# Why don't you support Bernie Sanders? (if you don't) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 17, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632 "2019-06-17T02:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/701 "2020-02-08T06:43:28Z")
Because Bernie was present when the original “swords into plowshares” line was written? In the abstract, I want to agree with him. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just get along? And I have had similar thoughts. Why not try reassuring Iran/North Korea etc. that war would suck and we’d rather have peace? However, I remember the world taking a dump on my idealism quite recently when US soldiers departed from Syria. Turkey invaded the next goddamn day. I wish we didn’t live in that world but we do. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/702 "2020-02-08T12:14:01Z")
Matt Yglesias on how Bernie isn’t some extremist no-compromise whacko, but rather a very skilled and experienced politician: [How Bernie Sanders won the Democratic debate - Vox](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/7/21128979/bernie-sanders-won-democratic-debate) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/703 "2020-02-10T02:49:27Z")
Sanders, having had his first heart attack at age 78 a few months back, now backtracks on his promise to release medical records: [Bernie Sanders Backtracks Promise To Release Medical Records, Says ‘I’m in Good Health’](https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-backtracks-promise-to-release-medical-records-says-im-in-good-health) ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/704 "2020-02-10T03:35:12Z")
Really? What is up with this line of attack? Is there one single person in the entire country who is going to base their vote in November on who is more honest in the disclosure of their medical records? If so, they will surely vote for any of the plausible Democratic nominees, so no problem. And if not, why are you even talking about it? Also, you’re asking us to take this seriously when your link is to a site which lists this as the top story and #4 is “I Tested a Pair of Samuel Hubbard Frequent Traveler Slip-Ons And My Feet Felt Like They Were Walking on Butter”? Based on this link, I have no idea how much of his record Sanders has or has not actually released. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/705 "2020-02-10T05:22:52Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Also, you’re asking us to take this seriously when your link is to a site which lists this as the top story and #4 is “I Tested a Pair of Samuel Hubbard Frequent Traveler Slip-Ons And My Feet Felt Like They Were Walking on Butter”? Based on this link, I have no idea how much of his record Sanders has or has not actually released. The article links an interview of Bernie Sanders with Chuck Todd. Bernie Sanders, at the end of that [interview](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/full-sanders-i-am-in-good-health-78421061929), says how much of his medical record he has released. (letters, etc) ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/706 "2020-02-10T05:44:34Z")
Bernie was too old in 2016, and now he’s had a heart attack. I’ll support him as the nominee, but he should have dropped out once his health was compromised. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/707 "2020-02-10T05:50:20Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Really? What is up with this line of attack? There is no line of attack. There is sharing information that he is not healthy. He had a heard attack and now is too unhealthy to share his records. The only reason not to share them is that you think doing so will hurt your chances. Personally, this isn’t a big deal to me, as this is what a Vice President is for. The only reason why Trump’s was a big deal was the obvious lies the doctor had to tell to satisfy Trump’s ego–showing just how deranged he is. Since Trump also won’t release his, it’s not really a viable strategy for the Pubs to go after Sanders over it. And I really don’t care if it hurts Sanders in the primaries, because I just want the candidate with the best shot to win. There just isn’t enough daylight between the candidates with a chance at winning for me to care too much who the eventual winner is. All are going to have to deal with the political reality that only incrementalism can actually get passed, so all that matters is that they all push in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/708 "2020-02-10T07:36:33Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Bernie was too old in 2016, and now he’s had a heart attack. I’ll support him as the nominee, but he should have dropped out once his health was compromised. Similar here. I was emotionally for Bernie in '16 but never had opportunity to vote for him. Now he is just too old, period. And someone serious about the job of POTUS gets aged very fast. The best argument for Bernie is if he picks Warren for Veep and then dies in office, she succeeds. But if he gets the nomination, expect a billion-buck campaign stenciling COMMUNIST ☭ BERNIE on every eyeball in the country. Biden is also too old but the whole Ukraine fiasco shows this POTUS really really fears him. I think Bernie is seen as an easier target and that’s probably right, alas. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/709 "2020-02-10T17:56:50Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Similar here. I was emotionally for Bernie in '16 but never had opportunity to vote for him. Now he is just too old, period. And someone serious about the job of POTUS gets aged very fast. The best argument for Bernie is if he picks Warren for Veep and then dies in office, she succeeds. But if he gets the nomination, expect a billion-buck campaign stenciling COMMUNIST ☭ BERNIE on every eyeball in the country. > > Biden is also too old but the whole Ukraine fiasco shows this POTUS really really fears him. I think Bernie is seen as an easier target and that’s probably right, alas. I am not sure why but the Kremlin and the GOP both supported Bernie. Either, as you say- they are scared of Biden- or they have some stuff ready which will defeat Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/710 "2020-02-10T18:02:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I am not sure why but the Kremlin and the GOP both supported Bernie. > > Either, as you say- they are scared of Biden- or they have some stuff ready which will defeat Sanders. I think painting Bernie as a socialist will be trivially easy. The GOP is quite eager for that fight. The Kremlin is just in it for the lols & chaos. Biden’s voting demographic is too similar to Trump’s. Therefore Biden is the largest threat to Trump by far. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/711 "2020-02-11T00:17:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I am not sure why but the Kremlin and the GOP both supported Bernie. > > Either, as you say- they are scared of Biden- or they have some stuff ready which will defeat Sanders. GOP probably see Bernie as a liability for dems to keep the house. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/712 "2020-02-11T00:30:49Z")
It’s also pretty clear the GOP know the Bernie wing of the party if unhappy can split the party. Bernie was the one who was running against the \*corrupt democratic establishment \* in 2015 which Trump picked up on to make it like Hillary rigged the primary. She won by 4 million votes and by every other mathematical measure but still! They’re doing the same now not because they have sympathy for Bernie but it helps them to have a divided democratic party at a time when it needs to be united more than ever. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/713 "2020-02-11T02:09:36Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Matt Yglesias on how Bernie isn’t some extremist no-compromise whacko, but rather a very skilled and experienced politician: [How Bernie Sanders won the Democratic debate - Vox](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/7/21128979/bernie-sanders-won-democratic-debate) He is. I saw him interviewed Sunday and he did a good job of making his proposals sound moderate and unthreatening. But he’s not going to be portrayed that way. But I need to keep reminding everyone this election is going to be a nasty dirty fight with a bunch of people, some of them at the highest level of government, screaming lies and half-truths and misinformation from all sorts of platforms, including official government ones. I’m sure they’re going to make the most of the scandals that are already out there, but I’m pretty they’re also going to incite fear of a stock market collapse. If there are market drops that coincide with Bernie wins, they’ll make the most out of it. They’re going to try to scare Democrats with retirement accounts into staying home. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/714 "2020-02-11T02:28:17Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > If there are market drops that coincide with Bernie wins, they’ll make the most out of it. They’re going to try to scare Democrats with retirement accounts into staying home. My initial gut reaction is that the stock market won’t digest Bernie wins easily. On the other hand, the Senate is likely to remain in Republican hands, so maybe the markets assume that divided government means nothing will get done and thus, won’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/715 "2020-02-11T03:11:23Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Because Bernie was present when the original “swords into plowshares” line was written? > > In the abstract, I want to agree with him. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just get along? And I have had similar thoughts. Why not try reassuring Iran/North Korea etc. that war would suck and we’d rather have peace? > > However, I remember the world taking a dump on my idealism quite recently when US soldiers departed from Syria. Turkey invaded the next goddamn day. I wish we didn’t live in that world but we do. Uh, you know Bernie opposed the withdrawal from Syria, right? So what exactly is it you think you “want to agree with”? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/716 "2020-02-11T03:19:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I am not sure why but the Kremlin and the GOP both supported Bernie. Same reason some Democrats supported Trump in 2016. They figured he’d be easier to beat. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/717 "2020-02-11T13:41:39Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But I need to keep reminding everyone this election is going to be a nasty dirty fight with a bunch of people, some of them at the highest level of government, screaming lies and half-truths and misinformation from all sorts of platforms, including official government ones. To be fair, it’ll come from Republicans, too. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/718 "2020-02-11T13:47:20Z")
just like 2016 he probably won’t quit the race until all the primaries are over. Of course he could win the nomination and not need to quit ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/719 "2020-02-11T18:43:45Z")
[quote=“Barack\_Obama, post:1, topic:835632”] Give me reasons why you would not support Sanders as president.{/quote] I don’t support him as nominee. I’ll vote for him but I would prefer someone more electable. But if he is who we pick, I will salute. Stuff I disagree with him on: He wants to get rid of private health insurance. He supports the Green New Deal. His ideas of right to a living wage are untenable He wants to turn the social safety net into a hammock He is pandering to the gun control crowd with an assault weapons ban. He wants to cancel all student debt regardless of ability to pay. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/720 "2020-02-11T19:24:01Z")
I think Bernie Sanders would be the absolute best thing that could happen to the USA. Assuming he wasn’t completely shut down by a GOP Senate and his own party, it would help to dispel the myth that socialism is EVIL and will be the downfall of the country. I would _love_ for Sanders to become president. He’s probably the only American nominee I would consider voting for if he were running in Canada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632.md?page=37)