Bernie Sanders’ Refusal To Attack Hillary Clinton Isn’t Just Principled—It’s Political Genius

[portlander23]

Last edited Thu Sep 24, 2015, 07:38 PM - Edit history (1)

In these Times: Bernie Sanders’ Refusal To Attack Hillary Clinton Isn’t Just Principled—It’s Political Genius

But Sanders’ refusal to produce attack ads has proven to be more than a matter of simple moral consistency. His pledge represented a shrewd political decision by the Sanders campaign—a decision that has now paid off.

Electoral reform is central to Sanders’ platform for president. By swearing off attack ads against his opponents and cash from super PACs which often fund such ads, he has attempted to show that unlike his opponents, he can actually carry out the ideals he speaks so often about.

This decision actually forced Hillary’s campaign into an incredibly difficult position. If she ran an attack ad, she risked coming off as desperate or a bully. But by not running attack ads, she would essentially render herself unable to combat any surge in the polls by Sanders.

On September 14, the Huffington Post received an email from one of Clinton’s Super PACs that intimated Sanders would begin diplomatic ties with terrorists and linked him to the socialist former President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. In its report on the email, HuffPost concluded it was unclear whether the message would be disseminated to anyone else. If it was, however, “the attack would be in the vein of what Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said about Sanders earlier this year—that he's unelectable, since he's a self-identified democratic socialist.”

And on September 20, less than one week after the Super PAC attack first went live, Hillary promised CBS News’ John Dickerson on “Face the Nation” that she has “no interest” in running attack ads on Bernie.

Sanders’ commitment to refrain from producing attack ads paid off, allowing him to illustrate a vital contrast between himself and Clinton—and raising his campaign more than a million dollars in donations in the process. Furthermore, his consistency forced Clinton to backtrack on an important issue under public scrutiny, reinforcing the notion that she is simply a politician willing to do whatever it takes to win while Sanders operates out of an ironclad commitment his progressive ideals.

By the end of the primaries, regardless of who wins, the candidate will either be a true progressive dedicated to combatting inequality, fighting systemic racism, and running a clean campaign, or someone forced to champion a number of progressive causes that she likely would have barely considered otherwise. And, unlike Hillary Clinton, that’s what matters to Bernie Sanders—that someone, anyone, gets the job done.

Yep. Not attacking Mrs. Clinton and sticking to policy has not only made Mr. Sanders a superior candidate, but it's neutralized attacks by Mrs. Clinton.

Hillary Clinton Has 'No Interest' In Running Negative Ads Against Bernie Sanders

Video: Mrs. Clinton wouldn't have said the dishonest Sanders smear her Super PAC said on her behalf

WOW !!! - 'Bernie Sanders Raises $1.2 Million Off Of Attack By Clinton-Allied Group' - HuffPo

[Fred Sanders]

1. How do you "neutralize" something that does not exist?

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

2. I was curious about that as well.

Granted I havent seen ads from either, because of where I live.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Because no ads exist. The Sanders versus Clinton mudslinging match is a myth, but it sure does

provide an opportunity for idled minds to display their creative writing skills.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

8. It is almost as if the opposition to HIllary, in many cases, really has nothing to do with

Bernie.

Which would mean... ... ...

[Skidmore]

9. Yup.

I live in Iowa and the only ads on the Dem side are issue ads and not attack ads. We've been drowning in attack ads on the Republican side when they have enough money. I think it is funny that the local media is at a loss because they are not getting the windfall from political ads that a campaign usually brings.

[Fred Sanders]

18. Interesting you would mention all that. The fact there has been zero internal party attack ads

versus the enemy camp attacking each other, like the creepy animals they are, has have gone not unnoticed by the public at large.

But it is a bit early for the media to start panicking about the potential loss of billions of sweet CU and Koch Kash laundered through the 17 clown cars, two lost to their own foolishness, in the GOP train of idiots and scoundrels.

[jeff47]

19. Uh, that's kinda the entire point of the article.

And no, I don't believe it went over your head.

[magical thyme]

24. prevented would have been a better word. nt

[MrMickeysMom]

44. My thoughts, exactly...

You don't have to be a genius to see this, either. You just have to get over the fact that NOT EVERYONE is in it for the strategy of their winning so much as the vision of how we all stand to be winners… and that does not stop at the borders of the United States.

Be the person you have always been waiting for seems to be what is happening here… It's just too much for some to realize.

[Thinkingabout]

3. What is the difference in the super pac attacks and the endless smears on DU against Hillary?

[virtualobserver]

28. I've seen an examination of Hillary's actual record....I haven't seen any smears

David Brock's oppo research was an actual smear

[Thinkingabout]

32. Perhaps you have not read some of the posts I have, yes there are smears.

David Brock gave an association of Bernie Sanders and Hugo Chavez for one, this is his record.

[virtualobserver]

40. Brock tried to turn Bernie's attempt to help poor Vermonters into a bad thing

Textbook smear

[MrMickeysMom]

45. Do you read every single post?

… because I don't think I have enough time to claim who is the nastiest.

I took the time to read some groups here tonight and see that there is nasty-speak in places I'd thought were better than that.

Extend your reading. Maybe we can start a "post of the week" anti-DUzy award to deflate some of this.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

36. Well said. Hillary does a good job of smearing herself. Bernie is smart to just let Hillary keep diggin the hole deeper for herself.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2016!!!

[Thinkingabout]

46. Bernie hasn't been an angel but you dont see the constant barrage of talking points over and over

And mostly not true. Hillary supporters does not have a need to attack all the time, it I not necessary. Besides there is four more months before the first primary. Records speaks for themselves.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

63. Fair enough; let the best candidate win.

[ronnykmarshall]

30. No shit ....

Bernie's army in here can do all the dirty work of "the cause".

[morningfog]

43. A lot. Campaign coordination, money, etc.

[upaloopa]

6. Hillary doesn't need to attack Bernie

She leads in every poll lately. Sanders has peaked. Hillary is using the money I donated to her campaign to build her team for the general.
The media understands that this is between Hillary and who ever ends up driving the clown car.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Keeping an eye on the real prize and on the real enemy is what she is doing. It is only logical.

And Sanders is doing the exact same, as they both have urged their most passionate supporters to do.

To little avail it seems, so far.

[magical thyme]

23. Bernie 49; Hillary 36 in NH without Biden. Bernie up 13; not within moe

and the last time I looked, elections are held state-by-state, not nationally.

[Thinkingabout]

33. One state does not determine the delegate count.

[upaloopa]

58. There are 50 states

NH will not matter

[magical thyme]

59. and IA and UT

so 3 states. one at a time. just one at a time.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/battleground-tracker-sanders-surges-in-ia-nh-clinton-up-in-sc/

[upaloopa]

60. Hillary leads in IA and a win there for her may be

the end of Bernie's campaign due to inability to raise funds just like Walker.

[magical thyme]

61. Bernie's doing quite well with his fundraising

looking forward to the coming announcement.

And one poll putting Clinton ahead doesn't undo 2 polls showing Sanders ahead in IA.

[demwing]

54. Right, because the Super PACS will do it for her

They just won't "coordinate" the smears.

Riiight...

[AtomicKitten]

10. Hillary uses surrogate drones to attack Bernie.

Luis Gutierrez
Claire McCaskill
Carlos Danger
Joaquin Castro
Lanny Davis
etc.

[emulatorloo]

12. Article is about television Attack Ads, which saturate the airwaves

Not appearances by D-listers who get their 5 secs of fame on cable news shows hardly anybody sees.

I am in Iowa like the poster above. The ads on television are positive.

[AtomicKitten]

13. Still it's on TV for widespread public consumption.

[emulatorloo]

14. The ads are running during Judge Judy. That's widespread.

"Lanny Davis" is appearing on shows for a handful of political junkies. I barely remember who the fuck he is.

[AtomicKitten]

16. Okay. Not the same but similar effect.

Traffic to cable TV picks up exponentially during presidential election season. The surrogates are given lots of air time. It is noteworthy.

[LuvLoogie]

20. Lanny Davis has about as much effect against Bernie

as you do against Hillary, although you try harder.

[AtomicKitten]

22. Hillary pays travel & expenses for her surrogates so, yes, the surrogate trash-talking of Bernie

... is directly connected to her campaign. She did the same to Obama in 2007/08.

[Thinkingabout]

34. Do you have a link?

[AtomicKitten]

51. yes, I do

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/hillary-clinton-2016-proxies-attack-bernie-sanders-213359

[Thinkingabout]

56. It does not matter where the attacks come, yes, Joaquin Castro has had travel expense in going to

latino groups and campaigning for Hillary. Would you go on your own expenses? Hillary is under attack many times, this is not coming from her supporters. As the campaign goes on there will be more attack on all the candidates, expect it.

[emulatorloo]

25. Nonetheless I think that crowd is ineffectual

[AtomicKitten]

52. It is misleading to assert Hillary isn't attacking Bernie.

It's more a sin of omission.

She personally isn't attacking him.

The commercials in Iowa and NH from what you relate are positive.

But she's been sending out her drones to attack him in the media, on TV, radio, and in print, she's paying their expenses, so they are directly connected to her campaign.

That's the whole truth.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/hillary-clinton-2016-proxies-attack-bernie-sanders-213359

[emulatorloo]

57. Surrogates are nothing new. Bernie can handle it.

[zappaman]

27. Keep trying!

[ronnykmarshall]

31. Those fucking fascists!

They should be shot!

[PowerToThePeople]

11. K&R.

[George II]

15. Clinton's campaign hasn't produced any attack ads, either!

[Luminous Animal]

26. Yes. It says as such in the article.

[virtualobserver]

29. She can't because it will make her look bad, that is the point of the article

she ran slimy attack ads against Obama, so we know that she believes in them.

[Thinkingabout]

35. Bernie aint no Obama

[virtualobserver]

38. He isn't Obama. He is a great man in his own right.

[Thinkingabout]

39. Hillary is a great woman in her own right.

[virtualobserver]

41. I never said that she wasn't

but your statement "Bernie aint no Obama" did not sound complimentary

[No Vested Interest]

17. Such a contrast between Sanders style - sticking to policy, not personality,

and Trump's no-policy, only personal and personality-driven drivel.

[DFW]

21. I quite agree--brilliant (as well as decent) strategy!

Although I'm a little lost as to exactly which attacks by Clinton this is supposed to have neutralized. I get the impression that Hillary is playing by pretty much the same book. As Sanders noted in the TIME article, some of his supporters have crossed the line, and there will things he will "have to disavow," but this will undoubtedly apply to the Clinton campaign sooner or later as well. No national campaign will ever be immune to that.

[Skwmom]

37. Another: Clinton will adopt his platform and do it. That's as likely as h*** freezing over.

I've lost track of the number of ways this has been presented. All of the stupid talk of she'll be pushed to the left (in rhetoric not in action).

[Thinkingabout]

42. When Hillary talked about voter suppression, then Bernie did also.

When Hillary talked about high drug prices, Bernie introduced a bill in the Senate. Hillary is adopting her own platform.

[Skwmom]

49. Bernie showed up at the CBC meeting on the stolen votes in Florida.

The only white person in congress to do so. She just unveiled her plan. Bernie and Cummings introduced a bill on Sept 10 (and I'm sure it took a while for it to be written).

[Thinkingabout]

50. Just unveiled her plan, let's see, it was August 13 2013.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/watch-hillary-clinton-takes-on-voter-suppression/

[Skwmom]

53. She just unveiled her prescription plan.

[Mnpaul]

47. Bernie drew a line in the sand

will any Democratic candidate cross it? It is a very smart move.

[cyberswede]

48. Actually, it's simply the right thing to do.

Any resemblance to a "shrewd political decision" is just a side effect. He's always done this.

If every candidate were to eschew attack ads, the political discourse in this country would be elevated exponentially.

[demwing]

55. "a shrewd political decision by the Sanders campaign..."

Nonsense. It's not "a shrewd political decision" - it's just Bernie being Bernie, but the political animals of the dense DC jungles have to mash his actions into a conceptual box that they can understand.

Reminds me of this bit by Bill Hicks...

https://m.

[in_cog_ni_to]

62. Not to worry. We haven't seen the last of David Brock's slime machine.

His next attack will be fed to an avowed Clinton supporter with zero morals. The Clinton machine isn't going down without a shitstorm of garbage slung at Bernie. Guaranteed.

We'll be ready for it - just like we were the first time the LIES flew.

She can't beat Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Progressive news sites /blogs. Bernie has MILLIONS of online supporters.

[sabrina 1]

64. It is brilliant. However I disagree with one thing the author said. He said that being forced into

not running negative ads would 'render Hillary unable to combat a Bernie surge in the polls'. I could not disagree more. She COULD combat any candidate IF she was good on the issues and had the record to back it up. It isn't about negative ads, it is about a candidate who cannot fight back ON the issues because her record on so many important issues is so bad. Gay Rights, Welfare Reform, Forever War, even on torture I will never forget her response that she opposed it of course, but in case of a 'ticking clock' scenario she would want to have the option. If I hadn't already been thoroughly disappointed in her due to her Iraq War vote, that finished it for me.