Berniemania Sweeps The Green

by Lucy Gellman & Aliyya Swaby | Apr 24, 2016 11:38 pm

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Posted to: Presidential Campaign

The largest political crowd in decades filled the Green Sunday night as Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders brought his income-inequality message to New Haven with an Elm City twist: contrasting Yale’s $25.57 billion endowment with the struggles of young people in the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods. “Many of our people are not working one job or two jobs, they’re working three jobs,” said the Vermont U.S. senator, who has waged a vigorous challenge to frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination Hillary Clinton. The two square off in Connecticut’s primary on Tuesday. Estimates of Sunday night’s crowd ran as high as 14,000 — apparently the largest crowd for a political event on the Green since the 1970 Mayday protests on behalf of the Black Panthers on trial for murder in New Haven. “This is a lot of people. Thank you New Haven!” Sanders said in taking the stage. He spoke of his candidacy as “a revolution that will not just elect a president” but will “transform the United States.” “We need an economy that works for all of us, not just the one percent,” Sanders thundered, to roars from the crowd. “Right now, here, in the great city of New Haven, we see almost a metaphor for what’s happening throughout this country. Right here in this great city, we have one of the outstanding institutions of higher education all over the world. “That’s what Yale University is, and we should be proud of this great university. But a few miles away from here in this same city, we have children who are getting totally inadequate educations. Right here — one of the great universities in the world. A few blocks away from here, kids who in a million years would never dream that they could get a college education. Right here we have a university that has an endowment of 24 billion dollars, but all over this city and in this state, we have children who are living in desperate poverty. In this city alone, 36 percent of children are living in poverty.” “Tell it! Tell it!” voices in the crowd responded. “Brothers and sisters, if this country is going to survive in any moral sense, in any sustainable economic sense, we are going to change our national priorities,” he added. “How does it happen that we have millions, trillions of dollars to spend on a war in Iraq we never should have gotten into, but somehow we do not have the funds available to rebuild our inner cities or provide decent education for our children? We are going to change those priorities.” Sanders used that initial pitch as a springboard for the evening, tying each pillar of his campaign back to Connecticut, and specifically to the future of New Haven’s youth, while assuring attendees that “this campaign is listening to our brothers and sisters in the African-American” and Latino communities. His hope for the state to do better, he said, citing Governor Dannel Malloy’s recent cut to mental health funding, was matched by his enthusiasm for Connecticut’s stance on campaign finance reform. “Billionaires and their Super PACs should not be able to control elections,” Sanders said. He spoke about his plan for universal free tuition at public colleges, an idea Clinton has criticized as unworkable. “When we talk about making public colleges tuition free, that s a revolutionary concept,” Sanders told the New Haven crowd, speaking as daylight turned to dusk and then dark. “There are kids here in New Haven ... who are in the fourth grade, in the sixth grade, they do not believe in a million years that they will ever go to college because they come from poor or working-class families. Our job is to tell every child in this country that if you study hard, if you do your schoolwork well, then, regardless of the income of your family, you will be able to go to college. That is revolution.” New Haven State Sen. Gary Winfield, who earlier in the day gave Sanders a tour of Dixwell, made the same pitch to the crowd in a speech at the rally: that getting money out of politics and lowering income inequality are the key to changing systems of racial and socioeconomic oppression in the U.S. “It is his stance on campaign finance reform, the issue that changes our ability to move all of those other issues, that drove me to Bernie Sanders,” Winfield said. “You and I are not voiceless. We have voices. They’re just not being heard ... We just don’t have the price or the ticket. That’s why this movement and Bernie Sanders are important. ... “Our system is corrupted because when you go to choose between their candidate, or their candidate. There’s a better way, and I know it because I’ve experienced it — because Connecticut has campaign finance reform. Because of that campaign finance reform, I was able to run against the New Haven machine and win. Not only did I win — but I was able to do some work that people didn’t think I would be able to do.” Introducing Sanders, former REM band leader Michael Stipe stated that he was first drawn to Sanders for his outspoken criticism of the Iraq war, which he voted against in Congress. (Clinton voted to authorize the war.) Stipe said he has remained an avid Sanders supporter because his positions on racial equality, veterans’ rights, and LGBT rights “are consistent, common sense, compassionate and clear.” “We are at the dawn of a different type of 21st century,” Stipe said. “Our actions as voters and citizens will form who we are to become, not only to ourselves, but to all Americans. We have the profound capacity to be the great country that we imagined, but to do that, we need a caring, tough and straight talking leader. There is a true revolution at hand, and it belongs to you.” A Celebration Sanders fans from all over the state arrived hours to get into the rally. In keeping with the haphazard quality of its campaign team in Connecticut, the Sanders team had not made it easy for the handicapped-accessible to get in, reported Pat Wallace, the city’s former elderly services director. She described the scene in a comment posted to an earlier New Haven Independent article: “Walked to the Green about 4:30, wheeled to the security entrance with my husband in his wheelchair, was told to head back up through the crowd and angle back down to the corner of Temple and Elm to go to a wheelchair entrance. Did that, and arrived to find no way to get anywhere except stuck at a barricade. NHPD at first said they knew nothing about people in wheelchairs, his focus had to be on keeping everyone behind the barricades, and there was nothing to be done. He just walked away. Shortly other officers came walking by, and we called to them. One of them said to wheel back the way we had come to the main security entrance, he would see about getting us through the orange fencing somehow. I appreciated his interest in helping to solve our problem. It was far from clear how it was going to work, so we left. Clearly there was the intention to accommodate wheelchair users, but the Campaign and the City did not work this out. The officers did not have communication technology, which surprised me, so no one “higher up” could be easily consulted. Shouldn’t be this way on the New Haven Green for people with disabilities in 2016.” In addition, the Sanders press team — which unlike the more professional Clinton operation has failed to get basic information about the Connecticut campaign to the press in recent weeks — attempted to bar reporters from interviewing members of the crowd, stating that “we just want them to be concentrating on Bernie,” despite it being well before the event’s 7 p.m. start. When press coordinators were reached for comment at the rally, they responded with the notice that the press, separated from the crowd in a media pen, was in fact free to speak with attendees, and that there had been a miscommunication. The crowd in fact had a lot to say. Sunday night, New Haven was feeling the Bern. 3 Generations Of Millers Feel The Bern Three generations of Sarah Miller’s family were some of the first in line to see a presidential candidate rally thousands on the New Haven Green. Miller brought her 11-month-old son Mateo at 11 a.m. to wait in line for Sen. Bernie Sanders, hours before he began his speech at 7 p.m. Cathie Miller, who lives in Westville, showed up around 4 p.m. to join her daughter. She said she felt bad about skipping hundreds of people waiting behind her. No, one woman reassured her. Sarah Miller had been waiting a long time. She deserved to go in. “He slept for a long time,” Sarah Miller said of her son, who was playing ball with his five-year-old brother Pablo just before officials began to let the snaking line stream through the gate. Sarah’s sister Laura Miller, who lives in Wooster Square, separated the boys when they began to fuss. “I wanted to give them a front row seat to history,” Sarah Miller said. Sanders “changed the conversation” around politics, bringing attention to issues around climate change, pushing a single-payer health care system and “talking about the world we want for our kids,” she said. She hadn’t paid attention to the campaign until February when Eric Garner’s daughter Erica appeared in a video supporting Bernie Sanders. Her father was killed by police who put him in a chokehold in July 2014, after he was arrested for illegally selling loose cigarettes in New York. Her younger brother was cynical about politicians, but now is an avid Sanders fan, which made her pay attention. The most important issue for Sarah Miller was campaign finance; Sanders has limiting campaign contributions from the wealthy and from corporations a hallmark of his quest for the presidency. Miller compared the discussion to one raised during the 2013 mayoral election in New Haven, in which candidate Justin Elicker participated in the Democracy Fund, a voluntary public-financing system. (Mayor Toni Harp did not participate, arguing that a candidate could use the Democracy Fund for the primary election and then take larger donations during the general election as independents.) Cathie Miller, unlike her daughter, is a longtime Hillary Clinton supporter. But she too is also rooting for Sanders, she said. “Bernie’s a good addition. I probably will vote for Bernie. I also very actively support Hillary.” Clinton is the best candidate on reproductive rights, important for Cathie, who is a nurse midwife. “Hillary would vote for Bernie if she had the option,” Laura Miller added. “Part of [Clinton] is happy” that Sanders has joined the race, Cathie Miller said. High School Students Watch Democracy Up Close Many New Haven public school students joined the masses on the Green. Board of Education student representative and Sound School senior Kimberly Sullivan waited with her friend Richard Romero, who is a 19-year-old Gateway Community College student and Hillhouse High School graduate. The two were given wristbands and allowed to sit behind the podium during Sanders’ speech. Sullivan shook his hand after the rally was over. Romero wants to go to the University of Connecticut after Gateway and is excited that Sanders wants to make public colleges and universities free. His family members are more interested in Clinton. He said he isn’t sure why. Sullivan is heartened that Sanders is one of few politicians talking about how to regulate Wall Street’s powerful corporations. “He’s had the same goals for about 30 years,” she said. Her mother is rooting for Sanders; her grandmother wants Clinton to win. Both are too young to have voted in the last election, but both will be able to vote for Sanders in the primary. Gaston Neville, who is 16 and a sophomore at Wilbur Cross High School, was working at the event, helping his father Sebastian Neville shoot footage for the Sanders campaign from the press section. Sebastian Neville did not know he was supposed to register as press, so they waited outside for the campaign volunteers to complete a background check. Gaston said a few of his friends from Cross had come to the rally. Many Cross students are apathetic about politics; the ones who care are excited about Sanders, he said. “I don’t know anyone who’s not a Bernie supporter,” he said. “Even though he’s not going to win.” Sebastian has volunteered for the Sanders campaign this election, going door to door locally and manning phone banks. Usually, he said, he is critical of politicians. He is wary that Sanders’ stance on guns is not tough enough. Besides that, he agrees with Sanders’ politics. Kyisha Velazquez, of New Haven Family Alliance, said Sanders is the only candidate who has convinced her he wants real “social change.” In the last two elections, President Barack Obama was the clear best candidate, she said. This year, “some people are more confused now,” with many candidates in both parties “pretending to be for change, but they’re not,” Velazquez said. “I don’t trust Hillary.” She has been working to build a system of restorative justice in New Haven public schools, in which wrongdoers are encouraged to repair their relationships with their communities, instead of being suspended or forced out of the system. Sanders is the candidate that best represents that effort, with his proposed reforms to the criminal justice and prison systems.

Tom Breen contributed reporting.

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posted by: Chip on April 25, 2016 4:42am I’ve lost a ton of respect for him over the past few weeks. Sorry, he is not all that we think he is. He is a shallow one note candidate. That Vatican trip showed his blatant ignorance of foreign policy and procedures.

posted by: TheMadcap on April 25, 2016 8:44am That was fun. It’s a shame primary season is de facto over, but we can at least rack up more delegates to send to the convention to influence the platform.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 8:53am What a great day in New Haven Sunday was.

A Cherry Festival with history, food, music, dancing and people just enjoy a beautiful day in a beautiful setting.

Then Bernie took center stage in the evening (thank you efficient TSA and Secret Service for moving the lines so swiftly) and the energy surge around him powered peoples’ spirits.

He spoke for an hour, covering all the issues in his agenda: a rigged economic system, a rigged political system, the demilitarization of the local police, the greed and power of Wall St. that created so much suffering for so many, Medicare for all, free state college education (by taxing Wall St. speculation), climate change and the need for action, etc.

The crowd was young and old, black, latino and white, suburban and urban.

The 99.9% showed up and they all loved what Bernie stands for.

posted by: Elizabethaiken on April 25, 2016 9:00am Bernie is an awesome candidate. He has a solid stand on all the issues I care about: racial justice, judicial reform, jobs, income inequality, climate change, women’s right to choose, paid family leave,single payer health insurance, lowering interest rate on current student loans, free education at public universities, $15/ hour minimum wage, diplomacy first over war. He has doable plans to achieve his programs. His history is consistent. He has supported these issues through out his whole career. He does not change his mind. He is honest and. transparent.

posted by: MoulinParoles on April 25, 2016 9:21am Thank you, Lucy Gellman and Allyiya Swabe for an article which covered the highs (Bernie+) and the lows (handicap access was terrible). It was a great day on the Green. I support Bernie, but more importantly I support the ideas which Bernie represents, Maybe the revolution won’t happen in my lifetime. But we gotta plant the seeds. For all those who are discouraged by the idea that Bernie doesn’t stand a prayer in 2016….I urge you to think about how the colonists felt on that same New Haven Green….oppressed for years by the British. They never stopped talking Common Sense. They planted seeds. They organized and spread the word.

posted by: Renewhavener on April 25, 2016 9:45am “The largest political crowd in decades filled the Green Sunday night as Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders brought his income-inequality message to New Haven with an Elm City twist: contrasting Yale’s $25.57 billion endowment with the struggles of young people in the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods.” Not surprising he drew a crowd of this magnitude since his vision of national socialism is already a daily reality here. Don’t appreciate this aspect of his message, and don’t think anyone who objectively believes in facts or truth would:

“[We have] Right here — one of the great universities in the world (agree). A few blocks away from here, kids who in a million years would never dream that they could get a college education (perhaps, but…).” When I grew up and went to NH Public schools we didn’t have the New Haven Promise furnished by that institution. Now we do. Sort of shortens that time horizon from a million years down to between one-to-eighteen years Mr. Sanders.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 10:04am Renewhavener: Your assumption that college is assured because of one program fails to take into account the gifted and qualified children who will be lost before age 18.

Talent is lost when the parents are overwhelmed with surviving or a teacher can’t compensate for the stress a child lives with on a daily basis.

Society fails to give sufficient support to overworked single moms, chronically unemployed moms and dads, and definitely has little to offer to a kid who loves math and science, but is on her/his own to do something with that.

Zillions for weaponry and perpetual war (1984 is here), but little to make up for the damage caused by slavery, redlining, voter disenfranchisement and contempt for the poor, black and white.

posted by: Sarah.Miller on April 25, 2016 10:25am Contrary to Pat Wallace’s unfortunate experience, I personally saw two Bernie supporters in wheelchairs swiftly escorted to the ADA section (which was right up front) by Bernie staffers. I also heard the main Bernie staffer managing the line answering many questions about disabled access. It’s sad that others had a different experience. But a few anecdotes does not equal a “haphazard” campaign and I think the NHI is incorrect in its characterization. The whole operation felt shockingly smooth, friendly, and well-orchestrated.

posted by: WillWilkin Bernie Sanders understands that the worsening economic situation of ordinary Americans is due more than anything else to the Free Trade policy that allows companies to move industries and jobs off-shore and then sell the products here as imports. “Our” government has been hijacked by globalized corporations and banks that have never been richer, but the result has been de-industrialization of the USA and long-term unemployment and stagnant wages. The corporate globalists have bought both parties and yet have zero loyalty to our country and our national interest. Their takeover of Washington is extremely radical, but our country can be taken back by the citizens under inspiration of a leader like Bernie Sanders, who is independent of the globalized financial oligarchy now running Washington. Hillary Clinton and most of the Republicans and much of the Democrats are corrupt corporate politicians who share the globalist Free Trade policy ruining our economy. The socialist aspects of Bernie’s program have become necessary due to the obscene concentration of power and wealth to the very top of the economy (the 1%), but it is his rejection of the Free Trade treaties that will really bring back our industries and our prosperity. And it his rejection of coin-operated government that will bring back our republic.

posted by: wendy1 on April 25, 2016 11:05am If Bernie doesn’t win, I expect a civil war. And this time, I hope the North wins. If you read periodicals and newspapers (forget TV) the rich/poor gap is worsening quickly. Americans cant and wont endure this. This country must change or die trying. We need a new constitution and a YOUNG forward-thinking Congress…and I’m not talking about high-tech. I’m talking about ethics and morality and social justice for all of us (every religion and gene pool).

posted by: Beejaym on April 25, 2016 11:51am Don’t worry. Despite his record setting numbers, tens of thousands of peoples supporting him at a time, bi-partisan support for his ideals and overwhelming support by millions of people across the country, I’m sure Hillary will still manage to steal… I mean “win” this election under the same circumstances as her last two “victories”.

posted by: Samuel T. Ross-Lee on April 25, 2016 12:02pm I am happy to see so many people here in New Haven drawn the to Bernie Sanders campaign and message. I’ve even happier to know that so many have not been discouraged by his diminishing chance of actually winning the nomination. It is good to know that there is still an America that is still motivated by its convictions and conscious over its desire to be on the “winning” side. Bernie Sanders, it must be understood, has already won. I mean, who would have thought even a year ago that a little-known Senator from Vermont would push a nominee who has been the presumptive choice for the Democrats since she lost to Barack Obama in 2008 not only all the way to the convention but also force her to the left to consider and talk about issues that would have never been discussed had he not been in the race. Not only has Sanders challenged and changed the status quo in such a dynamic way, but he has transformed the national conversation in ways that should and will matter for decades to come. Win or lose the election, Sanders has become a perennial voice and I pray that we keep listening and moving in the direction that voice is directing this nation. The Rev. Mr. Samuel T. Ross-Lee, Pastor

The Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church

New Haven

posted by: Renewhavener on April 25, 2016 12:31pm @Dwightstreeter, “Your assumption that college is assured because of one program fails to take into account the gifted and qualified children who will be lost before age 18”. No such assumption was made. I am acutely aware that college is assured for none. Nor should it be. You actually have to work, struggle and earn what you get. That is true for the New Haven Promise program by way of getting good grades and true by way of life. The shrill cry of overwhelmed parents and hapless teachers indicates that the foundation of your argument is based on the notion of permanent victimhood. Rejection of Sanders politics is a rejection of this notion.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 1:21pm No, Renewhavener: Not everyone has to “work, struggle and earn what you get”.

Why are you so quick to disclaim “permanent victimhood” when our crimes against native americans, African Americans comes up?

Are you equally disdainful of those for whom permanent privilege has delivered a life they didn’t earn? What about “affluenza”?

How about “trust fund babies”.

Just how hard did they work? Did they ever struggle?

My reminder of what reality is for far too many and that it’s NOT a level playing field apparently touches on some anger.

No wonder you reject Bernie and all he stands for.

He’s compassion personified.

posted by: Renewhavener on April 25, 2016 1:24pm @WillWilkin, “Bernie Sanders understands that the worsening economic situation of ordinary Americans is due more than anything else to the Free Trade policy that allows companies to move industries and jobs off-shore and then sell the products here as imports.” Offshoring is an anachronism. Jobs have been moving back on-shore for years. They tend to go where the employment and business context is more supportive:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/onshoring-jobs/412201/

posted by: Razzie on April 25, 2016 1:49pm Indeed, Bernie has already won! His long-shot campaign has revolutionized national politics more than any other in recent memory. He has shown that you CAN run an effective campaign on $27 a pop; and has given clear voice to notions of expanding society’s “safety net” to include more high value rights and privileges than we are currently willing to pay for. Regardless of his success at the nominating convention, he is a true winner. But ... The national stakes at issue in 2016 are too great to sacrifice to intra-family disputes. As a Progressive Democrat, I greatly care that the Democrats prevail in the November election. If not…if we lose to either of the Republican candidates, the progressive agenda will suffer a debilitating setback from which recovery will be difficult. Against the onslaught of Trumpism (and his barely indistinguishable cohort Cruz), we need Hillary! Our actions and conversations between now and November must reflect that reality.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 2:13pm Razzie: Hillary will have to earn my vote if Bernie is not the nominee.

I only became a Dem to vote in the Primary for Bernie. if he’s not the candidate, Jill Stein is an option. At least she is a true progressive.

Hillary believes in incremental change. I get that.

We don’t have time to do incremental change.

Bernie has brought new voters and independents into the Dem column, but not for politics as usual.

We signed on for a Revolution!

posted by: WillWilkin Razzie, I disagree that “progressive” is the test or label we need to define our politics, especially since you seem to lump Bernie and Hillary into that same category. I see them as opposites. Bernie is against the globalized banks and corporations buying our political system and writing our laws and regulations and trade policy, whereas Hillary is the epitome of it. Bernie opposes the Free Trade treaties that off-shore our industries and jobs and cause stagnating wages throughout our economy, whereas Hillary supports Free Trade and the global governance by treaty law that is dissolving our constitutional government by elected representatives. Bernie opposes our foreign wars wasting American blood and treasure for no vital and authentic US national interest, whereas Hillary has supported every US military adventure around the globe, and champions expansion of NATO right to the borders of Russia. Bernie would replace our militarism with diplomacy, and invest the savings in our infrastructure here at home. By contrast, Hillary will bring us WW3 by provoking Russia or China with US military bases and armaments and military alliances right up to their borders and shorelines. Rather than a “liberal (progressive) v. conservative” or “left v. right” or even Dem v. Republican choice, our country faces a populist v. corporate choice, which ultimately is a patriot v. corporate choice, since the formerly US corporations and banks have become so globalized they now amount to foreign interests and certainly have no loyalty to our country and our national interests. That is why, if Bernie is not on the ballot in November, I will vote for Trump. NEVER will I vote for Hillary, who (with her husband) got at least $125 million in “speaking fees” which are legalized bribery from the banks and corporations that she serves. Trump is at least unpredictable, and condemns the Free Trade treaties & mideast wars ruining our country. Hillary is GUARANTEED to make more of both.

posted by: keepitsimple on April 25, 2016 2:55pm Thank you for sharing this article not to mention the pictures. Local news media did a terrible job (WTNH) of reporting this event yesterday. WTNH Facebook only had Hillary’s stop in Bridgeport posted to their timeline. It’s getting harder and harder to find decent journalism today.

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on April 25, 2016 3:20pm Bernie Sanders Has His Plan B. What’s Yours? With a crushing Clinton lead in super-delegates it will take a string of miracles for Bernie Sanders to win the Democratic nomination. Little children and true believers relying on miracles don’t need a Plan B, but Sanders has one. If he doesn’t win the nomination, Bernie has pledged to back the right wing Democrat Hillary Clinton. For those grownups still feeling the Bern, it’s time to ask the question. What’s YOUR Plan B? http://blackagendareport.com/bernie-sanders-plan-b-for-hillary

posted by: Esbey on April 25, 2016 3:36pm Dwightsteeter, your comments reek of college-educated white privilege and are most of the explanation as to why African Americans and Latinos overwhelmingly (not unanimously, of course) support Hillary Clinton. If you can’t have your young white-folks “revolution”, then you choose to stand back and let the Republicans win the next presidential election. This will cement a far-right Supreme Court for the next 30 years and ensure that no social progress is made over those decades. You will get “Citizens United” squared, a Supreme Court block on immigration reform and the end of voting rights as we know them. African Americans and Latinos overwhelmingly believe that this is a course of action that they and their families might not survive. Only the very privileged can afford “revolution or bust.” You, of course, will survive just fine, while basking in the smug purity of those who refuse to accommodate the real world. The very idea of building a revolution in the US via a movement that took almost no steps to build a multi-racial coalition (prior to Sanders first disastrous confrontation with BLM *after* his announcement) is ludicrous. Sander’s “black surrogates” like Cornell West openly attack Obama and the Sanders themselves go out of their way insult states with large black populations. As a direct result, the crowd on the Green was *overwhelmingly* white. There are more black people on the Green on an average spring Monday at 5pm than were at the Sanders rally. And the crowd did not remotely fill the Green. It filled the upper-right corner in front of the courthouse. Accurate pictures of the mostly empty Green are at ilovenewhaven.com, for example: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjRmQrXQ6QQ/Vx2FGks3OHI/AAAAAAAARao/JR1lZrt1sBgGr42T1V2kSVW3OCTCfmnGgCLcB/s1600/014©Chris+Randall+and+Mike+Franzman+2016.jpg

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 4:23pm Esbey went to a different rally than I did.

Bernie is catching on in the African-American community as people learn of his history of activism. But keep following that party line and defy reality if it gets in your way.

As for your assertion of my alleged “college educated white privilege” (ouch!) for wanting a revolution in which people are paid well for their labor, have health care, don’t become indentured servants for getting an education, etc., how do you know I’ll survive? You’re clueless, but assume you know something when you clearly don’t. Making things up is not working for you, is it.

Really, attacking the messenger is so out of date.

Are you part of the Democratic establishment that feels entitled to my vote?

Where has the Dem. Party been all these years while the Republicans, with Dem. votes in Congress, created this inequitable mess?

And which Dem has spoken about fixing our collective ills? did I miss something????

Well, Obama did while running, then, aside from the flawed and compromised Affordable Care Act, seemed to move on.

The Dems are as dependent on fat cat contributors as the Republicans.

No wonder people feel their votes are useless.

posted by: New Haven Urbanism Esbey,

I agree that Bernie supporters who say they won’t support the democratic nominee in November if Bernie drops out are being foolish, but I question some of your other comments. With regards to BLM, do you think the difference between Bernie and Hillary is that Bernie has an issue with black people that Hillary does not? I’m pretty sure the only reason Hillary didn’t run into similar issues with BLM was because she has had a high level of security paired with careful control over events from the beginning of her campaign, while Bernie hasn’t. “Sander’s ‘black surrogates’ like Cornell West openly attack Obama”

Attack Obama? You mean like this?

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/barack-obama-hillary-clinton-2008-campaign-095035

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/01/clinton-obama-slugfest/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26clinton.html?_r=0 “the Sanders themselves go out of their way insult states with large black populations”

Wait…what…? “As a direct result, the crowd on the Green was *overwhelmingly* white.”

You don’t think that has to do with the fact that Greater New Haven, New Haven County, and the State of Connecticut are overwhelmingly white? “And the crowd did not remotely fill the Green.”

There was a large concentration of people on the northern half of the Green standing shoulder to shoulder, there was another large concentration south of the fountain standing shoulder to shoulder, and then there were many small groups of people gathered around the edges. All told, there were around 14,000 people there. In other words, it was an enormous gathering.

posted by: Esbey on April 25, 2016 5:14pm @dwightstreeter, who is denying reality here? I see that you don’t link to any actual facts. In the New York primary, where Sanders outspent Clinton 2-to-1, Sanders won only 25% of the black vote and 36% of the latino vote. He got only 40% among the poorest voters, but did super-well in all-white rural upstate areas. He did reasonably well with men, but terribly with women. This is not a “revolutionary” coalition, it is the same old privileged white college-boy “I am too smart and good for this world” coalition. These are facts, see http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/04/19/us/elections/new-york-primary-democratic-exit-polls.html The fact is that until “educated” white progressives learn how to build a genuinely multi-racial coalition, they will lose. As Sanders is, in actual reality-reality, losing. And to build that coalition, the Sanders supporters will have to learn how to listen and compromise. (“cue shouting and condescension”)

posted by: Razzie on April 25, 2016 5:14pm WillWilkin – “That is why, if Bernie is not on the ballot in November, I will vote for Trump….”

Dwightstreeter – “I only became a Dem to vote in the Primary for Bernie. if he’s not the candidate, Jill Stein is an option. At least she is a true progressive.” I get it. I understand your perspectives and have to agree to disagree with you.

This election cycle, Bernie chose to compete as a candidate for Dem Party support. Most likely, he will fall short of convincing Dem Party primary voters (and delegates) that he is the best person to carry forward as their candidate for November. I understand that some of his supporters do not necessarily identify as Democratic Party voters, and may not truly care who wins in November, if Bernie is not on the ballot. Again, I have a different perspective. We need to remember the lessons of the Nader “Progressive Party” consequences at the turn of the century. Bernie remembers. And he has rightly pledged to not repeat that mistake. Voters’ ‘Bernie or Bust’ efforts persist despite Sanders’ vow not to be another Ralph Nader http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-sanders-clinton-20160424-story.html Of additional interest :

Ralph Nader rips into Sanders for supporting Clinton instead of his own non-mainstream campaign — a prelude of things to come in 2000. http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/left-out-bernie-sanders-and-ralph-nader-part-company/Content?oid=2433945 Could Bernie Sanders be the Ralph Nader of 2016?

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2016/0425/Could-Bernie-Sanders-be-the-Ralph-Nader-of-2016 As a long-time Dem party voter, I see stark differences in priorities and social philosophy of the two parties … differences that have been front and center during President Obama’s 2 terms. And are continuing to be displayed in the standoff over the pending Supreme Court nomination. For these and many more reasons, I simply cannot adopt a view that sitting out the November election is any rational option.

posted by: robn on April 25, 2016 5:16pm As much as I would prefer a Pres Sanders, I look gleefully forward to the day that either he or Pres Clinton announces their SCOTUS nomination. Republican panties will be in tight wads for months if not years.

posted by: New Haven Urbanism I find Bernie’s political views, policy positions, and campaign financing to be a refreshing contrast to Hillary’s campaign, which seems to continue and contribute to a political system characterized by corporate-sponsorship of candidates, legislation, and policies in order to protect and promote inherited wealth regardless of the impact on working and middle class people. However, I also worry that if Bernie is elected president he will be unable to get anything done and will face even worse obstructionism than Barack has, which may result in a backlash leading to a one-term presidency and increased support for conservatism and corporatization for years to come. I hope that Hillary’s presidency would be much like Barack’s; characterized by an underwhelming effort to enact change in the US political culture, baby steps towards progressive ideals, and measures to mitigate conservative and corporate efforts. I worry, however, that a Hillary presidency could result in greater militarization, political corruption, and economic stratification. For me, the chance, however small, of a progressive political revolution and substantive change to the political status quo outweighs my concerns with Bernie. Though come November, and lacking a viable third party candidate, I will support the Democratic nominee for president.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 6:11pm @Jonathan hopkins: Bernie never said he’d do his agenda alone.

Check out the Ken Burns documentary on The Roosevelts. One of the historians comments that FDR could not have achieved his agenda without the activism of every level, including workers and the unions simultaneously pressing for change.

I, for one, am ready to sign up for a Democratic Socialist Party if Bernie goes that route.

And be aware that Bernie is already backing other candidates lower on the ticket. He’s raising funds and growing a movement.

Your objection to voting for Bernie seems to be that he’ll have to struggle to get his agenda passed.

Well, if people don’t vote for him, we’ll never know.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 25, 2016 6:19pm Esbey: what do you do with the national polls that show Sanders with highest ratings for trustworthy and likeable?

What do you do with the polls showing him more highly rated than all the other candidates?

He lost in NY. No argument.

You seem to like to beat dead horses.

Ho hum.

posted by: Samuel T. Ross-Lee on April 25, 2016 7:45pm The notion that those of us who support Sanders but not Hillary will doom the African-American community for the next 30 years is utter nonsense. But it is that kind of alarmist fear tactic that allows the Democratic party to take our community for granted, playing on the fear that we have nowhere else to turn if we don’t support their candidates, no matter how compromised or compromising doing so is. Our real bargaining power in this “real world” political game will not come as a result of condescending to whatever the Democrats decide to give us in the form of its nominees. It will come when we show that we are willing to allow their opponents to wins for the sake of a better, more comprehensive deal the next time they come trolling, hot sauce in hand (or purse), for our votes. Rev. Ross-Lee

posted by: New Haven Urbanism To be clear, I am planning to vote, with some reservations, for Bernie tomorrow. At this point, however, it appears unlikely that he will get the Democratic nomination, so I predict that in November, absent a viable third party candidate, I will begrudgingly vote for Hillary in order to prevent Trump, or another Oompa Loompa that the Republican Party manages to put forward, from getting into the White House. I think that many Bernie supporters need to acknowledge the severe limitations that exist in this country to the types of profound changes that Bernie is pushing towards. Bernie correctly states that in order to elect him and enact his kinds of ideas, we will need a political and social revolution, which I am optimistic about, but also somewhat doubtful. I am also supporting Bernie in that hopes that it will continue to pressure the Hillary campaign to adopt more progressive policies, which has happened already during the past several months. I suspect that politics, at the level of President, is a delicate and careful game of chess involving strategic moves that work within the existing and enormous bureaucratic machines to make small steps towards progress. Barack has done this to a certain extend, and I think Hillary would be similar, though I worry that she would be a bit worse that Barack has been. Bernie has a completely different strategy, which I find intriguing and am optimistic about, but there’s a very real possibility (even likelihood) that he will not be able to get the amount of support that is needed to get the Democratic nomination, let alone large-scale reforms if he becomes president (although his vetoes and executive orders would be more substantive than Hillary’s).

posted by: Esbey on April 25, 2016 9:04pm @dwightsteeter @ross-lee, Look, I am more than fine with folks voting for Bernie in the primary. I find the whole “revolutionary movement” thing to be laughable given the abject failure to build a plausible “left” coalition, but I still get a preference for Bernie over Hillary. Feel the Bern, it’s fine with me. The great majority of Bernie supporters are great folks who will support the Democratic nominee in the fall, just as I would absolutely work my heart out for Bernie if he got the nomination. It is a small (but loud) minority of Bernie supporters who I detest, the Naderite Bernie-bros who think only “corruption” can explain why anyway disagrees with them and who will take their ball home and sit out the election if they don’t get their way. *They* are the ones who lead us to disaster and who can’t deal with reality. The Naderites directly gave us GWB and the Bernie-bros, with their threaten fall petulence, could give us President Cruz. As for the general election polls, I personally find them quite implausible. To believe them, you have to believe that the November electorate is going to be considerably to the left of the New York (or Ohio or Florida, etc.) Democratic primary electorate. I think the current results are just an expression of general revolt—Fox News tells them that Hillary is the devil and Bernie hates Hillary, so what the heck. But by the fall, Fox News (and much of the “mainstream” media) will “inform” them that Bernie will raise their taxes, kick them off their employer health plan and generally be a crazy socialist. And so the current polls won’t hold as November approaches. I remember when Dukakis led the polls! But, if you believe the GE polls and like Bernie, then definitely vote for him on Tuesday, go for it. But if you don’t support the eventual Dem nominee (either one), then you are causing horrible harm to your country.

posted by: robn on April 25, 2016 10:51pm Given the crazy @$$ circumstances of the current GOP, I reccomend to any non-GOP’r to vote for the candidate that best conveys their vision of the USA you’d like to live in.

posted by: Gearhead on April 25, 2016 11:03pm Here you go… This link will help you with your “supposed” Bernie problem. I’m giving you think this link even though I suspect you of being just another Bernie basher spreading propaganda…https://youtu.be/71IJTZSd5as?t=922

posted by: BoydJones on April 25, 2016 11:11pm Esbey, Seems that you enjoy being a weak, fall-in-line type who doesn’t like independent thought. Believe me, Sanders supporters view you even less favorably than you do of them. And for actual good reason.

posted by: Renewhavener on April 26, 2016 1:03am @Dwightstreeter, “Not everyone has to “work, struggle and earn what you get”. Perhaps. Fairness is a subjective. Not to mention your statement is relied upon on the right also as they imply that beneficiaries of socialism have likewise no need to work, struggle or earn either b/c they can rely on transfer payments, so not sure this statement truly helps your argument. “Why are you so quick to disclaim “permanent victimhood” when our crimes against native americans, African Americans comes up?” Agree those things are terrible. When did they come up? In your comment. Am not quick to disclaim anything. Have studied and thought on this for a long time, and consider the left’s political foundation to be built in large measure on this exact notion of appealing to victimhood for votes and the perceived guilt that results for funds. See socialism as an extreme variant of the main street left, (as most dems do which is why Mrs. Clinton will prevail if not tomorrow then soon btw) My view on socialism is it is inconsistent with the human spirit and our need to be seen and acknowledged as individuals, and reject it on that basis. “Are you equally disdainful of those for whom permanent privilege has delivered a life they didn’t earn? What about “affluenza”? How about “trust fund babies”. Just how hard did they work? Did they ever struggle?” Life, by definition is hard. Doesn’t matter what you have or don’t have, it is not easy in any context. I take issue with and attitude which assumes it is not or less so for others, and with those who take action to seek sympathy and be collectively validated in that quest. Some chose to feel victimized. Others energized. Go pick. “My reminder of what reality is for far too many and that it’s NOT a level playing field apparently touches on some anger.” Not sure I completely understand this, and am not angry… so… “No wonder you reject Bernie…He’s compassion personified.” I see a politician personified.

posted by: czegledi on April 26, 2016 1:04am Wish I could have been there but glad I did not go, handicapped and thought no chairs were allowed so my walker with seating wasn’t allowed and now read wheelchairs did not have a place to accommendate them. Still glad there was a great turnout.

posted by: robn on April 26, 2016 1:09am What I meant by my last comment is that, given the unpredictability of the republicans, and the internecine warfare were about to behold at their convention, there is no strategizing. Pick the dem you like.

posted by: HenryCT on April 26, 2016 10:05am Whatever happens to the Democratic nomination, whatever happens in November, without a movement precious little will change. Were Bernie to gain enough support to become the Democratic nominee huge forces will take aim to destroy him. Were he to become president, even more the 1% would take aim. Obama, who had Wall Street support, has been constantly and brutally attacked for being Black, for being liberal. Hillary, who also has Wall Street support, is being attacked by for being woman and being liberal. Sanders is and will be targeted because he is to the left of liberal, a social democrat in the tradition of much of the European center, in the tradition of Franklin Roosevelt. Sanders is challenging the current establishment policies of privatization and austerity and to a lesser extent a foreign policy of violent regime change and unending wars. While Sanders doesn’t owe anything to Wall Street and its minions, Congress does, the Washington political establishment does, the universities do. Whatever we want to happen after the inauguration next January, we’ll need a great movement, really a coalition of the great social movements, to create a strong wind to enact the changes we desperately need and insistently demand, and the sounds of millions of shoes marching together to impress all those we elect that we mean business. Only by building that movement will we win.

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 26, 2016 10:53am Esbey:

You stated that ” But if you don’t support the eventual Dem nominee (either one), then you are causing horrible harm to your country.”

The Dems have been trotting out that old “lesser of two evils” argument for the past 40+ years as a way to keep the neglected rank and file voters terrified that they will bring down democracy if they fail to vote for any crony who stuck around long enough to be nominated to something.

Just as the Dems scapegoated Nader for their own weak candidate and strategical errors (although the Republicans did a good job of scrubbing the electoral rolls and that is documented), thus letting the Sup. CT elect George Bush, the son, I’m sure they’re already preparing to flagellate Bernie if he fails to deliver his supporters to HIllary.

Bernie is correct that Hillary will have to earn our votes. Bernie can’t deliver us.

All the flaws in the primaries of both parties, but the forcing of independents to the sidelines, followed by the “lesser of 2 evils argument”, all of these point out the need for total reform of the voting process, including day of voting registration.

political parties are NOT in the Constitution and should not be allowed to exclude any voter who wants to vote. Open primaries are inevitable. Instant Runoff Voting (aka preferential voting) would leave fewer people disgruntled because a strong 2nd choice could win when no front runner gets a majority. Etcetera.

I’m just not buying the old gloom and doom you espouse.

posted by: Esbey on April 26, 2016 11:51am @Dwightstreeter, I think that in the academy they would say that you are “performing” my critique quite well.

posted by: jim1 on April 26, 2016 2:35pm Got the bern at 6 am went to vote 2 votes for Bernie. Jim & Wendy

posted by: Gearhead on April 26, 2016 4:37pm I wasn’t sure it was true until I have seen it with my own eyes. The professional writers and bloggers that Hillary hired for 1 million are in full force! Notice the skilled but subtle art of manipulation in their writings. Statements that initially seem to be in favor of Bernie but then suddenly discredit him. Well played… well played but with all of your disingenuous efforts to troll the hell out of the internet comment boards with lies coupled with the outrageous and blatant cheating at the polling stations in states like Iowa, Nevada, texas and New york makes your pathetic and last minute attempts to sway the informed public a waste of time. Go ahead and keep perpetuating false narratives. The revolution is here regardless of whether Bernie gets in office or not. For all those that are not aware of the “professional trolls hired by Hillary here is the link… http://usuncut.com/politics/clinton-super-pac-busted/

posted by: Dwightstreeter on April 27, 2016 12:57pm @Gearhead: Thank you for that depressing news.

We no longer have people voting from the graveyard (I think). Now we use social media to lie and manipulate.