In an interview with the Huffington Post, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reiterated his long-standing counsel to the Democratic Party: simply opposing President Donald Trump’s actions is insufficient.
Instead, Sanders argues the party must offer a compelling, working-class-focused agenda to regain public trust and effectively counter the Trump era.
Following a large rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Sanders told HuffPost that while resistance to Trump is important, the American people are looking for more.
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He stated, “What the Democratic Party in the last many years has not given them, and that is an agenda that speaks to the needs of the working class, because it’s not good enough.”
Mimicking critics who focus solely on Trump’s character, Sanders continued, “‘Oh, well, you know, Trump is a terrible guy,’ Fine… What’s your alternative? Why did Trump get elected? What do you have to say to a worker today who’s making 14 bucks an hour, who can’t afford health care? Tell me what you have to say. What do you have to say to kids who would like to go to college, who can’t afford to go to college?”
With the Democratic Party’s approval ratings at reportedly low levels and Trump forging connections with some of the nation’s wealthiest individuals, the 83-year-old Vermont senator is seen as uniquely positioned to influence the party’s direction. His ongoing rallies, drawing thousands, demonstrate continued grassroots support.
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While Sanders’ rising influence doesn’t guarantee widespread adoption of his platform, such as “Medicare for All” or free college, his anti-establishment style and focus on economic policy may prompt even moderate Democrats to re-evaluate their approach.
Sanders’ tour is a joint effort with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), positioning her as a potential inheritor of his movement.
The tour targets GOP-held districts where incumbents have reportedly avoided public town halls, aiming to channel anti-Trump energy into crucial midterm battlegrounds.
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