Full interview: Bernie Sanders, December 11 - Face the Nation

[Donkees]

Published on Dec 11, 2016
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, discusses President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks and what he think Trump needs to tell the American people. The full interview aired on the December 11, 2016 broadcast of "Face the Nation."

[Jean-Jacques Roussea]

1. Bernie needs to address his fans with something like

"I lost. Get over it. I wouldn't have done any better. If you protest voted because of me you're a fucking idiot and I hate you". Bernie people are still very irritating in the comments section of any articles you read about the election.

[Schema Thing]

5. He would have done better.

[jalan48]

2. Thank you Bernie for keeping the pressure on Trump.

Don't let the media/public forget about Trump's election promises.

[elleng]

3. Right. This will be important.

I hope we'll see the same from Senator Warren.

[TomCADem]

6. Really? Bernie Sounds Like He Is Trump's Ally Talking About Trump's Promises...

...Bernie seems to be cherry picking Trump's more liberal sounding statements and saying that Trump needs to keep his promises, so the interviewer than says, "Trump has not made the social security proposal, that was made by a Republican in the house...," then Bernie had to sort of pivot and try to argue that Trump's appointments sort of break his promises.

I am not really crazy about Bernie's effort to try to box Trump in as some sort of closet liberal, because no one believes it. I am not any illusion that Trump is for the working class, and Trump's voters are by and large doing better economically than non-Trump voters.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-mythology-of-trumps-working-class-support/

I think a lot of liberals refuse to acknowledge the degree to which Trump's victory was predicated on creating racial animus. Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."

Rather than try to build up Trump as some sort of closet liberal, which no one thinks he is, you have to call out how Trump is using racism to oppress not only minorities and immigrants, but whites and particularly working class whites. And, while using minorities as scapegoats, Trump will support huge tax cuts for the rich, and a roll back of protections for the working class, in order to pay for this corporate welfare.

I think Bernie is being way too cute in trying to box in Trump as some sort of champion of the working class. It leads to statements like, "So, you are still giving Trump the benefit of the doubt?," which means that Bernie's message is getting too muddled.

[jalan48]

8. I think pointing out the difference between what Trump promised and what he is doing is a good thing

Hold him accountable and continue to remind voters until the next election. I don't think a Trump voting senior who sees his/her Social Security cut will be voting for him again in 2020. I'm sure racism plays a part but hunger will play an even bigger part of a person's voting decision. Why knock Bernie for trying to do the right thing?

[TomCADem]

9. Is Bernie Going For Sarcasm or Does He Really Expect Trump...

...to somehow adhere to all of the more moderate statements he has made even though he has frequently contradicted himself.

Let me put it this way. If Trump had a consistent and coherent message that he would defend Social Security, then Bernie calling on Trump to adhere to his campaign promises would have more impact.

However, as the questions from the interviewer make clear, Bernie's sarcasm is muddling the message, because you have the questioner asking incredulously, "So, you are giving Trump the benefit of the doubt?" Then Bernie ends up having to clarify that he believes that Trump has lied by virtue of his appointments.

I think you have to be more upfront: "Trump said this, but Trump did that. Trump lied."

[jalan48]

11. Actually, Bernie's message is aimed at the voters.

He can't say "Trump did that" because Trump isn't President yet. Voter's have short memories and unless we constant remind them they will forget. Bernie is a great debater, he knows what he's doing.

[Donkees]

10. Re: "so the interviewer than says..."

so the interviewer than says, "Trump has not made the social security proposal, that was made by a Republican in the house...," then Bernie had to sort of pivot and try to argue that Trump's appointments sort of break his promises.

You omitted the interviewer saying in that excerpt, "...as you point out", because Bernie had just finished saying that he's hearing from people all across Vermont and across the country about these promises Trump made, and yet, "we're seeing Republicans in the Congress coming forward with devastating plans to cut social security and medicare, and I challenge Mr. Trump today tell the American people you're going to keep your campaign promises and tell the Republicans to back off."

Bernie is setting up Trump again with a challenge to either say "I stand by my word" or "I'm a liar"

[impeachtrumpquick]

4. I know of NO pathological Liars who keep their promises.

[Donkees]

7. Sanders: Trump Should Pledge to Veto Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid Cuts

Sunday, December 11, 2016

BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 11 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged President-elect Donald Trump Sunday to keep the campaign promises he made not to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Trump should pledge to veto legislation cutting those programs that Republicans in Congress plan to pass in the new session of Congress, Sanders said on the CBS News program Face the Nation.

“I challenge Mr. Trump today: tell the American people you are going to keep your campaign promises. Tell the Republicans to back off. No cuts for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and go forward with your campaign promise to lower the cost of prescription drugs,” Sanders said.

During the campaign, Trump said, “I am not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican. And I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid. Every other Republican is going to cut [them].” On May 7, 2015, Trump sent out a tweet stating: "I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid." On another occasion speaking at the New Hampshire Republican Leadership Summit, Trump scolded Republicans for trying to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

But as president-elect, Trump has picked Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who advocated steep cuts in Medicare and Social Security, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

“All that Mr. Trump has got to do today is tell his Republican colleagues in the House and the Senate, ‘Back off. It ain't going to go anywhere. I will veto any legislation that will cut Social Security because I promised the American people that I would not do that.’”

Sanders supports expanding Social Security benefits by lifting the cap on all income above $250,000 a year. “If we do that we can extend Social Security for 50 years. The top 1.5 percent of people in this country will pay more in taxes. That's the right thing to do.”

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-trump-should-pledge-to-veto-social-security-medicare-medicaid-cuts