There was a time when I admired Bernie Sanders but that was a while ago now. I finally decided that I simply don’t like his character, and that’s admittedly a highly subjective thing. I have my feelings and maybe yours are quite different. I don’t see much point in arguing about it.
Every so often, Sanders does something that validates my worst suspicions about him. And his decision to endorse Cenk Uygur’s candidacy for office is most definitely a great example. Simply put, Uygur is a fraud and even a cursory familiarly with him should make this glaringly obvious. Some people are complaining that he’s done some stupid and sexist things, and I don’t downplay that importance of these past sins, but his flaws are far more fundamental than that. He’s an entertainer who’s political beliefs are malleable. He found a profitable niche on the far left, but much like Ed Schultz (who Cenk briefly replaced at MSNBC), he’ll change in a second if there’s a financial advantage to it.
He’s a charlatan, and his primary impact is to drive divisions on the left for his own personal fame and profit. He’s now running for Congress, which is like if Alan Grayson and Anthony Weiner had a baby and named it John Edwards. But, even worse, he’s not even running in his own district. He lives 30 miles outside of the 25th District which was recently vacated by Rep. Katie Hill after her estranged husband destroyed her career with revenge porn. You’d think Cenk could find a place to run where women’s emotions are not quite so raw, but he doesn’t give a shit.
For whatever reason, Bernie Sanders can’t tell a grifter when he sees one, so he endorsed Uygur’s candidacy over actual politicians who are running and have actual connections to the district (like a home or job). At least Sanders didn’t endorse George Papadopolous who is pulling the exact same shit and running in the exact same district.
Anyway, Cenk was supposed to be a progressive champion–a real upright dude. So, Sanders gave him the nod on Thursday and found out by Friday that actual progressives think Cenk’s a complete piece of shit.
Mr. Sanders had called Mr. Uygur, the founder and co-host of the online talk show “The Young Turks,” “a voice we desperately need in Congress” in a statement on Thursday.
“I know he will serve ordinary people, not powerful special interests,” Mr. Sanders said then.
But by Friday afternoon, he had reconsidered.
“Our movement is bigger than any one person,” he said. “I hear my grass roots supporters who were frustrated and understand their concerns. Cenk today said he is rejecting all endorsements for his campaign, and I retract my endorsement.”
The two idiots absolutely deserve each other. But the rest of us want no part of them.
This one example is a perfect exemplifier of why I’m backing Warren. Enough said. No use for this toxic bullshit even if Bernie is the closest pol running for prez to my own beliefs.
… and, you’ve lost me. Sanders does plenty of stupid shit. So does my candidate, Warren. But if you think that he’s in the top 100,000 wankers of the day for temporarily endorsing a Rude Loud Stupid Leftie, and that he’s an idiot and not a real progressive and that we’re done with him–one of the top, what, 5 most popular Democratic office holders?– then yeah. I don’t see much point arguing, either. Thanks for everything, though.
Agreed.
Well, I hope you won’t leave the pond, Steggles. I appreciate your contributions.
For myself, I’m less and less interested in discussions about who or what a “real progressive” is. When talking about political candidates—and in particular, candidates for executive office—I find myself giving more weight than in the past to the “plays well with others” part of the candidate report card.
What kind of staff can the candidate recruit? How well does she build alliances? Does he work to build up the party?
So, I took Obama’s willingness and ability to recruit and hire much of Tom Daschle and Dick Gephardt’s staff to work for him as a freshman senator as a good sign. Likewise his ability to persuade Republican senators like Coburn, Lugar and McCain to co-sponsor legislation with him. I put Warren’s willingness to headline party fundraisers for big donors despite her decision not to hold similar events for her own campaign in a similar category. Part of good politics is…well…being good at politics. (This is why Ted Kennedy, for all his many faults, is still a respected name in politics.)
Sanders has carved out a (quite successful) career by, at times pointedly, *not* doing many of the routine tasks/practices done by politicians seeking to play a leading role in a political party. For some people, that’s part of his attraction. For me, on balance, it leads to concerns about his ability to act effectively when/if he becomes party leader.
Your instincts are not good on Sanders. Your cynicism runs way too high. That’s too bad.
My record is strong on telling progressives to tame their heartstrings and see people like Kucinich, Weiner, Grayson, Stein and Gabbard for who they really are. I also have a similar record for moderates like Harold Ford Jr. and Joe Lieberman, and even for once solid Democratic citizens like Mark Penn and Alan Dershowitz.
I was cynical about them, and I was right.
But if subjective assessments of character aren’t good enough, look at people’s associates and fellow travelers. That is why people like Cenk are important.