Council Member Helen Rosenthal endorsed Bernie Sanders for president just days before Monday’s Iowa primaries on Monday. Rosenthal’s decision marks a liberal shift for the council member, who endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016. Clinton handily beat Sanders on the Upper West Side in 2016 — one of several signs that the Upper West Side is not quite the liberal bellwether it was in the past.
At the end of the day, @BernieSanders gets out the vote and beats Trump. With the help of @AOC and @MMFlint pic.twitter.com/EwstmvBpFB
— Helen Rosenthal (@HelenRosenthal) January 28, 2020
She cited Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and filmmaker Michael Moore — who himself has supported Rosenthal with donations — as two of Sanders’ most important supporters.
Rosenthal is former chairwoman of the City Council Women’s Caucus, and has advocated for electing more women for years. She wrote a report on how more women can get elected in the city. “Over the next four years, at every opportunity, I’m all in to help mentor and encourage, play a role in supporting women running for office in the city,” she told the Observer in 2017. She’s running for Comptroller, a citywide office, in 2021.
We asked her if it was difficult to endorse a man over the women in the race — Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for instance — what tipped the scales? We are awaiting her response and will update when it comes.
Council Member Mark Levine, who represents the Northern section of the UWS, has not yet endorsed anyone.
Sanders image via wikimedia.
Yikes.
Sanders would tank the NYC real estate market along with the stock market and half the city would be living in Central park in tents, I can see the bread lines already
Yet again Helen Rosenthal and her crew caring about only what she and her friends want. Her constituency donates much more to Mayor Pete because Bernie would destroy her neighborhood. But hey congrats Helen, maybe Bernie will give you a better job. Way to serve just yourself.
I hope this country never elects a socialist. Look what happened to Cuba in the past. Look what’s happening to Venezuela in the present.
I’m not a Sanders supporter, mostly because he’s shown little ability to actually accomplish anything in all his years in office and because he doesn’t see to understand that compromise is necessary to get things done. (And because his supporters are eerily like Trump supporters in their slavish devotion to their leader and their fury at anyone who disagrees with him.)
But that said, he’s NOT a “socialist” like we see in Cuba or Venezuela. He’s a “democratic socialist” which more closely resembles what we see all over Europe.
I can’t stand Sanders and I don’t give the slightest credence to an endorsement by a term limited official positioning herself for a different office.
But I can’t understand how dim a view a person has to have about his fellow Americans that’s he thinks that adopting the policies of Denmark or Norway or the Netherlands will cause us to end up like Venezuela.
Denmark or Norway or the Netherlands do not have open borders
neither do we (except for Cubans)
Cuba, eh? The US has been running an economic war (embargo, boycott, etc.) against it for six decades.
Tell us again how successful it’s been?
Ayyy Por Favor!!! Please don’t start this argument.
Instead go read some history about Fidel Castro’s embrace of hardcore Communism and the U.S.S.R after abandoning Che and the original principles and goals of La Revolution.
Ever heard of the Cuban Missile Crisis?? The embargo was well deserved…at least for the first 40 years or so. That said, it should have been lifted years ago. Obama got the ball rolling, repealed the travel ban, reopened the embassy, etc. He did what he could in light of the Marco Rubios of the world and then Trump came along and reversed everything.
There, now we are all up to date.:)
Viva Cuba Libre!!
The embargo of Cuba had it’s origins in the CIA working to keep US oil companies operating in Cuba from refining Soviet crude oil. When they refused to, Castro expropriated them. Good.
It’s a shame, the destruction of the old Upper west side, which had such a terrific intellectual culture. Comments like these illustrate how far the neighborhood has fallen.
Wow!!
So you supported Fidel and the U.S.S.R over the USA and Cuban exiles during the Cold War?? And you freely admit that? How edgy of you.:)
And my comment represents the fall of the UWS intellectual culture?? Because we don’t support Soviet style Communism?!? Really? What did I say that was inaccurate?
Here’s a little advice. I wouldn’t plan any trips to Miami, or anywhere in South Florida, with that attitude. Moscow might be better for you. Maybe Caracas?:)
AOC and Michael Moore? Are you serious? Bernie has no traction in all the states that the Democrats need and in some that they have a chance at. His message is not tolerable to a general election voter Besides Bloomberg won’t let it happen. He will spend hos money elsewhere and on other Democrats.
We live in a bubble but I am really surprised at your lack of awareness of that bubble.
Bernie Sanders is the easiest one for Trump to beat
But also. Who talks about AOC, and what had she accomplished? She is incredibly charismatic, but actually influential? In the twittersphere, yes. In reality. No. As for Michael Moore, enlightening documentaries, but…really? Not sure the actual impact.
I don’t know what to think of Sanders. Seems like Obama – promising so much wonderfulness, but how would you ever deliver a thing? I prefer Warren. I like her policies and she knows Congress, because…duh.
Bernie is a fraud and a phony. His proposals – if enacted- would cause damage that will last for decades.
If he gets the nomination he will get pulverized by Trump.
A few months ago the UK Labour Party nominated an obnoxious socialist for the general election and he got crushed by a buffoonish British equivalent of Trump.
Unfortunately the Dems haven’t learned anything from that debacle.
Rosenthal’s endorsement of Sanders shows how out of step the politics of our local leadership is with the majority of the country – and the majority of UWS residents for that matter.
It’s no wonder people living in “flyover country” despise big city liberal elites.
And yes, Rosenthal and her gang keep winning in landslide elections – but this is largely due to indifference and a sense of helplessness among people who oppose her.
Bernie’s good on the peace & war issues and he used to be good on immigration. I don’t know how a 78-yo man reverses himself on immigration. Unchecked migration is quite bad for global warming.
Bravo! Ms. Rosenthal.
Great Job! Sanders 2020!
Please DNC let Bernie be the nominee!
I knew you’d be here. Yawn.
Wait until election day, you won’t be yawning.
Awesome!!
Hilarious. Before people endorse a socialist, they should be required to spend 3 hours of their day in line for bread… or toilet paper.
To feel productive while waiting, they can work on perfecting their explanations how he’s “different” (“democratic,” etc).
It doesn’t even matter if it’s a socialist, capitalist, communist. Each council member is supposed to reflect what is best for their district and a representative for their constituency. What about with this choice does she represent other than her selfish interests. Shame on her. She doesn’t even try to tackle the decline in the neighborhood. How about do your job!
The problem with Bernie is that his campaign is a lot like that of Brexit. Talk of revolution and how great everything is without spending any time at all coming up with a plausible way to actually accomplish any of it. He’d be a lot better than Trump, no doubt. But almost nothing would get accomplished. We’d have our version of what the Brits have gone through the last four years with Brexit.
I will vote for whatever Democrat gets the nomination — the stakes are too high with Trump in power. But dear lord I hope it’s not Bernie. And for Rosenthal to cite AOC and.. sorry, I’m stifling laughter here… Michael Moore in a tweet endorsing Bernie? Some folks have learned so, so very little about what got Trump elected in 2016.
JH Trump will get 4 more years so get ready. Pick a centrist in 2024
This endorsement is the exact reason why Trump will be re-elected. The democrats need a MODERATE candidate to rally around or we risk handing the election to Trump. Too many American’s (NOT NYers) are far too conservative to ever consider voting for Sanders or Warren so drop them now!
So sorry to hear this Helen. I think now is not the time to endorse any Democratic candidate and especially Sanders. He is the most devisive candidate for the Democratic party and has no chance of being elected President.
Since when did people like you become the Upper west side? No wonder it’s become such a lifeless, soulless yuppie playground
An endorsement for Bernie Sanders is like an endorsement of communism—heralding the death of capitalism, belief in a higher power, and an IQ/EQ/SQ populous. Not to mention the death of moderation and real world solutions to real world problems.
See ya Helen. Here’s one vote and newsletter subscriber you just lost.
How very sad. If Sanders becomes the Democratic nominee the Democrats will get creamed in November: up-ballot, down-ballot, in-between-ballot. All it will do is make the already blue states even bluer, but of course those states don’t count in the electoral college battle. The thought of the battleground states going for Sanders over the incumbent is simply absurd.
Maybe a little history will help. Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas ran for the presidency under the socialist banner — at a time when there was an active socialist party in the U.S. — a total of 10 times. For their efforts, Debs was honored by a radio station choosing its call letters — WEVD — based on his initials. Thomas is honored with a Manhattan high school named after him. But in the Electoral College they didn’t do so well. Over their 10 campaigns they did not win a single Electoral College vote. America will never elect a socialist. If the Dems nominate Sanders, Trump is a shoe-in for re-election (though Sanders may siphon off a few Evangelical votes if he chooses Jesus as a running mate).
I’ve voted for Rosenthal twice, but she won’t get my vote again.
Bernie simply does not appeal to the minority voters. For sure we will lose the election.
WE IN CALIFORNIA will vote for Bernie Sanders, he wa cheated 2016, and we do not give a damn about stock market, most Americans do not have money in the market, let them all crash, Bernie Sanders 2020
California doesn’t count in electoral math. Your votes don’t count. Sanders will be very good at making the already blue states even bluer. So what?
Excellent. I am back on board with Helen.
Helen Rosenthal continues to be out of touch of her constituents and just continues to attempt to set up things for her future job. Personally, I am excited for her to leave her current UWS job. I am a Democrat and will vote for anyone to beat Trump in November, but Bernie is too polarizing for moderates and I know many who won’t vote for him in any situation. (He isn’t even a Democrat as a senator.)
Interesting how mad some people are that others will be able to afford their medicine and, like, not die.
“A leftward shift!??” Are you kidding? Rosenthal has been on the waaaaaaaaaay left side of the political spectrum for who knows how long! The question is…….HOW MUCH FURTHER LEFT CAN SHE GO???
Oh wow!! Good for Helen! I’m so pleased she’s on our side!
Everyone else on the electorate has been bought and sold…
Of course she did
Too bad.
Too bad – Helen is running for Comptroller. This doesn’t help her.
“If there ever was an aviary overstocked with jays it is that Yaptown-on-the-Hudson, call New York.” — O. Henry.
An endorsement from Helen Rosenthal, look out Bernie, this is the KOD,