My Dad has been a key board warrior for Senator Sanders long before his 2016 Presidential run and plans to continue into 2020. This is a list he created of the issues the DNC/”Correct the Record”/Big money interests will attack on (while pretending to be ordinary Americans). This list is in order of most common based on over 7,000 comments from the past two days.

1) Bernie’s too old will be well into his 80’s by the end of his first term.

Rebuttal: Mandela was president of South Africa in his 80’s. Malaysian president is 93. Ageism is not a good look for progressives

2) Bernie cost Hillary election thereby responsible for Trump.

Rebuttal: He fully supported Hillary and warned that a Trump presidency would be disastrous (he was right, as always). Hillary’s loss was due to many factors including lack of commitment campaigning in crucial state, an unlikeabilty issue and her malfeasance in the primaries.

3) Bernie can’t beat Trump…win for Bernie in primary is win for Trump in general.

Rebuttal: Bernie has consistently polled ahead of Trump in a choice of the two. He polled 11 points ahead while Hillary was polling 2–3 points ahead. Bernie would also destroy him in a debate.

4) HE’S A SOCIALIST! He wants US to be just like Venezuela/socialism always fails and leads to widespread massacres/Maduro supported him.

Rebuttal: He is a Democratic Socialist akin to the political system in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany and many other prosperous European countries as well as Australia and New Zealand. These countries are all rated above US in quality of life, happiness, education, lifespan, etc.

5) Bernie has accomplished nothing in over 30 years as a career politician. No major legislation/never had a real job.

Rebuttal: Bernie has worked across the aisle and sponsored many bills that have benefited working class Americans/he is known as the “amendment king” and for the 11th consecutive quarter has had the highest approval rating of any Senator.

6) Only a moderate can beat Trump. Bernie is a radical/extremist.

Rebuttal: He is far from radical, only looks radical due to party moving wildly to the right over the past 30 years. He is only asking for the working class to have the same benefits they would have in most other first world countries. They are being deceived by their “owners” who tell them that they are lucky to live in America. How is it that over 20 million people who work full time live under the poverty line in the richest country on earth?

7) He’s a divider/all about ego.

Rebuttal: Far from a divider he wants to bring the country together with hope for the future and prosperity. Has never been a tribalist/has frequently crossed the aisle to support veterans and working class Americans.

8) Bernie’s not a real democrat. He keeps changing teams to suit himself.

Rebuttal: Bernie knows when it comes to a presidential election he has to work within a two party system otherwise he can’t invoke the change necessary to help the huge majority of Americans. If he ran as an independent it is likely he would split the electoral vote necessitating a senate decision on the presidency.

9) You will be paying far more in taxes.

Rebuttal: Middle class Americans might be paying slightly more but would have Universal Healthcare, free college for those who couldn’t afford it and were solid candidates, 4 weeks paid vacation, minimum $15 hourly/livable wage, upgraded infrastructure, childcare benefits and continued social security.

10) How will we pay for these ‘pie in the sky’ promises.

Rebuttal: The wealthy have to start paying their fair share of taxes, likewise large corporations, start minimizing tax loopholes, estate taxes for the wealthy, minuscule tax on wall street day traders and cutting out the pork in military contracts. The amount of waste on defense spending is unacceptable.

11) Bernie is loved by the NRA.

Rebuttal: NRA most recently gave him a D- grade, if that’s not love what is?

12) Voted against Iraq war subsequently voted for a huge contract for weapons to fight the war.

Rebuttal: Bernie was against the war but also against American soldiers not having the weaponry to protect themselves

13) Bernie Bros and Bernie himself are misogynistic.

Rebuttal: That’s nonsense, those were Russians pretending to be Bernie supporters. Bernie has always been a dedicated proponent of women's rights as well as LGBTQ rights.

14) Never released 2016 tax returns that were promised.

Rebuttal: Yes, he did.

15) Friend to Russia/honeymooned there.

Rebuttal: He visited Burlington sister city Yaroslavl after getting married, actually honeymooned in Europe.

16) Jane Sanders and Burlington College $10 million bank fraud case.

Rebuttal: This was the handiwork of Brady Toensing Vermont campaign manager for Donald Trump. It was a false claim and charges were never laid but it did highlight Mr Trump’s fear of Bernie as an opponent.

This time we will be more educated, organized and ready to fight.