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I'm feelin' the Bern!
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has taken the lead from former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for the first time in a poll in the crucial early voting state of Iowa, as the self-declared socialist Democrat continues to tighten the race with the party establishment favorite.
A Quinnipiac University poll released[/url] on Thursday found that 41% of likely Democratic primary voters in Iowa said they would vote for Sanders, while 40% said they would vote for the former secretary of state. Though Sanders’ edge is within the margin of error of 3.4 percentage points, Clinton led Sanders by double digits in Iowa in July. [url= ]Averages of all polling in the state show Clinton with a quickly eroding lead that nevertheless remains in the double-digits.
Last edited by Just Fred (9/10/2015 12:51 pm)
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Are you going to the Sept. 14th rally in Mannassas, VA?
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Are you going to the Sept. 14th rally in Mannassas, VA?
No, but I'm sure there will be some kind of rally closer to home at some point, and when it happens, I'll be there.
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Bernie obviously has the chutzpah, guts, compassion, cajones, or whatever else you want to call it to espouse his views in a forum that may be in stark disagreement with him. He does this without making light of the situation, or bullying the participants, or ridiculing opposing views. Good for Bernie.
Bernie Sanders courts Christian conservative students
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — In an unlikely appearance at a prominent Christian university, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said Monday the “massive injustice” of income and wealth inequality should unite people across the political spectrum.
From the outset, Sanders noted in his speech at Liberty University that he believed in women’s rights and gay marriage, drawing some cheers but mostly tepid applause in the cavernous Vines Center, where the school regularly assembles during the week. But the Vermont senator said the problems of wealth inequality and economic justice showed that “maybe, just maybe, we can try to work together to resolve that.”
“It would be hard to make the case that we are a just society or anything resembling a just society today,” Sanders said at the influential Christian college in Virginia that usually draws Republican presidential candidates. “In the United States of America today, there is massive injustice in terms of income and wealth inequality.”
Sanders’ appearance at Liberty was the boldest example yet of his attempt to appeal to people outside the traditional umbrella of the Democratic party and expand the party’s base — something he called engaging in “civil discourse.” The independent who calls himself a “democratic socialist” has sought to topple Hillary Rodham Clinton for the party’s presidential nomination.
“It is easy to go out and talk to people who agree with you,” Sanders said, adding: “But it is harder, but not less important, for us to try and communicate with those who do not agree with us on every issue.”
The university, founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell in 1971, is a familiar stop for Republican presidential hopefuls seeking to connect with conservative evangelicals. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz launched his GOP presidential campaign last March and Republican hopeful Dr. Ben Carson is scheduled to speak at the convocation in November. But it has hosted fewer Democrats over the years.
Sanders said he was “far from a perfect human being” but was motivated by the vision of the religious teachings of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. The senator was raised in a Jewish family and is non-observant but his campaign said he planned to stop at a Rosh Hashanah gathering Monday at the home of Michael Gillette, Lynchburg’s mayor.
Pointing to Scripture, Sanders cited the “Golden Rule” of Matthew’s Gospel as a guiding principle to treat others as you would like to be treated. At another point, he told students the book of Amos said, “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.”
As the U.S. prepares for the arrival of Pope Francis, Sanders said he agreed with the pope’s views that the financial crisis “originated in a profound human crisis” that saw too many people place a greater emphasis on the pursuit of wealth than faith.
His pitch on economic injustice and social issues was met with scattered applause and many students sat politely with their arms folded, declining to clap. During a question-and-answer session, the student body erupted when Liberty senior vice president David Nasser noted that many students felt “children in the womb need our protection.”
Sanders acknowledged it was “an area where we disagree” but said it was a “painful and difficult decision” that should not be made by the government.
Sanders’ rallies have drawn tens of thousands of supporters but his appearance at the school’s convocation, which students are required to attend with few exceptions, was one of his more unusual stops. Before he spoke, Sanders looked on as students sang along to a Christian rock band that performed before nearly 12,000 people.
Many students said they respected Sanders for speaking but said his views on social issues were a deal-breaker. Danielle Eschedor, a 19-year-old sophomore from Wellington, Ohio, said the senator had a “good heart” and was glad that he spoke at the school but said “the responsibility falls on the church” to address many of the nation’s social problems.
“I’m glad they invited him but I wouldn’t vote for him,” said Nathan White, a junior from Houston. White said he opposed gay marriage and abortion rights and described himself as a capitalist.
Last edited by Rongone (9/14/2015 2:55 pm)
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Many students said they respected Sanders for speaking but said his views on social issues were a deal-breaker. Danielle Eschedor, a 19-year-old sophomore from Wellington, Ohio, said the senator had a “good heart” and was glad that he spoke at the school but said “the responsibility falls on the church” to address many of the nation’s social problems.
Response to Danielle: Ok, fine, good luck with that. By the way, Danielle, which church are you referring to? Just askin'.
“I’m glad they invited him but I wouldn’t vote for him,” said Nathan White, a junior from Houston. White said he opposed gay marriage and abortion rights and described himself as a capitalist.
Response to Nathan: Good idea. Vote for a Republican and gay marriage will disappear along with abortions. Oh, wait, that's right, GW ran on the same poop, and when he and his tribe had control of Congress and Supreme Court, guess what? Nothing happened. They're using you, big boy.
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Hey, if YOUR church wants to address social problems, have at it in your church.
Leave it out of the county clerk's office, the halls of congress, and Presidential politics.
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at the influential Christian college
What does this mean?
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Interesting how Bernie has risen to the top of the pack by being the anti-trump.
Focused on issues, avoiding bombast, careful with the facts, scrupulously refraining from gutter tactics.
Makes you feel proud of Both Sanders and Democratic voters.
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Conspiracy Theory wrote:
at the influential Christian college
What does this mean?
Think of Grove City College in Grove City, PA.
It's kind of like Liberty . . . without Jerry Falwell.
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Liberty has been without Jerry Falwell for a number of years, now.
I bought a copy of his early 80's book "Listen, America!" because I didn't like him and wanted to "know my enemy".
Fast forward 20 years. I'm attending a conference in Lynchburg and JF is the banquet speaker. On a whim I brought that book along with me. There is one open at the round banquet tables....next to me. So when JF arrives around the desert guess where he sits.
"Oh, llooky here" he exclaimed when he saw my book. We actually ended up having a very cordial conversation because we both had mellowed over the years. And he wrote a very nice inscription with his autograph.
In his remarks at the dinner, he told the conference attendees that he had conducted a funeral that morning for someone he realy did not know, who had no family, but who had regularly attened the Thomas Road Baptist Church. He had had the secretaries call up members and ask them to attend the funeral so that the poor soul was not commended all alone.
My opnion of JF shot up about 2000%. He was a man with a true heart for people. He got tired of seeing people suffer because of some conditions in society; and while I disagree with his prescription some of his diagnosis was spot on. We have to break the cycle of welfare dependency. But we can't do that by rolling the clock back to 1955.