Cuomo to Sanders: "Have some water. It's free."

[thesquanderer]

or something like that. Right before one of the commercial breaks at the town hall tonight. Is it just me, or was that a tone deaf joke to make to the first serious Jewish candidate?

[nc4bo]

1. He thought he was clever but came off looking like an ass.

I believe he said it twice.

What a moron.

[Joe the Revelator]

2. ehhhhhhhh....I'm Jewish....I don't take offense to that.

[Barack_America]

10. It's not whether you take it, but whether he intended it...

...and I rather he think he did.

I can't think of another reason to make such a comment.

[Joe the Revelator]

11. I can think of a lot, but then again, i don't immediatly think Jew=Cheap

and it kind of worries me that some of you guys do.

Reasons he could have said it that have NOTHING to do with Bernie being Jewish:

*Socialist
*Democrat
*Free Stuff
*No super pac
*Small donors

Not everything is a boogeyman.

[Barack_America]

18. I don't know, maybe I just don't get it....

...but when I hear someone offer something and announce it's free, I only hear the suggestion of "cheapness", regardless of race, religion, etc.

So I'm left wondering why he insinuated Bernie is cheap. But, yeah, reading over your list again, I guess I can see other intentions, particularly a suggestion of poverty.

I'm still left only seeing this as an insult. I guess I should keep my day job.

[Joe the Revelator]

19. No worries...who knows...this election season is fucking weird.

[thesquanderer]

21. Good point about other readings of the "joke"...

...and really, it could even be some off-hand levity that had nothing to do with ANY Bernie-specific attribute.

OTOH, there is something historic about a Jewish candidacy... And it did seem to be on Cuomo's mind... he went back to the "what are your religious beliefs" question from the earlier CNN forum, seeming to be expressing some dissatisfaction with the perfectly good answer he gave then. He seemed to really want to pin him down on his religious beliefs, asking "Is there a higher power? What do you believe in?"

And if you had to think of one behavioral stereotype about Jews, almost certainly the most common one would be something having to do with money. I think in a situation like this, I would expect a moderator to out of their way to avoid anything that could be (mis-)interpreted in that way. You know, like you wouldn't expect him to make a joke about going out for fried chicken if there were a black candidate, even if there were other perfectly good rationales for the line having nothing to do with the candidate's color. You just don't go there, you know? That's what I mean about "tone deaf" which I think is actually a pretty generous reading of the line.

[George II]

30. Interesting that it is usually Sanders supporters who bring up the fact that Sanders is Jewish.....

....and then go on about Jewish stereotypes and ultimately interpreting (or projecting) that on others. In this case, all the brouhaha is a huge over-exaggeration, almost as if some want to find anything to "blame" on the fact that Sanders' candidacy is faltering.

By the way, not last night that I caught, but Clinton has been asked about her faith as well during this campaign.

[thesquanderer]

35. Yes, at the last CNN forum, both candidates were asked about their faith.

At this one, as I said, Cuomo actually referenced Sanders' earlier answer, apparently finding it not quite satisfactory. He was presumably disappointed that he got essentially the exact same answer again. I don't know why he didn't like it the first time, it seemed like a perfectly good answer to me.

I don't think any of this reflects poorly on Sanders, and this little exchange certainly has no impact whatsoever on his campaign, so no, I'm not looking for something to "blame." I was just taking note of what seemed like an awkward Cuomo moment.

[Art_from_Ark]

33. What would "small donors" or "no super PAC" have anything to do with that comment?

Or "Democrat", for that matter, since Cuomo himself is, ostensibly, a Democrat?

No, the remark was clearly meant as a veiled insult, whether it's in regard to Bernie being Jewish, or the meme about him wanting "free stuff".

[dimple]

3. What a douchebag

[bobbobbins01]

4. I took it more as a socialist jab, but maybe he scored a twofer.

Red scare and antisemitism all in one!

Nah, I think the guy is just an oblivious idiot. I doubt he's that clever.

[njlib]

5. Maybe

a reference to the "free stuff" meme?

[George II]

6. It was just you.

[thesquanderer]

23. please see post #21 (n/t)

[Vote2016]

7. Cuomo came off dickishly

[Jitter65]

29. Everyone knows he is in the tank for Sanders so his behavior is reflective of other BS supporters.

You are correct.

[Agschmid]

8. I caught it, and didn't like it...

But I don't think it has anything to do with his religion, and I think that's a stretch.

[thesquanderer]

24. please see post #21 (n/t)

[Agschmid]

27. You want me to see it, you need to link to it.

I browse on mobile, no way for me to know what post it it.

I'm skiing, I'll check back later.

[thesquanderer]

34. Sorry, here you go...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1326171

[TheLogicalSong]

9. That's one thing I like about Bernie.

He won't feign offense and lecture people on this stuff.

He knows the American people have bigger fish to fry than microaggressions.

[Dem2]

12. Sounded odd to me

but I never thought of his religion. The fact that you thought that is just as if not more odd to me than what the MC said.

[thesquanderer]

25. please see post #21 (n/t)

[jillan]

13. This is going around twitter as well. It was pathetic.

[azmom]

17. Good. I thought it was in very bad taste.

[Juicy_Bellows]

14. Anyway you slice it, it was petty.

Would you like some water? That's about all that needed to be said.

[JackRiddler]

15. It's pathetic but the "joke" was about "free stuff" a la Clintonian attacks.

You may be assuming too much to think that this dumb-dumb even gets the potential anti-Semitic undertone.

[grossproffit]

16. That was a socialist jab.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Sanders should have shot back "sure it is, for now"

[thesquanderer]

26. Good one! (n/t)

[UglyGreed]

22. Nice comment there

Cuomo

[Cheese Sandwich]

28. Cuomo hoped to score a laugh at the old man's expense.

Moderators at these debates aren't supposed to be comedians making fun of the candidates.

It was only very slightly demeaning but since the platform is so huge you multiply that slight jab by the number of eyeballs watching to count the true effect.

Cuomo should not host future forums like this.

Yes the joke did have a double meaning hitting from both sides at once. Sanders the cheap old jew, and Sanders the socialist who wants to tax everyone and give free water away to poor people.

You can't win.

[ladjf]

31. To me, Cuomo's free water remark was simply

condescending in general. nt

[restorefreedom]

32. cuomo is a putz. nt