By Ronn Blitzer | Fox News
Even by the standards of partisan vitriol being hurled in all directions amid civil unrest and the coronavirus pandemic, a remarkable dispute is raging among Bernie Sanders alumni in the aftermath of his second failed presidential campaign.
Current and former Sanders staffers have lashed out at one another in recent days, concerning both general gripes about working with the Democratic establishment and personal shots at individuals’ post-campaign activities.
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Former Sanders speechwriter David Sirota has been critical of the campaign, tweeting repeatedly about its failures and how those involved, including himself, “should accept their blame” for Sanders’ loss.
David Sirota✔@davidsirotaReplying to @davidsirota
And I accept my share of the blame for failing our country and my own children, who need a better world and didn’t get transformative change from this primary. Everyone else should accept their blame, too. The only way to grow is to admit failure and try to learn from it.248
But it was a criticism of the “unity task-force” made up of Sanders and Biden supporters that caused particular consternation.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but many of us don’t want to hear career Beltway political operatives boasting about task forces while this shit is going on right now,” Sirota said in a tweet that he later deleted but was reported by Politico. “Jfc — try to be a little less tone deaf.”
In response, Sanders spokesperson Mike Casca took a shot at Sirota for supposedly using campaign information for personal gain.
“[D]amn right. real change happens when you steal an email list from the campaign and use it to create your own paid newsletter,” Casca said Tuesday night, referring to Sirota’s Too Much Information newsletter. “[W]hy can’t anyone see that? anyway, subscribe if you can.”
damn right. real change happens when you steal an email list from the campaign and use it to create your own paid newsletter. why can’t anyone see that? anyway, subscribe if you can. https://twitter.com/davidsirota/status/1267992022272466944 …752
That same night, former Sanders senior adviser Winnie Wong blindsided campaign manager Faiz Shakir and senior adviser Jeff Weaver, accusing them of not caring about their base and only being concerned with “their own political careers INSIDE the beltway.” She then took it a step further, saying, “Naming the enemy is a must and I just did it.”
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That prompted Shakir to defend himself for working with the Democratic establishment and trying to move them further to the left.
“Trump’s gassing protesters, but I’m the real enemy. For what? Trying with every fiber of my being to get Bernie elected but coming in 2nd,” he tweeted. “And then trying to get the 1st place finisher to move in a progressive direction and defeat Trump.”
Jeff and Faiz are nerds. This isn’t news. They don’t give a shit about the base. They give a shit about their political careers INSIDE the beltway. Naming the enemy is a must and I just did it. Again. https://twitter.com/davidsirota/status/1267992022272466944
I hate engaging, but this is ridiculous. Trump’s gassing protesters, but I’m the real enemy. For what? Trying with every fiber of my being to get Bernie elected but coming in 2nd. And then trying to get the 1st place finisher to move in a progressive direction and defeat Trump.240
Sanders senior adviser Josh Orton called out Wong for vilifying Shakir and Weaver, while taking a shot at her own latest endeavors.
“The people who did everything to elect a presidential candidate with the most aggressive crim justice plan in history? And you start a super PAC?” he tweeted.
Trump is macing peaceful protesters like a fascist and you name these guys as enemies? The people who did everything to elect a presidential candidate with the most aggressive crim justice plan in history?
And you start a super PAC?
I love you Winnie but… https://twitter.com/WaywardWinifred/status/1267994817172299778 …Fred✔@WaywardWinifredJeff and Faiz are nerds. This isn’t news. They don’t give a shit about the base. They give a shit about their political careers INSIDE the beltway. Naming the enemy is a must and I just did it. Again. https://twitter.com/davidsirota/status/1267992022272466944
Sanders campaign former Iowa deputy state director Bill Neidhardt also jumped to Shakir’s defense. “In what universe is Faiz the ‘enemy’ here??” he asked. “Let’s beat Trump, not each other.”
In what universe is Faiz the “enemy” here?? Let’s beat Trump, not each other. https://twitter.com/WaywardWinifred/status/1267994817172299778 …Fred✔@WaywardWinifredJeff and Faiz are nerds. This isn’t news. They don’t give a shit about the base. They give a shit about their political careers INSIDE the beltway. Naming the enemy is a must and I just did it. Again. https://twitter.com/davidsirota/status/1267992022272466944
“The social movement universe – a distinctly different universe than the one you belong too,” Wong responded, prompting Neidhardt to reply that he has “no clue what the hell you’re talking about.”
Fred✔@WaywardWinifred · Replying to @BNeidhardt
The social movement universe – a distinctly different universe than the one you belong too.
If you think the social movement “universe” doesn’t include people who sacrificed greatly to elect Bernie or got tear gassed standing up to Trump, then yes, I have no clue what the hell you’re talking about.
Shakir told Politico that people should not read too much into the recent infighting, while still blaming those chasing their own self interests.
“We have had disagreements on some things here and there, but [we were] all working hard for the same goal,” he said. “And it’s just frustrating that there’s some folks out there who want to get attention off of criticisms.”
