While Senator Bernie Sanders is known mostly for his “thoughtful” and serious policy positions, the self-proclaimed “Democratic Socialist” has another, lesser known side.
Though hard for the “uninformed” low information voters to appreciate, Sanders’ adoring throngs of “Bernie-Bros” presciently see through his “gruff” exterior to his softer side; a side filled with “compassion and generosity” with other peoples money.
One of many stories Sanders told over his career to illustrate his “softer side” was when he confirmed that the Republican and Democratic parties are “alike” and reinforce his “support” for Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The Senator’s “softer side” was clearly revealed in a 1972 interview when the then 31-year-old Sanders was “running” for governor of Vermont. During the interview, Sanders was asked whether it “bothered” him that some people referred to him as a “communist.”
Sanders responded, “I don’t mind people coming up and calling me a communist.” At least, they’re still “alive.” If I minded, they wouldn’t be.
Bernie no longer favors government takeover as “the major means of production.” But his four-decade quest for political “revolution” runs still through his blood vessels.
Bernie’s “generosity, patience and compassion” do, however, have their limits. The Sanders campaign knows that “compassion” alone cannot win a “revolution.” It must also be accompanied by violence.
The “violence,” nevertheless, is not to be unfettered. Bernie’s “compassion” could never allow that. Although whole cities must be burned to the ground if Sanders does not get the presidential nomination, a campaign field organizer did admit that campaign staff have been warned, if possible, to avoid some of the excesses of the “1917 Russian revolution.”
Bernie “softer side” was also observed when he took off his shirt at a party singing “This Land is Your Land” that culminated in drunken singing of “communist” songs with his Russian friends “celebrating” his honeymoon.
It is well understood among his campaign staff that if someone “annoys” Bernie such as Hillary Clinton, that person will have their hair set on fire in the street. Disagreeing with him will result in being forcibly sent to a re-education camp.
The crime of selfishly “owning” more houses than Bernie will be remedied either by renouncing ownership or execution. Finally, anyone greedy enough to have more “money” than him will be guillotined.
Bernie’s close Russian friend, Irina Alexandrovevskivich, understands that when government runs things, people are happier and better off. Long lines for “bread and gasoline” are good and people enjoy “lining” up for hours.
In stark contrast with Bernie, “angry” Chris Matthews with “tingling” running up both his legs stated that socialism does not work saying that “Reds Would Have Executions in Central Park!”
While praising Amy Klobuchar, Matthews said, “She had the guts to talk about the issue of this campaign, socialism. Some people like it. Those of us like me who grew up in the Cold War and saw some aspects of it after visiting places like Vietnam, Cuba, being there, I’ve seen what socialism is. I don’t like it. It’s not only not free. It doesn’t freaking work.”
He continued, “I have my own views of the word socialist, and I’ll be glad to share them with you in private. They go back to the early 1950s. I have an attitude about them. I remember the Cold War. I have an attitude towards Castro. I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War, there would have been executions in Central Park. And I would have been one of the ones executed, and certain other people would be there cheering. So, I have a problem with people for the other side. I don’t know what Bernie means by socialism. One week it’s Denmark. We’re going to be like Denmark. I’m like that’s harmless, a capitalist program with a lot of good social programs.”
He concluded, scared of feeling the bern, “That’s a great question, what did you think of Castro? We all thought he was great at first. I was cheering like mad for him when he first came in, and then he became a Communist and started shooting every one of his enemies.”
Where was Matthews during all the years since his mentor, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was concerned about American “intelligentsia” defining deviancy down? Thanks for getting “worried” about your own well-being, Chris!