Galindez writes: "Sanders was also asked in what tangible ways he would press a Clinton administration to address progressive issues. He responded: 'I just spoke to the secretary last week, and what she told me is that within the first 100 days of the administration, she would be introducing legislation and working with members of the Congress on a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.'"
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. (photo: Reuters)
06 October 16
he room at Drake University on Wednesday would not have been large enough for a Bernie Sanders campaign rally. While the crowd was supportive, the excitement of a Bernie Sanders campaign event was not present. There were no shouts of “Feel the Bern” or even “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie.” No, this event was about Hillary Clinton, and it had the feel of every Clinton event I have covered. I’ll just leave it at that.
Bernie campaigned on the behalf of the Clinton-Kaine ticket in Des Moines, Iowa, where he discussed his and Hillary Clinton’s shared belief that we need an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.
Sanders also urged Iowans to turn out to vote on November 8th, telling the audience, “I ask all of you, in the next five weeks, not only to come out and vote, not only to get your friends to come out and vote, but to do everything that you can to make certain that Hillary Clinton is the next President of the United States.”
Bernie did not leave it there, he also encouraged people to join him after the election in an effort to implement the most progressive democratic platform ever. He told the cheering crowd, “Our job is not done just by electing Secretary Clinton. On the day after, we continue the movement. Our job under President Hillary Clinton is to see that that platform is implemented.”
When asked how he would hold the Clinton campaign accountable, Sanders replied: “I think it’s not just me. There are millions of people who understand that we need to create a government that represents all of us and not just the 1 percent. I think the Democratic platform is a very strong platform and provides a blueprint for moving in that direction. That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to rally the American people to demand that their government represents all of us and not just the people on top.”
Sanders was also asked in what tangible ways he would press a Clinton administration to address progressive issues. He responded: “I just spoke to the secretary last week, and what she told me is that within the first 100 days of the administration, she would be introducing legislation and working with members of the Congress on a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United [the 2010 Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited independent spending on elections], to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, to provide pay equity for women, to make public colleges and universities tuition-free for the middle class and [to write] very strong legislation on climate change. Those are some of the areas, not all of them. So I think what you’re going to see is a very aggressive first 100 days in legislation that will improve life for working families and demand that the wealthiest people in this country start paying their fair share of taxes.”
When asked about the recent video leak of Clinton calling his supporters “basement dwellers,” Sanders defended Clinton. He said, “Secretary Clinton was not putting anyone down, she was shedding light on the fact that in our economy many young people can’t keep up financially.” Sanders pointed to student debt as a reason that many young people can’t afford a home of their own.
Sanders also blasted the media’s coverage of the election: “Now, if you watch TV all the time, you might kind of miss this point, but politics is not a personality contest. It’s families of this country. That is what the issues are. So I get—I speak only for myself. I get a little bit tired of hearing about personality and ‘We don’t like Hillary,’ ‘We don’t like Trump.’ Let’s focus on the real issues facing the American people.”
Sanders also defended Clinton on trade, an issue where some feel Trump is closer to his position than Clinton. “Donald Trump has talked a lot about trade, and I happen to think that trade is a very, very important issue. I happen to believe that many of our trade policies have been a disaster for American workers, and that’s why I opposed NAFTA and CAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China. But I find it almost incomprehensible that you have a candidate like Trump who is talking about trade at the same time as he manufactures his products in Mexico, in China, in Bangladesh, where he is going to the lowest-wage countries in the world rather than reinvesting here in the United States. So I say to Mr. Trump, if you are concerned about outsourcing, become a leader. Start building your factories here in the United States, not Mexico, China, or Bangladesh.”
Sanders spoke directly to those on the fence: “So I say to anyone out there who is wavering as to whom they may want to support for president, think about your kids, think about your grandchildren, think about future generations, and understand that we cannot elect a president of the United States who believes that climate change is a hoax. We need to elect a president who is going to be aggressive in transforming our energy system, and that candidate is Hillary Clinton.”
Bernie has ramped up his support for Clinton in recent days. He has hit the road on a vigorous tour of states that Clinton hopes he can help shore up. Sanders spent Tuesday in Minnesota, Wednesday in Iowa and Wisconsin, Thursday in Michigan, and will be in Maine on Friday.
With one third of millennials supporting either Gary Johnson or Jill Stein, the Clinton campaign hopes that Bernie can convince some of those young people to vote for her in November.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.
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