Most observers of a fairly mild Democratic debate Tuesday have homed in on one exchange that came after the main action ended: Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) refusal to shake Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) hand as they left the stage.
Cameras caught her saying something with a serious look on her face to Sanders as he shook his head in response and pointed to himself then to her. He then turned and walked away.
According to the New York Times, people familiar with the exchange confirmed most people’s assumptions. Warren was bringing up her concern that Sanders mischaracterized a remark he made in 2018 that a woman couldn’t be elected president. He denied saying it again during the debate; Warren maintains that he did.
Per the Times, Sanders asked to continue the conversation at a different time before he moved away.
The Times reporting confirms an earlier comment from Sanders’ campaign manager Faiz Shakir given to the Washington Post.“She came to raise a concern, and he said let’s talk about that later,” Shakir said.
Billionaire Tom Steyer awkwardly hovered behind the two, waiting for a handshake while they had their rushed conversation. He told a CNN panel just after the debate that he couldn’t make out much of what they were saying and that he just wanted to remove himself from the uncomfortable situation.
The much-awaited exchange on Sanders’ alleged comment during the debate was less vicious than expected, with Warren quickly changing the subject to the evident electoral success of the women on the stage (herself and Sen. Amy Klobuchar) rather than going back and forth on the comment itself.
Bernie could have said he must have been misunderstood, or it was an incorrect assessment about the next election right after Hillary Clinton’s loss, or about Trump’s sexism or something instead of denying the whole thing and presenting all kinds of evidence about him saying something different or hiring women or whatever.
I believe Warren, but also don’t know why she or whoever did it revealed an inconsequential conversation that could only damage both of them.
Bernie likely said this in some form. It doesn’t seem an outrageous comment, though disheartening. He didn’t want her to run. That’s not a sin. She’s in the race. Doesn’t this kind of thing happen pretty frequently? The issue now is the seemingly vicious response from his supporters and outside manipulators. Lots of snakes.
This is precisely the sort of tertiary matter that, while not necessarily nothing, pales in comparison to the truly big issues, that the GOP exploits (if not manufacturers or at least gins up) to create and intensify divisions on the left, and enough doubt and uncertainty among swing voters to turn them off of both sides and make them either not vote or vote GOP or 3rd party. This is how it beats Dems, by turning non-issues into issues, and turning minor issues into major ones. And Dems’ typical reaction is some variation of “Not fair!”. And we all know how that turns out. It’s like each side can’t help playing its respective role in a drama that’s written in stone and cannot be altered. Repubs are the nasty bullies and manipulators, and Dems are the “good kids” who get beaten up and run home crying to mama.
This is all irrespective of whether Sanders actually said something like this.
Pure speculation, but I’m thinking that some of the people who she spoke to about the conversation got mad about the volunteer script that was leaked the day before leaked this. That puts her in the position of either denying the truth and covering for him, or confirming the report and becoming an even bigger target for the contingent of Bernie supporters that were already out to get her. And if she denied it and further reporting confirmed that she had described the remarks afterwards, then she’d be in a spot. So she put out her statement yesterday and is trying to move the campaign on.
If it wasn’t this, it would be something else. There’s always something else. Look at all the holes they’ve poked in Warren’s life story–all minor. Everyone’s misspoken or even outright lied, with some true whoppers here and there, but usually far less serious. But the GOP is expert in latching on to ones they believe will cause damage, and it usually works, even if they’re baseless or minor–mostly because Dems are terrible in fighting back, deluding themselves into believing that because they are baseless or minor, the public will see through it (which of course it doesn’t, being mostly stupid).
When shows like Jerry Springer, Inside Edition and TMZ cease to be popular is when Dems’ high road approach to politics will work. I.e. never. Trash talking works.