Taking aim at the Clinton Goliath will be no easy task
Bernie Sanders officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States yesterday. The independent senator from Vermont outlined his agenda In a press conference and will be running on the Democratic ticket so, unlike Ralph Nader, votes will not be taken away from the actual contender during the general election.
The election is still ways away, so this is just the beginning of seeing a lot more of Bernie Sanders and his policy ideas. That is, if the media decides to cover him. He’s a champion of the middle class; will take on Wall Street, the Trans Pacific Partnership, Monsanto, Citizens United and tax cuts for the wealthy. He also wants to put an end to the wars in the middle east permanently. Bernie Sanders voting record in the Senate can be found here.
The difference in popularity and war chest campaign donations between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders can only be compared to the story of David and Goliath. Hillary’s campaign donor’s are corporations and big Wall Street. Bernie Sanders on the other hand refuses to cowtow to corporate interests and the banks.
A true maverick, Bernie is the longest Independent Congressperson in U.S. history. He is considered a longshot to win the nomination let alone the general election, but says that he is a serious contender and is “in it to win it.” After six years in the Senate, and 16 years in the House, of he feels he has no other choice but to run. Just like David in the Goliath story, he is the underdog, but felt he was the only one who was willing to take on such a giant contender.
The other Senator that is as outspoken as Bernie Sanders about the same issues is Elizabeth Warren. Together they hold out-of-touch and dishonest lawmakers feet to the fire. This will no doubt happen with this run off.
Bernie will hold Hillary’s feet to the fire and “pull her left.” Hillary’s position of late suggests she’s starting to turn a little left on her own on these issues, but her stance changes as much as Mitt Romney’s etch-a-sketch. Bernie Sanders’ positions have been well known for a long time.
Hillary Clinton is projected to raise $2.5 billion for her campaign and the donors will remain unknown. In Bernie Sanders campaign, he just might account for every dollar he receives and spends. It is unclear how much Bernie Sanders is projected to raise but the Hillary jabs have already started.
In an interview with Politico, Sanders said, “People should not underestimate me,” Sanders, 73, said in an Associated Press interview announcing his decision Wednesday. “I’ve run outside of the two-party system, defeating Democrats and Republicans, taking on big-money candidates and, you know, I think the message that has resonated in Vermont is a message that can resonate all over this country.” He went on to say, “But can we raise the hundreds of millions of dollars that we need, primarily through small campaign contributions to run a strong campaign? And I have concluded that I think there is a real chance that we can do that.”
Bernie Sanders doesn’t have the look of a president. He does not show up looking tan and slick. He’s just Bernie. Like an uncle who everyone loves, Bernie loves America, the American people, and is passionate about the decline that has occurred over the past 30-35 years. Here’s to Bernie and his slingshot.
Would a staff member or supporter of Sanders ask him what he thinks about fractional reserve banking and the possibility of a nation wide debt cancelling Jubilee. Are there not a significant number of his supporters that have paid hundreds of the thousands of dollars in taxation or is everybody that supports him so poor that they never paid any significant income or property tax. Is Sanders opposed to a debt cancelling Jubilee because even it is not going to benefit the very poorest of his supporters.
Very informative, definitely food for thought. Browned points for you.