North Carolina Democrat Leaders Feel The Bern
This weekend, socialist Senator Bernie Sanders held campaign-style rallies in Greensboro and Asheville. Sanders’ “Fight the Oligarchs” rally tour is his attempt to provide an alternative path for Democrats. One built on socialist ideas supported by the so-called grassroots.
Naturally, Democrats attended to show their solidarity with socialist Bernie Sanders. In Greensboro, Durham County Commission Chair Nida Allam took a break from organizing protests to thwart federal law enforcement from enforcing the law to attend a Greensboro rally.
In Asheville, socialist icon Sanders failed to fill the entire venue, but the Chair of the North Carolina Democrat Party, Anderson Clayton, found a seat near the front row to cheer on Sanders.
At the Asheville event, Sanders delivered his usual speech about the “evils” of billionaires and corporations. Notably, despite being a multi-millionaire himself, while spending the majority of his career as a politician, socialist Sanders did not offer to give any of his own vast resources to accomplish his agenda.
Notably, at the Asheville rally, Reverend William Barber took time to call all Republicans fake Christians. Notably, Barber did not address the ongoing litigation with his ex-wife, which alleged marital misconduct by Barber and that he was using his nonprofit to improperly pay alimony.
Additionally, Hannah Drummond, a union activist and nurse at Mission Hospital, took the stage to blast HCA Healthcare. Her speech recounted the union negotiations with Mission Hospital, including how they had to fly to Florida while the community recovered from Helene. While she praised the National Nurses Union, she declined to hold the Biden administration accountable for its complete failure to adequately respond to Helene.
In contrast to this progressive union activist, Asheville’s Democratic mayor, Esther Manheimer, praised Mission Hospital for its service during the aftermath of Helene.
Senate Candidate Roy Cooper was notably absent.
Ahead of Sanders' visits, the North Carolina Republican Party pressured the Cooper campaign to either confirm or deny Cooper’s plans to attend. Given Cooper’s ideological alignment with a socialist celebrity like Sanders, it would seem obvious that Cooper would personally want to attend.
"Radical Roy Cooper's 40-year record of high taxes and left-wing ideology fits right in with the Bernie Sanders-led Democrat Party. DC Democrats want a Yes Man in the U.S. Senate, and Roy Cooper signed up for the job," said NCGOP Communications Director Matt Mercer.
Ai generated image of Roy Cooper from Chuck Schumer’s Windowless Basement
In response to pressure from the NCGOP, WRAL, a Raleigh-based TV station, put out a “story” allowing Cooper’s team to put out a short statement saying that Cooper would not attend. Like a good Democrat press secretary, WRAL buried this key information beneath layers of unrelated context about other issues that the outlet had previously reported on.
While Cooper did not attend in person, the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee said that this showcased the Democrats’ campaign tactics. “Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) will visit North Carolina today to campaign for failed Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC). Cooper will spend the day hiding in Chuck Schumer's basement, while Sanders rallies their Democrat supporters to oppose President Donald Trump.”
“Like socialist Sanders, radical Roy is a career politician who's spent decades pushing the far left's agenda," said NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia. "North Carolinians who voted for lower taxes, secure borders, and integrity in women's sports will reject Cooper and Sanders' unpopular anti-Trump agenda next year."
Despite his absence in person, the NRSC released this long list of issues on which Cooper and Sanders have the same stance.
Raised taxes on North Carolina families across the board and opposed President Trump's efforts to cut taxes on tips and overtime.
Called President Trump an "existential threat to our democracy and our nation."
Failed North Carolinians recovering after Hurricanes Florence, Matthew, and Helene.
Fought to keep DEI policies in North Carolina while his daughter promoted them in the private sector.
Wants to force girls to compete against males in sports.
Supports allowing males to use women's bathrooms and spaces.
Supports allowing children to undergo dangerous and permanent genital-mutilation surgeries.
Supports sanctuary city policies that protect violent illegal aliens from deportation.
