Exclusive: Sanders Campaign Explains Why He Did Not Take Part in Democratic Gun Control Filibuster
Bernie Sanders Campaign Tells NCRM Why Vermont Senator Did Not Participate in Historic Filibuster
For nearly 15 hours 41 U.S. Senators staged a historic filibuster to force Republicans to allow a vote on two important gun control efforts. It was, for many, the very necessary response to the nation’s deadliest terror attack since 9/11, deadliest anti-LGBT hate crime, and deadliest mass shooting.
The effort was led by Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, and supported for the entire time by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). 38 other Senators participated, including two Republicans – a stunning achievement – and one Independent, Senator Angus King of Maine.
The filibuster was successful:
I am proud to announce that after 14+ hours on the floor, we will have a vote on closing the terror gap & universal background checks
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 16, 2016
On social media, gun control supporters and LGBT allies (often the same) hailed the effort, tweeting and facebooking posts tagged #DemFilibuster.
But also on social media, many asked, #WheresBernie?
Senator Bernie Sanders, who frequently reminds supporters that he has supported same-sex marriage and other LGBT civil rights long before anyone else, was no where to be found.
Sanders is still a U.S. Senator despite having allowed his presidential campaign to take him so far away from his day job that he has missed 100 percent of the votes in the Senate this year, according to GovTrack:
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Sanders did tweet support:
I stand with @ChrisMurphyCT to demand common sense gun safety. We can’t allow guns to fall into the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 15, 2016
But his absence did not go unnoticed:
That’s a good question. Sanders is not listed among the Senators participating in the #holdthefloor #DemFilibuster https://t.co/G5VIwEd3LN
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) June 15, 2016
Really proud of the senators who are doing their jobs, but WTF is Bernie? There is too much at stake. #fillibuster #Enough #wheresBernie
— Heather Matarazzo (@HeatherMatarazz) June 16, 2016
Bernie wants to be Senate leader yet he decided to have an intern tweet support while 40 Dems stood w/Chris, Richard, & Cory.#WheresBernie
— Kevin Grüssing (@KevDGrussing) June 16, 2016
My new hashtag: #WheresBernie #filibuster #holdthefloor #Orlando
— jimmy williams (@Jimmyspolitics) June 16, 2016
Thank u @ChrisMurphyCT + @SenateDems for standing up. 11 hrs, 40 Senators into #filibuster. My only question…#WheresBernie? #HoldTheFloor
— Sergio Grant (@sgrant525) June 16, 2016
#WheresBernie Apparently he couldn’t find a way to blame gun violence on evil Wall St. Bankers. #HoldTheFloor
— jawillie (@jawillie) June 16, 2016
Sidebar: Where is Bernie Sanders during this #filibuster? Where he at?
— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) June 16, 2016
Today I am proud to stand w/ @SenWarren @ChrisMurphyCT @alfranken @CoryBooker and other dems against gun violence #filibuster #wheresbernie
— Ash (@ash0283) June 15, 2016
I can think of no better way for Senator Sanders to prove his progressive bona fides than to join the #filibuster #wheresBernie #imwithher
— califunia (@GravityisRising) June 15, 2016
Yesterday during #HoldtheFloor filibuster Twitter had one question: #WhereisBernieSanders https://t.co/8bgLYxmm2g
— Mic (@mic) June 16, 2016
So why did Senator Sanders miss the filibuster entirely? He had met with Hillary Clinton less than 24 hours earlier in a D.C. hotel.Â
Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel, “It just didn’t work yesterday.”
“We’re keeping an eye on votes next week,” he added.
The New Civil Rights Movement also spoke with Sanders’ spokesperson, Michael Briggs, via email.Â
“I’m hoping you can offer us a reason as to why, after the deaths of 49 people in the Orlando terror attack, Sen. Sanders, who has positioned himself as a long-time defender and supporter of the LGBT community, did not join in the filibuster and stand with his fellow Senators?,” NCRM asked.
“He was in Burlington, Vermont, where he had participated in a vigil on Monday night organized by Vermont Pride,” Briggs responded quickly.
When NCRM pointed out that the vigil was Monday and the filibuster was Wednesday, the Sanders campaign did not respond.
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EARLIER:
Senate Democrats End 15 Hour Filibuster for Gun Control With Emotional Story of 6-Year Old Victim
Watch Live Now: Senate Democrats Filibuster Bill Until Republicans Agree to Discuss Gun Control
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Image by Rev Dills via Flickr and a CC license

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