Bernie Sanders gets personal as he hits the 2020 campaign trail

By John Whitesides

 

U.S. Presidential Candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in New York, United States March 2, 2019. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

 

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders showed a more personal side as he hit the 2020 campaign trail for the first time on Saturday, describing the struggles of his working class youth and how it helped shape his progressive politics.

 

At a rally in Brooklyn, near the New York City neighbourhood where he grew up in a small, rent-controlled apartment, Sanders contrasted his spare upbringing with Republican President Donald Trump's privileged youth as the son of a New York real estate developer.

 

"My experience as a kid, living in a family that struggled economically, powerfully influenced my life and my values," Sanders said at a campaign kickoff rally at Brooklyn College, where he once attended classes.

 

"Unlike Donald Trump, who shut down the government and left 800,000 federal employees without income to pay the bills, I know what it's like to be in a family that lives paycheck to paycheck," he said.

 

The U.S. senator from Vermont rarely talked about his personal history during his first run for the White House in 2016 against eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, focussing almost exclusively on his policy plans to rein in Wall Street and reduce income inequality.

 

But the new approach for Sanders, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland, was a recognition of the need to find a way to stand out in a crowded and diverse field of 2020 Democratic contenders, including five of his fellow senators.

 

Sanders also did not highlight his Jewish faith during his 2016 run. But in Brooklyn he described his father's journey to escape poverty and anti-Semitism, and said his father's family eventually was "wiped out" by the Nazis.

 

"As we launch this campaign for president, you deserve to know where I come from — because family history heavily influences the values that we adopt as adults," Sanders told cheering supporters in Brooklyn.

 

"Today, I want to welcome you to a campaign which says, loudly and clearly, that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies," he said.

 

The first weekend on the campaign trail also signalled Sanders' emphasis on expanding his support among minority voters, who he struggled to connect with during his 2016 campaign.

 

On Sunday morning, he will make a quick stop in Selma, Alabama, for events commemorating the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march. Later, he will hold a rally at Navy Pier in Chicago, where he graduated from the University of Chicago at the height of the civil rights movement and helped lead student protests against segregated campus housing and schools.

 

"I did not come from a family that taught me to build a corporate empire through housing discrimination," he said. "I protested housing discrimination."

 

The twin rallies over the weekend also served as a reminder to Democrats of his ability to generate grassroots enthusiasm. During his 2016 campaign, Sanders frequently held big rallies with thousands of supporters, matching Trump's ability to capture attention and generate large crowds.

 

Sanders already has shown his fundraising ability this time around, as the campaign said on Tuesday he had raised about $10 million in the first week. But he also has faced new challenges - three of his top media strategists during the 2016 campaign split with Sanders this week over creative differences.

 

Over the next few weeks, his campaign said, Sanders will travel to states with early nominating contests, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada before returning to his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, for a formal campaign launch.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-03

 

 

There must be better younger choices for the dems than another old fella who would have beaten Trump "if" etc.

Love Bernie but I don’t think we can afford him that being said he is a decent man who shares American values something imo the present occupant doesent

He would be 78 years old if he becomes president. Is that good age to start such a demanding and difficult job?

Obviously he has a lot of knowledge and experience, and character qualities which Donald can only dream about.

So in many ways he would obviously be better than Trump.

But there must be somewhere in that big country a younger person with similar qualities who should do this. Or not?

The dems desperately need to go with Biden. It is the only real chance they have.

Yeah well, let him spend his hundreds of millions on a futile campghine and probably get a heart attack i n the porosess, this guy belongs in a old folks home and not running a country...

Off-topic post removed.

 

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Yeah well, let him spend his hundreds of millions on a futile campghine and probably get a heart attack i n the porosess, this guy belongs in a old folks home and not running a country...

 

They want to print trillions not billions.

1 hour ago, vinniekintana said:

Bernie has a snowball's chance of beating Trump

A never-done-well in the private sector found respite as a 'grievance-peddler' politician 

Now, he wants your money to pay for his doomed-to-fail projects 

 

Socialism always fails

 

                                                                               

 

Bernie will directly contribute to Trump winning.

Does America really want a 79-87 year old President? Surely out of 350 million there are better choices.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Yeah well, let him spend his hundreds of millions on a futile campghine and probably get a heart attack i n the porosess, this guy belongs in a old folks home and not running a country...

Sanders would be 79, Biden 78 and Trump nearly 75 when the next term begins. All are far too old for the job in my opinion!  Trump is already semi-retired at his golf club. 

Americans seem to not know the difference between socialism and communism, so they will never elect Sanders despite a desperate need of some aspects of socialism, such as a universal health system.

American style capitalism sounds great until you examine the huge wealth disparity it creates with the wealthy owning most of the resources. This must result in civil unrest somewhere down the line. The signs are already there.

The Dem candidates who have put their hand up seem an uninspiring bunch, personally I would like to see "Beto" O'Rourke run.

 

 

Edited March 3, 20197 yr by Old Croc

So I see you have three homes Bernie, can I have your lake home?

Does Breadline Bernie imagine he has a chance? 

Senility. 

4 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Does Breadline Bernie imagine he has a chance? 

Senility. 

shhh He is going to cost the dems the election.

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He would be 78 years old if he becomes president. Is that good age to start such a demanding and difficult job?

Obviously he has a lot of knowledge and experience, and character qualities which Donald can only dream about.

So in many ways he would obviously be better than Trump.

But there must be somewhere in that big country a younger person with similar qualities who should do this. Or not?

For me, any Democrat potential candidate must be supporting the progressive direction that Bernie has set. He has my support unless we see a younger candidate emerge who can demonstrate a personal history and, if having served in elected office, a voting history coming up to Bernie standards. My hope is for a solid younger V.P. candidate with Bernie.

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He would be 78 years old if he becomes president. Is that good age to start such a demanding and difficult job?

Obviously he has a lot of knowledge and experience, and character qualities which Donald can only dream about.

So in many ways he would obviously be better than Trump.

But there must be somewhere in that big country a younger person with similar qualities who should do this. Or not?

I am watching but ... others must come up to the standards Bernie represents. A very tough standard has been set through both personal and political history.

30 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

shhh He is going to cost the dems the election.

Again and for the same reason. It's not Bernie, per se, it only happens if the established Democrat Party direction does not recognize that which they ignored in the runup to the 2016 election. The justified frustration/anger among the working middle class (whether leaning conservative or liberal) demand that the economic stress they are facing be addressed. Not limited to the U.S. ... yellow vests in France, tied into Brexit, the right wing swing in other countries. Many of us are retired in Thailand as a result of this working middle-class financial condition. The economic reasonable balance is historically too far out of balance. Yep, Thailand also!

4 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

The dems desperately need to go with Biden. It is the only real chance they have.

You say that cuz you KNOW Trump would eat Crazy Uncle Joe alive (that is if Trump's not in a 6' x 6' cell). Vegas Oddsmakers (who are WILDLY accurate as real money is on the line!) have him not finishing his first term.

32 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Again and for the same reason. It's not Bernie, per se, it only happens if the established Democrat Party direction does not recognize that which they ignored in the runup to the 2016 election. The justified frustration/anger among the working middle class (whether leaning conservative or liberal) demand that the economic stress they are facing be addressed. Not limited to the U.S. ... yellow vests in France, tied into Brexit, the right wing swing in other countries. Many of us are retired in Thailand as a result of this working middle-class financial condition. The economic reasonable balance is historically too far out of balance. Yep, Thailand also!

Gotta agree. The other senators are young & have voting records showing they learned politics during the era of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton... they believe corporations deserve a bigger voice, and have given such. Inslee & O'Rourke lack national skills needed... but we'll see how they do in the debates if they qualify.  Iraq Veteran Tulsi is good on her International perceptions, on disengaging from regime change initiatives, and has shown integrity in her actions, but lacks yet the public speaking skills to carry a crowd, especially against the TV trained Trump.
Those here also know I see climate as a national threat - more from crop failures and forced migration than from imminent sea level rise. Warren and Biden neither seem to grasp that threat nor have proposals that might reduce its impact. That gives me a preferred ticket of Bernie with Tulsi as VP.

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Bernie will directly contribute to Trump winning.

Bluff and bluster is no campaign strategy, or at least it isn't anymore.

1 hour ago, wwest5829 said:

I am watching but ... others must come up to the standards Bernie represents. A very tough standard has been set through both personal and political history.

Unfortunately, that person has yet to enter the race and frankly I'm not sure who it could be.

5 hours ago, JimmyTheMook said:

Because Trump will crucify him with stainless steel nails.

16 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

Because Trump will crucify him with stainless steel nails.

Let's test that theory. I say he doesn't lay a glove on him.

38 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

Bluff and bluster is no campaign strategy, or at least it isn't anymore.

Worked for Trump.

I watched the speech.

I'm happy democratic socialist positions are getting debated.

It's silly to demonize them but packaging matters too … Sander's packaging won't play in the USA. It's not just his age and how he looks his age and then some. He's a real throwback. Don't delude yourselves. Don't make this easy for the MAWA heads.

 

But at the end of the day, the most important thing right now is beating 45 as he's an existential threat to the American democracy. 

 

Run Joe Run.

Edited March 3, 20197 yr by Jingthing

I think it's time for the Democratic Party and progressives to get behind younger candidates.  It really is time to ditch the dinosaurs.  And I'm speaking as one of those dinosaurs. 

Gabbard, Harris, Booker, et.al. - it's time to hand the reins of power to a new generation. 

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I watched the speech.

I'm happy democratic socialist positions are getting debated.

It's silly to demonize them but packaging matters too … Sander's packaging won't play in the USA. It's not just his age and how he looks his age and then some. He's a real throwback. Don't delude yourselves. Don't make this easy for the MAWA heads.

 

But at the end of the day, the most important thing right now is beating 45 as he's an existential threat to the American democracy. 

 

Run Joe Run.

 

Biden would get trashed by everyone except the media. Widely considered a buffoon before landing his VP slot which accorded him some establishment gravitas. The establishment's not going to win this one.

Edited March 3, 20197 yr by lannarebirth

4 minutes ago, connda said:

I think it's time for the Democratic Party and progressives to get behind younger candidates.  It really is time to ditch the dinosaurs.  And I'm speaking as one of those dinosaurs. 

Gabbard, Harris, Booker, et.al. - it's time to hand the reins of power to a new generation. 

I would, but I don't really like any of those. Got anyone else?

8 minutes ago, connda said:

I think it's time for the Democratic Party and progressives to get behind younger candidates.  It really is time to ditch the dinosaurs.  And I'm speaking as one of those dinosaurs. 

Gabbard, Harris, Booker, et.al. - it's time to hand the reins of power to a new generation. 

Harris or Booker both could be competitive. Especially Harris. I still like Klobuchar but the jury is still out on whether her reputation as being a boss from hell is going to cause permanent damage. Sanders just seems as playing right into 45's game. 

Edited March 3, 20197 yr by Jingthing