As a stalwart Democrat I find this acutely distressing

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Link to tweet

Ben Jacobs
✔
@Bencjacobs
Bernie's new national press secretary on her 2016 presidential vote

Briahna Joy Gray
✔
@briebriejoy
Replying to @tommiesunshine
right. Why I'm voting for @DrJillStein

821
12:25 PM - Mar 19, 2019
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633 people are talking about this

[Gothmog]

1. She also attacked Congressman John Lewis

Link to tweet

[dalton99a]

3. Break What We Can't Take

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Apropos of not much, I now like John Lewis more than ever. He plays with cats.

And Briahna Joy Gray sounds like someone I wouldn't like much at all.

[Blue_true]

99. He also loves little dogs, the type that you can hold in your arms easily.

He shows such kindness and love for his pets. A truly great person.

[Gothmog]

131. I have been blessed to have heard Congressman Lewis speak in person 4 times

He is a national treasure

[Cha]

9. Gracias, Goth! That shows what an idiot she is.

Link to tweet

[dsc]

16. Just imagine for a second that Hillary had an employee who did this

we would be hearing what an evil bitch she was until the sun died out.

[mcar]

79. We'd hear about it to infinity and beyond

This is unacceptable.

[Blue_true]

100. The difference.

Hillary would have fired or demoted her, even if Hillary didn't know about her actions before it blew up. Bernie will shrug and say that he didn't know and all will be well, she will stay on in the same job.

[Demit]

14. And from the date, it appears she did it a year later. That's some grudge-holding!

[Politicub]

48. Why would he hire her?? Lewis is a national treasure

I'm pretty disgusted by Brianha Joy Gray right now. It feels like a slap to the face.

[JI7]

60. because she attacked lewis

[Blue_true]

102. He didn't try to stop his followers from booing John Lewis at the Democratic National Convention

even when he was told well before hand what was going to happen and asked to talk to his supporters to tamp things down.

[Gothmog]

133. The Clinton campaign knew about this stunt of booing John Lewis well in advance

I was warned by the Clinton campaign of this stunt 20 to 30 minutes in advance. This tweet shows that this stunt was planned by the campaign itself.

[we can do it]

108. Sick of BS and his divisive minions.

[Politicub]

146. I am, too. So sick of it.

And I'm sick of the excuses and circuitous explanations.

[we can do it]

147. Me too. Giving away our democracy.

[we can do it]

150. You also might want to read why🙄.

[mcar]

78. This is unacceptable

Ms. Gray and Sen Sanders need to speak honestly about this and their views about Civil Rights heroes.

[Trumpocalypse]

2. Why is Sanders

surrounding himself with such divisive people?

[wasupaloopa]

6. I guess he thinks they will help him win.

Seems to me he is where he was when he lost 2016.

[LuvLoogie]

34. Winning is not his objective.

Once we all realize that, his hires make perfect sense.

[blue cat]

151. Exactly

+1

[mahina]

152. What do you think his objective is?

[LuvLoogie]

154. Too usurp the legacy and infrastructure of the Democratic Party

to facilitate his own agenda. He wants to undermine the Democratic Party as the vehicle that addresses the needs of its constituents. He then wants to fill that void.

[Cha]

10. Sounds like desperation

to me.

[getagrip_already]

20. birds of a feather.....

He see a kinship with them.

[Blue_true]

104. I agree. They won't challenge his tendency to bash democrats and the Democratic Party. nt

[NastyRiffraff]

49. Because he's a divisive person himself

But we've learned our lesson this time. We need to demand that the media vet him and not let him dominate the air time. (Looking at you, Chris Hayes.)

[Amimnoch]

89. What did everyone expect? Something different this time around?? -nt.

[Gothmog]

157. A reporter's undisclosed connection to a political candidate would constitute a breach of journalist

Link to tweet

[OKNancy]

4. Two very bad hires announced today.

I've seen both of them on twitter and they couldn't be more divisive and dare I say it... hateful.

[R B Garr]

25. Hateful is a great word for it--way beyond divisive. nt

Edit/had to edit this post, auto refill on my phone.

[George II]

67. You won't be seeing Sirota much on twitter though, this morning....

...he deleted more than 20,000 of his tweets. I wonder what he's trying to hide?

[Blue_true]

107. The Wayback Machine is likely pulling up the answer now.

It takes time for a person to read 20,000 recovered tweets. If it ever showed up on the web, it's always on the web, he is really clueless to think that he can defeat that.

[Cha]

5. How many jill stein LIES voters are

employed by BS now?

[padah513]

8. Turner, Sirota, Gray

Get Stein in there and you got a matched set

[WeekiWater]

11. Sanders is going scorched earth.

It’s sad and will hurt progressives.

[corbettkroehler]

12. Lewis Is A National Treasure But Let's Remember, In 2016, He Derided Bernie Intensely

He and Congressman Rangel spoke quite negatively rather than remaining neutral - or supporting Hillary without attacking Bernie.

[LexVegas]

13. What does that have to do with BS hiring Stein voters?

[Gothmog]

17. Congressman John Lewis is indeed a national treasure

I was at the National Convention when Congressman John Lewis was booed as part of a planned stunt by sanders delegates. The Clinton campaign learned of this stunt and warned her delegates well in advance. I was shocked when I got the text from my whip. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this stunt and declined

Here is more from sanders new press secretary

Link to tweet

[MyOwnPeace]

18. So he SHOULD

hold a grudge - you know, sort'a like Trump - McClain.

[Cha]

19. So What! They had their preference with

Excellent Reasons.

Link to tweet

Little ms jill stein voter is an idiot.

[Maru Kitteh]

30. That's so heartbreaking. John Lewis is a living hero, and his photo is adorable.

Brianha Joy Gray looks like a serious asshole there. What a miserable human.

[Cha]

32. yes, so BS hires her.

[comradebillyboy]

90. More of Bernie's African American outreach? Or did he give up

on that after his embarrassing performance in Selma recently.

[Cha]

94. Yeah, hiring the person who harassed John Lewis

is such brilliant outreach to the African American Community.

[namahage]

105. I'm sure she will do a bang-up job getting African American support

with musings like Should We Talk To White Supremacists?

"Is it even possible to have a productive conversation with a racist? We can’t say until we’ve tried…"

[John Fante]

119. More "economic anxiety" bullshit.

[MustLoveBeagles]

128. no words

[NastyRiffraff]

51. John Lewis has a right to support a candidate

just like anyone else. I doubt if you would have minded if he had supported Bernie instead. He liked Clinton better and he didn't deserve the treatment he got from Sanders supporters, particularly at the convention.

[TwilightZone]

54. John Lewis can support whoever he wants, just like any other Congressperson.

Congresspeople endorse candidates every single election. This isn't new, nor is it unusual.

[George II]

71. No he didn't.

I'll take the word of John Lewis and Charles Rangel over Sanders' word any day. Both have been national heroes AND icons of the civil rights movement.

[stonecutter357]

21. K&R

[oasis]

22. I guess Cornel West is held in reserve until the Dem 2020 Convention

where he can "serve" again on the Platform Committee.

[Blue_true]

110. And then turn and openly support the Green if Bernie did not win the nomination.

How sickening.

[TNNurse]

23. Bernie is not a Democrat why would you think his staff would be?

I know this will piss off a lot of people but he only uses the Democratic Party when it benefits him. Yes, I know that he usually votes with Democrats but this woman fits my idea of a cult follower.

[pdsimdars]

24. I am always surprised and shocked at all the Bernie shade.

Progressive is progressive, and it was "progressive" that has fought for all the progress for workers, minorities and the country as a whole. It was progressives in the Republican party who got some wins. If someone who is progressive wants to run as a Democrat, why all the dissing? Let the race be won and see who the people want rather than spit and fume all the way?

[MineralMan]

26. So voting for Jill Stein is OK?

Really? Did you vote for Jill Stein?

[TNNurse]

53. Anyone who voted for Stein, helped elect Trump.

Do they not understand that????

[MineralMan]

56. Exactly, and apparently they don't.

It's not a secret, though, so people will find out. That's why it's not a smart move.

[Gothmog]

135. A vote for stein was a vote for trump

[George II]

72. "Bernie shade"? So now the three top members of his campaign voted not for the Democrat...

...in 2016, but for Jill Stein.

I'd say it's more like he's throwing shade at the Democratic Party.

I won't even comment on the rest of that stuff you said, you lost me when you said "It was progressives in the Republican party who got some wins."

[mcar]

83. You think it's OK for him to hire people

Who have actively spread hate about Democrats? Including real Civil Rights heroes?

What about Sen Sanders pledge of civility?

[handmade34]

106. not hard to understand...

I do not support Bernie for President, I want him out of this race (I want him in the Senate working for me)... he and his supporters are trouble... "progressive" is not necessarily progressive... we need to be smart, we need to act collectively, we need to do it correctly

now, with that in mind, I support what he and his supporters stand for, I just don't like how they act and talk about it... they have already proven (in 2016) who they are and we cannot afford to play that out again

[pdsimdars]

142. I think 2016 said more about the media than Bernie

I remember Rachel Maddow, who I love, starting her show saying that Bernie people broke up a rally of Feinstein (I think that was who it was), by throwing chairs.
There never was ONE chair thrown. She never apologized. It was ALL media. You can choose to believe what you want, as those Trumpsters do, but facts are facts.

[Cha]

115. SHOCKING. BS' new press sec is a sucker for jill stein LIES.

Link to tweet

[Squinch]

27. Yep. That is the level of regard that BS holds for the Democratic Party.

He should not be allowed to run as a Democrat.

[redstatebluegirl]

29. He is an independent who has no party

structure so he has to run with us. I do not mind that as much as his constant attack on the party that is giving him a place to run.

[Squinch]

33. He chose to be an independent without a party structure. We do not owe him anything.

[LuvLoogie]

38. This

[redstatebluegirl]

40. Trying to explain his thinking and his followers.

I try to be as fair as possible but I do feel our party has been hijacked sometimes.

[Squinch]

65. No, I get that.

[paleotn]

59. That's right.

[Blue_true]

112. I think Perez is playing 8 dimensional chess.

Once Bernie is vetted properly, it likely will be hard for him to win the nomination. He gets eliminated in the primary and if his people try the 2016 General campaign act again, they will be exposed for what they are.

[Maru Kitteh]

28. The Sanders 2020 campaign has a disturbing number of Stein voters in high positions

Nina Turner, for example. ONE is too many, imo.

This is SO not what this country needs right now. At this stage we can only hope desperately that this doesn't turn into yet another goddamn Greek tragedy.

I have to have faith that another candidate will catch fire and push these Stein advocates back to the nutball margins, from whence they came and where they belong.

[Tiggeroshii]

35. Were you equally disturbed by Obamas pick for Ambassador to China

and FBI director? How bout his choice for defense secretary, a Republican US Senator?

[Maru Kitteh]

36. I missed the part where Obama is in THIS primary? This is about 2020.

Catch up.

[Tiggeroshii]

39. That wasnt part of it. Sorry.

The point is if you were okay with a great Democrat appointing republicans to high office, maybe a green party voter in a democratic prImary isnt the biggest sin.

[Maru Kitteh]

42. Maybe advocating for Green Party votes is something that doesn't belong on Democratic Underground

We're kind of advocating for Democrats, after all - in THIS 2020 Democratic primary. That's what this forum is for, as I understand it.

[Tiggeroshii]

44. Maybe demonzing.major Democratic primary candidates doesnt belong on DU

we are kind of advocatIng Democratic candidates here (TOS names Bernie as one). That is what this forum is for, I understand.

[Clash City Rocker]

58. That's a very Trump-like double standard you have there

So, just to get it straight, Bernie’s people can demonize great Democrats like John Lewis, and we have to allow it. But anyone who says anything bad about Bernie, who doesn’t even pretend to be a Democrat, that doesn’t belong on DU. Here on a site devoted to the Democratic Party, we can only criticize members of the actual Democratic Party. Is that about it?

[mcar]

85. Well said

Welcome to DU.

[Tiggeroshii]

86. Acutally no, none of that belongs here.

I was told that I shouldn't defend a Democratic candidate, my response was that we shouldn't be demonizing them. Your whataboutism doesn't work here.

[Maru Kitteh]

123. I believe you've got it, CCR. Nice summary.

[paleotn]

62. Is that anything like demonizing John Lewis?

[McKim]

63. Again: "Let's You and Him Fight!" Rules Here!

So how many are fighting among themselves on this thread instead of helping their candidate get the message out about a Democratic Party platform. We really don’t have time for this!!!!! This is not productive! 99% of the people here will, like me, support and vote for the Democratic Party candidate. I am currently supporting Sanders and Warren because I want their ideas to be part of the mix that goes into our platform. Get to work!!!

[R B Garr]

70. I don't see anything about Bernie or bust...? Can you

show where it says to vote third party if you can’t have Bernie. Thanks

[Tiggeroshii]

87. Considering nobody said anything about Bernie or bust, I'm not sure how that is relevant.

[R B Garr]

97. You were concerned about demonizing Democratic candidates,

and that is literally what his staff did, way through to the GE. Bernie or busters refused to vote for the Democrat.

[Tiggeroshii]

139. Im not voting for his staff

and they arent on du, as far as i know. So how does thay matter?

[R B Garr]

141. Voting for 3rd party is why we have Trump. The Bernie or Busters.

Advocating 3rd party isn’t allowed, and his staff did just that. It’s s pretty obvious point, hard to miss considering how obvious it is. I’m not voting for Bernie, but that doesn’t mean I advocate voting for 3rd party.

[R B Garr]

96. His staff voted third party -- literally why we have Trump.

[LuvLoogie]

43. As President Barack Obama's appointees were experienced

professionals suited to their positions, and not political ideologues, your whataboutism is weak sauce.

[Tiggeroshii]

45. Right

Given campaign workers are far more insignificant than cabinet members, I imagine some posters on this thread would be outraged if Sanders nominated a political idealogue like Comey as an FBI director who was largely personally responsible for costing our party the election in 2016.

[stranger81]

121. Dude, the handful of posters you're talking about are OUTRAGED, absolutely OUTRAGED, I tell you

that Sanders breathes air and gets up in the morning.

No use trying to please them. Best to just tune them out.

[John Fante]

125. Tune them out?

Similar to the way Bernie's appointees tuned out the Democratic nominee after the convention? That kinda tuning out?

[John Fante]

124. I'm sure Obama knew Comey would eventually sabotage Clinton.

Last edited Wed Mar 20, 2019, 02:44 AM - Edit history (1)

He can peer into the future apparently.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

130. Stop!! You're making WAY too much sense... that's not allowed here!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

74. What are you going on about? What does that have to do with three of the top people...

...in Sanders' campaign.

[still_one]

92. Not just three top appointments to his campaign, but appointments who voted for Jill Stein in 2016

There may be a revolution alright, but it might not be the revolution he thinks, as he has just told those who supported the Democratic nominee in 2016, I could care less what you think

We will see how that works out for him beyond his base

[mcar]

84. Ooh, whataboutism

And the way back machine!

[still_one]

91. Not the same thing. Briahna Gray, David Sirota, and Nina Turner all proudly voted for Jill Stein

2016, and encouraged to do so. They helped put Trump into the WH. They helped give to SC appointments to the republicans.

Perhaps these appointments are non-consequential as you suggest, and for those who supported the Democratic nominee in 2016 it doesn't matter.

We will see how that works out for him beyond his base

[Blue_true]

113. Chuck Hager disagreed vigorously with the Republican Party on military matters.

He was an appropriate choice. The other two had solid records of cross-party cooperation. Did it all work out? No, but President Obama didn't purposely hire people that publicly ridiculed the Democratic Party and it's policy ideas, as well as attack it's icons.

[John Fante]

120. No, but I am disturbed that Bernie wanted to primary Obama

in 2012.

Your whataboutism is noted.

[Tiggeroshii]

31. Not a fan of her.

That being said I wasnt thrilled about Obamas pick for ambassador to China or fbi director, but I still love him.

[R B Garr]

136. What a false analogy. They voted third party in a

general election. That has zero to do with a president’s appointments.

[Tiggeroshii]

138. They are campaign workers which are even less consequential

than a cabinet member. Give me a break.

[R B Garr]

140. It's a totally false analogy. They were voters in the last GE,

voters who influenced others against our candidate, the very reason we have Trump.

A presidents cabinet picks have nothing to do with influencing against our nominee in a general election.

They have nothing to do with one another.

[Cha]

155. Whataboutism FAIL

[Kurt V.]

37. these are leftist, correct? sanders is a leftist, correct?

[roody]

41. She was free to vote her conscience.

[MarvinGardens]

52. Do you think she made a good choice?

[RandySF]

82. Yep

And we’re free to judge a candidate’s hiring decisions.

[More_Cowbell]

46. I'm worried about Democrats tearing each other apart in the primaries

And Bernie having David Sirota working unofficially for him, while Sirota has been attacking other Democrats for months, makes me worry more. The GOP will be pretty united, I think.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/sanders-promised-civility-hired-twitter-attack-dog/585259/

[redstatebluegirl]

75. That is my worry, we need to unite after the primary.

If we get nasty during the primary like we did in 2016 we are screwed.

[Politicub]

47. Ugh - This kind of thing is disheartening. There are plenty of dems

who would make an excellent press secretary. Anyone who voted for Jill Stein holds some culpability for the mess we're in now.

I haven't read down thread, but I'm sure it's filled with excuses.

[NotHardly]

50. I told you, Bernie is not who or what you think he is ... watch

[comradebillyboy]

93. So far he's exactly who I think he is...

[Blue_true]

114. I agree. And I along with many others worried about that.

[INdemo]

55. Yep its is pretty damn distressful

If I ever had a slight chance of supporting Bernie Sanders than I certainly dont have now.

Bernie Sanders is running as if it is his turn and he damn sure deserves it ..according to Bernie

[Hortensis]

57. Sanders is surrounding himself with dissident anti-Democrats.

Telling.

Disclosure: With the choice being only between today's Republicans and Democrats, I have the greatest contempt for everyone who enabled Republicans by voting for Stein for ANY reason, and god knows there must have been thousands of reasons in that crowd. No, even cats' rights to be massacred by Green Partiers, the most ardently paranoid anti-vaxx beliefs, or Hillary derangement syndrome are not acceptable to me. No excuses.

Btw, interesting factoid: Spoiler (third) parties poll much better than their election day results, which are typically about 50% of previously claimed support.

[CaptainTruth]

61. Only the best people?

[dlk]

64. Keep in Mind, Bernie is Not a Democrat - There is a Reason He Refuses to Join the Democratic Party

Yet, he still wants to be the Democratic Party nominee for president. Also, keep in mind Jill Stein has been connected to the Russians.

[George II]

66. He certainly doesn't seem to be interested in attracting Democratic voters. This woman....

....and earlier today David Sirota, along with Nina Turner - all three were Jill Stein voters.

Very disturbing developments.

[octoberlib]

68. So much for unity. That was always a sham.

[rzemanfl]

69. Looked at the dictionary-

di·vi·sive
[dəˈvīsiv]

ADJECTIVE
tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.

[dalton99a]

111. USAGE EXAMPLE: "I have come not to be a Democrat, but to be Divisive"

[R B Garr]

73. It is very distressing. It's also a huge glimpse into

his character that he feels Our party deserves this deception. Again.

He needs to be asked about these third party votes.

[mcar]

76. ...

[elfin]

77. Bernie was always my very strong second choice, but now I am done with him

His staff pics - Sirota and Gray are very disappointing.

And... where are the taxes? Hello Ann? Are you the one who prepared and paid them? Transparency is now required and demanded by all, whether Dem, Independent, Dem Socialist, Undecided etc.

[RandySF]

80. It's very unfortunate.

[bernie59]

81. I think Bernie is happy to accept the support of any

and all Jill Stein voters in 2016.

[still_one]

88. This is more than just "accepting" the support of any Jill Stein voters in 2016. This is who

Sanders just appointed as his national press secretary.

Between this appointment, David Sirota, and Nina Turner, who ALL VOTED FOR JILL STEIN in 2016 in the general election, he is sending a message loud and clear to those who were Hillary supporters

It will be interesting to see how well that message works out for him beyond his base

[Cha]

95. Of course he is. Jill Stein is A Liar who

sucked in too many voters and helped the Russians rig the election for trump.

Blood on their hands now.

[wasupaloopa]

109. Beside a portion of the base from 2016, where does he expect to get more support?

Seems to me very few Hillary supporters from 2016 would support him.

I don’t think he has gained the support of minorities. There are many other candidates in the race who have spread the electorate among them.

It looks to me he is running with the same play book he used in 2016 yet he doesn’t seem to know his numbers will be less.

[Blue_true]

117. He most likely had them in the 2016 primaries.

So he gains NOTHING in terms of the 2020 primaries. But he is likely alienating voters that were considering voting for him in the primary.

[OhZone]

134. Frankly, bernie59 -

I would be embarrassed to still be supporting Sanders after this.

But, whatever. Do what you think is right.

[highplainsdem]

98. I agree completely. K&R

[BooScout]

101. So essentially, his Press Secretary helped elect Trump.

Again....why am I not surprised?

[Cha]

118. Yes, Briahna did, Boo. She was among those

who got suckered in by jill stein's LIES.. telling her fans that Hillary was more dangerous than trump.

[still_one]

103. Oh goody, looks like the Sanders campaign is hiring JPR consultants to help select who will be on

his campaign.

That should go over well

[Maru Kitteh]

126. I'm sure that personality disorder collective has a serious tingle up their leg.

[still_one]

127. lol

[Awsi Dooger]

116. I think I've learned more about Sanders today than all previously

Pardon my ignorance. I should have paid more attention to wise summations here.

Sirota is the most outrageous add. I clearly demonstrates there is no concern regarding truth or ethics. Sirota won't merely be writing. He'll be advising so the misrepresentation from him will show up everywhere, including from Sanders' own words and speeches. This woman is a supporting example of the overall trend and keep in mind these are only the high profile names. If the trend is distinct it reaches deep below, and far beyond where anyone can search.

Frankly I wish the standards here were the same as on a sports site. I know what I can say there. If there's a foul amongst us on a Dolphins roster I can join hundreds more in condemnation reaching dozens of pages. Here and especially regarding Bernie Sanders there is this awkward hesitation because he's sort of one of us, but not really.

The phrase Republican Lite is popular around here. This is the first actual example, in behind the scenes practice and character, if not policy.

I remember when my dad in youth taught me to root against the Florida Gators. This one I figured out all by myself.

Bernie is forgiven only if he emerges unbeaten into November

[Maru Kitteh]

122. K & R

[nbsmom]

129. Ms. Gray has Intercept bylines.

And that's me, done with Bernie.

[Eric J in MN]

132. Hillary Clinton still won NY despite that New Yorker voting for Jill Stein. NT

NT

[R B Garr]

137. They are literally why we have Trump. The Bernie or busters

who voted third party are the reason we have Trump.

[OhZone]

143. Exactly -

I'm really embarrassed for Bernie supporters at this point.

[ProfessorPlum]

144. fortunately, people can't change their minds in the course of four years.

which is why all statements from the past hold for all time.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

149. Professor, do all transgressions disappear in the fullness of time?

[LongtimeAZDem]

145. Archiving

[Blue_Tires]

153. I've been telling y'all about Brie and Sirota for years

No shock here.

[Gothmog]

156. What it means that Bernie Sanders is hiring people who think all the non-Bernie democrats are bad

Link to tweet