As soon as a candidate utters "...my friends!..." I know they're not my friend.

[Atman]

You heard McCain do it, with total insincerity. Hillary is doing it now. Have you ever heard Bernie call you "my friend?" We're not friends. I've never been to a barbecue with you, I don't know you. Quit with the pandering bullshit. I'm not "your friend." I'm looking for a strong individual who can represent the American people on our own soil, as well as abroad.

[Dem2]

1. Bernie's done it too

I think they all do at one point or another while campaigning

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

3. I only ever heard Bernie call Trump his friend... sarcastically.

[PeaceNikki]

8. Then you are not listening.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/10/the-transcript-of-bernie-sanderss-victory-speech/

My friends, we all know that we live in a dangerous and complex world. As president I will defend this nation, but I will do it responsibly. I voted against the war in Iraq, and that was the right vote. While we must be relentless in combating terrorist who would do us harm, we cannot, and should not be the policeman of the world. Nor should we bear the burden of fighting terrorism alone.

...

My friends, we must fix our broken immigration system that divides families, and create a path towards citizenship for hardworking people who are living in the shadows.

...

My friends, we must tell the billionaire class and the 1% that they cannot have it all at a time of massive wealth and income inequality, the wealthiest people and largest corporations in this country will start their paying their fair share of taxes.

My friends, I am the son of a Polish immigrant who came to this country speaking no English, and having no money. My father worked everyday of his life, and he never made a whole lot. My Mom and Dad, and brother and I grew up in a small three and a half room, rent controlled apartment in Brooklyn, New York. My Mother, who died at a young age, always dreamed of moving out of that apartment, getting a home of her own, but she never realized that dream.

That was just one speech. Four times. You hear what you want to hear.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. ANY chance to criticize Hillary...now with the word "friend"

Wow.

[Atman]

4. No, it's Hillary's harsh, canned bullshit. "My friends" is a total crock.

Pandering. Patronizing. Sorry if we disagree.

[samrock]

5. FDR used that line all the time...

and he was a friend to most of the poor in this country...

[PeaceNikki]

6. lol

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/10/the-transcript-of-bernie-sanderss-victory-speech/

My friends, we all know that we live in a dangerous and complex world. As president I will defend this nation, but I will do it responsibly. I voted against the war in Iraq, and that was the right vote. While we must be relentless in combating terrorist who would do us harm, we cannot, and should not be the policeman of the world. Nor should we bear the burden of fighting terrorism alone.

...

My friends, we must fix our broken immigration system that divides families, and create a path towards citizenship for hardworking people who are living in the shadows.

...

My friends, we must tell the billionaire class and the 1% that they cannot have it all at a time of massive wealth and income inequality, the wealthiest people and largest corporations in this country will start their paying their fair share of taxes.

My friends, I am the son of a Polish immigrant who came to this country speaking no English, and having no money. My father worked everyday of his life, and he never made a whole lot. My Mom and Dad, and brother and I grew up in a small three and a half room, rent controlled apartment in Brooklyn, New York. My Mother, who died at a young age, always dreamed of moving out of that apartment, getting a home of her own, but she never realized that dream.

That was just one speech. Four times. You hear what you want to hear.

[Atman]

9. Okay...I've been schooled.

I apparently have heard different things. I swear I have never heard Bernie say "my friends," but obviously he has. But today, when I heard Clinton using the term it instantly brought back McCain memories.

My bad. But hey...I'm willing to admit I'm wrong!

[PeaceNikki]

10. There are a ton of other examples

SANDERS: That is what he said. And this is the guy that Trump is going to be paying legal fees for? What that is essentially saying, my friends, is an incitement to violence. You go beating up somebody, it's OK, we'll pay the legal fees.
http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2016/03/13/full-rush-transcript-senator-bernie-sanders-cnn-tv-one-democratic-presidential-town-hall/

In my view, there is no justice when the fifteen, fifteen wealthiest people in this country in the last two years, two years, saw their wealth increased by 170 billion dollars. Two years. Wealthiest fifteen people in this country saw their wealth increase by 170 billion dollars. My friends, that is more wealth acquired in a two year period than is owned by the bottom 130 million Americans. And while the very very rich become much richer, millions of families have no savings at all. Nothing in the bank. And they worry every single day that if their car breaks down they can't get to work and if they can't get to work they loose their jobs and if they loose their jobs they don't feed their families. In the last two years, fifteen people saw 170 billion dollar increase in their wealth, 45 million Americans live in poverty. That in my view is not justice. That is a rigged economy designed by the wealthiest people in this country to benefit the wealthiest people in this country at the expense of everybody else.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/9/14/1421244/-Bernie-Sanders-Transcript-Of-His-Speech-At-Liberty-University

[LanternWaste]

7. I imagine one must dig deep to find offense by being called 'friend.'

I imagine one must dig deep into rationalizations to find offense by being called 'friend.' Having done so, I imagine it must be mentally convenient to predicate a denial both strength and representation.

The primaries do seem to bring out the simplistic in many undisciplined minds.

[hrmjustin]

11. Someone is touchy.

[Orsino]

12. As long as my friend backs us with a progressive agenda...

...s/he can call me Shirley.