Amid all the accusations from Republicans that Barack Obama is a socialist, many Americans are not aware that we have a real Socialist in the Senate. He’s Bernie Sanders (I-VT). In addition, he is the strongest progressive voice in the Senate. He made it clear who we should hold responsible for our government’s failure to address many of the issues we face.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that Republicans "do not want Americans to succeed" in laying out his case for energizing the liberal base to go to the polls in November.
Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist who caucuses with Democrats, discussed President Obama’s disconnect with the liberal wing along with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on CBS’ "Face the Nation" Sunday.
While Obama’s accomplishment including healthcare reform have been "nothing to sneeze at," Sanders said, the middle class is shrinking while poverty increases and income gaps become wider.
"We have a very serious situation and I think there’s a concern that the president hasn’t seen that urgency," Sanders said, and "stood up for the American people the way we would like him to."
He said Obama needed to rally on a "progressive agenda to expand the middle class."
When pressed by host Bob Schieffer on his comments about Republicans, Sanders defended his words, saying that given the choice between political power and "initiatives to help the American people" that the GOP would choose power.
"The Republicans have said no, no, no," Sanders said. "They have been the party of no and obstructionism."… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Common Dreams>
Here’s a short clip of his appearance:
Note that Sanders had both praise and criticism for the Obama administration, and rightly so. Both are completely valid. At the same time, he made it clear that he sees the Republicans as the prime cause of the problem, because they are selling America out in their attempt to grab power. He also made it clear that the best solution is for the liberal base to get to the polls.
I’m for the most of the things that other progressives are. In my ideal world we would have Medicare for all, the TBTF banks would be broken up, we would have true immigration reform with a path to citizenship, DADT and DOMA would be history, and more. But we don’t live in my ideal world. So I am supportive the progress we have mad without being satisfied with it. Don’t be a REGRESSive by staying home or voting in anger, because you want everything now. Be a PROGRESSive by voting to continue and expand the progress we have made.
9 Responses to “The Socialist Has It Right!”
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Tom don’t tell me not to vote in anger. I am mad as hell (which is not the word I would have used if this weren’t a family blog). I am angry at all the republican obstructionism that we have witnessed especially in the Senate for the past 20 months and I am angry that the president did not get up front involved until “campaign season” started. I tried to justify it by thinking he was keeping the constitutional arms of government separate but he IS the party leader not Reid, not Pelosi. But I am more pissed off at the republicans stealing every damn dime they can for their corporate masters who in 2014 intend to stop all employment benefits and dump all health care to their buddy’s in the Medical industry. By turning every worker either in to a part time employee or a contract worker after stealing everything they can from already existing 401 (K) that ARE privatized Social Security. I am mad and that is WHY I am not sitting this one out.
ARE AMERICANS RETARDED OR SOMETHING? IT DOESN’T TAKE A FUCKING ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT COUNTRIES WITH HIGH ECONOMIC EQUALITY (A.K.A. DENMARK, SWEDEN, ETC.) ALL HAVE SOME FORM OF SOCIALIST BACKGROUND. OLOF PALME. HUGE WELFARE STATE. POWERFUL TRADE UNIONS.
Americans liberals: Has it ever cross your mind that your conservative brothers and sisters DON’T WANT ECONOMIC EQUALITY? It’s the 21st century. It’s do or die. Do you want to help yourself? Or do you want to help others? Worship love, not money.
I’m angry too, but only when I think about it. As painful and humiliating as it can be to vote for Dems, that is the pathetic choice we must make. It’s time for a Democratic Socialist Party emerge to counteract the Tea Cult and pull the country towards more Democratic Socialist awareness. If anything the DS platform can be simplified to promoting Constitutional amendments to end corporate persionhood and establish public funded federal elections.
Not only do Republicans want America to fail, when in power they work towards that goal by spending specifically to create a huge debt which they can blame on Liberals. Nowadays they also want Americans to die in a Terrorist Attack.
I’m angry but not at the president or the majority of dems in Congress. My anger is towards the thug party of NO which did not lift one finger to help this country get out of the hole they themselves created. My anger is also towards those who prevented the Obama agenda from being truly progressive and worked their damndest to water everything down. Will I vote in November?? You betcha, and for the most progressive candidates out there!
Sue, I am with you 100%. Like the lady who told Obama she was tired, I too am tired. But of those who fail to see that he does not have a magic wand and has been obstructed every step of the way by the Republicans. All in all, I think it is amazing what he HAS acconmplished.
I think Obama does see the urgency but is powerless to do anything about it. My big concern is the Repugs who have been creating our Waterloo. How low will they go next if they do not get what they think they will in November.
We already have a candidate from Nevada, Sharon Angle (R), talking about Secondment Amendment remedies if things don’t go well at the polls for the TEA Party and Republicans.
Jim – that’s been one of my concerns. They haven’t been able to accept Obama’s election and are adding to their bag of dirty tricks as each day passes.