Monday, April 15, 2019
Bernie sets a new standard (Ava and C.I.)
"Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" the crowd chanted as Senator Bernie Sanders prepared to make his final points on ELECTIONS * HQ TOWN HALL W/ BERNIE SANDERS (FOX NEWS). FOX NEWS, yes, Bernie went on FOX NEWS. Good for him. Some FOX NEWS viewers may have heard ideas or concepts they never heard of before as the senator spoke with the people who turned out as well as FOX hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
The town hall took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Bernie used it as a show case for issues and for commonalities. "At the end of the day we are all Americans who love this country," he noted as he delivered his closing remarks. In fact, let's note that conclusion in full:
I think that sometimes the divisions in this country get a little too hot. At the end of the day, we are all Americans who love this country. And I also think -- and the media plays not a good role in this -- again, not just FOX -- is that we have a lot more in common than most people think we do. Poll after poll. Should we raise the minimum wage to a living wage? Yes. Should we rebuilt our crumbling infrastructure? [Audience yells "Yes!"] Should we make sure that our veterans get the healthcare that they have earned? [Audience yells "Yes!"] Should we make sure that we do not cut Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid? [Audience yells "Yes!"] Should we give huge tax breaks to millionaires? [Audience yells "No!"] You know, that's how most people feel. So I hope -- I hope -- Look, I'm looking forward to a good campaign. And last point I want to make -- And I thank FOX for the opportunity of being here -- I want to see our country have the highest voter turnout in the industrialized world, not one of the worst. So no matter what your views are, get involved in the political process, stand up and fight to make this a better country.
It was a wide ranging discussion that covered numerous issues. And if you thought the audience present at the town hall was lively (and they were), you should have been on the campus we were at, watching this with students. They were loud, they were vocal, Bernie speaks to them, Bernie connects with America's young people.
That's not to say no other candidate could or does but it is to point out that Bernie has a large amount of supporters on campus. He has a large of supporters period. He noted in the town hall that his campaign already has one million people signed up to volunteer.
At the town hall, Tony, a Syrian-American, made it clear that he was tired of endless wars and he did not want to see wars of choice -- including on Syria. Bernie pointed out that "I helped lead the opposition to the Iraq War." And he did. But, point of fact, we are still in Iraq. How does Bernie plan to get us out of Iraq? As the leader of the opposition in the US Senate, he should have a few ideas he could expand upon.
He did highlight the Congressional vote to end support for the Saudi-led war on Yemen. And he did toss the next step over to Donald Trump, "The president has said that he does not want to see this country engaged in endless wars and I agree with him. And, Mr. President, tonight, you have the opportunity to do something extraordinary: Sign that resolution. Saudi Arabia should not be determining the military or foreign policy of this country."
"I want everybody," he declared, "in this country, to have healthcare, education and drinkable water -- not toxic water. We are fighting for a society where everyone can live with dignity and security."
"We are fighting for a society where everyone can live with dignity and security"? His campaign has just begun and already he's able to define why he's running and why people should support his run.
It's not just that a lot of others who are vying for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination currently haven't done that, it's also that Hillary Clinton stumbled repeatedly in 2016 when trying to explain what her campaign was about and why we should vote for her.
(No, "I'm With Her" was not a platform, as we noted sometime ago.)
He tackled many issues. For example, he argued for renewable energy -- safe renewable energy and explained, "I do believe we should phase out nuclear power plants." He wants the nation to seriously address climate change, declaring, "If we do not combat climate change, I fear the kind of world we're leaving to our kids."
"We've got to raise that minimum wage to a living wage," Bernie declared to applause on TV and applause among students at the campus we were on. He noted that investing in repairing this country's infrastructure, a trillion dollars investment would create 15 million jobs.
The event took place on the same day a new national poll (Emerson) found Bernie leading every Democrat in the race -- and even leading Joe Biden (undeclared so far). As the front runner, you'd think the press would cover him as such. Instead, they keep rushing from one younger male to another trying to prod and push the electorate. Six women are running for the party's presidential nomination -- US House Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Marianne Williamson, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Amy Klobuchar. It's worth noting that the press has not once attempted to push and prod the electorate over to one of those women. Our electorate has changed. Our candidates are becoming more representative. It's our press that continues to fail to move forward and progress.
"We have a lot more in common than most people think we do," Bernie pointed out. And it's the press, more than any other person or entity, that works overtime to help draw lines and divisions.
Looking around at the students cheering TV Bernie, we thought, that's a DNC acceptance speech line, "We have a lot more in common than most people think we do." Tonight's town hall should convince every other candidate to start bringing their A-game.
