Hillary Clinton
Related: About this forumSanders had big ideas but little impact on Capitol Hill
Democrats who worked with the Vermont senator say he contributed to the debate, but rarely forged actual legislation or left a significant imprint on it.
At the heart of Bernie Sanders campaign is a promise to bring about sweeping change. But on some of the top issues at the center of Sanders' presidential bid -- health care, taking on the big banks and corporations, fighting for rights, raising attention to income inequality -- the revolution has been slow in the 25 years he's spent in Congress.
Sanders and Clinton both repeatedly turned to his Senate record at the Democratic debate in Miami Wednesday night. Clinton hit him for voting against the TARP II bailout, arguing that if everyone had voted as he voted, we would not have saved the auto industry, and attacked him for voting against the 2007 immigration reform bill.
"Madam Secretary, I will match my record against yours any day of the week," Sanders responded, in one of the many moments he brought up his Senate work.
He was on the committee that wrote Obamacare, he said again, and he introduced what he called the most comprehensive climate change legislation in the history of the Senate.
I have been criticized a lot for thinking big, for believing we can do great things as a nation, Sanders said.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/bernies-record-220508#ixzz42jBbicuz
SharonClark
(10,005 posts)Blue Idaho
(4,988 posts)A great - but not terribly surprising read. There is a reason why even the Sanders campaign admits people will like him "once they get to know him." Sadly after twenty five years in congress he has precious little to show for his time. Elizabeth Warren on the other hand is a far more recognizable and influential figure with a more substantial record of legislation and she has only been in office for three years.
Perhaps the angry finger wagger is a legend in his own mind more than anywhere else.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)livetohike
(22,084 posts)would pay him for his big thoughts. He hasn't done much else despite 25 years in Congress. Hope he does match his record to Hillary's. He hasn't had any huge life changing legislation pass. What a joke.
Her Sister
(6,444 posts)they had to give up b/c it was toooooooooooo expensive. Remember reading this recently
SunSeeker
(51,378 posts)Bernie went AWOL after that, abandoning Vermont single payer after he had previously touted it as the "model for the nation." Such a tax would have been toxic to his political career, so obviously he chose his political career.
Stand and Fight
(7,480 posts)This is odd because it's the very thing I was tweeting at Bernie about on Twitter lately:
At the heart of Bernie Sanders campaign is a promise to bring about sweeping change. But on some of the top issues at the center of Sanders' presidential bid -- health care, taking on the big banks and corporations, fighting for rights, raising attention to income inequality -- the revolution has been slow in the 25 years he's spent in Congress.
If he's been in Congress 25 years and sees that campaign finance reform, wage issues, and healthcare reform are so important, why hasn't he done anything to spearhead fixing these things in that time? I can recall Hillary Clinton fighting for universal healthcare in 1993. Oddly enough, despite Sanders' proclamations about a problem, I don't recall hearing anything much about him of substance regarding legislation at all and definitely nothing during those turbulent months of the early 90s. He's certainly been in Congress long enough to have done something to bring these issues to the forefront and to the media. The question is, why hasn't he?
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Maybe that's why he decided to run for president.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)and then when those in the know looked at the plan it did not add up. I will stick with Hillary's plan to improve ACA and increase the life of SS. Medicare for all will not answer the needs of our health care without a Medigap which will be expensive. Medicare is not free either with premiums for Part B and Part D, this is the part never mentioned.