct that endures. The Right turned elements of the Left into freaks in the eyes of the public and the media still latches on. Meantime, a real freak show evolved on the Right, culminating in the most visible way with Palin's VP nomination, which was a window into the underlying social mayhem and political nihilism of the family values crowd and the GOP. The media whiffed. Hippy punching, even if it's just passive aggressive like the version here, is their default setting. It's what the owners who these journalists work for are more comfortable with at the end of the day.

[LuvNewcastle]

29. +1000 n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

27. It's ironic because we sat here 3,000 miles away from Burlington remarking how much the crowd

the music and the general feel of things reminded us of home.

[Cheese Sandwich]

40. ok