# 2016 Bernie Sanders (D-VT) campaign for POTUS thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [April 28, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754 "2015-04-28T22:40:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 50

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/981 "2016-03-06T08:11:17Z")

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> [@foolsguinea](#):
>
> Trump emphasizes things differently, but the difference is which _side_ of a person the candidate appeals to.
> 
> Add in concerns about any candidate being a lackey to billionaires, and suddenly the overlap in appeal between the two non-PAC candidates is obvious.

The point that you aren’t addressing tho (and that is missing from **Irishman** ’s analysis as well, I think) is that _to Sanders supporters_ Trump is by definition a lackey to a billionaire: himself. That alone disqualifies him from receiving their support.

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**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/982 "2016-03-06T22:49:53Z")

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Well, I don’t think he’s a lackey, but he’s not “one of us,” no.

Anyway, the larger point is that it’s not one-dimensional. The core Sanders voter might not vote for Trump, and the core Trump voter (whatever that is) might not vote for Sanders; but the penumbra of support each has overlaps somewhere around secular, vaguely nationalistic protectionists. America Firsters might prefer Trump, while hardcore union types might prefer Sanders, but those guys are right next to each other in some ways.

(Really, given that Kasich & Rubio are super-Catholic, Ted Cruz apparently worships Petroleum Jesus, and Hillary is supposed to be a devout Methodist, it shouldn’t be surprising that Trump & Sanders have overlap just for both being near the secular end of the religiosity scale.)

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/983 "2016-03-07T00:56:12Z")

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> [@Leaper](#):
>
> Okay, fine, that introduces a question I’ve had for a while: what proportion of Sanders supporters, especially the enthusiastic ones, do you think support him “just” because he’s an outsider who speaks his mind, and what proportion support him because they believe in his values and policies?

I don’t think it’s as simple as an either/or.

> [@](#):
>
> Because by my (admittedly limited) experience, the latter is the much larger group, and given that, I don’t see how any of them would support Trump, who runs anathema to everything Bernie advocates and holds dear.

Trump is running on a platform of populism, trying to promote himself as a champion of the working class, of the downtrodden and underrepresented in Washington. He is casting himself as free from serving the monied class and special interests because he isn’t taking their money. His policies are less clear. Sure, “build a wall” and “no Muslims”, but he’s also for replacing Obamacare with a different system that supposedly does everything it does, but better. He wants to “Make America Great Again”, bring jobs to America. Those are all things that appeal to Bernie’s demographic.

> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> The point that you aren’t addressing tho (and that is missing from **Irishman** ’s analysis as well, I think) is that _to Sanders supporters_ Trump is by definition a lackey to a billionaire: himself. That alone disqualifies him from receiving their support.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Trump is very much the epitome of the special interests. You really think he won’t champion big business interests? He _is_ big business. Sadly, many of Trumps supporters are buying his story that he will do what’s right for America and the American people. They seem to think a big business billionaire is their best champion. And I’m afraid, though I don’t really have any evidence, that some Bernie supporters would buy his line and support him over Hillary.

I could certainly be wrong. I would love to be wrong. But that’s my impression, and I’m not the only one to say it. I heard it from some pundit on TV news this weekend (I didn’t commit to memory who or where or when).

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/984 "2016-04-08T22:29:28Z")

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[The Vatican has invited Sanders to attend an April 15 conference on social justice and economic issues.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-attend-vatican-city-meeting-economic-social-issues-n552866) The NY primary is April 19.

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**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/985 "2016-04-08T22:56:54Z")

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A spokeswoman for the Vatican denied that Bernie was invited. She said he invited himself, and he was lying about the invitation and she felt he was being rude. And then another Vatican spokesman said, “No, he was invited. By me.”

Bernie didn’t say anything, just posted the invitation on Twitter.

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/986 "2016-04-08T23:12:31Z")

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> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#):
>
> A spokeswoman for the Vatican denied that Bernie was invited. She said he invited himself, and he was lying about the invitation and she felt he was being rude. And then another Vatican spokesman said, “No, he was invited. By me.”

Matthew 6:3. “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”

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**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/987 "2016-04-09T02:06:25Z")

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> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> [The Vatican has invited Sanders to attend an April 15 conference on social justice and economic issues.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-attend-vatican-city-meeting-economic-social-issues-n552866) The NY primary is April 19.

The Pope would have invited Hillary but he couldn’t afford her speaking fees.

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**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/988 "2016-04-09T03:59:39Z")

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> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> [The Vatican has invited Sanders to attend an April 15 conference on social justice and economic issues.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-attend-vatican-city-meeting-economic-social-issues-n552866) The NY primary is April 19.

I’ve seen it pointed out on another forum that NY is 40 percent Catholic, much higher than the national average, and apparently most of the other remaining primaries are also higher in Catholics than average.

While I’m sure Bernie does share the popes view on many things and wanted to do this talk, this could also be seen as a good political move. Win or lose I suspect Bernie will go onto being a global statesmen figure, his international reputation is stellar. He could do a lot of good in a Jimmy Carter type role even without ever holding the Presidency.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/989 "2016-04-09T04:06:11Z")

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> [@coremelt](#):
>
> I’ve seen it pointed out on another forum that NY is 40 percent Catholic, much higher than the national average, and apparently most of the other remaining primaries are also higher in Catholics than average.
> 
> While I’m sure Bernie does share the popes view on many things and wanted to do this talk, this could also be seen as a good political move. Win or lose I suspect Bernie will go onto being a global statesmen figure, his international reputation is stellar. He could do a lot of good in a Jimmy Carter type role even without ever holding the Presidency.

I think it’s also an admission that the campaign knows he’s not winning NY. Yeah, I know it’s proportional, but they’re expecting his gains from the trip (BIG ASSUME: he actually sees the Pope) to be greater than his losses from missing campaigning.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/990 "2016-04-09T04:10:01Z")

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> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#):
>
> The Pope would have invited Hillary but he couldn’t afford her speaking fees.

Okay, that’s a good one. 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/991 "2016-04-09T04:18:13Z")

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> [@Johnny\_Ace](#):
>
> I think it’s also an admission that the campaign knows he’s not winning NY. Yeah, I know it’s proportional, but they’re expecting his gains from the trip (BIG ASSUME: he actually sees the Pope) to be greater than his losses from missing campaigning.

Well who is to say that his televised speech from the vatican won’t have a better effect on the NY primary than two days of in person campaigning? He can fly to Rome from NY give the speech and be back within 24 hours. Presumably the Catholics in NY that want to watch his speech will be able to find it either online or broadcast.

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**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/992 "2016-04-09T04:20:51Z")

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> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> [The Vatican has invited Sanders to attend an April 15 conference on social justice and economic issues.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-attend-vatican-city-meeting-economic-social-issues-n552866) The NY primary is April 19.

> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#):
>
> A spokeswoman for the Vatican denied that Bernie was invited. She said he invited himself, and he was lying about the invitation and she felt he was being rude. And then another Vatican spokesman said, “No, he was invited. By me.”
> 
> Bernie didn’t say anything, just posted the invitation on Twitter.

What the hell. Is this satire? He claimed he was invited but the Vatican is calling him a liar? Then the Vatican backed his invitation? **Rick Kitchen** do you have a cite?

Then on the 15th? The date Hillary offered him a debate on, that was refused? It’s only been about a week but I remember Sanders supporters claiming Hillary only offered the 14th and 15th because she knew Bernie couldn’t make it do to an already scheduled rally on the 14th. Now he has time to fly to Rome? Was a trip to Itally already scheduled too? Hows that not conflict with the NYC Rally?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/993 "2016-04-09T04:23:49Z")

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> [@boytyperanma](#):
>
> What the hell. Is this satire? He claimed he was invited but the Vatican is calling him a liar? Then the Vatican backed his invitation? **Rick Kitchen** do you have a cite?
> 
> Then on the 15th? The date Hillary offered him a debate on, that was refused? It’s only been about a week but I remember Sanders supporters claiming Hillary only offered the 14th and 15th because she knew Bernie couldn’t make it do to an already scheduled rally on the 14th. Now he has time to fly to Rome? Was a trip to Itally already scheduled too? Hows that not conflict with the NYC Rally?

The debate is next Thursday night, the 14th.

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**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/994 "2016-04-09T04:34:06Z")

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> [@boytyperanma](#):
>
> What the hell. Is this satire? He claimed he was invited but the Vatican is calling him a liar? Then the Vatican backed his invitation? **Rick Kitchen** do you have a cite?
> 
> Then on the 15th? The date Hillary offered him a debate on, that was refused? It’s only been about a week but I remember Sanders supporters claiming Hillary only offered the 14th and 15th because she knew Bernie couldn’t make it do to an already scheduled rally on the 14th. Now he has time to fly to Rome? Was a trip to Itally already scheduled too? Hows that not conflict with the NYC Rally?

[http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-08/so-who-exactly-invited-bernie-sanders-to-the-vatican](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-08/so-who-exactly-invited-bernie-sanders-to-the-vatican)

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**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/995 "2016-04-09T04:43:45Z")

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> [@Johnny\_Ace](#):
>
> The debate is next Thursday night, the 14th.

Ah I missed a news cycle looks like Deblaso promised Sanders help in moving the rally to accommodate a debate on the 14th.

The logistics still aren’t making much sense. He’s in a debate till 11pm on the 14th. It’s an 8 hour flight from NY-Rome. I doubt there are any commercial flights leaving NY for after 11pm. So is he’ll have to be on a private flight? Flying direct from the podium at 11pm he still wouldn’t be in Rome till after noon on the 15th. A private flight is likely slower. At best it’s a shitty schedule at worst he’s missing the event he’s claiming to attend.

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**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/996 "2016-04-09T04:56:13Z")

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> [@boytyperanma](#):
>
> A private flight is likely slower…

Thats simply not true, private flights are almost always faster, because he would get driven straight to the jet with no queues, immigration comes to him to clear him and the plane takes off as soon as hes on board. Modern business jets are just as fast as the big airliners and have the range to do a NYC-Rome trip. I think Bernie can afford to charter a private plane for the trip.

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**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/997 "2016-04-09T05:08:34Z")

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> [@coremelt](#):
>
> Thats simply not true, private flights are almost always faster, because he would get driven straight to the jet with no queues, immigration comes to him to clear him and the plane takes off as soon as hes on board. Modern business jets are just as fast as the big airliners and have the range to do a NYC-Rome trip. I think Bernie can afford to charter a private plane for the trip.

Actual flight time. I wasn’t even taking into account logistics of immigration or security. The commercial flights from NY-Rome are often 747’s or an A-380 those are pretty fast jets.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/998 "2016-04-09T05:38:02Z")

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> [@boytyperanma](#):
>
> What the hell. Is this satire? He claimed he was invited but the Vatican is calling him a liar? Then the Vatican backed his invitation? **Rick Kitchen** do you have a cite? …

I thought it was a joke but then saw [this](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/bernie-sanders-vatican-conference-221708). Pretty much the same info as in Rick’s link.

This at least seems like an honest poor communication process, even if it is unclear if he initiated the invitation or it was spontaneously offered. What? A Jewish Vermonter should know Holy See from the Holy Bay?

Sánchez Sorondo seems to be a fan in any case, but I suspect someone may be having words with him at some point. I doubt the Pope wanted to get involved in U.S. Presidential election politicking or to even give the appearance of being willing to be used as a prop.

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/999 "2016-04-09T05:42:01Z")

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> [@boytyperanma](#):
>
> The commercial flights from NY-Rome are often 747’s or an A-380 those are pretty fast jets.

Not as fast as any of [these](https://www.lidojets.com/blog/private-jets-that-can-satisfy-your-need-for-speed-here-are-the-5-fastest-jets-in-the-sky/).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-bernie-sanders-d-vt-campaign-for-potus-thread/718754/1000 "2016-04-09T05:49:36Z")

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I hope this does not come off as frothing 🙂 but does this strike anyone as having similarities to McCain’s suspension of his campaign?

Is it unfair to suggest that this gives new meaning to throwing a Hail Mary? 🙂

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