The Media "Bern-Out" vs. The Media Black-Out

 The Media "Bern-Out" vs. The Media Black-Out

by Cindy A. Matthews

(Editor's note: We are updating these links on this post as we receive new sources for news about Bernie Sanders' campaign. Thanks for sharing! #FeeltheBern)

Much has been said about the media "black-out" of Bernie Sanders' record setting rallies happening across the U.S. this summer. Of course, much of this discussion has taken place between Bernie's supporters and not among the members of the "establishment media" themselves. When talking to persons who aren't particularly active on the Internet, or who receive the majority of their political news through local/national newspapers and television/radio stations, supporters excitedly sharing their admiration of  Bernie Sanders observe friends or family members scratching their heads and asking, "Bernie Who?" It's as if the outspoken independent senator from Vermont simply doesn't exist.

(If you still don't know what I mean, read this excellent article "Two Candidates Surge in 2016 Polling--But Only Trump, Not Sanders, Fascinates Media"  from the Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting web site. The statistics are very telling.  Click on this link to sign a petition to protest NPR's poor coverage of Bernie Sanders' campaign. Their bias is horribly obvious.)

Many feel this media black-out (or blatant ignoring) of Bernie Sanders' polling surge and well-attended events is due to their corporate owners. These print and broadcast media moguls are frightened of how a Sanders presidency might affect their profits. Would they have to pay their fair share of taxes? Would squirreling profits to offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands or Switzerland be outlawed? And, scariest of all, would they actually have to give their employees paid maternity/paternity leave, paid vacation time and promise their workers at least $15 an hour? Oh, the horrors!

While ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, NPR, CNN, Fox News, and the like, refuse to give much television/radio time to showing the rapidly growing popularity of Bernie Sanders, all is not lost for those viewers who'd like to hear and see the candidate in action. The Internet has come to the rescue of the wannabe informed voter with a variety of web sites and live-streaming services providing live and recorded coverage of Bernie events. Here are the links to just a few of them.

One of the best, with team coverage and live-streaming of Bernie's rallies:
Bernie2016TV 

The new link to subscribe to their channel: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYZGETbTWW-0wv_csBcMwfw
http://live.bernie2016.tv

BernieSandersVideo.com

Bernie Sanders You Tube Channel

 Vote4Bernie You Tube Channel

Bernie 2016 You Tube Channel


Bernie Sanders for President You Tube Channel

BernieSanders2016 Channel

The Progressive Liberal-- http://egbertowillies.com (Video and articles)

Before you think all is bleak in regard to the mainstream "establishment media", here's a link to an optimistic video that shows you just far we’ve come since April 30, 2015:
https://youtu.be/vlo-qSnuKec

What's even more exciting, there are many talented singers and performers recording music videos extolling the virtues of Bernie's platform. Think of it as "Bernie MTV". You can turn on the videos and sing along at You Tube:
Bernie Sanders Music Videos
 
Web sites that regularly post news articles on Bernie Sanders' activities, in no particular order, include:

BernieSanders.com

Democracy Now 


Op-Ed News

The Huffington Post 

Real Progressive Politics

Blue Nation Review

http://readersupportednews.org

Bernie's not being completely ignored in the foreign media. Check out this excellent story of Bernie's growing popularity in pictures as posted on The Guardian. (Mind-blowing, isn't it?)

While it may not seem fair for the major American newspapers and television/radio networks to blockade decent news coverage of Bernie Sanders' run for the White House, the people will not be denied access to the truth. To quote those zany comedians of TV's Mystery Science Theater 3000 (who had trouble getting viewers for their show in its early days on Comedy Central): "Keep circulating the tapes!"  Lucky for us, we don't need VCRs--we just need a decent computing device and Wi-Fi.

So, Bernie supporters take heart and keep the "Bern-Out" going. Good news has a way of traveling and getting disseminated no matter what. We #FeeltheBern here at The Bernie Blog and want to do whatever we can to keep the information flowing.  

Please share your links to web sites, music videos, online blogs and magazines that regularly post Bernie Sanders-related content. You can post them in the comments below or email them to us and we'll list them on The Bernie Blog. #WeStandTogether #Bernie2016

We'll see you at the Books for Bernie book and garage sale this week in Perrysburg, Ohio. Keep spreading the news to all your friends and neighbors--vote for Bernie Sanders in 2016!

What Do Women Think About Bernie Sanders?

A lot of people are probably wondering if Bernie Sanders is attracting the attention (and votes) of female voters. Political pundits go on about how Bernie can only "attract people who look like him" and, therefore, he cannot be drawing women, minority or younger voters to his campaign. 

From what we at The Bernie Blog have experienced, nothing could be further from the truth. (How else can we explain Women for Bernie?) If you are still in doubt, listen to the voices of two women from two very different parts of the country--Hawaii and Ohio--and see what they have to say about Bernie Sanders running for the presidency.

Badge art by Jane Jefferies

Millions are Feeling the Bern!

by Eloise Engman

It’s early in the primary season, and the democratic primary race is getting interesting. I’m excited about Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont. His voting record shows he has worked consistently for social justice, the environment, civil rights, and the middle class during his political career. Pundits on the left and right all agree: Sanders is “authentic”, which is extremely rare in politics. He walks his talk consistently.

Sanders is a leading voice on climate change, campaign finance reform, income inequality and getting big money out of politics. Senator Sanders is also outspoken on civil liberties, and has been particularly critical of mass surveillance policies such as the Patriot Act, and spying conducted by the NSA.

Bernie Sanders is rising in the polls, and he’s ignited the internet, especially Facebook. Millions are “Feeling the Bern!” Sanders message is resonating with Americans of all persuasions. I have a libertarian Christian friend who said he may well vote for the self-described “Democratic Socialist.” People are realizing we already live in a socialist society. Most of the institutions we hold dear are socialist programs, such as public funding of the military, highways and roads, bridges, public libraries, police, fire departments, US post office, libraries, garbage collection, public landfills, the EPA, Social Security, museums, public schools, public parks, sewer systems, Medicare, the courts system, and much more.

Please visit https://berniesanders.com/issues/ for more info on Senator Bernie Sander’s candidacy for president of the US. Or visit his official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/berniesanders

Here's what Eloise Engman says about herself: Born and raised in Honolulu, I've lived on Maui since 1977, raising three daughters who are all independent women now. I've also lived in Seattle, Washington, and Pensacola, Florida. I have a special affinity for Letters to the Editor as I started a movement and organization (GMO-Free Maui) with such letters. Aloha!

My Mother Was a Democratic Socialist
by Barb McMillen

A drunk named Snowball was asking kids in the Philadelphia schoolyard for food. I ran home and told our mother, and she made sandwiches for me to take back to him. 

Jump ahead thirty years to Toledo, Ohio, where houses all around me are in foreclosure. It is the result of the government repealing Glass-Steagall (controls on capitalism) and that resulted in a huge corporate bailout. Subsequently taxpayers lost their jobs, homes, life savings. And not one corporatist on Wall Street has gone to jail. Add NAFTA to the mix and all the jobs have gone to China.

Doesn’t that make you angry? 

Bernie Sanders is a Democratic Socialist--think capitalism with a heart. That means he thinks all those people who lost their houses and their pensions and their kids’ college money have value and are not simply collateral damage. It means he thinks all those welfare breaks we gave Wall Street and the corporatists were really bad breaks for American citizens. 

Bernie Sanders reminds me that mom sent me to the schoolyard with sandwiches for Snowball. Not with the police and not with blame. I know in my heart that Mom was a Democratic Socialist. And I know for a fact she would have loved Bernie.

Barb McMillen is a co-creator of The Bernie Blog. She lives in Northwest Ohio and is doing all she can to bring about Bernie's political revolution in the Buckeye state. Go Team Bernie! 

Got an event or a helpful web site link to share?

Have you got an event or a "helps" web site you'd like to share with others? List it at The Bernie Blog! Email us at thebernieblog2016@gmail.com with the info and link. (Yes, Bernie supporters and others frequently check out our links and pages, so this is a great place to promote your site.)

Ballotpedia is a web site that tells you more about the voting process. You can find out when your state's primary is, and how and when you need to register to vote in the primary. Ballotpedia -- http://ballotpedia.org/Important_dates_in_the_2016_presidential_race 

Thanks for all your feedback and shares. Keep it coming! #FeeltheBern  We are making it happen--Bernie Sanders in 2016! #Bernie2016

The Amazing Creativity of Bernie Supporters

 

Bernie Haiku by Erica Williams

One thing we learned from the recent Bernie Sanders get-togethers is that supporters of Bernie Sanders are an extremely creative and enthusiastic people. (Our new site banner above was created by Bernie supporter Jane Jefferies, for instance.) It’s refreshing in this day and age of “snarky” commentary and negativity in the media to come across folks full of such great joy, eager to share the good news of Bernie’s White House bid with others. They’re generally an optimistic bunch. They feel that our country will become a better place for all under Bernie’s leadership—and it will happen very, very soon!

An online “contest” to create haikus about Bernie Sanders yielded some excellent examples of their creativity. Here’s a sampling for your enjoyment:

Bernie Haikus by Charlotte Bierman

Blue moon, our moon, EARTH
Climate change, pollution CHANGE
BERNIE, help us CHANGE !

Schools, healthcare, labor
Rebuild infrastructure too
Bernie President

Enough is enough
We the people say enough
Bernie Sanders yeah !

Bernie Haikus by Katarina Stenstedt

A fair living wage
and health insurance for all
—what's crazy 'bout that?

Super PACs aren't fair
And money can't buy justice.
Come back down to earth!
 

Haikus by Jane Stackowicz Ganser

All that Bernie is
And what our country should be
Are one and the same

Enough is enough
The wise leader proclaimed
Let’s change history

You really like Bernie
But don’t know if he can win
He will if you vote

Greed is the disease
America has fallen
We need Bernie Now
 
Bernie Haiku by L. Graykin

He who stands for us
Deserves our full support
Vote #BernieSanders!

Bernie Haikus by Verena Hodge

fresh air fresh water
all future generations
should have these things

Bernie tells it straight
with wild hair and forceful words
working with us all

rock the boat
the ripples in the water
will become a tidal wave

Bernie Haiku by Frank Binda

Ninety Nine Per Cent
Will be smiling ear to ear
In fifteen short months

Bernie Haiku by Christina Nespoux

Bernie's message ignites our hearts and minds
A modern day Robin Hood
Greed and corruption will see its end

Bernie Haiku by b8akaratn

I want a country
I can be proud of again
Please fix it, Bernie
 

Bernie Haikus by Brainstorming for Bernie ( brainstorm4bernie.com)

 

check Bernie's record
he is sincere, and listens
he will work for us

climate action
income equality
right to health care

serious debate
problems to fix, not ignore
Bernie fights for us

millions of people
a political movement
to break corruption

From the traditional haiku, to the modern stage musical, another Bernie supporter turns his talents to “filking” new lyrics to a classic from Les Mis. (I can’t stop singing it!)

Do You Hear America Sing?

(Sung to the tune of Do You Hear The People Sing? from Les Misérables)

New words by A. J. Matthews

Do you hear America sing?

We’re gonna see a good man win!

It is the music of a people

Who will not be duped again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beat of Bernie’s drums

There is a life about to start

When November comes!

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the Facebook page

Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight

That will give the White House to Bernie!

[All:]

Do you hear America sing?

We’re gonna see a good man win!

It is the music of a people

Who will not be duped again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beat of Bernie’s drums

There is a life about to start

When November comes!

Will you give all you can give

So Bernie Sanders may succeed?

A better way to live

Will you stand up and state your need?

Reform this great nation and terminate corporate greed!

[All:]

Do you hear America sing?

We’re gonna see a good man win!

It is the music of a people

Who will not be duped again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beat of Bernie’s drums

There is a life about to start

When November comes!

When the counting’s done! 

From poetry to songwriting to performing, Schmaltz and Schlepper in their Weekends For Bernie video sing and rap their fantastically funky tune, Whatta Mensch. Click on the link and get ready to start dancing: http://www.weekendsforbernie.com/whatta-mensch.html

You said it, ladies!

Have you created something unique that expresses your support for Bernie Sanders' presidential candidacy? Tell us about it in the comments below (share a link to it if you can) or email it to us at The Bernie Blog. We plan to post more haikus, short poems, song lyrics, graphics, and whatever else you care to submit throughout the campaign. After all, Bernie supporters are creative people, and we shouldn’t keep Bernie to ourselves—we need to share him with the world!

Got an upcoming Bernie Sanders-related event you'd like to share? Let us know. Here are a couple events coming up in the Northwest Ohio area:

Wood County Bernie Meet-up: Sunday, August 16 at 6 PM at Grounds for Thought, 174 S. Main St., Bowling Green, OH. See you there!

"Books for Bernie" (book sale) Event: August 25-26 in Perrysburg, Ohio. Go to the event page for more info on how to donate and/or purchase books. All proceeds will go to Bernie's campaign.

Bowling Green Pride Picnic: September 5 in Bowling Green City Park. We're planning to set up a "Bernie table" there to share info and fun stuff with voters. See you there!