Bernie Sanders: ‘Democratic Socialist’ Or Out-And-Out Stalinist?

Sanders supporters need to pick this story apart bigtime.

Apparently Bernie went to some kind of "Israeli commune" in --get this-- the old USSR.

I have no idea if this is true or some kind of wild smear tactic.

The article goes on to describe several "Socialist" organizations Bernie was/is involved with.

Line by Line analysis is warranted here.

Please tell me this is satire or at least a possible Hillary Campaign tactic.


Bernie Sanders: ‘Democratic Socialist’ Or Out-And-Out Stalinist?

As a college student in 1963, Sanders was a guest of the Hashomer Hatzair, a Marxist youth movement founded by communist Ya’akov Hazan, who called the Soviet Union a second homeland and eulogized Stalin as “the great leader and extolled commander. We lower our flag in grief in memory of the great revolutionary fighter (and) architect of socialist construction.”

Ignoring Stalin’s atrocities, Hazan oozed: “His huge historical achievements will guide generations in their march toward the reign of socialism and communism the world over.”

The Marxist movement Sanders joined pledged its allegiance to the Soviet Union and was described as “Stalinist” as late as 1969 — well after Sanders’ visit.

Holy Moly !!

Neither. He's a social democrat.

originally posted by: Tiamat384
Neither. He's a socialist democrat.

well can you counter any of the material (accusations) in the article?

supporters really need to find out if this story is BS

a reply to: xuenchen
Well, my main issue with the OP was the "democratic socialist", but really we're going to base off what form of politics Sanders is on the basis of something said or done over 40 years ago? Instead of his current policies?

a reply to: xuenchen

Well, for starters - this is an editorial.

Secondly, why is the burden of proof on everyone else to discredit this article? What kind of logic is this?

a reply to: xuenchen

That's easy. When he was Mayor or Senator, did he bring back the USSR to Vermont? LOL

a reply to: xuenchen
My current opinion, while not yet done reading your source fully, is that the answer is that he was a college student. Nothing more than that. And the fact that this was apparently 50 years ago (looked at the 1969 date and not the 1963 date earlier) and so I'd have to say that it appears more of a way to passively attack the non-establishment nominee.

a reply to: xuenchen

Strange how they reference article after article but don't source any of them.

Here is, well I assume, the New York Times article.
www.nytimes.com...
Hardly confirming what they are saying.

a reply to: amazing
It's obvious he did. I mean...look at Vermont!

As far as I'm aware, Sanders spent some time in Israel. He was part of the March on Washington with MLK and he organized sit-in protests at the University of Chicago opposing segregated housing.

I looked at your source which had this tidbit:

1963-64: He joined the Young People’s Socialist League, the youth wing of the Socialist Party USA. Sanders also organized for a communist front, the United Packinghouse Workers Union, which at the time was infiltrated by hardened Communist agents and under investigation by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Yes, again, Sanders was and is a socialist. He's not hiding it. He's had some very left-wing views, he doesn't hide that either. He's the most left-wing member of congress. So much so that he didn't even bother associating himself with the democratic party. The House Committee on Un-American Activities was, quite possibly, the worst thing to ever come out of the US congress. I'd be surprised if they weren't investigating every union in the country at the time.

I couldn't read anything after that, I got too riled up. Nothing against the OP. That part of our history always irks me.

You are obsessed by him arent you? You try so hard to find the slightest dirt, failing miserably so far.

Ironically you support Trump, who has tons of dirt but you choose to ignore that. So hypocritical.

And your logic:
You claim that socialist policies would make everyone lazy, while simultaneously saying it would force communist-styled slave labor on citizens. You say socialists just want free things while admitting we'll all pay more in taxes.
You say socialism will bankrupt your country, while ignoring the crushing debt your country already has and the constant financial collapses caused by excessive capitalism (like the 1987 Savings & Loans collapse, the 2000 Dotcom crash, and the 2008 financial crisis).

Then wonder why the younger generations both ignore their "warnings" and want a change in economic policies.

How much more contradicting can you be?

Deny ignorance?

Also, I'm not familiar with Sanders executing millions of people based on sexual orientation and religious affiliation.

I absolutely love when people compare Sanders to say Mao, Pol Pot, or Stalin.

Remember - there is a very distinct and REAL difference between "Semi-auto," and "Full-auto," but I mean - they're basically the same thing, really.

This is the line of logic being applied to those who consistently lump Totalitarianism/Fascism into Socialism.

Socialism - destroying America, one snowplow and public library at a time.

a reply to: TerryMcGuire

But the problem is many people might think this is true.

How many votes could this cost?

Supporters need to somehow counter this.

a reply to: RomeByFire
It's important to note he's not socialist. Despite what he says.

He's still a better choice for POTUS than any other Democratic or Republican candidate up for sale nomination. IMO America needs a fundamental shift in establishment political policies and Bernie could deliver that, Trump could too, but he's a goose.

originally posted by: xuenchen

But the problem is many people might think this is true.

How many votes could this cost?

Supporters need to somehow counter this.

Give me a break. You're concerned that someone might see this as true??? Really??

Well how very thought full of you.

Seeing as how it's an editorial from some online investment site I'm guessing it's not going to cause much stir. But maybe if you keep pushing it with your false concern over it being true you might convince a couple more Sanders haters to join you in your crusade against him.

a reply to: xuenchen

Bernie could be a Stalinist.

But he can't get anything done to promote Stalinism if he called it, Stalinism.

Now if he called it social progressivism, or democratic socialism, he might get supporters and followers.

originally posted by: xuenchen
a reply to: TerryMcGuire

But the problem is many people might think this is true.

How many votes could this cost?

Supporters need to somehow counter this.

No, I think the problem here is you HOPE people might think it is true.