MAGI
04/30/07, 07:02 am
haus, -V-,
Could we make Bernie a sticky?
found on Buzzflash.............one of the Progressives best of friends!: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/060
A Senator Who Gives You Reason to Hope for Positive Change in America: Just Call Him Bernie, Senator Bernie Sanders That Is.
Submitted by christine on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 4:06pm. Interviews
A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW
"You can win big by running on progressive politics, by dealing with economic class issues in a very strong way. ... The American people say it is wrong that the gap between the very rich, and everybody else, is growing wider and wider and wider.
-- Senator Bernie Sanders
* * *
In a year when the pundits tell us that American voters are looking for authenticity in candidates for office, most politicians still parse their pronouncements with caution and are tightly leashed to high-paid consultants who advise them on how to be "beige."
Bernie Sanders is a breath of fresh air in that respect. When it comes to authenticity, he's the real thing.
Like Russ Feingold and the late Paul Wellstone, Sanders proves that you can be progressive, straightforward, passionate and win the backing of the electorate.
We interviewed Sanders before when he was a Congressman. Because he has actively represented the interests of the people of his state -- from dairy farmers to laborers to retirees -- he was easily elected senator to replace Jim Jeffords, who chose to retire from the Senate.
It's rare to interview a Senator who invigorates and motivates us -- we're normally much too cynical for that -- but Bernie is the kind of guy who gives you reason to hope.
By the time we finished our latest interview with him, we were ready to call him "Coach."
* * *
BuzzFlash: As a progressive throughout your life -- and unabashed about it -- you succeeded in winning a Senate seat in 2006. What lessons do you have for progressives in finding their voice and getting elected? A lot of Democrats, as you know, say we can’t win with a progressive message.
Senator Sanders: Well, I think the contrary is the truth. You can win big by running on progressive politics, by dealing with economic class issues in a very strong way. I have right in front of me a poll that came out recently from CBS, and another poll from Gallup. Bottom line is that most Americans believe the economy is not doing well for them, despite the constant rhetoric that we hear from the Bush Administration of how great the economy is doing. Most Americans, by very strong numbers, believe that the economy is getting worse, not getting better. They understand that the middle class is shrinking and poverty is increasing. And most importantly, they understand that the kind of distribution of wealth and income that exists in this country today is extremely unfair. And you know what? They want Congress to change it. Here in the Senate and in the House, you find very, very few people talking about income or wealth redistribution.
BuzzFlash: That’s right.
Senator Sanders: That is just not a phrase that is almost on the lips of anybody. I think frankly the American people we’re polling tell us. The American people say it is wrong that the gap between the very rich, and everybody else, is growing wider and wider and wider. We have the highest rate of childhood poverty in the industrialized world. Then we end up with more people behind bars in jail than any other country in the world. The richest one percent have seen a huge increase in their income and wealth, while the average person is working longer hours for lower wages.
These are precisely the kind of issues the candidates have got to discuss, and have got to run on. The immediate result of that should be the rescinding of all tax breaks for the wealthiest one percent. We have introduced legislation called the National Priorities Act, which would rescind Bush’s tax breaks for the richest one percent -- $70 billion. Cut military spending by $60 billion. Use $30 billion to reduce the deficit. Use $100 billion a year to protect the interests of the middle-class working families: education, health care, pensions, job training programs, global warming issues, and so forth and so on. That is, I think, not only the right thing to do from a public policy perspective. I think it’s good politics as well. "
.................................................. .................................................. ...........................
The rest of the article,:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/060
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Could we make Bernie a sticky?
found on Buzzflash.............one of the Progressives best of friends!: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/060
A Senator Who Gives You Reason to Hope for Positive Change in America: Just Call Him Bernie, Senator Bernie Sanders That Is.
Submitted by christine on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 4:06pm. Interviews
A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW
"You can win big by running on progressive politics, by dealing with economic class issues in a very strong way. ... The American people say it is wrong that the gap between the very rich, and everybody else, is growing wider and wider and wider.
-- Senator Bernie Sanders
* * *
In a year when the pundits tell us that American voters are looking for authenticity in candidates for office, most politicians still parse their pronouncements with caution and are tightly leashed to high-paid consultants who advise them on how to be "beige."
Bernie Sanders is a breath of fresh air in that respect. When it comes to authenticity, he's the real thing.
Like Russ Feingold and the late Paul Wellstone, Sanders proves that you can be progressive, straightforward, passionate and win the backing of the electorate.
We interviewed Sanders before when he was a Congressman. Because he has actively represented the interests of the people of his state -- from dairy farmers to laborers to retirees -- he was easily elected senator to replace Jim Jeffords, who chose to retire from the Senate.
It's rare to interview a Senator who invigorates and motivates us -- we're normally much too cynical for that -- but Bernie is the kind of guy who gives you reason to hope.
By the time we finished our latest interview with him, we were ready to call him "Coach."
* * *
BuzzFlash: As a progressive throughout your life -- and unabashed about it -- you succeeded in winning a Senate seat in 2006. What lessons do you have for progressives in finding their voice and getting elected? A lot of Democrats, as you know, say we can’t win with a progressive message.
Senator Sanders: Well, I think the contrary is the truth. You can win big by running on progressive politics, by dealing with economic class issues in a very strong way. I have right in front of me a poll that came out recently from CBS, and another poll from Gallup. Bottom line is that most Americans believe the economy is not doing well for them, despite the constant rhetoric that we hear from the Bush Administration of how great the economy is doing. Most Americans, by very strong numbers, believe that the economy is getting worse, not getting better. They understand that the middle class is shrinking and poverty is increasing. And most importantly, they understand that the kind of distribution of wealth and income that exists in this country today is extremely unfair. And you know what? They want Congress to change it. Here in the Senate and in the House, you find very, very few people talking about income or wealth redistribution.
BuzzFlash: That’s right.
Senator Sanders: That is just not a phrase that is almost on the lips of anybody. I think frankly the American people we’re polling tell us. The American people say it is wrong that the gap between the very rich, and everybody else, is growing wider and wider and wider. We have the highest rate of childhood poverty in the industrialized world. Then we end up with more people behind bars in jail than any other country in the world. The richest one percent have seen a huge increase in their income and wealth, while the average person is working longer hours for lower wages.
These are precisely the kind of issues the candidates have got to discuss, and have got to run on. The immediate result of that should be the rescinding of all tax breaks for the wealthiest one percent. We have introduced legislation called the National Priorities Act, which would rescind Bush’s tax breaks for the richest one percent -- $70 billion. Cut military spending by $60 billion. Use $30 billion to reduce the deficit. Use $100 billion a year to protect the interests of the middle-class working families: education, health care, pensions, job training programs, global warming issues, and so forth and so on. That is, I think, not only the right thing to do from a public policy perspective. I think it’s good politics as well. "
.................................................. .................................................. ...........................
The rest of the article,:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/060
:thumbup: :thumbup: