In what he billed as a major speech, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pledged Wednesday night to hold president-elect Donald Trump to some of the promises he made while also standing up to any racism, sexism and bigotry that Trump may condone.
The speech was delivered at George Washington University and streamed live online.
Sanders, who nearly snared the Democratic presidential nomination before campaigning for nominee Hillary Clinton, read a snippet from his new book, Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In. In it, he declared, “We set the agenda for the America of tomorrow.”
His speech offered an indication of the new role the 75-year-old senator expects to play during a Trump presidency: speaking out early, often and loudly against any transgressions. Earlier Wednesday, the Senate Democratic leadership appointed Sanders to a new role — chair of outreach — that could give him a bigger stage from which to speak.
“What you will see on Capitol Hill is, many Democrats will be prepared to work with Mr. Trump if he turns out to be sincere about the promises he made during the campaign,” Sanders told the GWU crowd. “If those promises turn out to be hollow, if they were nothing more than campaign rhetoric, we will not only oppose his economic policies, we will expose that hypocrisy.”
Sanders cherry-picked all the Trump campaign promises he could support, challenging Trump to come through in standing up for the middle class and elderly, for raising the minimum wage and ending “disastrous” trade policies.
“He was saying he was going to be the champion of the middle class,” Sanders said of Trump. “We’re going to hold him accountable.”
“Mr. Trump said, unlike many Republicans — the vast majority of Republicans — he said he will not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” Sanders said. “Pay attention to see what he does.”
Trump talked about a $10-an-hour federal minimum wage, Sanders said. “We will hold him to those words,” he pledged.
Then Sanders shifted to the agendas he doesn’t want to see Trump pursue.
“We will not be involved in the expansion of bigotry, of racism, of sexism,” Sanders said, to thunderous applause. “I know I speak for millions of fellow Americans. Mr. Trump, we are not going backward in terms of bigotry. We are going to go forward in creating a nondiscriminatory society.”
Earlier Wednesday, Sanders had called on Trump to rescind the appointment of Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel, echoing the rest of the Vermont congressional delegation and many congressional Democrats. “The president of the United States should not have a racist at his side,” Sanders said Wednesday night.
He then called on Trump to pay attention to science, not the chief executive officers of the fossil-fuel industry, when it comes to climate change. “Climate change is not a hoax,” Sanders said. “Millions of us have got to stand up and tell Mr. Trump to read a little bit about science.”
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Sanders is irrelevant and delusional.
Yet the Sellout and his Bernshiviks have absolutely no plan to hold Hillary, Debbie, Donna and all the other DNC co-conspirators and their Super Delegates accountable for disenfranchising them and walking all over them?
Funny that Sanders still calls himself an independent even after selling his sole to the Democrats. The guy is so phoney. Bernie has no credibility anymore or ever for that matter. He does not stand for the working people of this country, he has proven time and time again that he only cares for himself. Why would anyone that believes in climate change buy a house on the water. Not a very good investment if you believe the lake level is going to rise and wash your lake front house away if you ask me. Just proof that Bernie does not have the brains to be president,or proof he has two positions on issues just like his pal Hillary. If the people of Vermont ever want to better their own lives they must send a new delegation to Washington. It’s time for Bernie, Pat, and Pete to stay home.
What is the matter with (first three comments) people? I trust him more than I trust you. I would suggest the three of you find someone else to pick on.
Hey stickinthemud in America majority rules so the real question is what is wrong with you.
Oh brother. Sanders will wave his arms and shout and be about as effective as he has been throughout his decades in government. He’s spent his time in opposition to everything and has accomplished little. Sanders is a legend in his own mind.
On this thread, it sure does look like I’m in the minority. I suppose minorities have nothing to say? Most of the people who agree with me aren’t bothering to read this article or comment. People have other things to do. So do I. No big deal. Rave on.
Oh Bernie Boy, keep flapping your lips..Clinton bought you off.. gave you BIG BUCKS, you bought a home and plane.. You used your supporters..big time..You’re going to to hold Trump accountable??..you’re supporters should had held you accountable..When you were bought off did you returned the money to the supporters??? All that donation money..bet not..