Bernie for Democracy; Trump for Racism and Birtherism

This is the golden age of political journalism, fortuitous as we are able to witness the slow-motion downfall of American democracy and efforts to save it.

All in with Chris Hayes, The Rachel Maddow Show (TRMS) and The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell feature a murderers' row of political analysis.

Yesterday is typical.

Amid the same traitor-terrorist-treason-socialist dictator rhetoric (joined in by Hillary Clinton's SuperPAC this accelerated election cycle) as the last presidential election comes two polar opposite on the mantel of simple decency: Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.

Sanders and Trump meeting in the general election is a distinct possibility as Clinton has again misread the election. This is not a 'change' election, it's a 'we're-sick-of your-shit' election.

TRMS and Sanders

Bernie Sanders offers a compelling defense of government for the people and by the people on TRMS in an exclusive interview.

Sanders excoriates the American rightwing accusing conservatives of 'a concerted attack against every major public institution.'

Video below.

Lawrence O'Donnell Show and Trump's Birtherism Comes Back

At the Lawrence O'Donnell show a piece features Donald Trump resorting to birtherism again yesterday in an extemporaneous, unscripted question-and-answer event in Rochester, New Hampshire. (Second video below)

Trump said before the very first question at the Rochester event, "This man, I like this guy," referring to the questioner.

The questioner said, "We have a problem in this country, it’s called Muslims. Our current President is one. We know he’s not even an American."

Trump responded, "We need this question," and laughed.

"We have [Muslim] training camps growing where when they want to kill us. That's my question, when can we get rid of it," the questioner asked Trump.

No problem.

Responding to the question, Trump said, "We're going to be looking at a lot of different things. A lot of people are saying that and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there. We're going to be looking at that and plenty of other things."

Somehow I really didn't expect Trump to call the guy a nut-job, racist, and an indecent human being. If there were ever time for Trump's insults, it was at this event in Rochester New Hampshire. (Tuohy, New Hampshire Union Leader)

McCain

O'Donnell noted a similar occurrence in 2008 and contrasted Trump's response with the response by Sen. John McCain who shot down a bigoted question in a similar setting when a woman said to McCain, "I don't trust Obama. I have read about him. He's an Arab." (another bad thing, to this woman's mind)

Reports CBS News in October 2008:

McCain shook his head in disagreement, and said:
'No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about.'

O'Donnell's segment featured an interview with Trump’s Iowa campaign co-chair, Tana Goertz, who proceeded to melt under O'Donnell's questioning.

Trump's campaign released a statement to O'Donnell reading, "Christians need support in this country. Their religious liberty is at stake."

Incredible, no it's America today.

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Bernie Sanders Interviewed on TRMS

Lawrence O'Donnell Show and Trump's Birtherism Comes Back