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senz

(11,945 posts)
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 04:38 PM Apr 2016

FACT: Bernie Sanders Got More Done in the Senate than Hillary Clinton

I’m a progressive, but I’m a progressive that likes to get things done,” said Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the first primary debate. Never mind that the things Clinton helped ‘get done’ — the disastrous Iraq war, the Patriot Act — should have never been done, the purpose of this jab was twofold:
  • Leverage her status as a Washington insider to present herself to voters as a pragmatist uniquely qualified to get things done as president.

  • Draw a contrast between herself and her main rival, independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who she insinuated is a progressive that does not get things done.

This line of attack works because it plays on a common stereotype that socialists and progressives are more interested in ideological purity than in making real-world progress, but when we compare the first eight years of their respective Senate legislative records, it turns out Sanders got more meaningful legislation done than Clinton.

As a Senator, Clinton sponsored three bills that became law: S.3145, S.3613, and S.1241. The first of these renamed a highway in New York state, the second renamed a post office in New York City, and the third established the Kate Mullany National Historic Site in Troy, New York and authorized funding to set the site up.

During Sanders’ time in the Senate, he sponsored two bills that became law: S.885 and S.893. The first of these renamed a post office in Vermont. The second increased compensation for disabled veterans and their families.


Here's the truly impressive part:

While Sanders chaired the Senate’s Veteran Affairs committee during the 113th Congress (2013-2014), 13 of the committee’s bills became law. That may not sound like a lot until you realize that the Senate Veterans Affairs (VA) committee only passed 8.5 bills into law on average during each of the past 20 Congresses and that these 13 bills became law during the second least productive Congress in American history.

Sanders’ most significant achievement during 113th Congress was passing a $16.3 billion bipartisan VA reform bill that expanded existing and created new health care facilities, allowed veterans to go outside the VA system to private health care providers when wait times are too long or if a veteran lives more than 40 miles away from a VA facility, and made it easier to fire VA officials.

Sanders was so effective as a legislator that the (right-wing) Veterans of Foreign Wars awarded him its highest honor in 2015.


?w=1098

How many bills did Clinton successfully shepherd into law as the chair of a Senate committee? Zero. Clinton did not chair any Senate committees during the three Congresses she served in because she did not accumulate enough seniority.

If you are looking for a presidential candidate with a proven record of beating partisan gridlock to get meaningful legislation passed in Washington, D.C., then Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders deserves your support.


Bernie Sanders works hard for good progressive causes, has shown proven leadership, and he gets things done.

https://pplswar.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/fact-bernie-sanders-got-more-done-in-the-senate-than-hillary-clinton/
58 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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FACT: Bernie Sanders Got More Done in the Senate than Hillary Clinton (Original Post) senz Apr 2016 OP
The whole Clinton image is nothing but a facade. Skwmom Apr 2016 #1
Straight out of central casting at a Corporate PR firm. nt silvershadow Apr 2016 #4
Persona management, TM99 Apr 2016 #57
Fact: no he didnt. JaneyVee Apr 2016 #2
Fact: he did, Janey. He simply did. senz Apr 2016 #7
"I'm a Progressive who likes to get things done" like war, regime change, coups...and "No we can't" bahrbearian Apr 2016 #10
I've posted this several times, but few appear to get the message, He was EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. Dragonfli Apr 2016 #13
She renamed a post office AgingAmerican Apr 2016 #52
This isn't a fair analysis at all qdouble Apr 2016 #3
No, what this does is put to rest the idea that he can't get anything done. It's obvious he can. eom Rebkeh Apr 2016 #5
I think the argument is more in line with that he hasn't gotten much done qdouble Apr 2016 #8
To quote the OP Rebkeh Apr 2016 #11
The point is that he accomplished more in the Senate than Hillary did. senz Apr 2016 #12
Why are you spreading Right wing myths that are so obviously countered here? are you GOP? Dragonfli Apr 2016 #17
Rebkeh, he did TONS more in the House. senz Apr 2016 #16
Yes, he's a real trooper for us, the people. Rebkeh Apr 2016 #24
It is completely fair. It credits each with what they got done. Read the entire OP. senz Apr 2016 #6
If you limit the person's accomplishments qdouble Apr 2016 #9
She and her supporters painted Bernie as not accomplishing much. It was a lie. senz Apr 2016 #14
I get it now, everyone needs to earn a living, it is my sincere hope you find good honest work soon. Dragonfli Apr 2016 #18
Never know there might be a cabinet position available bahrbearian Apr 2016 #25
Yes he did. Uncle Joe Apr 2016 #15
K&FUCKING R vintx Apr 2016 #19
Hillary's bills were revolutionary! Made all the papers and TV news networks. She's does stuff! imagine2015 Apr 2016 #20
Well to be fair she also tried to put an end to the epidemic of flag burning and ban some media Dragonfli Apr 2016 #23
Just to add more regarding what an effective public servant he's been let me add (for the lurkers) Dragonfli Apr 2016 #21
Sanders got LESS done as a non committee senator but go ahead and grade him on a curve uponit7771 Apr 2016 #22
In what, 40 years? You call that a lot? randome Apr 2016 #26
Check this out, randome. senz Apr 2016 #39
Well, that's just a list of bills and amendments. No way of telling how much input on any of them. randome Apr 2016 #44
Hey, Hillary got things done, too! dchill Apr 2016 #27
FACT. Bernie has been in Congress for decades. nt WhiteTara Apr 2016 #28
FACT: He got a lot done in Congress. senz Apr 2016 #40
And unless he retires, WhiteTara Apr 2016 #45
I hope for all our sake, he makes it to the White House senz Apr 2016 #46
FACT: Hillary will be the next president calguy Apr 2016 #29
FACT: We deserve better. senz Apr 2016 #41
FACT: There's more to governance than being president. jonestonesusa Apr 2016 #56
K&R northernsouthern Apr 2016 #30
k & r wendylaroux Apr 2016 #31
K&R B Calm Apr 2016 #32
kick! Kip Humphrey Apr 2016 #33
lets not forget those 2 post offices that were were renamed . . . DrDan Apr 2016 #34
K&R imari362 Apr 2016 #35
And he'll continue to do so. JoePhilly Apr 2016 #36
K&R nenagh Apr 2016 #37
K & R noretreatnosurrender Apr 2016 #38
The people who lie about his record are ... senz Apr 2016 #50
He was there twice as long. nt Jitter65 Apr 2016 #42
K&R amborin Apr 2016 #43
And he's the most respected. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #47
Well, he's been there 100 years!! How long was HRC there before she was promoted? beaglelover Apr 2016 #48
You mean before she lost the Dem primary and made a deal with Obama senz Apr 2016 #49
K&R JonLeibowitz Apr 2016 #51
BIG K&R! nt riderinthestorm Apr 2016 #53
But he wasn't "one of the gang." moondust Apr 2016 #54
K&R For Bernie! LongTomH Apr 2016 #55
The SCHIP lie angrychair Apr 2016 #58
 

TM99

(8,352 posts)
57. Persona management,
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 09:00 PM
Apr 2016

it is what narcissists do.

Scratch the surface though and you often find nothing underneath but the insecurity, rage, and entitlement of a teenager.

 

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)
2. Fact: no he didnt.
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 04:42 PM
Apr 2016

Fact 2: Hillary was senator during Bush regime. Bernie was senator during Dem supermajority.

bahrbearian

(13,466 posts)
10. "I'm a Progressive who likes to get things done" like war, regime change, coups...and "No we can't"
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:03 PM
Apr 2016

Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
13. I've posted this several times, but few appear to get the message, He was EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:17 PM
Apr 2016

So far I have posted this or variations of it (about six times):



The Right Wing implication appears to be that even with all his years of public service, a progressive like Bernie Sanders was too far to the left to accomplish anything.

That one has to be able to find the buypartisan way, in other words, adopt the least offensive GOP legislation as your own if you wish to accomplish anything, if one is not a member of the Republican party itself.

The problem with this bullshit GOP meme is that it is completely false, he's actually one of the most effective members of Congress, passing bills, of all sizes and shapes, that have reshaped American policy on key issues like poverty, the environment and health care.

[center][font size=3"]The Amendment King[/font][/center]

....Congress is not known to be a progressive institution lately, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the House of Representatives was only controlled by the Democrats from 2007 to 2010, and a flood of corporate money has quieted the once-powerful progressive movement that passed legislation moving the country forward between the New Deal era and the Great Society. Yet, as difficult as it may be to believe, a socialist from Vermont is one of its most accomplished members. ....

snip

....Sanders did something particularly original, which was that he passed amendments that were exclusively progressive, advancing goals such as reducing poverty and helping the environment, and he was able to get bipartisan coalitions of Republicans who wanted to shrink government or hold it accountable and progressives who wanted to use it to empower Americans.

Here are a few examples of the amendments Sanders passed by building unusual but effective coalitions:....


[font color="red"]Much more, but due to the three paragraph rule you will have to follow this link[/font]
I dare those that pretend the GOP meme is true and are spreading it for them, to read the article!

There are so many examples in fact that you really need to read the entire article as it completely dispels this current Right Wing myth that Bernie Sanders after all his time in Congress achieved almost nothing, when in fact he was literally one of the most effective members of Congress! Read the facts in the article itself, clearly the GOP is spreading lies about him, after all, who besides Rove and the GOP would use such lying sleazy bullshit tactics against someone that helped Democrats get as much progressive policy put into effect during his tenure?...


[font size="3"][center]Robert Reich, Clinton Secretary of Labor, on Bernie's effectiveness in Congress[/font][/center]



He was also very effective as Mayor

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511758469

qdouble

(891 posts)
3. This isn't a fair analysis at all
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 04:45 PM
Apr 2016
How many bills did Clinton successfully shepherd into law as the chair of a Senate committee? Zero. Clinton did not chair any Senate committees during the three Congresses she served in because she did not accumulate enough seniority.


What this is basically saying is that if you are not a chair of a Senate committee, then you have no accomplishments and if you are part of the Senate committee then you are directly responsible for anything that comes out.

Rebkeh

(2,450 posts)
5. No, what this does is put to rest the idea that he can't get anything done. It's obvious he can. eom
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 04:52 PM
Apr 2016

qdouble

(891 posts)
8. I think the argument is more in line with that he hasn't gotten much done
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 04:59 PM
Apr 2016

that matches his campaign promises. Not that he hasn't passed any minor bills.

Rebkeh

(2,450 posts)
11. To quote the OP
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:04 PM
Apr 2016

The bigger point is:

This line of attack works because it plays on a common stereotype that socialists and progressives are more interested in ideological purity than in making real-world progress...

Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
17. Why are you spreading Right wing myths that are so obviously countered here? are you GOP?
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:20 PM
Apr 2016

So far I have posted this or variations of it (about seven times):



The Right Wing implication appears to be that even with all his years of public service, a progressive like Bernie Sanders was too far to the left to accomplish anything.

That one has to be able to find the buypartisan way, in other words, adopt the least offensive GOP legislation as your own if you wish to accomplish anything, if one is not a member of the Republican party itself.

The problem with this bullshit GOP meme is that it is completely false, he's actually one of the most effective members of Congress, passing bills, of all sizes and shapes, that have reshaped American policy on key issues like poverty, the environment and health care.

[center][font size=3"]The Amendment King[/font][/center]

....Congress is not known to be a progressive institution lately, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the House of Representatives was only controlled by the Democrats from 2007 to 2010, and a flood of corporate money has quieted the once-powerful progressive movement that passed legislation moving the country forward between the New Deal era and the Great Society. Yet, as difficult as it may be to believe, a socialist from Vermont is one of its most accomplished members. ....

snip

....Sanders did something particularly original, which was that he passed amendments that were exclusively progressive, advancing goals such as reducing poverty and helping the environment, and he was able to get bipartisan coalitions of Republicans who wanted to shrink government or hold it accountable and progressives who wanted to use it to empower Americans.

Here are a few examples of the amendments Sanders passed by building unusual but effective coalitions:....


[font color="red"]Much more, but due to the three paragraph rule you will have to follow this link[/font]
I dare those that pretend the GOP meme is true and are spreading it for them, to read the article!

There are so many examples in fact that you really need to read the entire article as it completely dispels this current Right Wing myth that Bernie Sanders after all his time in Congress achieved almost nothing, when in fact he was literally one of the most effective members of Congress! Read the facts in the article itself, clearly the GOP is spreading lies about him, after all, who besides Rove and the GOP would use such lying sleazy bullshit tactics against someone that helped Democrats get as much progressive policy put into effect during his tenure?...


[font size="3"][center]Robert Reich, Clinton Secretary of Labor, on Bernie's effectiveness in Congress[/font][/center]



He was also very effective as Mayor

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511758469

qdouble

(891 posts)
9. If you limit the person's accomplishments
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:01 PM
Apr 2016

to what only one person was able to achieve due to their position, then it's not a fair comparison at all. It's like comparing an editor and an CTO by how many articles they help publish.

Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
18. I get it now, everyone needs to earn a living, it is my sincere hope you find good honest work soon.
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:23 PM
Apr 2016
 

imagine2015

(2,054 posts)
20. Hillary's bills were revolutionary! Made all the papers and TV news networks. She's does stuff!
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:26 PM
Apr 2016

As a Senator, Clinton sponsored three bills that became law: S.3145, S.3613, and S.1241. The first of these renamed a highway in New York state, the second renamed a post office in New York City, and the third established the Kate Mullany National Historic Site in Troy, New York and authorized funding to set the site up.

Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
23. Well to be fair she also tried to put an end to the epidemic of flag burning and ban some media
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:44 PM
Apr 2016

The United States Family Entertainment Protection Act (FEPA) was a bill introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and co-sponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) on November 29, 2005. The bill called for a federal mandate enforcement of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings.

Unsuccessfully unfortunately for the more puritan among us, sigh, if only she were more effective at passing such laws, we would finally be safe from cluster bombs, eerr.. I mean f-bombs (she voted against ending the use of child killing cluster bombs, my "misspeak" or my bad if you prefer) she likes cluster bombs so much that after some donations to charity, she made sure as SoS to sell cluster bombs to those altruistic rulers of Saudi Arabia

The kids just love playing with those rather than video games.

Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
21. Just to add more regarding what an effective public servant he's been let me add (for the lurkers)
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 05:29 PM
Apr 2016

So far I have posted this or variations of it (about 8 times):



The is Right Wing implication being spread that appears to be that even with all his years of public service, a progressive like Bernie Sanders was too far to the left to accomplish anything.

That one has to be able to find the buypartisan way, in other words, adopt the least offensive GOP legislation as your own if you wish to accomplish anything, if one is not a member of the Republican party itself.

The problem with this bullshit GOP meme is that it is completely false, he's actually one of the most effective members of Congress, passing bills, of all sizes and shapes, that have reshaped American policy on key issues like poverty, the environment and health care.

[center][font size=3"]The Amendment King[/font][/center]

....Congress is not known to be a progressive institution lately, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the House of Representatives was only controlled by the Democrats from 2007 to 2010, and a flood of corporate money has quieted the once-powerful progressive movement that passed legislation moving the country forward between the New Deal era and the Great Society. Yet, as difficult as it may be to believe, a socialist from Vermont is one of its most accomplished members. ....

snip

....Sanders did something particularly original, which was that he passed amendments that were exclusively progressive, advancing goals such as reducing poverty and helping the environment, and he was able to get bipartisan coalitions of Republicans who wanted to shrink government or hold it accountable and progressives who wanted to use it to empower Americans.

Here are a few examples of the amendments Sanders passed by building unusual but effective coalitions:....


[font color="red"]Much more, but due to the three paragraph rule you will have to follow this link[/font]
I dare those that pretend the GOP meme is true and are spreading it for them, to read the article!

There are so many examples in fact that you really need to read the entire article as it completely dispels this current Right Wing myth that Bernie Sanders after all his time in Congress achieved almost nothing, when in fact he was literally one of the most effective members of Congress! Read the facts in the article itself, clearly the GOP is spreading lies about him, after all, who besides Rove and the GOP would use such lying sleazy bullshit tactics against someone that helped Democrats get as much progressive policy put into effect during his tenure?...


[font size="3"][center]Robert Reich, Clinton Secretary of Labor, on Bernie's effectiveness in Congress[/font][/center]



He was also very effective as Mayor

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511758469
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
26. In what, 40 years? You call that a lot?
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 06:06 PM
Apr 2016

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
44. Well, that's just a list of bills and amendments. No way of telling how much input on any of them.
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 07:50 PM
Apr 2016

Your contention is that he 'passed' these, which makes no sense since he's only one senator. I'm willing to believe he's the superhuman administrator that some want to see him as, but this list does not support that.

I have no doubt he's done some great things in the Senate but so have a lot of other Senators.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]

dchill

(38,489 posts)
27. Hey, Hillary got things done, too!
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 06:17 PM
Apr 2016

They were just behind the scenes, and in her basement. Top secret, some of it. So there!

calguy

(5,306 posts)
29. FACT: Hillary will be the next president
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 06:37 PM
Apr 2016

Everything else is just useless bullshit posted by folks who support the 2nd place candidate.

jonestonesusa

(880 posts)
56. FACT: There's more to governance than being president.
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 09:15 AM
Apr 2016

We need an effective president that responds with good judgement to the grave issues we face as a country, that's the standard. Legislative records matter as they are predictive of decision making in office. By these standards, I stand with Bernie, and whether he wins or not, I will continue to stand for college access funded through a tax on speculative trading, single payer, reducing the bloated military budget, and an immediate end to the drug war that has broken communities. I wish that all Democrats would support these positions, but I am quite sure that a President Clinton would not. Unfortunately, this means slow or no progress towards a sustainable democracy and a continuing slide towards oligarchy.

 

senz

(11,945 posts)
50. The people who lie about his record are ...
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 08:37 PM
Apr 2016

liars!

It's a tautology.

But, yeah, they lie and lie and lie.

 

senz

(11,945 posts)
49. You mean before she lost the Dem primary and made a deal with Obama
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 08:35 PM
Apr 2016

so she could do a regrettable job as his SOS?

moondust

(19,981 posts)
54. But he wasn't "one of the gang."
Tue Apr 26, 2016, 10:02 PM
Apr 2016

So it doesn't count for much in gangland. What counts is which gang you proclaim your allegiance to, raise money for, and thereby further empower in its struggle to beat the other gang.

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