Clinton hits Sanders over Planned Parenthood comments

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders traded jabs Tuesday over the decision by progressive groups like Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign to endorse Clinton.

In an interview on MSNBC on Tuesday night, Sanders responded to a question about Clinton's endorsements with a broad criticism of the "establishment," explaining, "What we are doing in this campaign -- and it just blows my mind every day, because I see it clearly, we're taking on not only Wall Street and the economic establishment, we're taking on the political establishment."

"And so I have friends and supporters in the Human Rights Fund, in Planned Parenthood," Sanders continued. "But you know what, Hillary Clinton has been around there for a very, very long time and some of these groups are, in fact, part of the establishment."

...snip...

"Really Senator Sanders?" Clinton tweeted, citing the Twitter handles for Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign. "How can you say that groups like @PPact and @HRC are part of the 'establishment' you're taking on? --H."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/20/politics/clinton-sanders-establishment-endorsements/

[Eric J in MN]

1. It was an honest answer, but bad politics.

Bernie Sanders should have said, "Planned Parenthood is a wonderful organization. I have a 100% rating from them. I wish they had endorsed me, but I look forward to working with them regardless."

[Sunlei]

44. yes, he should have.

[SunSeeker]

65. It was a dishonest answer and bad politics.

When I heard him say that on Rachel's show I was disgusted. It was wrong, period.

[Aerows]

73. I agree. Secretary Clinton opened a bad Pandora's box

and is reaping the consequences.

[lewebley3]

74. No She hasn't: Sanders ideas are unworkable

[Human101948]

76. Ah, the new party line...

No hope! No change!

[roguevalley]

81. she's lashing out everywhere instead of telling what she will do

she already bought the PP endorsements by hiring the leader's daughter. She should move onward and tell us why she wants to be president and what she can do for us. But since she has nothing but know your place, she is attacking. That will be FAIL.

She has no clue and her team is useless.

[SunSeeker]

82. How cute. No, Bernie was dishonest.

He knows damn well PP is not "the establishment." But he only seems to have one argument for things that pissed him off, so he makes it, regardless of who he's talking about.

[geek tragedy]

2. Dumb comment on his part re: PP. HRC is so obviously establishment

that Hillary erodes her own credibility by taking umbrage to that.

But, Bernie bragging that he's 'taking on' a Planned Parenthood is pretty close to the Nader "gonadal politics" threshold.

[PWPippin]

3. Planned Parenthood Political

Last edited Thu Jan 21, 2016, 07:34 PM - Edit history (1)

As soon as PP gave an endorsement, something they have rarely done in primaries in the past, they became political and could be seen as "part of the establishment". They should have stayed neutral, at least until later in the primaries, for the good of the organization, their need for donations and the political climate.

[brooklynite]

6. Planned Parenthood Action Fund has ALWAYS been political

Planned Parenthood, the service provider, is a legally separate entity and is prohibited by law from engaging in political activity.

[GeorgeGist]

10. A distinction without a difference.

[justiceischeap]

8. PP also has never felt the need to do so in the past

Planned Parenthood is under attack and if the GOP wins the Presidency, as an organization, they're done. They must wade in during the primaries because they're very viability depends on who wins the 2016 race. Obviously, they feel HRC will be a better champion for them as President than Bernie, even though he has an 100% rating from them.

[riversedge]

78. Times change. Live with it

[geek tragedy]

11. Do you think progressives should confront Planned Parenthood

as a general matter of principle?

[Thenewire]

58. Why does this surprise you?

Sanders has been pandering to Trump's racist followers for a while now. Those people don't deserve to have their voices heard, they are as much trash as their ideas.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. Because Hillary is an influence peddling power broker....

it is reasonable to assume that the leadership of the organizations endorsing her have been promised something in return. That is how he can say that the leadership of those organizations are part of the political establishment.

How is that not obvious?

[ChiTownDenny]

9. The more I hear Bernie Sanders,

the more I don't like him. It seems more clear by the day that he is a typical politician. I don't have a problem with typical politicians. I have a problem with politicians who claim not to be typical politicians.

[Motown_Johnny]

48. and your only diary entry is against Joe Biden.

Given the fact that you just don't seem to like anyone who isn't Hillary, why should anyone care what you think?

[ChiTownDenny]

51. It seems you cared enough to search me.

And guess what? I don't care!

[Motown_Johnny]

52. I always check into posters I don't know.

I don't like to take one comment out of context. It does seem like you are just someone who throws out negative comments and have nothing positive to say. You will never earn anyone's respect like that. Once you get out of junior high, you may want to do that. It could be a good idea to practice now.

[Motown_Johnny]

60. The Abuse Alert line near the bottom of the post.

You started this with your rude response to my post.

Good luck.

[ChiTownDenny]

61. Abuse alert sent.

Next on the agenda, block you!

[Motown_Johnny]

62. Please do, It is the "Ignore" function.

That way I won't have you posting rude responses to me anymore.

[Bradical79]

64. Results of jury 0-7 leave it

I always check into posters I don't know.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1319761

REASON FOR ALERT

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

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

The comment speaks for itself.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Jan 20, 2016, 12:56 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Thought of hiding it, but after a quick search Motown_Johnny's comment seems pretty accurate based on more recent posting. And ChiTownDenny did call him a liar in the next post. Chill. It was borderline for me, but ChiTownDenny did a pretty poor job of making his case.
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: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Ban the Alerter.

[Gothmog]

5. I stand with Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign

[Omaha Steve]

7. Have you ever stood outside a clinic as an escort and been spit on?

Have you had pro-lifers call your boss to fire you because your office was across the street from a clinic and you obviously supported the clinic? When right to life Kansas came to town did you form a human shield for the Carhart Clinic? I posted about that 4-5 years ago.

Marta and I have. Bernie's has a 100% rating from PP. Marta and I are standing behind Bernie and PP-HRC.

OS

[riversedge]

17. Curious as to why Bernie made that degrading statement about PP and Human

Rights Campaign. It blows my mind.

[Omaha Steve]

18. Wow

You went right over my have you been an escort EVER to saying being rated 100% is degrading.

OS

[riversedge]

22. I was asking a question about Sanders comments in the OP. If you have no

response, that is fine.

[sufrommich]

12. Sour grapes from the Sanders campaign.

Classy.

[elias49]

13. What a riot. Sure

go with the status quo candidate.

[left-of-center2012]

14. Why is this "Breaking News"?

Clinton attacks Bernie! That happens a dozen times a day.

[riversedge]

16. It is breaking news because Bernie attacked PP and Human Rights Campaign.

[left-of-center2012]

20. "Bernie attacked PP and Human Rights Campaign"

Just mundane daily verbiage.
Hardly "Stop the presses ~ BREAKING NEWS!"

[riversedge]

21. Perhaps in your buble it is but not in my progressive world that thinks highly of PP and

the Human rights campaign.

[azurnoir]

23. so pointing out that groups that have been around for a century like PP

are part of the political establishment is an attack? IMO it's rather expected after 100 years

[geek tragedy]

25. When Bernie runs as an "anti-establishment" candidate and then labels an advocacy group

as part of the establishment he's "taking on" he's adopting an explicitly hostile stance towards that group.

Okay, what's his plan for attacking Planned Parenthood. What does he hope to accomplish by confronting them?

This makes his campaign look like a bunch of anger looking around for a target to punch.

[azurnoir]

37. Hillary's not polling well I take it

[left-of-center2012]

45. Hillary's not polling well

CNN had some talk this morning that Hillary will "tip toe" out of New Hampshire,
conceding it to Bernie.
Then, when he wins there in a landslide, they'll say:
"Well, we didn't compete there."

[geek tragedy]

56. not lately, for sure. sending out Chelsea as the designated bullshit dispensor

sure seemed desperate

[emulatorloo]

54. I saw that interview w Bernie on Maddow. Actually shocked me, and nothing much does any more

Sounded to me like more Jeff Walker/Tad Devine strategery.

I hope to hell Sanders walks it back, the sooner the better.

[geek tragedy]

55. it's perfectly fair to judge candidates on their campaign advisors.

In 2008, Clinton chose to trust her campaign to Mark Penn. That by itself was enough to justify choosing someone else.

This was a self-inflicted wound. Did they really think they'd get more votes by portraying Planned Parenthood as an obstacle to reform?

[emulatorloo]

59. It is a red meat attack that obviously plays well, judging by some of the responses here.

So I'm sure that they'll have some success with it. But at what cost?

[riversedge]

15. #StandwithPP and Human Rights Campaign. Thanks Hillary.

[blackspade]

19. Sanders is spot on.

The leaders of these groups are part of the political establishment.
The truth hurts.

[geek tragedy]

24. So PP is now the enemy? nt

[blackspade]

26. Did I say that?

No.

[geek tragedy]

29. No, Bernie and his campaign did.

He said PP is part of the establishment he's confronting and challenging.

As they face defunding and persecution by governors and Congress. That's some serious establishment mojo.

At least they weren't quite as nasty with PP as they were with HRC.

[navarth]

31. geek tragedy

I have a question. Why do you use the Bernie icon?

[geek tragedy]

33. I adopted it a while ago, and I really don't like Clinton and what she represents.

But Sanders has not impressed me of late, I will admit that. He's still my preference and the person I'll be voting for. But I'm not one of the "Bernie is the messiah" types that are so common here.

[navarth]

34. so...constructive criticism?

coulda fooled me from this thread.

[geek tragedy]

36. it's called independent thinking

you're probably not used to seeing it in primary discussions

[navarth]

40. I hope that wasn't meant as an insult

that would be disappointing. I have no problem with independent thought; in fact I celebrate it.

What I'm seeing from you in this thread implies more than just independent thought, or so it seems to me. You're certainly being critical. I was just wondering if it's meant to be constructive.

IMO Bernie was referring to the governing bodies of these organizations, and speaking to the fact that the rank-and-file was not involved in the decisions. In other words: establishment. Perhaps he was impolitic; but he was right. Wasn't he?

[geek tragedy]

42. HRC is definitely establishment, it's kind of funny

to see people claim it isn't.

http://www.hrc.org/hrc-story/corporate-partners

As far as PP is concerned, it's under siege. From Congress, from governors, from the media, from domestic terrorists.

It's a service organization, and one whose mission and existence are perpetually threatened by the political establishment.

It was major league sour grapes to talk about PP as if it's the evil establishment that needs to be overthrown.

Bernie's not entitled to everyone's support.

[navarth]

46. okay thanks

I only disagree with the characterization that says Bernie was talking about PP when he was clearly talking about their leadership and the lack of input from the rank and file.

It was, as I already said, impolitic for him to put it that way. Meh, it's not enough to make me not vote for him. After all, we're not supporting him because he's well-rehearsed. But your points are well taken.

[geek tragedy]

50. If I wanted well-rehearsed, there are two other candidates available, and they're

not terribly compelling.

[navarth]

63. quite so.

[smirkymonkey]

38. I'm kind of leaning that way too with him. He's still my first choice,

but I no longer think he's the perfect candidate.

[blackspade]

39. You're reading more into the statement that is there.

Last edited Wed Jan 20, 2016, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

The leadership of both organizations are definitely part of the Democratic political establishment.

[geek tragedy]

43. funny how he wasn't bashing them as part of the evil establishment

until he failed to get their endorsement

[blackspade]

47. Their leadership entered the fray.

Last edited Wed Jan 20, 2016, 03:13 PM - Edit history (1)

When they erroneously (IMO) chose to take sides in the primary.
That's politics. When you throw some iron in the fire you might get hit by a spark or two.

[geek tragedy]

53. if Bernie thinks running against Planned Parenthood is going to help him with

women . . .

[blackspade]

69. He is not running against Planned Parenthood.

His point was clear even if you didn't get it.

[redstateblues]

77. How long has Bernie been in Congress?

24 years? Mr Outsider

[blackspade]

80. Snort.

[bkkyosemite]

27. Bernie was trying not to be too blunt but he

was saying the establishment of those groups who endorsed HRC are the ones that endorsed her not the members. Same with the unions that endorsed her. The members are not being asked or involved.

[bkkyosemite]

28. This is off topic but can someone please answer my question?

why in the reply title sometimes does my typing become dim?

[navarth]

30. I've seen that too.

Have no idea why, I just figured it was inadvertent software-related stuff. I dunno, never gave it much thought.

[bkkyosemite]

32. Thanks for your answer

sometimes it happens other times it does not...

[joshcryer]

84. Sometimes people forget to close their markup.

Like when you do bold or italics, they forget the final closing bit.

[Nye Bevan]

35. It would have been much, much better for him to graciously praise both Planned Parenthood,

and Hillary's positions on women's rights. This is not an issue that he can beat Hillary on or even compete with her on, so he should have just taken the high road and said that while he admired Planned Parenthood and wished that they could have endorsed him, he understood why they endorsed Hillary. Whoever told him that it was a good idea to retaliate for the endorsement by attacking Planned Parenthood as "part of the establishment" should be fired from his campaign.

[lunamagica]

41. In theory, the fantasy Sanders would have said that

But here we have the reality of who he is.

I doubt that the women who have been helped by PP will take kindly to those comments.

[The Wielding Truth]

67. When I heard that comment I thought that he knew that those groups were also crippled by

establishment mismanagement and needed more help to free up the their rights. When both groups are being so marginalized they are not well established and not strong enough to push away the irrational political power coming from the RW.

That's what I thought.

[lunamagica]

68. That's what you though...it wasn't what he said

[hedgehog]

49. There are degrees of bing in the Establishment -

we have a sub-establishment within the Democratic Party; that is why endorsements from various interest groups matter. The real question here is, is Hillary the candidate of the Party Establishment (cough, debate schedule, cough) and if so, does that matter?

[Beacool]

66. He could have been more gracious.

'Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign both responded on twitter Wednesday morning to Sanders' criticism.

"We respect @SenSanders. Disappointed to be called 'establishment' as we fight like hell to protect women's health," Planned Parenthood wrote.'

Good for them.

[CTyankee]

83. As someone who used to work at Planned Parenthood here in CT, I understand Bernie's

point but I think it was awkward and misplaced (I am a Bernie supporter BTW).

PP has fought for women's reproductive rights for 100 years. Yes, they have major inroads of support in the Dem Party, which started at the same time the GOP went insane over reproductive rights of women.

PP wanted support from republicans as well as democrats but the door was slammed in their face by the new GOP.

Let's face it: both Dem and repub women go to PP for services. One in five women in this country seek PP's care at some point in their lives. And repubs want that care shut down and cut off. They might secretly believe that the ACA kinda took care of the reproductive care side of things so defunding PP wouldn't be "so bad." I know, how bad is that...

My guess is that Bernie is a huge supporter of PP but wanted it to not endorse HRC. I think he felt let down. However, I am convinced that his support for women's rights remains as strong as ever.

[Vinca]

70. Wow - she must be desperate for material to nitpick that comment.

[Bernin]

71. The everything is

misogynist meme that seem to be the crux HRC's campaign is not going to work out like camp weathervane hopes.

There are many women that have no respect for her whatsoever.

[Aerows]

72. Hillary Clinton's campaign is dying on the vine

Things like this just illustrate her desperation.

[riversedge]

79. It is Sanders who seems desperate. Yes. he disses a major woman's group and LGTB group.

[lsewpershad]

75. In this instance the leadership of these organizations

do not speak for me. IMO when he used the term he was referring to the "established" leadership,,, establishment class.

[mhatrw]

85. Kid Pro Quo nt