Senator Bernie Sanders has accused his party of turning their back on the working class.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Vermont senator did not hold back his criticism of party leaders, including President Joe Biden.
“It is no great secret that the Republican party is winning more and more support from working people,” Sanders said. “It’s not because the Republican party has anything to say to them. It’s because in too many ways the Democratic party has turned its back on the working class.”
The paper reports that Sanders said he would like to see Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hold votes on legislation that would impact American families — including “extending the child tax credit, cutting prescription drug prices and raising the federal hourly minimum wage to $15.”
“I think it’s absolutely important that we do a major course correction,” Sanders continued. “It’s important that we have the guts to take on the very powerful corporate interests that have an unbelievably powerful hold on the economy of this country.”
Sanders acknowledged that they may not have the votes to pass these types of bills, but said “people can understand that you sometimes don’t have the votes. But they can’t understand why we haven’t brought up important legislation that 70 or 80% of the American people support.” The Democratic Socialist added that while he believes it is morally right to fight for things like lower drug costs, he thinks it will also help the party politically.
“I think the Democrats are going to have to clear the air and say to the drug companies – and say it loudly – we’re talking about the needs of the working class – and use the expression ‘working class’. The Democrats have to make clear that they’re on the side of the working class and ready to take on the wealthy and powerful. That is not only the right thing to do, but I think it will be the politically right thing to do.”
“They are issues that are enormously popular, and on every one of them, the Republicans are in opposition. But a lot of people don’t know that because the Republicans haven’t been forced to vote on them,” Sanders said.
Sanders ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, losing to Hillary Clinton, then Biden.
