2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Still can't believe this conversation took place. [View all]Samantha
(9,314 posts)I never heard Bernie say that. I did hear Bernie say before his campaign started he was a Democratic Socialist. He defined it as believing in the same principles the Democrats do, but takes his politics a step further to say the Government should work for all of the people, not just corporations and the wealthy. During his Congressional service, he was labeled an Independent because there was not a category for Democratic Socialists. Bernie did caucus with the Democrats. He changed his registration to run because he needed the foundation of a party to buttress his campaign, and he could only do that be registering as a Democrat. He has publicly talked about all of this, so people who imply otherwise either do not listen, or do not pay attention, or are deliberately distorting Sanders' position.
To call him a socialist is not technically correct because Democratic Socialists do not exactly embrace the pure socialist platform. Some of the socialists in Vermont were debating whether or not to support Sanders because they did not necessarily agree with his stance on some of the issues. I do not know what they finally decided.
Sam