Champaign-Urbana Progressives

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Yes we do!!! How ‘bout you guys!?

MUST WATCH: SANDERS CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE DATA BREACH ALLEGATIONS. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE SANDERS CAMPAIGN. In the words of campaign manager Jeff Weaver, “Two months ago shortly after our digital vendor who does modeling for our campaign told us there was a failure in the firewall that prevents campaigns from viewing one anthers data we contacted the DNC and told them about this failure. We were very concerned our data had been compromised and we were assured it was a temporary lapse and security would be restored. We were very confident that our data had been stolen at the time. We found out two days ago that once again this important and sensitive was compromised because the DNC and its vendor failed to protect it.” “We have invested enormous campaign resources in acquiring the rights to using this proprietary data, but in an inappropriate overreaction the DNC has denied us access to our own data. This is data collected by hundreds of thousands of volunteers across America, this database for our campaign is funded by over 2 million contributions this campaign has received from people all across the country. Let me briefly discuss three issues involved in this matter.” “First, as I’ve pointed out earlier, this is not the first time the vendor, picked out and funded by the DNC, to run the voter file program NGP VAN, has allowed serious failures to occur. On more than one occasion they have dropped the firewall that separated the data of different campaigns. This is dangerous incompetence. It was our campaign months ago that discovered the issue. At that time our campaign did not run to the media, relying instead on assurances from the vendor that the problem would be resolved. Unfortunately days ago the vendor once again dropped the firewall separating the data.” “After discussion with the DNC it became clear that some of our staffers irresponsibly accessed data of another campaign. That behavior is unacceptable to the Sanders campaign and the staffer involved has been fired. We are looking at other staffers and will carry out disciplinary action of anyone else involved. Clearly while the information was made available by the incompetence of the vendor it should not have been looked at period.” “Rather incredibly the leadership of the DNC has used this incident to shut down access to our own information. This is our information. This is information we have worked hard to obtain, lists of people we intend to contact in Iowa, New Hampshire, and elsewhere. IT is our information and the information of all of our volunteers, not the DNCs. By their action the leadership of the Democratic National committee are now actively attempting to undermine our campaign. This is unacceptable, individual leaders in the DNC can support Hillary Clinton in any way they want, but they are not going to sabotage our campaign. One of the strongest grassroots campaigns in modern history. We are announcing today that if the DNC continues to hold our data hostage we will pursue legal action”

The 12/14/15 poll showed Clinton with 48% support ahead of Iowa’s Feb. 1 caucuses, with Sanders at 39%. ‘By 57% to 29%, Iowa Democrats say he’d do the most to combat Wall Street power, and Sanders enjoys a 56% to 36% lead over Clinton on defending the middle class. Iowans also see Sanders as more honest and trustworthy, and they regard the democratic socialist as the candidate who most cares about people like themselves. To parlay those strengths into a come-from-behind victory, Sanders will want to see a surge in turnout from younger people, first-time caucusgoers and self-described liberals. By 49% to 40%, Sanders leads Clinton among those who say they’ll be caucusing for the first time, and he takes 48% of liberals to Clinton’s 44%. But Sanders’ clearest advantage is among those younger than 45, who back Sanders over Clinton 58% to 31%.’

Bernie Sanders speaking at the DNC Women’s Leadership Forum earlier today.

- From an e-mail of theirs

Eleanor is still right on.

Bernie Sanders speaking at the DNC Women’s Leadership Forum earlier today.