CA-25: Sanders endorses Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur for Katie Hill's former House seat

[RandySF]

en. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has formally endorsed Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur to fill the House seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.), breaking with leading California Democrats who back state Rep. Christy Smith.

“For years, Cenk has inspired people all across the country to organize against corrupt forces in our politics, and now he’s organizing the people in his district to do the same,” Sanders, a top-tier 2020 presidential candidate, said in a statement shared by Uygur in a series of tweets on Thursday.

"I’m endorsing Cenk because I know he will serve ordinary people, not powerful special interests. He is a voice that we desperately need in Congress and will be a great representative for CA-25 and the country," he continued.

Sanders also noted in his statement that Uygur has been “a strong advocate” for his signature health care proposal, “Medicare for All,” and believes that health care “is a human right and not a privilege.”

The left-leaning commentator has long aligned himself with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. He endorsed Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and in his current White House bid.

Uygur has also received endorsements from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and former Ohio state senator Nina Turner, who is now co-chairwoman of Sanders's presidential campaign.

Smith, meanwhile, has been endorsed by leading California Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/474368-sanders-endorses-young-turks-founder-cenk-uygur-for-house-seat

[George II]

1. A white guy who denied the Armenian Genocide for decades, indeed.....

...the guy who named his show (TYT, can't bear to type out the full name) after the group that perpetrated the Armenian Genocide. And that's not all, but....

Anyone surprised?

I'm all in with Christy Smith!

[Blue_true]

4. I have contributed to Christy's campaign.

I hope that she stomp a mudhole in Cenk. She seems smart, politically acute and solidly progressive.

[Cha]

33. Christy Smith..

Link to tweet

Pelosi endorses Christy Smith in race to replace Rep Katie Hill

“I am proud to endorse Christy Smith because she will work to fight corruption, lower the cost of prescription drugs, fully fund public schools and build a strong middle-class economy that works for all Americans,” Pelosi said in a statement shared first with CQ Roll Call.

https://www.rollcall.com/news/pelosi-endorses-christy-smith-race-replace-rep-katie-hill

[Hortensis]

2. As Msongs said: when people show you who they are, believe them.

What a crowd.

Even putting them all together and discarding what I can't accept, I wouldn't expect to find enough of what I require to make one acceptable candidate.

Yeah, makes the world go round. In another era maybe.

[Blue_true]

5. The only one that I am disappointed with is the California Congressman,

I believe that he is a good progressive that is hooked up with the wrong crowd.

[Tiggeroshii]

3. Glad to give him my vote!

[Blue_true]

6. My guess is he is going to need it. Smith appears to be very smart and

has shown that she is a tough campaigner. She has forgotten more government experience than Cenk will likely ever have. She has been visible in her district for a few years and actually LIVES there.

[Tiggeroshii]

7. I care about the best policy, not geography or petty accusations.

Or what somebody said decades ago. And I know others in my district who feel similar.

[OldRed2450]

11. Petty accusations?

We're talking about respect for women, minorities. That might be petty to you and those who endorse him but not to me. Integrity and being a good person still matter. Also, it hasn't been decades but if people are going to judge other candidates by what they did in their past they should be prepared to hold all candidates to that purity.

[Tiggeroshii]

12. He's apologized for it multiple times, and it occurred nearly 2 decades ago.

They had to scrounge for the posts in archives. He was once a horrible republican, and now is not. People do change, you know. And I as one of his voters, understand that -as do the people in this district.

[OldRed2450]

13. It hasn't even been one decade.

I saw a video just 7 years ago. Did he spend the last 7 years advocating for women? No he did not, so I don't find him sincere. Hillary was annihilated for being a Goldwater girl when she was 17 but vulgar sexist woman hater get a pass.

[Tiggeroshii]

14. What are you talking about?

The accusations are from a blog post 20 years ago.

The accusations with hillary were bullshit then, and the accusations on cenk are bullshit now.

[OldRed2450]

15. He's vile. 2013 Obama was president.

Link to tweet

[OldRed2450]

16. He refers to Lindsay Lohan's nude body as "Tits on a Stick" 2008

Link to tweet

[Tiggeroshii]

17. I don't like mysogynists

I give him a pass if it is 20 years ago and he's apologized, but that isn't okay.

I like that he's super progressive, but that behavior is certainly unbecoming of a congressperson. Thanks for sharing.

[OldRed2450]

18. You're welcome

I wouldn't call that progressive though.

[Tiggeroshii]

19. His policies are progressive.

His objectifying women like a sport is not

[comradebillyboy]

29. He is a pig. He always has been. He's no friend to women.

[Tiggeroshii]

30. Yeah I'll probably vote for Smith.

[Cha]

23. Whooopie! a "progressive" lewd serial misogynist.

[The Valley Below]

31. He's a pig and he's not progressive.

[Tiggeroshii]

35. He's a pig, with stances on policy that do fall within progressive framework

But a pig nonetheless. Not proud to have said I will support him, and am glad to my fellow DUers for opening my eyes on that.

[Cha]

22. cenk is not only a serial misogynist.. he's a lewd crude crass

ass misogynist.

[Cha]

9. And, I bet Christy Smith's Policies are Better than the

serial Misogynist.

[Cha]

8. cenk is such a serial misogynist.. jd Kicked him OUT..

Link to tweet

This is a to OldRed.. Thank you!

Too bad #Cenk2020 didn't realize how bad sexism "really" was when he spoke about how "being a whore pays off" and how "seriously skanky"' a woman can be and how "when women cheat they're more guilty than men." Not very "progressive" Cenk. And where are your tax returns?#CA25

Progressive Group Ousts Cenk Uygur Over Past Sexist Writing

The Justice Democrats ousted Cenk Uygur, one of its founding board members and a creator of progressive online network The Young Turks, following the Thursday revelation that Uygur had authored sexist blogposts in the early 2000s.

The left-leaning political organization, which Uygur and others established this year to support progressive primary challenges against Democratic incumbents in Congress, made the announcement Friday. The group also severed ties with David Koller, who co-founded The Young Turks with Uygur and served as Justice Democrats’ treasurer. A 2004 blogpost in which Koller used degrading language about women he and Uygur met on a road-trip surfaced this week as well.

“The words and conduct in Mr. Uygur and Mr. Koller’s posts degrade what it means to be a Justice Democrat,” Justice Democrats executive director Saikat Chakrabarti said in a Friday evening statement announcing the board’s decision to demand Uygur and Koller’s resignations. “We do not feel that Mr. Uygur is fit to lead or participate in an organization that truly believes women’s issues and the issues of black and brown people are all of our issues.”

The Justice Democrats board reached its decision to call for their departures after hearing Uygur’s “side of the story” and consulting with the political candidates the group has endorsed, Chakrabarti said.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/justice-democrats-ousts-cenk-uygur_us_5a3eb4d1e4b025f99e178181

[PatSeg]

20. I had no idea he was like that

I don't see how he could get very far with a documented history like that, at least not in the Democratic party. I can't believe Sanders endorsed him.

[Cha]

21. I've known this for quite awhile.. since jd kicked him out

anyway. 2 years ago.. I can't stand him so I didn't hear it on his shows

[PatSeg]

25. I remember him from his MSNBC show

but haven't paid much attention since he was fired. Hard to believe he thinks he can get elected to congress.

[OldRed2450]

24. Quid pro quo.

It's as simple as that.

[PatSeg]

26. Damn, that is really disappointing

[Cha]

27. cenk endorsed BS & BS endorses cenk.

[betsuni]

34. Ironic.

[Me.]

10. And For Katie Hill's Seat No Less

And Ro Khanna...well I guesss we know where these boys stand in regards to women!

[NYMinute]

28. ...

Deathwish and a kiss of death meet each other....

[Cha]

32. LA County Democratic Party Says Cenk Uygur 'Does Not Belong in Congress'

snip//

“Cenk Uygur’s comments are both heartless and disqualifying for someone who wants to serve in the peoples’ U.S. House of Representatives. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party does not tolerate hate or discrimination against any group or community. Instead, we celebrate the Democratic values of inclusivity, fairness, diversity, and compassion of and for people of all backgrounds and communities,” LA County Democratic Party Chair Mark J. González said in a statement. “Cenk Uygur’s shameful comments underscore the fact that he believes the opposite — and as a result he does not belong in Congress.”

snip//

In the LA County Democratic Party’s statement, the group pointed to Uygur’s comments on incest; derogatory statements about the Jewish, Muslim, and LGBTQ communities; and sexist statements he’s made toward women that were first uncovered by The Wrap.

snip//

In a 2017 interview with The Wrap, Uygur had apologized for his past graphic remarks about women, which included a claim that women were genetically “flawed” because they don’t want to have sex frequently enough.

“This kind of rhetoric has no place within the Democratic Party or our government. These remarks make Uygur unfit to serve in the House of Representatives. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the statements made and encourage all community members within the 25th Congressional District to do the same,” the alliance’s executive board said in a statement.

Representatives for “The Young Turks” did not respond to a request for comment.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/la-county-democratic-party-says-205255816.html

Cross posted from GD sheshe~

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=12776339

Yeah, it's so easy to say you're sorry for years of serial lewd misogynistic behavior.. I'm not buying it.

[Cha]

36. KICK!

[NurseJackie]

37. Considering what a cretin and misogynist Cenk is... this doesn't reflect very well on Bernie.

Add to that, Cenk's defense of bestiality (or animal sexual abuse) ... ie: he approves as long as the horse comes and is sexually gratified too ... something like this can really throw a spanner into the BS campaign machinery and bring things to a grinding halt.

It's just remarkable to me that this could happen.

I mean, all I'm trying to say is... it's SO EASY to do even the most perfunctory vetting on Google, and they didn't even do that.

Amazing.