Bernie Sanders seems to have a ‘Woman’ issue ?
(More Democratic women vote then men….)
Back in 2016, there wasn’t much love lost between Bernie Sanders and EMILY’s List, the Democratic advocacy group that backs pro-abortion-rights female political candidates. The groups two sparred over candidate endorsements (including for Hillary Clinton) and the campaign’s “condescending” comments about Clinton’s campaign, and — last year — over Sanders’ appearance at a women’s conference.
Fast forward to now, and the two factions are facing off more and more in the 2018 Democratic primaries. And that’s largely been because Sanders — in races that feature prominent women — has often endorsed a rival male candidate instead.
In tomorrow’s Michigan gubernatorial primary, it’s Gretchen Whitmer (endorsed by EMILY’s List) vs. Abdul El Sayed (endorsed by Sanders). And in Kansas’s third district, it’s Sharice Davids (endorsed by EMILY’s List) vs. Brent Welder (endorsed by Sanders).
The list goes on: Sanders has endorsed Andrew Gillum in Florida (who’s up against, among others, EMILY’s List-endorsed Gwen Graham); Greg Edwards in PA-7 (who was defeated by EMILY’s List-endorsed Susan Wild); and Pete D’Alessandro in IA-3 (who was defeated by EMILY’s List-endorsed Cindy Axne).
It’s completely fair to note that Sanders has chosen candidates who align with his own policy priorities over more moderate competitors. And he did pick Stacey Abrams in Georgia (who won her primary) and Marie Newman in IL-3 (who lost) — but so did most national Democratic groups, including EMILY’s List.
More notably, he also DIDN’T endorse two very progressive female candidates before they won their primaries — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in NY-14 and Kara Eastman in NE-2.
Critics of EMILY’s List have suggested that the well-funded group simply picks primary winners and losers from afar. “We don’t want to be supportive of candidates who simply raise money from the wealthy and then put 30-second ads on TV,” Sanders suggested in a rally for Welder.
It’s all feels like a replay of the Sanders-Clinton wars of 2016, a conflict so steeped in gender issues that the term “Bernie Bro” was born. Our take: In a year when women are such a dominant force in Democratic politics, the narrative that Sanders isn’t prioritizing female candidates may not be great for his brand in the long run….
Note….
While it is just there?
Sanders IS has and IS squaring off against Elizabeth Warren , who IS a Democrat coming up for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination season…
The reality is that if Sanders had endorsed Ocasio-Cortez, you would have found a reason to criticize him. And if he didn’t endorse her you still find a reason to criticize him.
Yes he did
I believe AFTER she won the primary the piece points out Z….
So you believe Sanders should have endorsed Cortez before the primary. Should Biden have endorsed Cortez before the primary?
Not my point….
The piece points to Sanders having a potential women problem…
I was just pointing out your hypocrisy. Sorry you missed my point again.