When Democrat Peter Shumlin was locked in a close race with Republican Brian Dubie in 2010, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pitched in by holding a series of rallies that helped Shumlin win the open seat.
When Democrat Miro Weinberger was vying to become mayor of Burlington in 2012, Sanders’ endorsement helped the politically untested Weinberger follow Sanders to City Hall.
What thanks does Sanders get?
Both men are endorsing Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president.
Certainly, endorsements from Vermont’s governor and Burlington’s mayor wouldn’t put Sanders over the top in the race to the White House, but what ever happened to friends looking out for friends? Both Shumlin and Weinberger say nice things about Sanders, but when it comes to choosing a candidate they have both committed to the Democratic front-runner.
“Bernie and I are great friends,” Shumlin said Thursday. “I think he’s an extraordinary U.S. senator and I’m really happy that Vermont has him and I’m happy he’s running for president.”
He followed that with a very big but: “My belief is that the most qualified candidate running for president who’s going to fight for the middle class and who understands the challenge of foreign policy is Hillary Clinton,” Shumlin said.
“We all understand that that’s what primaries are about. It doesn’t diminish the importance of our friendships.”
He noted that he’s also friends with former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, another likely presidential candidate, from their days serving in the leadership of the Democratic Governors Association.
In Shumlin’s case, you can readily make the argument that he would not be governor today without Sanders’ help. The two went on a late-October campaign tour in 2010 after Shumlin emerged from a five-way Democratic primary. They hit Democratic strongholds, such as Burlington, but also more conservative locales, such as St. Albans and Rutland, where Sanders fares surprisingly well.
In 2014, when Shumlin barely won reelection, Sanders was there to help again, co-hosting a series of campaign rallies.
Next Tuesday, when Sanders holds his own campaign rally, Shumlin won’t be there.
“I want that to be Bernie’s day,” the governor said.
Weinberger, who still presides over the city Sanders once ran, will also not be at Sanders’ 5 p.m. waterfront campaign kickoff. He will instead be speaking at a Vermont Alzheimer’s Association dinner that evening.
“I am supporting Hillary Clinton for president,” Weinberger said Thursday. “I believe Hillary is the right person at the right time to effectively lead our country forward.”
But where’s the love for the guy who once helped him?
“I have great respect and appreciation for Bernie and what he has accomplished in his remarkable career,” Weinberger said. “Bernie was one of the most effective mayors to serve Burlington, and Vermont has been fortunate to benefit from Bernie’s leadership in both the United States House and Senate. Bernie’s passion and bold ideas will be good for Vermont and for our country.”
OK, so what’s going on here? These guys, plus Sen. Patrick Leahy and former governors Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin, are all firmly in the Clinton camp. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has not endorsed a candidate. Is there some code by which mainstream Democrats are not allowed to support the independent upstart?
Not so, said state Rep. Mary Sullivan (D-Burlington), who is on the Democratic State Committee. “I’m a Bernie-backer,” Sullivan said. She plans to attend Sanders’ kickoff.
Lots of Vermont Democrats, even those supporting Clinton, are excited to see Sanders shake up the race, Sullivan said.
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Bernie should be elated that Shummy isn’t endorsing him!
I’m all for Bernie running. However, I am voting for Hillary. She can win and I don’t think Bernie can. And you know what, Hillary is starting to talk about issues that Bernie has been talking about so I think that is progress right there. I am really looking forward to the debates and I feel that a rigorous primary for the Dems is good for the Party and good for the country.
Hillary’s top donors are Goldman Sachs and Citigroup with JP Morgan not far behind. Do you really think she cares about the middle and working classes? She is just another Wall Street candidate.
Shumlin endorsing a fellow criminal is not shocking. I think Bernie dodged a bullet not being affiliated with the most arrogant and anti-Vermont leader we have ever had.
Bernard Sanders is bigger than all of them combined. Shummy and Weinberger are showing their sleazy stripes. Make no mistake, the Democratic party, (and the Republican) are powerful machines. They are wholly owned by the big corps and special interest groups. And make no mistake, the People of America are bigger than that too. they see the Clinton Corruption, the fact that she is wholly owned, and a puppet for their wants and needs. Sanders is a steady rock in a sea full of mud. He has never wavered, flinched or changed his politics to suit the needs of any group. Whether the Dems would ever clean up their act enough to sponsor an honest candidate remains to be seen.
“He has never wavered, flinched or changed his politics to suit the needs of any group.”
Well, except for when he slimily threw in his lot with the NRA in 1990 to beat Peter Smith in the U.S. Congress race. Accusing Smith of being for gun control to bring out the pro gun vote against Smith on the eve of the election was a pretty sleazy thing to do. But, hey, anything to win, right? The ends always justify the means, right?
Of course Shumlin and Weinberger endorsed Hillary Clinton. She clearly is the best candidate corporate money can buy.
Why does everyone say Bernie can’t win??? If EVERYONE voted for him that believes in him, he CAN win! Hillary, just like the rest of them, is owned by big money…..she may talk about the issues facing middle America but that’s all she will do…..talk. I can’t believe that there are some Vermonters that will not vote for Bernie…….must be the ones that are part of the 1%.
“I can’t believe that there are some Vermonters that will not vote for Bernie…….must be the ones that are part of the 1%.”
Let me get this straight. No Vermonter who’s in the 99% (myself included) could possibly NOT vote for Bernie? The only possible people who would not vote for Bernie are 1%ers? No Vermonter who’s in the 99% (which is virtually every Vermonter) could possibly disagree with you about Bernie? None of us Vermonters in the 99% could possibly question whether he is the right guy on all the issues? None of us are allowed to think that he might not be appropriate to lead the free world? Gimme a break. Guess you skipped that day in 6th grade civics where we discussed democracy.
Weinberger and Shumlin are both sleazy.
Hillary may be starting to talk about issues, but talk is cheap and her donors are not. When you give someone a million bucks you OWN them. They will not vote against your interests, any feel good legislature she puts forth will be utterly designed to fail, and she can just blame it on the Republicans. “See friends,I tried” Bernie is the only candidate that will get grassroots support to actually force through changes. There are Independents and Republicans who will vote for Bernie, and walk away from Hillary. When Hillary says that Bernie’s doing good for the party, because people are registering to vote, they are note going to vote for her. She represents everything they are voting against.
And this is some of the nastiest political backstabbing I’ve ever seen. Will voters keep voting for them
after something so slimy.