Bernie Sanders, What Are You Doing?!

[Content Note: Violence; harassment; threats.]

After meeting with Harry Reid, Democratic Senate Minority Leader and Senator from Nevada, who said they had a good conversation about the violence in Nevada, Bernie Sanders just released this statement:

It is imperative that the Democratic leadership, both nationally and in the states, understand that the political world is changing and that millions of Americans are outraged at establishment politics and establishment economics. The people of this country want a government which represents all of us, not just the 1 percent, super PACs and wealthy campaign contributors.

The Democratic Party has a choice. It can open its doors and welcome into the party people who are prepared to fight for real economic and social change – people who are willing to take on Wall Street, corporate greed and a fossil fuel industry which is destroying this planet. Or the party can choose to maintain its status quo structure, remain dependent on big-money campaign contributions and be a party with limited participation and limited energy.

Within the last few days there have been a number of criticisms made against my campaign organization. Party leaders in Nevada, for example, claim that the Sanders campaign has a 'penchant for violence.' That is nonsense. Our campaign has held giant rallies all across this country, including in high-crime areas, and there have been zero reports of violence. Our campaign of course believes in non-violent change and it goes without saying that I condemn any and all forms of violence, including the personal harassment of individuals. But, when we speak of violence, I should add here that months ago, during the Nevada campaign, shots were fired into my campaign office in Nevada and apartment housing complex my campaign staff lived in was broken into and ransacked.

If the Democratic Party is to be successful in November, it is imperative that all state parties treat our campaign supporters with fairness and the respect that they have earned. I am happy to say that has been the case at state conventions in Maine, Alaska, Colorado and Hawaii where good discussions were held and democratic decisions were reached. Unfortunately, that was not the case at the Nevada convention. At that convention the Democratic leadership used its power to prevent a fair and transparent process from taking place. Among other things:

* The chair of the convention announced that the convention rules passed on voice vote, when the vote was a clear no-vote. At the very least, the Chair should have allowed for a headcount.

* The chair allowed its Credentials Committee to en mass rule that 64 delegates were ineligible without offering an opportunity for 58 of them to be heard. That decision enabled the Clinton campaign to end up with a 30-vote majority.

* The chair refused to acknowledge any motions made from the floor or allow votes on them. The chair refused to accept any petitions for amendments to the rules that were properly submitted.

These are on top of failures at the precinct and county conventions including trying to depose and then threaten with arrest the Clark County convention credentials chair because she was operating too fairly.

1. I can't believe he said his campaign has held events in "high crime areas." Good lord.

2. I also can't believe he's said that there have been "zero reports of violence," when people have been documenting threats of violence from his supporters for months. If he condemns "any and all forms of violence," then he shouldn't be erasing the threats of violence emanating from many of his supporters, given that harassment and threats are typically regarded as a form of violence.

3. His "movement" is the rationale for continuing to campaign until the convention. But the movement he's building is garbage. And he's in deep denial about the reality of what some of his supporters are doing. Or he just doesn't care. Either way, it's not evidence of good leadership, and it's not a movement I want any part of. Frankly, this isn't even leadership. It's incitement.

4. I'm sure Harry Reid is thrilled that he went out and said they had a productive meeting, only for Sanders to throw him under the bus and shit all over the Democratic Party (again).

What. Is. He. Even. Doing.