Bernie Sanders can’t stop talking about turnout. He has said at least 70 times since March 1st if turnout is high, they will win. It’s in his New York stump speech, making the claim that he can win New York if turnout is high at almost every single rally he’s had in New York.
Not so fast, Bernie. Politifact rated his claim about winning when turnout is high “Mostly False.”
Politifact: Sanders largely off-base in saying he wins when voter turnout is high and loses when it’s low. “…we rate it Mostly False.”
Bernie Sanders: If turnout is high, we will win. At least 70 times since March 1.
The New York Democratic Primary has been called a “must-win” for Bernie Sanders, who needs a “landslide victory” won by “huge margins” to have a chance of significantly cutting into Hillary Clinton’s delegate lead. To be sure, Sanders and his campaign have set the stage for tomorrow’s Democratic Primary in New York, indicating at least 27 times something to effect that he would, could or must win tomorrow, noting the importance of doing well in New York. Demonstrating how hard they are running in New York, the Sanders campaign is set to outspend the Clinton campaign by more than $3 million on television advertising.
Bernie Sanders is set to outspend Hillary Clinton by over $3 million dollars on advertising in New York. “Democrats account for nine of every 10 dollars spent on the state’s airwaves. And, once again, Bernie Sanders is outspending Hillary Clinton: Sanders is set to spend nearly $7 million before next Tuesday, more than Clinton’s $3.7 million. The massive spending comes as Sanders is attempting to close a double-digit deficit in public polls – a margin that threatens to make the gap between Clinton and Sanders in pledged delegates virtually insurmountable for the Vermont senator.” [Politico, 4/16/16]
Between April 5 and April 14, the Sanders campaign outspent the Clinton campaign 2 to 1 on TV advertising. “The Clinton campaign has spent $448,000 on cable ads and $773,000 on broadcast TV in the New York City market since the week of April 5, according to CMAG. The Sanders camp has spent more — $1 million on cable and $1.4 million on broadcast. The research firm does not track how cable ads are targeted, so it’s unclear what portion of the cable buys are addressable.” [Ad Age, 4/14/16]
Mo Elleithee: Bernie Sanders “has to win big […] Nothing else matters.” “Way past the point for this. He has to win big if he has any chance of narrowing delegate gap. Nothing else matters. The Hill @thehill Sanders plays expectations game in NY” [4/17/16, 7:16 p.m. EST]
Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “Let’s not fall for ‘moral victory’ BS in NYC primary. Bernie needs BIG win to make up for 200+ pledged delegate gap.” “Let’s not fall for ‘moral victory’ BS in NYC primary. Bernie needs BIG win to make up for 200+ pledged delegate gap Sanders plays expectations game in NY” [4/17/16, 4:10 p.m. EST]
Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: Bernie Sanders “has to win big states BIG.” “To overcome Clinton’s pledged delegate lead, Sanders has to win big states BIG. As Mook notes, Sanders needs to win 60 percent (or higher) of the vote in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. Possible? Sure. Likely? Not even close — especially when you consider (as Mook does) that the only two states where Sanders has achieved that margin are his home state and one that directly borders it.” [The Fix, Washington Post, 4/5/16]
David Axelrod: “Bernie Sanders would have to win landslide after landslide starting in New York” to overcome Hillary Clinton’s pledged delegate lead. “DAVID AXELROD: The fact is, Hillary Clinton has a fairly significant delegate lead, and Bernie Sanders would have to win landslide after landslide starting in New York to change that math.” [Face The Nation, CBS, 4/17/16]
New York Times’s Patrick Healy and Yamiche Alcindor: Bernie Sanders needs “landslide victor[ies]” in New York, Pennsylvania, California, and other states to overtake Hillary Clinton. “The Democratic race could yet take unpredictable turns, and his campaign is vowing to win. If Mr. Sanders beats Mrs. Clinton in her adopted home state, New York, on April 19, he could raise damaging questions about her candidacy and gain more momentum. But he would still need to win a landslide victory there and in Pennsylvania, California and other states to overtake her in delegates this spring. For Mr. Sanders, the missteps of 2015 and early 2016 — leading to his delegate deficit — are the greatest drag on his recent success.” [New York Times, 4/3/16]
ABC’s Cecilia Vega: Bernie Sanders needs to win New York and other states by “huge margins.” “CECILIA VEGA: There are more delegates up for grabs here than any state so far. That is what’s on the line right now. To cut into Clinton’s delegate lead, Bernie Sanders would need to win by huge margins and not just here, Robin. He needs to start winning these delegates in the states coming up on the calendar too.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 4/18/16]
NBC’s Kristen Welker: If Bernie Sanders can’t win New York, “his chances are going to be really steep.” “KRISTEN WELKER: He’s looking at upcoming states like Pennsylvania, like Oregon where he has a really good chance of winning and like delegate-rich California. He says if he can win some of those states he could come back in the pledged delegate lead, but Steve, if he can’t win here tomorrow, his chances are going to be really steep.” [Live, MSNBC, 4/18/16]
NBC’s Mark Murray: If Hillary Clinton wins big in New York and on April 26, Bernie Sanders might need to win 78% of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination. “If Clinton runs the table in NY and on April 26, Sanders might need to win 78% of remaining dels to hit 2383 number.” [4/18/16, 8:30 a.m. EST]
ABC News’s Jon Karl: New York is “a must-win for Bernie Sanders. No doubt.” “STEPHANOPOULOS: And the math end for Bernie Sanders if he loses New York. KARL: Yes. It is a must-win for Bernie Sanders. No doubt. And even if he wins, the delegate math is incredibly difficult — well, if he wins Wyoming and he comes out with — (CROSSTALK) KARL: — delegates, doesn’t really help him.” [This Week, ABC, 4/10/16]
New York Times’s Frank Bruni: Bernie Sanders’s “slender hopes for the Democratic nomination rest on an upset victory in the New York primary.” “But Sanders didn’t make his case with significantly more skill or force than he had in the past — and he needed to, given how much his slender hopes for the Democratic nomination rest on an upset victory in the New York primary in just a few days.” [New York Times, 4/14/16]
New York Times’s Patrick Healy: Bernie Sanders “must win big” in New York. “The senator’s assertiveness was on vivid display in Thursday’s debate with Mrs. Clinton ahead of the high-stakes New York primary on Tuesday, which Mr. Sanders must win big to dent Mrs. Clinton’s strong lead in the delegates needed for the nomination.” [New York Times, 4/16/16]
Politico’s Annie Karni: Bernie Sanders must win New York to change the dynamics of the race. “Thursday night’s Brooklyn debate is Bernie Sanders’ last chance to shake up the race in a state where he must pull off a major upset to change the dynamics of the Democratic primary.” [Politico, 4/14/16]
VICE News’s Liz Fields: New York is a “make-or-break” primary for Bernie Sanders. “Thousands of Bernie Sanders supporters swarmed across New York’s iconic Washington Square Park Wednesday night ahead of a make-or-break primary in the state on April 19.” [VICE News, 4/14/16]
Washington Post’s James Hohmann: If Hillary Clinton wins by double digits in New York, “Sanders’s path to the Democratic nomination becomes extraordinarily narrow.” “The intensity of Sunday’s campaigning underscores the stakes. If Hillary wins by double digits, which all the polls suggest she will, Sanders’s path to the Democratic nomination becomes extraordinarily narrow.” [Washington Post, 4/18/16]
The Hill described New York as a “must-win” for Bernie Sanders. “Poll: Clinton leads Sanders in must-win New York and California http://hill.cm/qgahWsz” [4/17/16, 9:01 p.m. EST]
]]>
As Hillary Clinton said, “90 people on average a day are killed or commit suicide or die in accidents from guns. 33,000 people a year.” We need a president who will fight for commonsense reforms, not someone who laughs at the issue of gun violence.
The reviews are in: “It was Bernie’s weakest moment” and “stands in contrast to the image he wants to project as a man of progressive principle.”
“In one sentence, she summed up her argument: ‘It’s easy to diagnose the problem; it’s harder to do something about the problem.’” [NBC, 4/15/16]
“Hillary Clinton steamrolled her rival with a steady stream of facts and pragmatism.” [MSNBC, 4/15/16]
“[Hillary Clinton] definitely won on points.” [Washington Post, 4/14/16]
“Clinton drove home — again and again — the idea that Sanders talked a good game but couldn’t back it up.” [Washington Post, 4/14/16]
CNN Headline: “Debate coach: Bad night for Bernie” [CNN, 4/15/16]
“There is near consensus that Bernie Sanders lost last night’s debate because of his tone.” [Daily 202, Washington Post, 4/15/16]
“Mr. Sanders needed a major breakout moment to change the trajectory of the race. He did not get one.” [New York Times, 4/15/16]
BuzzFeed Headline: “Sanders Struggles To Back Up Idea Clinton Has Been Compromised By Donations” [BuzzFeed, 4/15/16]
“Bernie Sanders whiffed in his big debate moment against Hillary Clinton.” [U.S. News opinion, 4/14/16]
Huffington Post Headline: “Bernie Sanders Stumbles On Guns And Sandy Hook Families” [Huffington Post, 4/14/16]
“Now, to what he did wrong: The sarcasm. He was dismissive to the point of danger, politically speaking, on a number of occasions.” [Washington Post, 4/14/16]
“Bernie Sanders once again misfired on the topic of gun control at Thursday’s Democratic debate — refusing an apology to the families of Sandy Hook victims for his risible views.” [New York Daily News, 4/14/16]
“Sanders demonstrated an inability to understand either the premise of questions or that he was contradicting himself, which is not a sharp debating stance.” [CNN, 4/15/16]
]]>During the debate, Sen. Sanders said this, in response to a question about President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court: “Obviously I will strongly support that nomination as a member of the Senate. But, if elected president, I would ask the president to withdraw that nomination…”
But that’s not the first time he disagreed with President Obama. Check out his record:
Huffington Post: Bernie Sanders In 2013: ‘I’m Not Obama’s Biggest Fan’
POLITICO: Sanders critiques
Yahoo: Black Democrats question Sanders’ commitment to Obama
POLITICO: Bernie Sanders questions
NBC News: Sanders: Obama Hasn’t Closed ‘Presidential Leadership Gap’
Washington Post: Obama’s former aides take on Bernie Sanders — via Twitter
Bloomberg: Obama Insiders Say Clinton, Not Sanders, Is His Natural Heir
The Sanders campaign stood by Bernie Sanders’ endorsement of the book. [CNN, 1/30/16]
BLOCKED NOMINEES
Bernie Sanders Opposed President Obama’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration. [The Hill ,1/12/16]
Bernie Sanders joined Republicans in opposing the nomination of John Brennan as CIA Director over concerns about the Obama administration’s drone policy. [Washington Post, 3/7/13]
Bernie Sanders voted against Timothy Geithner becoming President Obama’s Treasury Secretary. [Associated Press, 1/27/09]
Bernie Sanders objected to Gary Gensler’s nomination to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. [The Baltimore Sun, 5/4/09]
Bernie Sanders blocked Senate confirmation of a nominee for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to protest a secret NRC vote halting the closure of a Vermont nuclear power plant. [Sanders news release, 6/27/11]
Bernie Sanders said he would attempt to block the Senate from reappointing Ben Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve. [International Herald Tribune, 12/4/09]
AT ODDS ON GUN CONTROL
Politicizing Gun Control
Obama, after Oregon shooting in October: “Well, this is something we should politicize.” [“Statement by the President on the Shootings at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Oregon,” 10/1/15]
Bernie Sanders, on closing the Charleston loophole: “I hope we don’t have to politicize that issue.” [NBC, 1/17/16]
Obama Called for Research into Gun Violence, Sanders has Opposed
Obama criticized Congress for voting “to make it harder for public health experts to conduct research into gun violence.” [President Barack Obama, 1/5/16]
Bernie Sanders voted to cut funding to public gun violence research. [H.Amdt. 1256 to H R 3755, Vote #302, 7/11/96; Congressional Record, page H7281, 7/11/96]
Obama Condemned Liability Protections for Gun Makers That Sanders Supported
President Obama criticized the gun lobby’s successful push to protect manufacturers from liability lawsuits. [President Obama Opinion, NY Times, 1/7/16]
Sanders voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) which, “shields gun makers and dealers from most liability when their firearms are used criminally.” [Slate, 5/6/15, House Roll Call 534, 10/20/05; CQ Vote Report: House Vote 124, 4/9/03]
OPPOSED TRADE POLICY
Bernie Sanders said he “strongly object[s]” to “scapegoating” of low-income people on welfare. [Bloomberg, 8/6/15]
Bernie Sanders blamed Barack Obama for widening inequality, saying that he was “not strong enough on many issues,” including being “wrong on the trade issue, dead wrong.” [Wonkblog, WaPo, 7/16/15]
CRITIC OF “OBAMA ECONOMY”
New York Post headline: “Bernie Sanders is making the Republican case against the Obama economy.” [New York Post, 9/17/15]
Sanders: “Since the Great Recession Of 2008, the African American community has fallen back even further economically.” [EBONY, 10/5/15]
Bernie Sanders blamed Barack Obama for widening inequality, saying that he was “not strong enough on many issues,” including being “wrong on the trade issue, dead wrong.” [Wonkblog, WaPo, 7/16/15]
Bernie Sanders called President Obama “wrong” on trade. [PBS, 7/21/15]
Bernie Sanders led the opposition to President Obama’s push to implement chained C.P.I. to Social Security. [New Yorker, 10/12/15]
FILIBUSTERED TAX COMPROMISE
Bernie Sanders held the floor for nearly 9 hours in opposition to President Obama’s proposed bipartisan tax compromise. [LA Times,12/10/10]
CRITIC OF FOREIGN POLICY
Bernie Sanders opposed President Obama’s request for a resolution authorizing U.S. military action against ISIS. [Sanders statement, 2/11/15]
Bernie Sanders formerly opposed authorization of a program to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels to fight ISIS. [New York Times, 9/19/14; CNN, 9/30/14; H J Res. 124, Vote #270, 9/18/14]
Sanders campaign: “Sanders on Friday expressed concern about President Barack Obama’s decision to dispatch U.S. special operations forces to Syria to help battle the Islamic State.” [Sanders statement, 10/30/15]
Bernie Sanders opposed the “surge” in Afghanistan saying, “I’ve got a real problem about expanding this war.” [ABC, 11/29/09]
Bernie Sanders on U.S. intervention in Libya: “I’m not quite sure we need a third war, and I hope the president tells us that our troops will be leaving there, that our military action in Libya will be ending very, very shortly.” [Fox News, 3/28/11]
Bernie Sanders accused President Obama of violating the War Powers Act by engaging in unauthorized military action in Libya for longer than 90 days. [Seven Days, June 22, 2011 – June 29, 2011]
NUMEROUS ANTI-OBAMA CAMPAIGN SURROGATES
Cornel West
Bernie Sanders has made a top surrogate out of noted Obama critic Cornel West. [MSNBC, 11/10/15]
Obama-critic Cornel West campaigned with Sanders in South Carolina. [Washington Post, 9/12/15]
Larry Cohen
Sanders Advisor and former CWA President Larry Cohen said of Obama that “the words uttered during a primary campaign bear little resemblance to presidential policies.” [Larry Cohen, Democracy Daily, Bernie 2016, 1/6/16]
CRITIC OF EFFORTS TO COMPROMISE WITH REPUBLICANS
Bernie Sanders criticized Obama for trying to compromise with Republicans. [Face the Nation, CBS, 7/12/15]
Bernie Sanders said Barack Obama made a mistake when he tried to “negotiate some fair compromises” with Republicans. [Bernie Sanders on CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 7/12/15]
Bernie Sanders criticized Barack Obama for trying, “time after time […] to work out agreements,” saying that that behavior causes the American people to “lose faith in politics.” [The Progressive, 11/13]
Bernie Sanders opposed Obama administration’s proposed deficit-reduct deal, saying it was ‘not only grossly unfair,’ but also ‘bad economic policy.’ [Sanders statement, 8/1/11]
ACCUSED OF ABANDONING 2008 MASS MOVEMENT
Bernie Sanders: President Obama abandoned the movement that brought him to the White House. [Politico, 6/1/15]
]]>
Hillary is on it tonight. Ready and prepared for every Sanders attack.
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) April 15, 2016
Well, that was a combative first 50 minutes. Both HRC and Sanders got in good punches, but Clinton has landed more overall blows
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) April 15, 2016
Remember this: A draw in this debate is a win for Hillary. She is ahead.
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) April 15, 2016
Hillary Clinton did just drive a hole in Sanders' "I’m drawing more people to the process argument"…. 9.6 million is more than 7.3 million.
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 15, 2016
On guns:
Boos for Sanders as he dodges question about wether he owes apology to Sandy Hook victim.
— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) April 15, 2016
Sanders just said the Sandy Hook families have a "right to sue," which is the opposite of what he told the NYDN https://t.co/XLQ619hlou
— Samantha Lachman (@SamLachman) April 15, 2016
Sanders chuckles while Clinton answers a question on VT guns being used for NY crimes. Clinton fires back, "It's not a laughing matter."
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) April 15, 2016
Daughter of Sandy Hook principal is not happy with Sanders saying he doesn't need to apologize to victims' families https://t.co/4BUF4v2Sx0
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) April 15, 2016
.@BernieSanders YOU DO OWE AN APOLOGY! Your round about answer was just not good enough!
— Erica L Smegielski (@EricaSmegs) April 15, 2016
.@BernieSanders, that answer is not good enough. Stop siding with the gun manufacturers and stand with the Sandy hook families. #ImWithHer
— Erica L Smegielski (@EricaSmegs) April 15, 2016
On Foreign Policy:
Sanders' pointing out that he *read* Clinton's AIPAC speech is a reminder that he didn't go (instead gave a foreign policy speech in Utah).
— Gabriel Debenedetti (@gdebenedetti) April 15, 2016
So @BernieSanders veers again into Trump territory, suggesting U.S. play "even-handed role" in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) April 15, 2016
Yet another Bernie/Trump similarity on NATO funding.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 15, 2016
Sanders and Trump agree on more than NATO. They also share an anti-trade agreement populism.
— Byron Tau (@ByronTau) April 15, 2016
On Getting Things Done:
Clinton: I don't take a back seat to your legislation that you can't get passed.
— Trip Gabriel (@tripgabriel) April 15, 2016
.@BernieSanders scoffs at incrementalism. @POTUS said last week that's how change happens https://t.co/KmzqZ0YLoW pic.twitter.com/ytx28SFCQu
— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) April 15, 2016
Sanders said he led the flight on gay marriage. Not really. https://t.co/B0R64JdvlA
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) April 15, 2016
Clinton: “We won’t just make promises we can’t keep, we will deliver results that will improve the lives of the people in NY and in America”
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) April 15, 2016
On Supporting Democrats:
Reminder on Sanders about running as a Democrat – he fought hard against running as a Dem when planning campaign https://t.co/Nz10rMLz0G
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) April 15, 2016
Sanders: “We have raised millions of dollars for the DSCC…”
But I don’t think his current presidential campaign has
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) April 15, 2016
]]>Sorry I just feel like writing off the Democratic voters of the deep south is pretty awful. — Rebecca Traister (@rtraister) April 15, 2016
“Hillary was right — this is no laughing matter. It was obvious tonight that Bernie Sanders only diagnoses the problem, speaking in simple non-answers or playing fast and loose with the truth,” said Brad Woodhouse, President of Correct the Record. “Hillary Clinton is ready to solve the challenges we face, while Bernie continues to tout ideas that simply don’t add up — with enough fact checks to make your head spin.
“From standing by his vote to protect gun manufacturers instead of standing with the victims of gun violence to undermining President Obama’s nomination of Judge Garland to the Supreme Court to insisting on providing free college to the children of millionaires and billionaires, Senator Sanders is woefully out of touch with the voters he seeks to persuade. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton demonstrated once again that she is the most qualified, best prepared candidate for President.”
]]>WATCH: This is not a laughing matter
“Yes, we have a problem in America. We need a President who will stand up against the gun lobby. We need a President who will fight for common-sense gun safety reforms.” – Hillary Clinton
THE REACTION:
Erica L Smegielski @EricaSmegs: .@BernieSanders, that answer is not good enough. Stop siding with the gun manufacturers and stand with the Sandy hook families. #ImWithHer [4/14/16, 9:44 p.m. EDT]
New York Daily News @NYDailyNews: Bernie Sanders’ Sandy Hook gun lawsuit comments continue to haunt him nydn.us/1Vtdy67 #DemDebate [4/14/16, 9:57 p.m. EDT]
Dan Merica @danmericaCNN: Sanders asked yes or no if he owes @EricaSmegs an apology: “I don’t think I owe them an apology.” [4/14/16, 9:40 p.m. EDT]
Michael Barbaro @mikiebarb: Boos for Sanders as he dodges question about wether he owes apology to Sandy Hook victim. [4/14/16, 9:40 p.m. EDT]
Sabrina Siddiqui @SabrinaSiddiqui: Loudest applause of the night so far goes to Clinton when she hits Sanders for not standing up to the gun lobby on legal immunity issue. [4/14/16, 9:36 p.m. EDT]
Paul Begala @PaulBegala: Bernie seems more comfortable criticizing Israel than corporations that manufacture guns. #CNNDebate [4/14/16, 10:27 p.m. EDT]
Danny Freeman @DannyEFreeman: “He kept his word to the NRA,” says @HillaryClinton at the #DemDebate of @BernieSanders‘ career in a stinging comment. [4/14/16, 9:40 p.m. EDT]
Anderson Cooper 360° @AC360: Bernie Sanders: I don’t think I owe the Sandy Hook families an apology cnn.it/1MgPWwU #DemDebate cnn.it/23zVc7O [4/14/16, 9:45 p.m. EDT]
Jennifer Epstein @jeneps: Clinton: Sanders rails against Wall St, but “what about the greed and recklessness of gun manufacturers?” [4/14/16, 9:36 p.m. EDT]
]]>
