Nothing says “Labor Day” like a sunny September day, free hot dogs and a rip-roaring tirade from Vermont’s very own Sen. Bernie Sanders.
At Sanders’ annual Labor Day rally and barbecue Monday afternoon in Burlington’s Battery Park, you could have it all. And then some.
“What we are saying today is that this country and the wealth of this country belongs to all of the people and not a handful of billionaires,” the finger-wagging, self-described socialist told an approving crowd of a couple hundred fellow travelers.
Sanders’ 15-minute stem-winder wrapped up a well-attended event featuring a performance by the Gordon Stone Band, remarks from a slew of Vermont labor leaders and — in true Bernie style — plenty of free food for the masses. Ol’ Bernardo’s warm-up acts stayed on-message, repeatedly calling him a champion of workers’ rights and organized labor’s favorite U.S. senator. But about a dozen opponents of the proposed basing of F-35 planes at the Vermont Air National Guard’s South Burlington headquarters — which Sanders supports — held signs just off-stage protesting Sanders’ stance.
We’ll have more on the rally in this week’s Fair Game, but for now, we leave you with some crappy iPhone-shot photos of the event:
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Just love it when my taxpayer money is used to bribe people to vote for Bernie. Couldn’t that food be given to some homeless shelters or food banks instead? I guess I should be relieved they’re eating burgers instead of “eating the rich” like Bernie always says to do.
“and a rip-roaring tirade from Vermont’s very own Sen. Bernie Sanders”
“Tirade.” That’s absolutely correct. It’s Bernie’s language. He speaks Tirade. How close that word is to “tired.” The most common word in the language of Tirade is “outrage.” Wonder how many times Bernie used that word in today’s tirade.
And what a tired bunch of socialist has-beens in the 4th photo.
It is important to check the facts before blurting out inaccurate information.
The event was sponsored by Bernie and his campaign. That means that it was paid for by the campaign and not at taxpayer expense.
It is also important to recognize the benefits that organized labor have gained for all working americans. The 40 hour work week (for some), social security, ending child labor, passage of the civil rights act, and a guaranteed minimum wage (to name a few). So even if you are not part of a union, please thank a union member for their work on behalf of all working people.
I’m sorry I missed it. I just love being reminded about the Republicrats and Demicans and how evil they are. What? Zuckerman and Bernie don’t do that anymore?
Thanks Paul for including both photos and information about the Anti-F-35 protesters. Unfortunately you give more attention to them then Bernie does. It is interesting that Zuckerman has come out against the F-35, along with Baruth, but Ashe, Pearson and others seem to remain silent on the issue. So who is afraid of Big Bad Bernie? When will Bernie proclaim, in a tirate, that the cost of one F-35 stealth bomber could feed thousands for months, or house thousands for years, or pay for thousands of new jobs creating housing or growing/raising food. When will he walk the walk, instead of the same old talk the walk?
“That means that it was paid for by the campaign and not at taxpayer expense.”
Said Dave “Per Diem” Zuckerman.
It was unbelievable to hear Bernie at a recent gathering tell an F35 opponent that because she was reconsidering her vote for him due to his support of the program, that she had a “bad attitude.”(!) Look, he said, you don’t have to agree with me but I’m going to win, there’s no doubt I’m going to win this election.
Well, that is most likely true, we know that. But the arrogance and disdain for a constituent’s well founded concern for her community based on scientific findings from the United States Air Forces’ Environmental Impact Statement was distressing, and certainly gave pause to the 300 attendees trust and heretofore unquestioning support of their senator. His stance on this issue, which will disproportionately affect low income, minority, refugee and military veterans is disturbing and hypocritical. His refusal to discuss this issue directly with his constituents is causing many to question what his idea of the democratic process has devolved into.
The most common response when hard-working, everyday Vermonters (and even those folks from outside the state) learn of the negative impacts of the F35 basing in Vermont and their congressional delegates unwavering, lockstep support of the program is an incredulous question. “Even Bernie?” they ask. “Yes”, is the disappointed, mournful reply, “Even Bernie.”