Bernie Sanders a Target of Ads by Republican Donor

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NY Times

A “super PAC” founded by the former TD Ameritrade executive Joe Ricketts is spending more than $600,000 on a television ad in Iowa lashing Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont as “too liberal” in the final days of his close race against Hillary Clinton in the state’s caucuses.

The spot, being aired by the ESA Fund, describes Mr. Sanders’s policy positions on a range of issues, such as tuition-free college and single-payer health care, saying that it amounts to a flood of new government spending. There will be tax increases on Wall Street, big businesses and the “super-rich,” the ad goes on to say.

The spot is expected to be backed by $600,000 in spending on television ads, and there will be additional expenditures on radio and digital advertising.

Mr. Ricketts has been a major Republican donor this cycle in the presidential race, but with the ad, his group is injecting itself into the Democratic nominating contest.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/25/bernie-sanders-a-target-of-ads-by-republican-donor/?_r=0

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Ricketts is a scared billionaire that owns the Chicago Cubs. His son is the Gov. of Nebraska. Here is how the Ricketts family treated the workers over a few $.

Cubs Cut Workers' Hours To Avoid O-Care Mandate, Then Disaster Struck: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chicago-cubs-field-workers-obamacare-tarp-disaster

[Health Wagon]

1. That's going to go over well with Iowans.

sarcasm intended.

[JonLeibowitz]

2. Applying the recent camp weathervane memes, this means Hillary is easier to beat in the general.

[mdbl]

34. or more easily manipulated by the rich if she wins

take your pick.

[kcjohn1]

3. Horrible Ad

Because it actually helps Bernie. Free college, healthcare is supposed to scare liberal voters?

These billionaires aren't too bright.

[busterbrown]

4. One thing which does not go hand in hand with

money... Brains..

[JudyM]

8. That's what I thought. Like most Iowans are going to be more concerned about increasing wall st

taxes than their kids going to college? This guy must live in an echo chamber.

[Jarqui]

20. That was my reaction

to me, it's a positive ad for Bernie

[certainot]

21. yes, clearly this ad helps bernie, trying to beat hillary

is he doing this for rove and co?

[Bernin]

28. Where I come from.

We say they have more dollars than sense.

[dsc]

35. he knows what he is doing

he is aikening him

[madokie]

37. I thought it was a great ad for Bernie

rather than what they intended it to be.

Getting rid of the insurance companies who are robbing us blind and replace that with a small tax increase sounds like a winner to me. I know they didn't mention getting rid of the insurance companies premiums or co-pays but most of us can see that for ourselves as a result of a healthcare for all, government run healthcare for all like Medicare.

Bernie is our next President. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so against gambling because if that was the case I'd be taking bets on this.

[SamKnause]

5. That is what the majority of Americans support and want.

I don't think anyone feels sorry for Wall Street.

I think this ad will help, not hurt Bernie.

[certainot]

23. yep, clearly this i an anti hillary ad

the real purpose here is to try to defeat hillary and this guy is probably doing it for rove etc..

[mckara]

6. Great Ad for Bernie!

That should backfire on the stupid Republicans

[TexasBushwhacker]

41. I was thinking the same thing

I'd like to send Richie Rich a thank you card. Seriously, he just proves that just because you're rich doesn't mean you're smart.

[fbc]

7. Bernie said he wouldn't use super PACs!

[dorkzilla]

44. He didn't.

[SoapBox]

9. Pukes, Baggers and DINO's...

Are shitting their pants over Bernie and his Yooge support.

[Kip Humphrey]

10. There will be tax increases on Wall Street, big businesses and the “super-rich,” - Sign me up!

[jillan]

11. Lol I think that is a pro-Bernie ad.

[AgingAmerican]

12. Same talking points Hillary supporters use

Are coming from Billionaires too? Hmmmm....

[rpannier]

13. I think he had a sit down with the commissioner in 2012

Reminding him that his public comments about Obama needed to stop.
Partially because it was a bad reflection on the league and partially because he owns a team in Chicago

[Beowulf]

14. Gonna be difficult to root for the Cubs this year.

eom

[ieoeja]

48. Joe Ricketts does *not* own the Chicago Cubs. His son, Thomas, does.

Privately his son probably agrees with him. But publicly he has asked his dad to cut it out. He can not, of course, force his dad to do so as we see here.

[californiabernin]

15. I don't understand, why are Republicans and Wall Street funding ads against Bernie???

I mean, he has no chance of every becoming president, right? He will lose to whoever the Republican nominee is right?

I don't get. Please, someone, explain this!

[certainot]

24. clearly this is a pro bernie ad to attack hillary

[safeinOhio]

16. Telling Democrats someone is too liberal

is like telling republicans someone is to conservative.

[Kalidurga]

17. Bernie has amazing powers.

How did he get a billionaire to pay for and run an ad for him?

[JDPriestly]

18. Well, the ad should help Bernie. Maybe someone plwyed a trick on this guy.

[certainot]

27. this is to attack hillary - maybe rove or someone like that

arranged it to help bernie

[UpInArms]

19. Is he saying that like it's a bad thing?

[SunSeeker]

22. It's obvious he's trying to copy Claire McCaskill's strategy with Todd Akin.

The Clinton campaign, mindful of moving fast in the final days of the caucuses, quickly seized on news of the Ricketts ad to point out the similarities to the strategy deployed by Ms. McCaskill. In that race, Mr. Akin was used by Democrats as a poster boy for extreme views. Ms. McCaskill, who endorsed Barack Obama in his 2008 presidential primary fight with Mrs. Clinton but who has since become an ardent Clinton supporter, took to Twitter to highlight that point.

“I see you Joe Ricketts. And I know exactly what you’re up to. #ToddAkin Don’t fall for it Iowa Dems,” she wrote.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/25/bernie-sanders-a-target-of-ads-by-republican-donor/?_r=0

[scottie55]

25. Dumbass

"tax increases on Wall Street, big businesses and the “super-rich,”"

So this is a Bernie ad right?

Taxing Wall Street bad right?

Taxing big business bad right?

Taxing the super rich bad right?

How did this guy make his money?

Smoking crack?

[scottie55]

26. Entering Crazy Town

They are scared sh*tless.

[Truprogressive85]

29. HAHA

Is this the best the financiers of the GOP can do ?

[Bernin]

30. I have had

right wingers tell me they are not opposed to Bernie. And, a few said they would even vote for him considering the choices they have on the R side.

This is confirmation that the GOP realizes Bernie will win the nomination.

[Nyan]

31. That's pretty lightweight for a negative ad

I'm guessing they'll escalate to crazy and bat-shit crazy as soon as Bernie wins the nomination.

[jhart3333]

32. Gives you an idea who they want to run against(hint: not Bernie)

[Kall]

33. Clearly, since the Republicans are going after Bernie...

... this means they think the most difficult Democrat to beat in a general election would be - wait, abort, abort.

[Betty Karlson]

36. So much for the argument that the GOP is only scared of Clinton

and therefore not running ads against Sanders...

[Vinca]

38. They're so afraid they might have to lose a couple of bucks so everyone can be educated,

get healthcare and live off something other than cat food in their golden years. Sickening.

[sinkingfeeling]

39. Wish I had the money to make a counter ad. Would have

clips of every one of the GOP idiots clamoring for war against Iran and/or Syria and how they want to have an even a bigger military. Say something about the percentage of that debt that is from our ill-fated wars and the $trillions the Pentagon has 'misplaced". Then ask if they're too liberal with your money in the quest for world control.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

40. Funny the whole commercial paints a great picture of what Bernie wants to do

Then you get the punch line. I think a lot of people will be put off, saying these ideas are "too liberal". probably wiped the smile of most peoples faces. I don't think this helps Hillary in any way. I actually think it works in Bernie's favor.

Telling liberals they are too liberal is not a winning slogan.

[redwitch]

42. Great ad for Bernie!

Laughing here, do they really think this will hurt him????

[mikehiggins]

43. I love this ad BUT I do agree its a slam at HRC, not an attack on Bernie

Even if you allow for my weird politics (hey, I'm I retired electrician) you should be able to see that this ad is aimed at BOOSTING BERNIE, not knocking him down. The damn thing is like saying "Sanders loves kittens and little kids" (which is probably true). Labeling him a "liberal" in Iowa is like throwing prime rib to hungry tigers. A lot of Iowans probably think Bernie is too right wing, judging by the polls. Even the images included put the best possible slant of the campaigns goals. And taxing the rich? Yeah, that one is real unpopular. If I saw this without knowing the background I'd be congratulating Bernie's ad team on another winner.

Please don't discount this as really being an shot at HRC. However, it is legitimate to think that it does lay out just what Sanders is saying in this campaign. So thanks for the help, Mr. Ricketts. And I'm sure there were aristocrats who supported the French Revolution.

How did that work out for them?

[Gregorian]

45. Hey, thanks a lot!

If you run on truth, principals, morals, and have nothing to fear or hide, then they can't tarnish you.

[Feeling the Bern]

46. That was one of the WORST ads ever

Don't vote for Bernie, he wants to tax the rich. WTF?

Don't vote for Bernie. He wants to give you health care. WTH?

Don't vote for Bernie. He wants you to go to college for free. WTMFM????

Don't vote for Bernie. Your 1% owners demand it.

Wow, this ad is so much bad, and it's not The Onion.

[PWPippin]

47. The Republicans can't be THAT stupid!

I think the ad is intended to help Bernie because they think he'll be an easier candidate to beat. Never underestimate Bernie!