VPR: Sanders Says He's Working To Make The Democratic Party More Progressive

[Donkees]

By BOB KINZEL • 11 HOURS AGO

Excerpts:

On Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders is expected to announce plans to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. But Sanders says he also intends to actively campaign this summer and fall for a number of Democratic candidates across the country. Sanders says it's part of his effort to transform the national Democratic Party into a more progressive organization.

Sanders is also the Communications Outreach Director for the Senate Democrats. And in that capacity he plans to actively campaign this year for a number of Democrats across the country who support his progressive agenda.

"I think the future of this country really to a significant degree has a lot to do with what happens in 2018 so I have been and will be involved in that," said Sanders.

In the last few weeks, a number of Democrats who are eyeing the 2020 presidential election have endorsed many of Sanders' domestic priorities. These include proposals to ensure universal access to health care, raise the minimum wage, provide free college tuition and implement a massive public works initiative.

"Yeah, it has come to my attention,” said Sanders. “I think it is fair to say that from an ideological point of view, what the Democratic Party should stand for, we have kind of won that debate."

http://digital.vpr.net/post/sanders-says-hes-working-make-democratic-party-more-progressive#stream/0

[Hortensis]

1. Let's focus on getting a Democratic Party majority in congress.

Independent Sanders isn't going to be able to help achieve squat if he doesn't have a progressive majority to vote with.

[TEB]

2. Your are correct

[murielm99]

3. Let him join the Democratic Party

if he wants to seek changes. And his outreach job has nothing to do with campaigning for Democrats.

All of those Sanders' "domestic priorities" are part of our platform already. They are not unique to this independent Senator. They are Democratic principles.

[KG]

4. to heck with bernie! what does he know?

just coz the dem party is totally out of power doesn't mean they're doing anything wrong!

[DFW]

5. Provide free college tuition? Wrong.

Provide taxpayer-funded college tuition is what you mean.

College employees are not unpaid volunteers working on donated grounds in buildings that were erected with material and labor that were donated by those that provided them free of charge. We are not the Valley of the Shmoon.

PS--You will be happy to know that recent rule changes make it permissible to post on DU about other subjects than pronouncements and appearances by Bernie Sanders. You can now stop holding back posting about all those other subjects that interest you.

[manor321]

6. Several ways to do that

1) Get rid of caucuses so working class people can vote

2) Pass law so that taxes must be disclosed by presidential candidates, during the primaries.

3) Keep primaries closed so Roger Stone-like dirty tricksters can't interfere

I'm sure Sanders will go for those.

[Itchinjim]

7. Bernie is a Democrat?

Since when?

[leftofcool]

8. Great, then we can lose every election for ever.