VERMONT: Bernie Sanders Launches “Our Revolution” Non-Profit Amid Internal Staffing Turmoil [VIDEO]

The Washington Post reports:



Bernie Sanders launched his long-awaited post-primary movement, Our Revolution, with the fanfare of a presidential campaign. He was introduced by the environmentalist Bill McKibben, who described Sanders as “the most popular politician in America” with plenty of unfinished tasks. For a full hour, Sanders told an audience in Burlington, Vt. — and tens of thousands of online viewers — that they had moved the center of American politics to the left, and could join him in backing “over a hundred candidates” and “seven key ballot initiatives” around America.

But the announcement was preceded by two days of negative stories about how Our Revolution will actually work, and grumbling about how Sanders has spent his political capital. The new organization powered through a staff revolt before the official launch, and Tim Canova, one of the highest-profile congressional challengers endorsed by Sanders, had accused the senator of abandoning him.

Our Revolution is structured as a 501(c)(4), which means it may collect unlimited money but must focus on “social welfare.” While a deadlocked FEC has allowed that term to be rendered meaningless — “social welfare” groups run ads identical to campaign spots — Our Revolution’s surface resemblance to the “dark money” organizations Sanders led to turmoil. As Politico’s Edward-Isaac Dovere and Gabriel Debenedetti first reported, eight of the group’s initial staff of 15 bailed in the days before the launch.