Sanders delegates shocked they need cash for DNC trip

The New York Post ^ | 7/4/2015 | Mary Kay Linge

[NYRepublican72]

Some of Bernie Sanders’ 1,831 New York delegates can’t scrape up enough cash to attend this month’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia — so they’ve turned to crowdfunding websites to raise the cash.

“The cost definitely was a surprise,” said Jessica Frisco, 23, a delegate from the Upper West Side. “People are freaking out.”

Unlike the savvy operators who usually win slots as convention delegates, some from Sanders’ campaign say they had no idea they would have to spend up to $5,000 on travel expenses.

[NYRepublican72]

Sorry dirty hippie Sanders supporters... Money doesn't grow on trees. Now get a job.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Whut ? Why not ask their filthy rich parents to pony up ?

[gunsequalfreedom]

This is such a non story. It costs quite a bit to attend a convention. Ordinary people don’t have an extra $2,000 or $3,500 laying around. Nothing wrong with them trying to raise the money.

[JennysCool]

I’m guessing the Special Snowflake Seniors would, but many of these Junior Snowflakes probably have parents that live in Realville.

[eddie willers]

Like the lady who, after receiving her insurance bill, said "I wanted people to have insurance, but I didn't think I'D have to pay for it!"

[Jonty30]

Wait until they find out the money they did raise just went into various pocket.

[gunsequalfreedom]

So if I understand your correctly, (1) only the rich should attend political conventions as delegates and (2) it is bad for someone that does not have the means to seek community support to help finance their participation in a political convention. Do I have that correct?

[gunsequalfreedom]

In other words, everything can’t be viewed through blindly partisan lenses otherwise soon we will be saying it is okay to use the IRS to go after political opponents because they are political opponents.

[Cowboy Bob]

They should know better!

You don't loot the Treasury until AFTER you are in office.

[JennysCool]

I don't think you get the point of this. These Sanders Snowflakes are shocked THEY have to pay money, as opposed to some amorphous government genie providing it for them, like they're sure Bernie would have wanted.

[teletech]

Guess they thought their “free stuff” included the DNC convention.

[Robwin]

It’s quite obvious what is needed here is a government program designed to underwrite their attendance.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Everything should be free! Wah!

[shibumi]

"Nothing wrong with them trying to raise the money."

You are correct.
There is nothing wrong with them trying to raise money.
But it is instructive to note the mentality involved here.

"— so they’ve turned to crowdfunding websites to raise the cash."

What is being highlighted is that rather than do something valuable that could earn them the money, they are begging the public to fund a venture which (if successful) will enable them to demand even more funding from a public foolish enough to gift them this in the first place.

It would be a different story if they were setting up bake sales and hocking their prized possessions (although I'm not sure if there's a hot market for second hand bongs ..... of course there's Chumlee...) - anyway - you get my drift.

[AZLiberty]

Wait for BernieJourney — Obamacare for travel.

When Bernie is president, travel will be free, hence unavailable.

[Impy]

I’d love to just mock them, love to.

But to be fair, if I were a delegate I might assume the state party would be covering airfare/hotel costs and be quite dismayed if that wasn’t the case. I don’t have several grand lying around.

Would anyone complain about conservative GOP delegates, seeking to raise money for the trip the same way?

[CyberAnt]

AAAHHHHH .. reality! Sorry kiddos.

[gunsequalfreedom]

You and I are on the same page on the issues, so I don’t mean to sound disagreeable. It was a different point I was making is all.

[Pontiac]

This is such a non story. It costs quite a bit to attend a convention. Ordinary people don’t have an extra $2,000 or $3,500 laying around. Nothing wrong with them trying to raise the money. .

It's a story alright.

The story is that the Sanders campaign would chose a 23 year old as a delegate to the national convention. Delegates are typically older more experienced political operators. People that have been party leaders and supporters for decades.

If 20 Sanders' delegates do not have the resources to fund their own way to the convention it says a great deal about his base of support.

I would say that this is a story that deserves a good bit more analysis than it is getting here.

[Twinkie]

Guns - Quite often, I get up early, stand in front of the
full length mirror, before I brush my hair, or my teeth, or
wash up. I even allow my fat belly to flop out. Then, I ask
myself, “Is ANYONE going to give THAT any of their hard-
earned money today?” The answer is, “NO!”

Then I get busy doing what has to be done. Washing up,
cooking breakfast, helping Fang do his ebay stuff if he
needs me to. You gotta look ahead and anticipate what you
may need money for and if you can’t work at something and
save it up, just do without. Yes. Charity has its place;
but I hardly think a political convention is an emergency
or a necessity. (I’d read somewhere that the trip was
likely to cost more than $5,000.)