FOR A DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT IN MORE THAN A DECADE.
JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS ALL OF
THIS IS INDEPENDENT VERMONT
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS.
THANKS FOR JOINING ME.
APPRECIATE IT.
APPRECIATE IT. >> MY PLEASURE.
>> WE HAVE TO START WITH THIS
POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE OVERNIGHT
AND WHAT IT MEANS MORE BROADLY.
THIS WIN BY OCASIO-CORTEZ.
SHOULD NANCY PELOSI BE AFRAID?
>> WHEN YOU HAVE CANDIDATES LIKE
ALEXANDRIA THAT HAS THE GUTS TO
TALK ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES.
SHE CAMPAIGNED ON HEALTH CARE AS
A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE.
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15
AN HOUR, DEMANDING THE WEALTHY
PAIR THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TACKS.
THAT’S AN AGENDA THAT WILL
RESONATE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.
SHE HAPPEN TO HAVE THE ADDED
ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN
EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD CANDIDATE
AND DESPITE BEING OUT SPENT 10
TO 1, SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN A
STRONG GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN AND
WIN.
WIN. THE MESSAGE HERE IS THAT WHEN
YOU HAVE CANDIDATES WHO ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES
IMPACTING WORKING FAMILIES AND
RUNNING GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS,
THEY WILL WIN IN NEW YORK CITY.
THEY WON IN MARYLAND.
BEN JEALOUS PULLED OFF AN UPSET
TO BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.
WE’RE SEEING THIS HAPPENING ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> IT WAS A BIG NIGHT FOR
PROGRESSIVES.
PROGRESSIVES. ARE VOTERS ALSO SAYING THEY WANT
A FRESH SET OF EYES TO COME TO
WASHINGTON AND TO HELP SET THE
AGENDA?
AGENDA? THE MESSAGING ASIDE HERE IS PART
OF THIS SAYING, LOOK, WE WANT
SOME NEWCOMERS.
SOME NEWCOMERS. >> I THINK THAT’S MEDIA HYPE.
WHAT ALEX ANANDRIA DID, SHE’S 28
YEARS OLD.
YEARS OLD. THAT’S FANTASTIC.
THAT’S FANTASTIC. WE’RE SEEING A LOT OF YOUNG
PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED IN OUR
REVOLUTION ORGANIZATION, GETTING
INVOLVED IN GRASS ROOT CAMPAIGN.
WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IS NOT
THAT SHE’S YOUNG.
WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IS SHE’S
STANDING UP FOR WORKING
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. YOU CAN HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
ARE CONSERVATIVE.
ARE CONSERVATIVE. WE NEED A MOVEMENT IN THIS
COUNTRY AND IT IS HAPPENING.
SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE
LIVING IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE
THREE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE NOW OWN
MORE WEALTH THAN THE BOTTOM HALF
OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY.
THAT’S WRONG.
THAT’S WRONG. THOSE ARE THE ISSUES WE SHOULD
BE TALKING ABOUT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SO
STRIKING WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT
THE CAMPAIGN THAT SHE RAN WHICH
WILL BE STUDIED FOR YEARS TO
COME IS SHE DIDN’T MAKE THIS
ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.
TAKE A LISTEN WHEN SHE WAS ASKED
ABOUT THIS ON MORNING JOE
EARLIER TODAY.
EARLIER TODAY. >> THERE WEREN’T PERSONAL FIGHTS
WITH DONALD TRUMP.
IT WAS MAKING THE COUNTER
ARGUMENT TO HIS POLICIES.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. I THINK THAT’S THE PATH FORWARD.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LAY OUT OO
PLAN AND A VISION THAT PEOPLE
CAN BELIEVE IN AND GETTING INTO
TWITTER FIGHTS WITH THE
PRESIDENT IS NOT EXACTLY, I
THINK WHERE WE’RE GOING TO FIND
PROGRESS AS A NATION.
>> IS HER STRATEGY THE KEY TO
WINNING IN TRUMP COUNTRY?
NOT ONLY IN 2018 BUT IN 2020 TO
NOT BE SO FOCUSED ON PRESIDENT
TRUMP?
TRUMP? >> THAT’S WHAT I SAID A MOMENT
AGO.
AGO. WHAT SHE DID IS TALK ABOUT THE
REAL ISSUES FACING HER DISTRICT,
WHICH HAPPENS TO BE A STRUGGLING
WORKING CLASS DISTRICT.
I THINK WHAT DEMOCRATS HAVE GOT
TO DO IS TWOFOLD.
NUMBER ONE, WE DO HAVE TO STAND
UP TO TRUMP’S RACISM AND SEXISM
AND HOMOPHOBIA.
AND HOMOPHOBIA. YOU CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO PASS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO LAY
OUT AN AGENDA THAT SAYS THERE IS
SOMETHING WRONG WE’RE THE ONLY
MAJOR COUNTRY ON EARTH NOT TO
GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE TO ALL.
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT WANTS
TO DO AWAY WITH THE PROTECTIONS
OF TODAY WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, CANCER,
YOU CANNOT GET HEALTH INSURANCE.
END THE ABSURDITY OF THE UNITED
STATES PAYING THE HIGHEST PRICE
IN THE WORLD FOR PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS.
DRUGS. >> WHEN WE LISTEN TO YOU WE’RE
REMINDED OF YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN.
YOUR FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER WAS
ASKED ABOUT YOUR AMBITIONS.
ARE YOU GOING TO THROW YOUR HAT
INTO THE RING AGAIN?
TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO
SAY.
SAY. >> HE’S CONSIDERING ANOTHER RUN
FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
WHEN I KNOW THE TIME COMES I
THINK WE’LL HAVE AN ANSWER TO
THAT.
THAT. RIGHT NOW HE’S STILL CONSIDERING
IT.
IT. >> DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER?
>> THE ANSWER IS, WE ARE
FOCUSING ON 2018 WHICH IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT MIDTERM ELECTIONS
IN MY LIFETIME AND I’M GOING TO
DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN FOTO SE
WE END ONE PARTY RULE HERE IN
WASHINGTON WHERE REPUBLICANS
CONTROL THE WHITE HOUSE, SENATE
AND THE HOUSE.
THAT’S WHERE I’M FOCUSING ON
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> AFTER THE PROGRESSIVES HAD
THAT STRONG NIGHT THAT WE ALL
WITNESSED LAST NIGHT.
ARE YOU NOW MORE INCLINED TO RUN
IN 2020, SENATOR SANDERS?
>> RIGHT NOW, THE NEXT ELECTION,
LAST I HEARD, IS 2018.
GOES BEFORE 2020.
LET’S FOCUS ON FIRST THINGS
FIRST.
FIRST. >> DO YOU HAVE A DEADLINE WHEN
YOU THINK YOU WANT TO MAKE A
DECISION?
DECISION? >> NO.
>> NO. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES
IMPACKING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
ALEXANDRIA WON BECAUSE SHE
TALKED ABOUT REAL ISSUES.
THAT WHAT I INTEND TO DO.
THAT’S WHAT I HOPE EVERY
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DOES.
>> LETD’S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BIG
ISSUE THAT’S IMPACTING
WASHINGTON AND POLITICAL
DISCOURSE.
DISCOURSE. THAT HAS TO DO WITH CIVILITY AND
A LACK THEREOF.
WE SAW SOME PROTESTERS SHOUTING
DOWN MITCH McCONNELL.
I WANT TO PLAY YOU A BIT OF
THAT.
THAT. GET YOUR REACTION ON THE OTHER
SIDE.
SIDE. >> WHY ARE YOU SEPARATING
FAMILIES?
FAMILIES? WHY ARE YOU SEPARATING FAMILIES?
WHY ARE YOU SEPARATING FAMILIES?
>> WHY DON’T YOU LEAVE MY
HUSBAND ALONE.
HUSBAND ALONE. >> WHY ARE YOU SEPARATING
FAMILIES?
FAMILIES? >> WHY DON’T YOU LEAVE THE KIDS
ALONE?
ALONE? >> BACK UP.
BACK UP.
BACK UP. >> BACK UP.
BACK UP.
BACK UP. >> I’M NOT TRYING TO DISRESPECT
YOU.
YOU. >> BACK UP.
LEAVE US ALONE.
>> HOW DOES HE SLEEP AT NIGHT?
HOW IS HE SLEEP AT NIGHT?
>> SENATOR, ARE YOU CONCERNED
THAT THERE IS A LACK OF CIVILITY
IN OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND
THAT IT IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING
THAT WE’RE SEEING ON THE LEFT OR
THE RIGHT BUT REALLY WE’RE JUST
SEEING TENSIONS GET VERY HEATED
AND FAILING TO TALK TO EACH
OTHER.
OTHER. WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT IN?
>> I’M NOT A GREAT FAN OF
SHOUTING DOWN PEOPLE OR BEING
RUDS
RUDS RUDE TO PEOPLE.
I THINK WE HAVE A SITUATION AND
A CONGRESS THAT’S WAY OUT OF
TOUCH WITH WHERE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE.
PEOPLE ARE. PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ANGRY
WHEN CONGRESS GIVES TAX BREAKS
TO BILLIONAIRES AND WANTS TO CUT
NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOR LOW
INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN.
YOU HAVE TO A RIGHT TO BE ANGRY.
TAKE THAT OUT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE
WAY.
WAY. DO EXACTLY WHAT ALEXANDRIA DID
LAST NIGHT.
LAST NIGHT. GET INVOLVED IN COME PAIN SAMPAI
>> DOES THAT MEAN YOU DISAGREE
WITH COMMENTS BY MAXINE WATERS
AND YOU DISAGREE WITH KICKING
SARAH SANDERS OUT OF A
RESTAURANT?
RESTAURANT? >> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT
TO GO INTO A RESTAURANT AND HAVE
DINNER.
DINNER. WE SHOULD BE MOBILE IEDSIZEING O
PEOPLE IN WAY THAT REPRESENTS
ALL OF US NOT JUST THE 1%.
THAT’S WHERE WE GOT TO PLACE OUR
ENERGY.
ENERGY. I DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE ANGRY.
THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT THESE
TERRIBLY INHUMANE IMMIGRATION
POLICIES.
POLICIES. THEY’RE ANGRY ABOUT THE FACT
THEY CAN’T AFFORD PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS.
DRUGS. THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT TAX BREAKS
THAT GO TO BILLIONAIRES.
THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT ALEXANDRIA DID.
ORGANIZE AT THE GRASS ROOTS
LEVEL.
LEVEL. WIN ELECTIONS AND GET INVOLVED
IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
>> SENATOR, VERY QUICKLY BEFORE
I LET YOU GO, I HAVE TO GET YOUR
REACTION TO TODAY’S SUPREME
COURT RULING AS IT RELATES TO
UNIONS.
UNIONS. IS IT THE END OF PUBLIC SERVICE
UNIONS?
UNIONS? >> IT IS NOT.
IT’S A DISASTEROUS RULING.
YOU HAVE A REACTIONARY 5-4
MAJORITY ON THE SUPREME COURT.
IT SHOULD SURPRISE NOBODY THEY
RENDERED A DECISION THAT
BENEFITS THE WEALTHY AND
POWERFUL AND GENTS AGAINST THE
NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES.
WE NEED A STRONG UNION MOVEMENT
SO WORKERS CAN NEGOTIATE WAGES
AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE ON
THE POLITICAL WORLD.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE ON SUCH