Speaker 1 (00:00):
Senator Bernie Sanders issued a scathing statement after the vice president's loss in what he called a disastrous campaign, saying, "It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them." And independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont joins me now. Senator Sanders, welcome back to Meet the Press.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Thank you for being here on this Sunday after election day. Let's start right there. Your criticism, incredibly direct. You say you think the Democratic Party has, "Abandoned the working-class." How exactly do you think Democrats have abandoned the working-class, Senator?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Look, the working people of this country are extremely angry. They have a right to be angry. In the richest country in the history of the world, today the people on top are doing phenomenally well, while 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. And millions of families worry that their kids are actually going to have a lower standard of living than they do. You got the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 90%. We're the only major country on earth not to guarantee healthcare to all of our people. 25% of our seniors are trying to live on $15,000 a year or less. We have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth. And the gap between the people on top and everybody else is getting wider and wider.
(01:36)
And then, Kristen, on top of all of that, we got a corrupt campaign finance system, which allows billionaires to buy elections. So, if you're an average worker out there, you're saying, "Hey, I'm working longer and longer hours, going nowhere in a hurry, worried about my kids, and yet the people on top, I've never had it so good." Where is the Democratic Party? Are they prepared to stand up to these powerful corporate interests, raise the minimum wage, fight for healthcare for all people, make sure that all of our kids get the quality education that they need, expand Social Security. Are they prepared to do those things? That's the issue that we have to address.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Well, as you know, your statement was met with some sharp reaction as well. This is what Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi had to say. Take a look. I'll get your reaction on the other side.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Bernie Sanders has not won. With all due respect, and I have a great deal of respect for him, for what he stands for, but I don't respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working-class families.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Senator, how do you respond to Nancy Pelosi?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well, Nancy's a friend of mine and we've worked together on many issues, but here is the reality I have to say to Nancy. In the Senate in the last two years, we have not even brought forth legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, despite the fact that some 20 million people in this country are working for less than $15 an hour. In America today, we have not brought in the Senate, we have not brought to the floor the Pro Act to make it easier for workers to join unions. We're not talking about the fine benefit pension plans so that our elderly can retire with security.
(03:22)
We're not talking about lifting the cap on Social Security so that we can extend the solvency of Social Security and raise benefits. Bottom line, if you're an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic Party is going to the max, taking on powerful special interest and fighting for you? I think the overwhelming answer is no, and that is what has got to change.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Senator, let me zoom out and just ask you about these results. You've heard some of the reaction throughout the Democratic Party. How much do you personally blame President Biden for this loss?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
President Biden, when he came into office, said that he would be the most progressive president since F.D.R. And I think on domestic issues, not foreign policy. On domestic issues, he has kept his word and the agenda that he has pushed through has been an extraordinarily strong one. But that agenda has got to be placed within the overall context of American society today. And that American society today is one in which tens of millions of working families and elderly people are struggling while the people on top have never had it so good.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
But Senator, should he have gotten out of the race more quickly as some are arguing?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I supported him because I think his agenda was a strong agenda, a working class agenda. I'm not going to look backwards. Kamala ran a strong campaign. She did everything that she could. She decisively won the debate. So, to me, it's not just about the campaign. It's about what does the Democratic Party stand for? Do ordinary people say, "Yeah, that is a party that is fighting for my interest and prepared to take on the big money interest who can control the economic and political life of the country?" That's to me what the issue is.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah. We're talking a lot about the economics. You've talked about how the Democratic Party is out of touch when it comes to economic issues. Some Democrats are saying it's not just economic issues, it's cultural issues as well. Here's what Democratic strategist James Carville had to say. Take a look.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
What killed the Democrats and what killed Biden was a sense of disorder. And part of the sense of disorder was the unfortunate events of what I would refer to as the woke era.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Has the Democratic Party's focus on identity politics gone too far, Senator?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Let me answer it this way. The Democratic Party must continue to stand up against all forms of bigotry. And Democrats should hold their head high in saying, "We led the fight for women's rights and to protect the women's constitutional right for abortion. We led the fight for civil rights, for gay rights." That is something we should be proud of. But it's not either or, Kris. And this is the problem, you can do both. You could say that I'm for raising the minimum wage to a living wage, guarantee healthcare for all people, expanding Social Security. And by the way, I also support a woman's right to control her own body, et cetera. It's not either or. It's going forward in both directions.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I've been speaking to some Democrats who are concerned, because now President-elect Trump has beaten two women candidates. And their concern is that it will make it more difficult to nominate a woman candidate in the future. Do you share that concern, Senator?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
No, I don't. I think it's not a question… Look, I'm not going to deny that there is sexism in this country, that there's racism, there's homophobia. It's there. But on the other hand, I think what the American people want to support, whether it's a woman, a man, a black or a white, or Latino, whatever, it's they want to support somebody who is standing up, Kristen, and fighting for them. People are in pain. People are hurting. They can't afford to go to a doctor. They can't afford to send their kids to child care or to college. They're worried about future generations and what kind of standard of living they will have. Here is the bottom line, and it has to be dealt with. You've got an economy today doing phenomenally well for the people on top. It is not working for the working class, all right?
(07:42)
How do we address those issues and in the richest country on the history of the world, create an economy that works for all? That is the issue. And by the way, what Trump did in his election is to say, "I know that you are hurting. And the reason is they got millions of people coming across the border illegally. They're eating your dogs, they're eating your cats." He gave an explanation. It happened to be a pretty crazy explanation. Yes, we got to strengthen the borders, but that is not going to raise wages for working people or provide healthcare to all people. The Democrats need an explanation, and that explanation is corporate greed and the power of the billionaire class. I know that's uncomfortable for people in the Democratic Party, some people, but that is the issue we have to address.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Senator, quickly before I let you go, I do want to ask you about the Supreme Court. Some Democrats behind the scenes quietly talking about the possibility, should Justice Sotomayor step down to allow President Biden to appoint someone who's younger? She's only 70 years old. Is that something that you would support? Do you think she should step down?
Speaker 2 (08:48):
No, I don't.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Have you heard any talk of this?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
A little bit, yes. I don't think it's a sensible approach.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
And you don't think it's a sensible approach?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
All right. Senator Bernie Sanders, thank you very much for your time this morning and your perspective. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
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