Is this candidate pro wall now?

[Eliot Rosewater]

Link to tweet

Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigns in Oskaloosa, IA: "If you open the borders, there's a lot of poverty in this world, and you're going to have people from all over the world. And I don't think that's something that we can do at this point. Can't do it."

[SHRED]

1. No one is advocating "open borders" are they?

The majority want a sane immigration policy to replace the chaos that exists now.

[UniteFightBack]

42. I'm getting that he is implying he is not for open borders but ya know those

other Democrats....it's kinda questionable. That is what I think he is doing.

[mcar]

54. That's how I'm reading it too

[MH1]

66. Yep, trust Bernie

to undermine Democrats.

I feel like him running this time is all about that.

[Lancero]

77. According to the RW talking points, Democrats are all for open borders.

Pity that some Democrats are willing to drink of the kool-aid that is Fox News.

[Hortensis]

86. Right. No sensible person's for "open borders" in this world,

and he's explaining that that unicorn idea wouldn't work. Probably he drew a few who heard the phrase the Repubs are spreading everywhereand now mistake wishful thinking for achievable goals.

In the meantime, in the real world:

Trump Signals Even Fiercer Immigration Agenda, With a Possible Return of Family Separations

... But the longer term effect of the eruption of Oval Office frustration is likely to be a burst of hard-line policies that stand out even in an administration that has pursued an unprecedented series of executive actions and rules changes aimed at reducing legal and illegal immigration into the United States.

In addition to urging Mr. Trump to revisit the idea of family separation, several of the president’s closest immigration confidants have been pushing him to consider even harsher measures.

Those include further limits on who can seek asylum; stronger action to close ports of entry along the Mexican border; an executive order to end birthright citizenship; more aggressive construction of a border wall; and a more robust embrace of active-duty troops to secure the border against illegal immigration.

In an administration that is famous for chaos and last-minute decision-making, it is unclear on which of those policies the president might choose to move forward. But by removing Ms. Nielsen, Mr. Vitiello and perhaps others, Mr. Trump is getting rid of voices who sometimes cautioned him against taking actions they believed to be illegal or unwise.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/us/politics/trump-asylum-seekers-federal-judge.html

[dogman]

2. Where do you see "wall" or any reference to a wall in this statement?

You might be building a strawman.

[Sinistrous]

11. It looks as though the Bash Bernie Brigade

is having to reach further afield for material in their screeds.

[Demsrule86]

31. He says we don't want poor people coming? And you are able to approve of this?

[Sinistrous]

34. Thank you for providing a case-in-point.

[George II]

45. "Bash Bernie Brigade", really?

[Sinistrous]

85. Yep.

A catchy label for this particular gaggle of frenetic malcontents. They are reliable, though — they always swarm to rail against any positive statement by or about Sen. Sanders. It is getting quite amusing, actually.

[Lancero]

75. Which is odd, since his statement is pretty much the party platform.

They're for secure borders, not open borders. But hey, why not draw on RW talking points for inspiration?

[Autumn]

15. When the first part of the quote is selectively left out it changes things.

Big time. This is the full quote

"I think what we need is simply comprehensive immigration reform, that is not simply, you're quite right, your point is if you open the borders, there's a lot of poverty in this world, people from all over the world," he said. "And I don't think that's something we can do at this point."

[dogman]

21. Yes.

And still no "wall" mentioned. Just the old straw man, but it's hard to slime someone with truth so he has to create something.

[Autumn]

52. We know how stampedes work.

[UniteFightBack]

43. Why is he even saying "IF YOU OPEN THE BORDERS"...who says that? Who wants that? Why

is he saying that???

[Autumn]

44. He was asked at a town hall why he supports open borders. He doesn't, he clarified that

to the audience member.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday shot back at those who suggest he supports open borders, saying high levels of global poverty would make an open borders policy complicated.

When asked at an Oskaloosa, Iowa, town hall why he supported open borders, the 2020 White House candidate was quick to clarify his stance.


“I’m afraid you may be getting your information wrong," Sanders replied, according to The Washington Post. "I think what we need is comprehensive immigration reform.”

“Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it,” the Vermont lawmaker continued.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437790-bernie-sanders-blasts-open-borders-theres-a-lot-of-poverty-in-this-world

[UniteFightBack]

46. Thank you for the snip. I think he should of left out that last paragraph completely. I 'don't

think that's something we can do at this point'....so maybe in the future we can or were we considering in the past...???

Shoulda left that OUT.

[Autumn]

51. Well we probably could leave that out if we are answering questions at a town hall.

But I don't plan on holding a town hall so I'll just let the candidates answer the questions asked of them. I'm not one to appoint myself as someone to gets decide what people should or shouldn't say, nor how they should say it. I'm more than capable of figuring out what a person means, especially in a setting like that.

[UniteFightBack]

61. Oh brother! Good luck with yourself. nt

[Autumn]

63. Don't need luck. I'm doing just fine, thank you. nt

[vsrazdem]

3. Oh please, gimme a break. He is resonding to the Republican talking points that

Democrats want open borders. Just trying to stir it up again.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I don't think anybody is in favor of open borders. That's what Trump likes to accuse

Democrats of when he talks about his stupid wall. But there's a whole range of possibilities between open borders and walls - I don't think Bernie is pro-wall, either.

[George II]

7. "Open borders" is a trump concoction - one of "our" candidates talking about that is essentially....

....agreeing with trump. I'm not happy about that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. I think it's a term that's best avoided because using it makes the candidate sound like

they are agreeing with Trump's binary thinking (everything that isn't a wall is open borders) even though they aren't.

[Autumn]

20. It just sounds that way when a person decided to only quote a small part that suits their narrative.

"I think what we need is simply comprehensive immigration reform, that is not simply, you're quite right, your point is if you open the borders, there's a lot of poverty in this world, people from all over the world," he said. "And I don't think that's something we can do at this point."

Yeah what we need is simply comprehensive immigration reform sounds just like Trump.

[mcar]

56. His first clause is fine, the rest of it falls into the Dotard

talking points that Democrats want open borders.

He could have said the first and then explained to the questioner that no Democratic candidate wants open borders, that this is a lie pushed by Trump and Republicans. Then he could have gone on to talk about the Kochs.

[Eliot Rosewater]

22. We know why he is using these words, we know. We know.

[Autumn]

26. Then you should enlighten the rest of us please.

No one, not one Democrat or an ally has called for open borders or Trumps wall.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

29. And we know why people chop parts of the quotes. We know we know

[TexasTowelie]

53. Yes, I've seen several members parse quotes and articles on this site.

[George II]

5. NO Democrat is advocating "open borders" or "opening the border". What Democrats rightfully....

....advocate is allowing immigration by people endangered in their home countries and, most importantly, KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER!!!

[Renew Deal]

6. Trumps favorite candidate

Notice that he never says anything really negative about him?

[WeekiWater]

8. He has started limiting his populist speech in this area.

This is the softer populism he is selling. It why it sounds forced. It's not exactly what he would like to say.

[dubyadiprecession]

9. Bernie,You can peal off that mask now...

..and reveal who you really are.

[BlueFlorida]

19. ...

The visual was precious

[Eliot Rosewater]

28. I have asked this now several times, will it matter?

Will his support not be shaken, so to speak?

I dont know, what I know is if my candidate wouldnt release tax returns or wouldnt go for sanctions on Russia, I would RUN away from them.

[Demsrule86]

32. Nothing ...

[Eliot Rosewater]

35. We have to stop fucking around and WARN people, I am losing patience.

[dogman]

62. I would run from a lot of things, but I don't need to rip any candidate to like my choice.

If he has not released his tax return around the 15th as he stated he would, I would stop supporting him financially. I look more to him voting no on all the admin defense budgets, unlike all of the others, than a symbolic vote on sanctions. Nope, not shook.

[trueblue2007]

55. Mmmmmmmm ..... What you said !!!

[delisen]

10. Sanders is not defining what he means by opening the borders-it is political speak

[Demsrule86]

33. If you say so.

Turn away the poor?

[Autumn]

13. Eliot, if one selectively cuts out a good chunk of the quote it changes what he really said

radically. It's a tacky deceitful thing to do but it get done all the time. I always look up what I see on Twitter YMMV. How does Bernie being for comprehensive immigration reform lead to the conclusion that's he's for the wall? Like Trump? Which candidate is for open borders? Is Harris for open borders?

"I think what we need is simply comprehensive immigration reform, that is not simply, you're quite right, your point is if you open the borders, there's a lot of poverty in this world, people from all over the world," he said. "And I don't think that's something we can do at this point."

[BlueFlorida]

17. He should have said

"not a single Democrat advocates open borders and nor do I. I am for a comprehensive immigration reform."

Agreeing with a RWNJ is not the way it is done.

[Autumn]

24. He did. "I think what we need is simply comprehensive immigration reform"

You should get a job telling Bernie what to say. Or maybe help out your candidate.

[BlueFlorida]

37. He didn't say "none" of the Democrats are for open borders

and I don't need to work for a candidate to comment.

Some things are a given .... no candidate needs aides to tell him/her to brush teeth or take a shower.

[Nanjeanne]

38. Why would he respond for other candidates when the question is to him at a Town Hall?

To do that would be presumptuous.

[BlueFlorida]

48. Simply because one has to advance the party's position

as well as one's own.

As an extreme example,

If he were to be asked, "Are you for slavery?" and he says, "I am against slavery", it implies "oh .. I don't know about those other Democrats, you'll have to ask them"

Same goes about affirmative action, abortion, unions and many other issues.

If he cared for the party as a whole and where he has common ground with other candidates running, it doesn't hurt him to speak for the party.

[mcar]

57. +1000

[Nanjeanne]

67. Seriously? All the candidates need to do this when asked their position? That's what you think?

Ok then. Let’s see how that goes.

[Autumn]

40. Write him a sternly worded letter. Who knows? He may decide change his answers

to please someone on a small message board. I think it's up to candidates to give their own answers to questions they are asked. The person didn't ask if all Democrats are for open borders. The person asked Bernie why he, Bernie, supported open borders. Bernie doesn't.

Most of us don't need him to explain his complete answer to a question at a political event because we read it in the complete context.

Like brush your teeth before you go to bed, or take a shower playing in the mud. See how context works? Without context it sounds like one is talking to a 4 year old. I don't think 4 year old attend political events and ask question of candidates.

When asked at an Oskaloosa, Iowa, town hall why he supported open borders, the 2020 White House candidate was quick to clarify his stance.

“I’m afraid you may be getting your information wrong," Sanders replied, according to The Washington Post. "I think what we need is comprehensive immigration reform.”

“Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it,” the Vermont lawmaker continue

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437790-bernie-sanders-blasts-open-borders-theres-a-lot-of-poverty-in-this-world

[Eliot Rosewater]

18. Copy and pasted EXACTLY what was in the tweet I linked FACT

In fact I didnt even need to do that, it is in the tweet.

Stop falsely accusing me of things that are CLEARLY false.

[Autumn]

23. Did you miss this from my post? I gave you good advice, I didn't say you did it.

Eliot, if one selectively cuts out a good chunk of the quote it changes what he really said radically. It's a tacky deceitful thing to do but it get done all the time. I always look up what I see on Twitter

[Nanjeanne]

39. So much on Twitter is selective button pushing I can't form an honest response

without researching what the tweet quote is in actuality.

My blood pressure would go sky high if I honestly took a tweet - even one with quotes around it - as fact. I like finding articles to read from Twitter. But as a source of reality? Not so much. Sanders statement is perfectly legitimate in its entirety and came from a question posed to him so his real response can’t be boiled down into a few characters.

[ms liberty]

64. Bonjour!

[BlueFlorida]

14. Sure seems like it nt

[awesomerwb1]

16. The only "problem" I have

and most Dems' to be honest, is that we're playing into the Rep's hands if we don't correct the "open borders" BS.

To begin with, his base does not know what open borders means. They think it's Custom and Border Patrol agents waving everybody in who shows up at the border. They're that ignorant and dumb.

Open borders mostly applies to the EU which has "open borders" once you've gone through customs (if you're not an EU resident) of any of the EU member countries. Once you've gone through customs of any EU member country with the right paper work/visa etc, then you can visit any EU member country for the period of time your visa is valid for.

I wish ALL Dems ridiculed the open borders bull***t every time it came up.

[SidDithers]

30. Gotta chase the "economical anxious" white working class vote...nt

Sid

[Agschmid]

36. No one is advocating open borders, it's an odd statement.

[Autumn]

68. It wasn't a statement. It was an answer to a question asked by a person at the town hall.

He was asked at an Oskaloosa, Iowa, town hall why he supported open borders, (which no Democrats are advocating for or support AFAIK)

“I’m afraid you may be getting your information wrong," Sanders replied, according to The Washington Post. "I think what we need is comprehensive immigration reform.”

“Oh my god, there’s a lot of poverty in this world, and you’re going to have people from all over the world. And I don’t think that’s something that we can do at this point. Can’t do it,” the Vermont lawmaker continued.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437790-bernie-sanders-blasts-open-borders-theres-a-lot-of-poverty-in-this-world

[Agschmid]

73. Cool, thanks for clarifying! 👍

Sorry I failed at reading comprehension.

[Autumn]

74. You can't read what's left out of the tweet.

[Agschmid]

79. Yeah but let's be honest I should know better and Google before I go off

[Autumn]

80. I know I google every tweet. I have been stunned as to what has been posted and

promoted as facts about Bernie and a few other Democrats. It seems to be a well used tactic.

[LakeArenal]

41. Historically it is the poor that come here.

Also huddled masses yearning to be free.

Nothing about first class passengers.

[MineralMan]

47. He's just trying to differentiate himself from the rest.

He's doing it in rather a clumsy way, though. While he knows what he means by "open borders," there are more than a couple of definitions for that term, and not everyone hears that in the same way.

He was in Iowa when he said that. Farm country. Kind of conservative, there, the voters are. So Bernie played to a certain group in Iowa and is trying to pick up some support from that group.

Watch. Now, he'll have to take some time to explain what he really meant by that, because it's going to be misunderstood by other groups of voters he needs to attract.

It's a narrow, narrow ledge he's walking.

[marylandblue]

59. I don't think so. He is rather Trumpian in a way, but not racist.

Restricting immigration resonates with the voters he is trying to attract. If they like this line of thought, he will repeat it. But he will make it a jobs and benefits issue rather than crime.

[MineralMan]

60. I don't think he's a racist. I think he has a different definition of "open borders"

than you or I do. He wrongly assumes that people will understand what he means. They won't.

Bernie Sanders often speaks in a way that assumes that people understand what he really means. They don't.

Bernie knows what he means, though. He's going to be trying to explain it this week. Next week, he'll say something else that gets misunderstood. That's Bernie's way, see.

It all depends on which audience he's addressing, really. His comments on "open borders" were spoken to an audience in Iowa.

But Senator Sanders knows what he means. He'll try to explain things if people misunderstand. That will create further misunderstandings if things go the way they usually do.

[cwydro]

49. I guess he thinks we're "full" too.

A view just like the shitgibbon’s.

Funny that.

[melman]

65. Do you?

Do you guess that? Why?

Surely you know he didn't say anything remotely like that.

[Lunabell]

50. I'm definitely undecided now.

[lunamagica]

58. Reminds me of when he was on the Doobs show.

[Gothmog]

69. K&R

[KayF]

70. the question was propaganda

and some people responding here are helping propagate it. The questioner, and some people here, are saying opposition to the wall constitutes supporting open borders.

I am confident Bernie has the ability to cut through it.

[TCJ70]

71. Maybe in your Bernie-is-the-enemy-I-can't-talk-about fantasy land...

...but in reality, no.

[Cha]

72. Is BS feeding the nonsense that

Dems are for "open borders"?

[melman]

76. No

[NurseJackie]

78. Yes. Subtle, but yes.

It's just another attack.

[Cha]

82. That's what many on twiitter are

saying, too. Only not so subtly

Mahalo, Jackie

[NurseJackie]

83. I won't be gaslighted. I'm smarter than people give me credit for.

And so are you!

He mea kupaianahaʻoe.

[Cha]

84. Yeah, just look who's

advising BS.. 3rd party stein voters.

Hoa Aloha

[Trenzalore]

81. I'm not a fan of Bernie but don't think that is at all what he was saying

There needs to be a border policy and a legal immigration system. No one is advocating chaos.