Sen. Bernie Sanders savages GOP’s vision for America in ‘litmus test’ of presidential run

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory

Senator Bernie Sanders is touring Iowa this week in what he is calling a “litmus test” for a presidential run in 2016 — and the Vermont independent isn’t pulling any punches.

The Des Moines Register‘s Josh Hafner reported that at Drake University on Friday, the stalwart liberal directly asked students whether they were interested in someone with his leftist credentials running.

“What I’m trying to ascertain here,” he said, “is whether in fact there is support in America, or are people too demoralized?”

The senator targeted the cost of college tuition, health care, and women’s rights as issues which he believes have been hurt by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. “If you’re concerned about any of those issues, you must be concerned about Citizens United and money in politics in America,” he said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/sen-bernie-sanders-savages-gops-vision-for-america-in-litmus-test-of-presidential-run/

[guillaumeb]

1. you passed the test a long time ago Bernie! Now run!

Remember that the corporate media will do its best to misrepresent all of your actual positions and paint you as a left wing menace to all that Americans hold dear.

Run anyway and let's have a real choice.

[MadCrow]

3. Run Bernie Run!

We need to get Bernie's message out. If we can have all the crazies on the Right touring the country spouting their ridiculous positions during the primaries and actually getting main stream media coverage, we need to put Bernie and Elizabeth Warren out there to force our whole party back to the progressive left. Many people out there have never really listened to what Bernie and Elizabeth have to sat. It may resonate more than we know!

[hifiguy]

17. Yup. If he runs I will support him 100%

[obxhead]

10. He is a left wing menace to certain "Americans"

Those "Americans" being the 1%.

[SoapBox]

2. And whether you run or not Bernie...

Twist the screws on Clinton and don't let up.

[jwirr]

5. Yes, this is what he and Elizabeth are helping us do. Keep giving us your wisdom. We need you.

[libdem4life]

13. Yes...both of them can uniquely keep laser focus on their/our issues. As the

Progressives message grows, it becomes a political force to be reckoned with. Even more so as they get publicity as potential candidates. Warren for her financial expertise and Sanders for his passion for the lower-middle class. Both change the corporate equation. I don't know of anyone who thinks this can be done in one election/presidency cycle...it's taken any years to get here.

The Republicans had to lurch right to cater to the Tea Partiers. I don't equate Progressives with TPers in any way, shape or form, but we are the farthest Left of all the Democratic groups. Lefties don't kneejerk...we think and contemplate. But maybe some whoopin' and hollerin' is in order to nudge Them to pay attention and again embrace issues that used to be Democratic principles.

[Thinkingabout]

18. Well, since he presented issues near and dear to Hillary guess he can't hurt Hillary.

He is pointing out issues the GOP fights against, thank you Bernie for three issues Hillary has been advocating for many years.

[George II]

4. There are two questions for him - will he run, and under what affiliation?

[Jackpine Radical]

7. I would be shocked, awed and dismayed if he ran as anything other

than a Democrat. Or that, having run as a Democrat, he would fail to back the winner of the Democratic nomination (on the odd, small chance that it might not be him).

[lark]

8. He's said he'll run as a Democrat

Run Bernie Run - let the truth telling and better solutions for us all spread to a wider stage

[Jefferson23]

6. Always he speaks about the elephant in the room..the money and how CU made it worse. K&R

[arcane1]

9. While the potential repub candidates go on play-dates with the Koch brothers

The distinction could not be more clear.

[Jefferson23]

11. Yes and why many of them will fear and loathe him if he runs. n/t

[candelista]

12. Bernie: not really a socialist, but better than nothing, I guess.

Here's what he thinks socialism is:

“What it means is that we have a lot to learn from democratic socialist governments that have existed in countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, where all people have healthcare as a right,” Sanders explained when asked by O’Reilly what it means to be a socialist. ”Where higher education is free. Where they have strong childcare program. Where they don’t have the massive type of income and wealth inequality that we have in the United States of America.”

That describes a capitalist welfare state, which would indeed be better than what we have now in the US. But it ain't socialism.

[Half-Century Man]

14. Oy vey ist mir, Bernie

If by the remotest chance you ever read this, let me be clear.

I consider it an honor to offer you my full support. As one of the disenfranchised in Wisconsin, I have little money and influence. What I do have is time and an unlimited phone plan. I believe the positions you hold are the best course for America to take into whatever future we all share. I am more than willing to work long hours to help you achieve your goals.

[DeSwiss]

15. K&R

“What I’m trying to ascertain here,” he said, “is whether in fact there is support in America, or are people too demoralized?”

- Both.

K&R

[Dragonfli]

16. Yes, that is the problem, most people agree with him on the issues but feel powerless

to do anything to change the global neo-liberal cancer as they watch it spread unopposed by the media and nearly all politicians.

I live around mostly poor people and grew up poor, it is the reason that most poor people don't vote. It doesn't help get their vote either when we are a forbidden subject and even the Democrats only speak to the issues of the white collar middle class that the poor see as having rich people problems.

Bernie is different, the poor and blue collar classes that I share categories with would get behind him if they felt voting would help them, but most see it as a useless exercise that changes nothing for THEM and are far too busy just trying to stay alive to get too deep into politics if they do at all.

If they felt empowered somehow, the largest untapped voting pool in the country could be brought to the bear.

[John Poet]

19. I'm all for Bernie!

Whether or not he would have any realistic chance in the Democratic campaign, he would bring issues to the table that need to be debated within the party.

[Enthusiast]

20. Yay, Bernie!