| Revision as of 18:33, 1 September 2016 view sourceBD2412bot (talk | contribs)Bots724,684 editsm →Early life: Per consensus in discussion at Talk:New York#Proposed action to resolve incorrect incoming links, replaced: New York City → New York City using AWB← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:23, 2 September 2016 view source Wikiuser634 (talk | contribs)2 edits ←Replaced content with 'Bernie sanders. A guy'Tag: blankingNext edit → | ||
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| Bernie sanders. A guy | |||
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| {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}} | |||
| {{Infobox officeholder | |||
| |name = Bernie Sanders | |||
| |image = Bernie Sanders.jpg{{!}}border | |||
| |alongside = ] | |||
| |jr/sr = United States senator | |||
| |predecessor = ] | |||
| |successor = | |||
| |signature = Bernie Sanders signature.svg | |||
| |district2 = {{ushr|VT|AL|at-large}} | |||
| |predecessor2 = ] | |||
| |state = ] | |||
| |successor2 = ] | |||
| |party = ] {{small|(1979–2015; 2016–present)}}<br/>] {{small|(2015–2016)}}<ref name=return>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/07/26/bernie-sanders-to-return-to-senate-as-an-independent/|title=Bernie Sanders to Return to Senate as an Independent|last=Nicholas|first=Peter|date=July 26, 2016|publisher='']''}}</ref>]<br/>] {{small|(Before 1979)}} | |||
| |office1 = Chair of the ] | |||
| |predecessor1 = ] | |||
| |successor1 = ] | |||
| |state2 = ] | |||
| |birth_name = Bernard Sanders | |||
| |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|9|8}} | |||
| |birth_place = {{nowrap|], ], U.S.}} | |||
| |death_date = | |||
| |death_place = | |||
| |spouse = ] {{small|(1988-present)}} | |||
| |children = 1<br>3 stepchildren | |||
| |alma_mater = ] | |||
| |website = {{url|sanders.senate.gov|Senate website}}<br>{{url|berniesanders.com|Campaign website}} | |||
| |term_start = January 3, 2007 | |||
| |term_end = | |||
| |term_start1 = January 3, 2013 | |||
| |term_end1 = January 3, 2015 | |||
| |term_start2 = January 3, 1991 | |||
| |term_end2 = January 3, 2007 | |||
| |office3 = 37th ] of ] | |||
| |term_start3 = April 6, 1981 | |||
| |term_end3 = April 4, 1989 | |||
| |predecessor3 = Gordon Paquette | |||
| |successor3 = ] | |||
| |relatives = ] {{small|(brother)}} | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Bernie Sanders sidebar}} | |||
| {{Progressivism}} | |||
| {{Social democracy sidebar|all}} | |||
| '''Bernard''' "'''Bernie'''" '''Sanders''' (born September 8, 1941) is an American politician, serving as the junior ] from ] since 2007. Sanders is the longest-serving ] in U.S. congressional history. He has always ]ed with the ], which has entitled him to committee assignments and at times given Democrats a majority. Sanders became the ] on the ] in January 2015; he had previously served for two years as chair of the ]. He publicly identified as a Democrat during ] for the party's 2016 Presidential nomination, but has announced he will return to the Senate as an independent.<ref name=return/> A self-described ], Sanders is ] and emphasizes reversing ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bernie-sanders-democratic-socialism|title=Bernie Sanders explains democratic socialism|author=Alex Seitz-Wald|date=November 19, 2015|work=MSNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/bernie_sanders.htm|title=Bernie Sanders on the Issues|publisher=}}</ref> Many scholars consider his views to be more in line with ] and ]-era ] than ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/03/bernie-sanders-democratic-socialism/471630/|title=Bernie Is Not a Socialist and America Is Not Capitalist|last=Tupy|first=Marian|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-24}}</ref><ref name="Chomsky">{{cite interview |last=Chomsky|first=Noam|subject-link=Noam Chomsky |interviewer=] |title=Noam Chomsky on Clinton vs Sanders|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btJfkPBLULg |call-sign=] English |city=] |date=2016-01-29|program=UpFront|quote=He's basically a New Dealer. Now, in the current American political spectrum, to be a New Dealer is to be way out on the left. ], for example, who said anyone who questions the New Deal doesn't belong in the political system, would be regarded as a raving leftist. So Bernie Sanders is a decent, honest New Dealer. I agree with him on a lot of things, not on other things. I think in our system of mainly bought elections he doesn't have much of a chance, but if he were elected, I think that, of the current candidates, I think he'd be the one who would have, from my point of view, the best policies." |access-date=2016-03-17}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders was born and raised in the ] borough of ] and graduated from the ] in 1964. While a student he was an active ] protest organizer for the ] and the ]. After settling in Vermont in 1968, Sanders ran unsuccessful ] campaigns for ] and U.S. senator in the early to mid-1970s. As an independent, he was elected mayor of ]—Vermont's most populous city—in 1981, where he was reelected three times. In 1990 he was elected to represent ] in the ], where he co-founded the ] in 1991. He served as a congressman for 16 years before being ]. In 2012, he was ] with 71% of the popular vote. Several polls indicate that he is among the senators most popular with their constituents.<ref name="newsweek.com">. ''Newsweek''. November 24, 2015.</ref><ref name="Easley">{{cite web |last=Easley |first=Jason |date=August 2, 2011 |title=Americans Love Socialism: Bernie Sanders Is The 3rd Most Popular US Senator |website=Politics USA |url=http://archives.politicususa.com/2011/08/02/socialism-bernie-sanders.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229152746/http://archives.politicususa.com/2011/08/02/socialism-bernie-sanders.html |archivedate=2014-12-29 |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders rose to national prominence following his 2010 ] against the ], which extended the ] for the wealthiest Americans. By favoring policies based largely on the ] of ] and ]'s ], Sanders has built a reputation as a leading ] voice on issues such as ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Sanders has long been critical of ] and was an early and outspoken opponent of the ], the ], and U.S. support for the ] in ]. He is also outspoken on ] and ], particularly criticizing ] as well as advocating for ] against ] policies such as the ] and the ]. | |||
| Sanders announced ] for the ] on April 30, 2015. He became the first ] to win a Presidential primary contest when he defeated eventual nominee ] in ] on February 9, 2016. Initially considered a long shot, Sanders won 23 ] and approximately 43% of pledged delegates to Clinton's 55%. His campaign was noted for the enthusiasm of its supporters, as well as his rejection of large donations from corporations, the financial industry, and any associated ]. The campaign instead relied on a record-breaking number of small, individual contributions. On July 12, 2016, Sanders formally endorsed Clinton against her ] general election opponent ], while urging his supporters to continue the "political revolution" his campaign had begun. He has started a successor ] organization, ]'','' to recruit and support candidates for local, state, and national office. He has also announced the upcoming creation of The Sanders Institute, which will promote his policy agenda through ] and other media.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/15/bernie-sanders-progressive-message/87073052/ | |||
| |accessdate=July 27, 2016|title=Bernie Sanders will launch organizations to spread progressive message|first=Nicole|last=Guadiano|date=July 15, 2016|work=USA Today|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> | |||
| ==Early life== | |||
| Bernard Sanders was born on September 8, 1941, in ], ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/us/politics/bernie-sanderss-100-brooklyn-roots-show-beyond-his-accent.html|accessdate=February 18, 2016|title=Bernie Sanders’s ‘100% Brooklyn’ Roots Are as Unshakable as His Accent|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|date=July 24, 2015|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Sanders.html|accessdate=February 18, 2016|title=Bernie Sanders|work=Jewish Virtual Library|publisher=American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/bernie-sanders|accessdate=February 18, 2016|title=Bernie Sanders Biography|work=Biography.com|publisher=A&E Television Networks, LLC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s000033|accessdate=February 18, 2016|title=SANDERS, Bernard (1941 - )|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|publisher=Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives' Office of History and Preservation and the Office of the Historian of the United States Senate}}</ref> His father, Elias Sanders, was born on September 14, 1904 in ], ] (then the ] province of ]),<ref name="jtaancestraltown">{{cite news |title=Bernie Sanders' ancestral town in Poland kvells over his Iowa performance |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/02/news-opinion/united-states/bernie-sanders-ancestral-town-in-poland-kvells-over-his-iowa-performance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=jtafb&utm_content=jta&utm_campaign=bernie-sanders-ancestral-town |accessdate=February 3, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 2, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geni.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Eli-Sanders/6000000027756093071 |title=Eli Sanders |publisher=] |accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref> to a ] family; in 1921, Elias immigrated to the United States at age 17.<ref name="jtaancestraltown"/><ref name="immigrationrecord">New York Passenger Lists, 1820–1957 immigration record: Eliasz Gitman, sailing from Antwerp, mother Jetti Gutman, citizenship in 1927 as Elias Sanders</ref><ref name=Chana>{{cite news |last1=Chana |first1=Jas |title=Straight Outta Brooklyn, by Way of Vermont: The Bernie Sanders Story |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/192931/bernie-sanders-story |accessdate=January 20, 2016 |work=] |date=August 20, 2015|quote=Soltys told them that at the time the Nazis invaded Poland, Romek was the leader of Slopnice's Jewish community. "Which of course," Larry said, "meant he was one of the first to be killed."}}</ref> His mother, Dorothy Sanders ({{née|Glassberg}}), was born in New York City on October 2, 1912,<ref name=gaudiano>{{cite web|last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole |date=April 28, 2015 |title=OnPolitics: 6 things to know about Bernie Sanders |work=USA Today |url=http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/04/28/6-things-to-know-about-bernie-sanders/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727170730/http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/04/28/6-things-to-know-about-bernie-sanders/ |archivedate=July 27, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=NYTSocSen>{{cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Leibovich |date=January 21, 2007 |title=The Socialist Senator |work=] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> to ] immigrant parents from ] and ].<ref name="Geni.com4">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Bessie-Glassberg/6000000003916154223 |title=Bessie Glassberg (Goldberg) |publisher=] |accessdate=January 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geni.com3">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Benjamin/6000000027757230396 |title=Benjamin Glassberg |publisher=] |accessdate=January 27, 2016 |quote=Birthplace: ], ], ], Poland}}</ref> Many of Elias's relatives back in Poland were killed in ].<ref name=NYTSocSen/><ref name=kelly2015/><ref name=stone_p483>{{cite book |last=Stone |first=Kurt |date=2010 |title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page=483}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders became interested in politics at an early age: "A guy named ] won an election in 1932. He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in ], including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important."<ref name="Sathish2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/107170-bernie-sanders-quote-about-hitler-winning-an-election-is-powerful-its-also-misleading |title=Bernie Sanders’ Quote About Hitler Winning An Election Is Powerful. It’s Also Misleading |work=Bustle |date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=http://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/20160121053327/www.bustle.com/articles/107170-bernie-sanders-quote-about-hitler-winning-an-election-is-powerful-its-also-misleading |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |dead-url=no |first=Madhuri |last=Sathish}}</ref><ref name=feldman2015>{{cite web |last=Feldmann |first=Linda |date=June 11, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: 'I’m Proud to be Jewish' |work=] |quote='I'm proud to be Jewish,' the Independent from Vermont – and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination – responded Thursday at a press breakfast hosted by the Monitor. Though, he added, 'I'm not particularly religious.' As a child, Sanders said, being Jewish taught him 'in a very deep way what politics is about. A guy named Adolf Hitler won an election in 1932,' the senator said. 'He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in World War II, including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important.' |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2015/0611/Bernie-Sanders-I-m-proud-to-be-Jewish |accessdate=June 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/11/02/454051697/sanders-could-be-the-first-jewish-president-but-doesnt-like-to-talk-about-it |title=Sanders Could Be The First Jewish President, But He Doesn't Like To Talk About It |date=November 2, 2015 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|According to the '']'', "Sanders’s history is wrong" with regard to 1932, but both the ''Post'' and Sanders himself refer readers to a defense of Sanders's history at ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Why you shouldn’t retweet Sanders’s claim that Hitler 'won an election' |work=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/08/28/why-you-shouldnt-retweet-sanders-claim-that-hitler-won-an-election/ |accessdate=March 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Matthews |first=Dylan |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Sanders Gets History Right on Hitler's Rise to Power |publisher=] via Sen. Bernie Sanders's Official Website |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-gets-history-right-on-hitlers-rise-to-power |accessdate=March 26, 2016}}</ref>}} | |||
| Sanders lived on East 26th Street in ].<ref>Horowitz, Jason. , '']'', July 24, 2015. Accessed February 21, 2016.</ref> He attended elementary school at ] in Brooklyn, where he won a borough championship on the basketball team.<ref name=untold>{{cite web |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=January 29, 2016 |title=The untold story of Bernie Sanders, high school track star |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/29/the-untold-story-of-bernie-sanders-high-school-track-star/ |accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Felsenthal |first=Carol |date=May 4, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Found Socialism at the University of Chicago |work=Chicago magazine |quote=He graduated from Brooklyn's P.S. 197 and James Madison High School where he was captain of his high school track team. |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/May-2015/Bernie-Sanders-University-of-Chicago/ |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> He attended ] in the afternoons, and celebrated his ] in 1954.<ref name="stonethejewsof483">{{cite book|last1=Stone|first1=Kurt F.|title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members|date=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=9780810857315|oclc=755001191|page=483|url=https://books.google.com/?id=ACTF56SnaykC&pg=PA483&lpg=PA483&dq=%22bernie+sanders%22+%22Bar+mitzvah%22+1954#v=onepage&q=%22bernie%20sanders%22%20%22Bar%20mitzvah%22%201954&f=false}}</ref> Bernie's older brother, ], said that during Bernie's childhood, the family never lacked for food or clothing, but major purchases, "like curtains or a rug," were difficult to afford.<ref name="Smith">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Nicola |title=Bernie ropes in British brother for showdown with Clinton |url=http://search.proquest.com/news/docview/1757568267/fulltext/9A72304BC0D7442APQ/3?accountid=10226 |accessdate=January 22, 2016 |publisher=Sunday Times (London) |date=January 17, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders attended ], also in Brooklyn, where he was captain of the ] and took third place in the New York City indoor one-mile race.<ref name=untold/> In high school, Sanders lost his first election, finishing last out of three candidates for the student body presidency. Not long after his high school graduation, his mother died at the age of 46;<ref name="NYTSocSen"/><ref name=stone_p483/> his father died a few years later on August 4, 1962, at the age of 57.<ref name="Geni.com"/> | |||
| {{anchor|Civil Rights Movement}}Sanders studied at ] for a year in 1959–60<ref name=cnnfastfacts1>{{cite news |title=Bernie Sanders Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/bernie-sanders-fast-facts/index.html |accessdate=October 13, 2015 |publisher=CNN |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> before transferring to the ] and graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in ] in 1964.<ref name=cnnfastfacts1/> He has described himself as a mediocre college student because the classroom was "boring and irrelevant," while the community provided his most significant learning.<ref name="The Populist Prophet">Talbot, Margaret. , '']'' (October 12, 2015).</ref> | |||
| ==Early career== | |||
| {{Main article|Electoral history of Bernie Sanders}} | |||
| ===Early political activism=== | |||
| ] | |||
| While at the University of Chicago, Sanders joined the ] (the youth affiliate of the ]),<ref name=Politico>{{cite news |last=Kruse |first=Michael |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Has a Secret: Vermont, his son and the hungry early years that made him the surging socialist he is today |newspaper=] |quote=After he graduated from James Madison High School in 1959, he went to Brooklyn College for a year before transferring to the University of Chicago, where he joined the Congress of Racial Equality, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Student Peace Union, and the Young People's Socialist League. |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-vermont-119927_full.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> and was active in the ] as a student organizer for the ] (CORE) and the ].<ref name=kelly2015>{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Amita |date=April 29, 2015 |title=5 Things You Should Know About Bernie Sanders |publisher=] |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/29/399818581/5-things-you-should-know-about-bernie-sanders |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Nichols">{{cite web |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=July 6, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Speaks |website=The Nation |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-speaks/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> Under Sanders's chairmanship, the university chapter of CORE merged with the university chapter of SNCC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2016/02/bernie-sanders-core-university-chicago|title=Here’s What Bernie Sanders Actually Did in the Civil Rights Movement |work=Mother Jones |date=February 11, 2016 |accessdate= February 11, 2016|author=Tim Murphy}}</ref> In January 1962, Sanders led a rally at the University of Chicago administration building to protest university president ]'s ]. "We feel it is an intolerable situation when Negro and white students of the university cannot live together in university-owned apartments," Sanders said at the protest. Sanders and 32 other students then entered the building and camped outside the president's office, performing the ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Frizell |first=Sam |date=May 26, 2015 |title=The Radical Education of Bernie Sanders |work=Time |url=http://time.com/3896500/bernie-sanders-vermont-campaign-radical/ |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Perlstein |first=Rick |date=January 2015 |title=A political education |publisher=The University of Chicago Magazine |url=http://mag.uchicago.edu/law-policy-society/political-education |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref> After weeks of sit-ins, Beadle and the university formed a commission to investigate discrimination.<ref name="Craven2015">{{cite news |last=Craven |first=Jasper |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Can Sanders’ civil rights experience at U. of C. translate on campaign trail? |work=] |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-met-20150826-story.html |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108182818id_/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-met-20150826-story.html |dead-url=no |issn=1085-6706}}</ref> Sanders once spent a day putting up fliers protesting against ], only to eventually notice that a ] car was shadowing him and taking them all down.<ref name=Frizell/> | |||
| Sanders attended the 1963 ], where ] gave his "]" speech.<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name =Frizell>Frizell, Sam. , '']'' (May 26, 2015).</ref><ref name=release>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |title=News August 25 |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/082513 |accessdate=June 17, 2015}}</ref> That summer, he was convicted of resisting arrest during a demonstration against ] in Chicago's public schools and was fined $25.<ref name="Skiba">{{cite news |last=Skiba|first=Katherine |date= |title=Arrest photo of young activist Bernie Sanders emerges from Tribune archives |publisher= ''Chicago Tribune'' |url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-bernie-sanders-1963-chicago-arrest-20160219-story.html|accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Read 21-Year-Old Bernie Sanders' Manifesto on Sexual Freedom |work=] |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-free-love |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| In addition to his civil rights activism during the 1960s and 1970s,<ref name="Mother Jones activism history">{{cite web |url=http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2016/02/bernie-sanders-core-university-chicago |title=Here's What Bernie Sanders Actually Did in the Civil Rights Movement |work=Mother Jones |date=February 11, 2016 |accessdate=March 31, 2016 |author=Murphy, Tim}}</ref> Sanders was active in several ]. He was a member of the ] and the ] while attending the University of Chicago. Sanders applied for ] status during the ]; his application was eventually turned down, by which point he was too old to be ]. Although he opposed the war, Sanders never criticized those who fought and has been a strong supporter of ].<ref name="Washington Post Veterans">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-on-frontline-for-veterans/2013/04/14/d97c9830-9e04-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_story.html |title=Bernie Sanders on frontline for veterans |work=The Washington Post |date=April 14, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2015 |author=Vogel, Steve}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite web |last=Parks |first=Mary Alice |date=August 31, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Applied for 'Conscientious Objector' Status During Vietnam, Campaign Confirms |publisher=ABC News |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-applied-conscientious-objector-status-vietnam-campaign/story?id=33434041 |accessdate=September 30, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ===Professional history=== | |||
| After graduating from college, Sanders returned to New York City, where he initially worked at a variety of jobs, including Head Start teacher, ] aide, and carpenter.<ref name="The Populist Prophet"/> In 1968, Sanders moved to Vermont because he had been "captivated by rural life." After his arrival there he worked as a carpenter,<ref name=Politico/> filmmaker, and writer<ref> The Washington Post, April 30, 2015</ref> who created and sold "radical film strips" and other educational materials to schools.<ref> MSNBC, May 28, 2015</ref> He also wrote several articles for the alternative publication ''The Vermont Freeman''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sanders|first=Bernard|date=29 March 1969|title=Cuba: the Other Side of the Story|url=https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2725548/Sanders-Freeman-Writings.pdf|journal=Vermont Freeman|doi=|pmid=|access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> | |||
| ===Liberty Union campaigns=== | |||
| Sanders began his electoral political career in 1971 as a member of the ], which originated in the ] movement and the ]. He ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont in 1972 and 1976 and as a candidate for U.S. senator in 1972 and 1974.<ref> RollCall.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> In the 1974 senatorial race, Sanders finished third (5,901 votes; 4.1%), behind 33-year-old ] State's Attorney ] (], VI; 70,629 votes; 49.4%) and two-term incumbent U.S. Representative ] (]; 66,223 votes; 46.3%).<ref>, ''sec.state.vt.us''; further: pdf for "1974GEUSSen.xls". Citation for votes (total for Leahy and percentages calculated from spreadsheet). Retrieved May 2, 2015.</ref><ref>Nelson, Garrison, , vtdigger.org, September 14, 2014. Citation for other candidate's full names and brief bios. Retrieved May 2, 2015.</ref> | |||
| The 1976 campaign proved to be the zenith of Liberty Union's influence, with Sanders collecting 11,000 votes for governor and the party. This forced the races for lieutenant governor and secretary of state to be decided by the state legislature when its vote total prevented either the ] or ] candidates for those offices from garnering a majority of votes.<ref>Greg Guma, ''The People's Republic: Vermont and the Sanders Revolution.'' Shelburne, VT: New England Press, 1989; pp. 18–19.</ref> The campaign drained the finances and energy of the Liberty Union, however, and in October 1977—less than a year after the conclusion of the 1976 campaign—Sanders and the Liberty Union candidate for attorney general, Nancy Kaufman, announced their retirement from the party.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 19.</ref> | |||
| Following his resignation from Liberty Union, Sanders worked as a writer and the director of the nonprofit American People's Historical Society (APHS).<ref>. ''Politico''. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> While with the APHS, he made a 30-minute documentary about American Socialist leader and presidential candidate ].<ref name=Politico/><ref>Bernard Sanders (1979). on YouTube. Retrieved July 13, 2015.</ref> | |||
| ===Mayor of Burlington=== | |||
| ] | |||
| In 1980, at the suggestion of his close friend and political confidante ], a professor of religion at the ], Sanders ran for mayor of ] (pop. 38,000). The 39-year-old Sanders ran against incumbent Democratic mayor Gordon "Gordie" Paquette, a five-term mayor who had served as a member of the Burlington City Council for 13 years before that, building extensive community ties and a willingness to cooperate with Republican leaders in controlling appointments to various commissions.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pp. 31, 36.</ref> Republicans had found Paquette so unobjectionable that they failed to field a candidate in the March 1981 race against him, leaving Sanders as his principal opponent.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 33.</ref> | |||
| Sanders' effort was further aided by the decision of the candidate of the ], Greg Guma, to exit the race so as not to split the progressive vote.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 38.</ref> Two other candidates in the race, independents Richard Bove and Joe McGrath, proved to be essentially non-factors in the campaign, with the battle coming down to Paquette and Sanders.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 40.</ref> | |||
| Sanders castigated the pro-development incumbent as an ally of prominent shopping center developer Antonio Pomerleau, while Paquette warned of ruin for Burlington if Sanders was elected.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pp. 40–41.</ref> The Sanders campaign was bolstered by a wave of optimistic volunteers as well as by a series of endorsements from university professors, social welfare agencies, and the police union.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 41.</ref> The final result came as a shock to the local political establishment, with the maverick Sanders winning by just 10 votes.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 42.</ref> | |||
| Sanders was reelected three times, defeating both Democratic and Republican candidates. He received 53% of the vote in 1983 and 55% in 1985.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Hillinger |title=Two Politicians Who Broke Mold in Vermont |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-04-28/news/vw-21595_1_vermonters |work=] |date=April 28, 1985 |accessdate=November 2, 2015}}</ref> In his final run for mayor in 1987, Sanders defeated Paul Lafayette, a Democrat endorsed by both major parties.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 4, 1987 |title=Re-election easy for Socialist mayor |newspaper=] |location=Burlington, Vermont |page=A6 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PAwTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=efoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4864,620344&dq=paul+lafayette+burlington&hl=en}}</ref> | |||
| During his mayoralty, Sanders called himself a ] and was so described in the press.<ref name="Banks">{{cite news |last=Banks |first=Russell |authorlink=Russell Banks |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders, the Socialist Mayor |work=] |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-mayor/407413/ |accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="SelfStyledSocialist">{{cite news |date=April 7, 1981 |title=Self-Styled Socialist Takes Oath as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont |agency=Associated Press |work=]}}</ref> During his first term, his supporters, including the first ] City Councilor ], formed the Progressive Coalition, the forerunner of the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Senator Bernie Sanders |work=Vermont Progressive Party |url=http://www.progressiveparty.org/senator-bernie-sanders |accessdate=June 8, 2015}}</ref> The Progressives never held more than six seats on the 13-member city council, but they had enough to keep the council from overriding Sanders's vetoes. Under Sanders, Burlington became the first city in the country to fund ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dreier |first1=Peter |last2=Clavel |first2=Pierre |title=Bernie's Burlington: What Kind of Mayor Was Bernie Sanders? |work=] |date=June 4, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernies-burlington-what-k_b_7510704.html |accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| During the 1980s, Sanders was a staunch ] in ].<ref>Zaid Jilani (May 18, 2015). . ''AlterNet''. Retrieved August 29, 2015.</ref> In 1985, Burlington City Hall hosted a foreign policy speech by ]. In his introduction, Sanders praised Chomsky as "a very vocal and important voice in the wilderness of intellectual life in America" and said he was "delighted to welcome a person who I think we're all very proud of."<ref>Bethania Palma Markus (August 11, 2015). . ''].'' Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chomsky Speech at Burlington City Hall – 1985 |publisher=] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvZRsdHgxgA |accessdate=August 21, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders' administration balanced the city budget and drew a ] team, the ], then the Double-A affiliate of the ], to Burlington.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> Under his leadership, Burlington sued the local television cable franchise, winning reduced rates for customers.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> | |||
| As mayor, Sanders led extensive ] projects. One of his signature achievements was the improvement of Burlington's ] waterfront.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> In 1981, Sanders campaigned against the unpopular plans by Burlington developer Tony Pomerleau to convert the then-industrial<ref name="Gram2015b">{{cite news |url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politics-government/article22907835.html |title=Bernie Sanders kicks off 2016 bid from Clinton’s left |work=The Bellingham Herald |date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=http://webcitation.org/query?date=2015-12-09&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bellinghamherald.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-government%2Farticle22907835.html |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |dead-url=no |last1=Gram |first1=Dave |last2=Thomas |first2=Ken |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> waterfront property owned by the ] into expensive condominiums, hotels, and offices.<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=David |date=1997 |title=Democracy Unbound: Progressive Challenges to the Two Party System |publisher=South End Press |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fx1XBsYc8BwC |isbn=9780896085633}}</ref> Sanders ran under the slogan "Burlington is not for sale" and successfully supported a plan that redeveloped the waterfront area into a ] district featuring housing, parks, and public space.<ref name="Reynolds"/> Today, the waterfront area includes many parks and miles of public beach and bike paths, a boathouse, and a science center.<ref name="Reynolds"/> | |||
| Sanders hosted and produced a ] program, ''Bernie Speaks with the Community'', from 1986 to 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/series/bernie-speaks-community|title=Bernie Speaks with the Community|publisher=Center for Media and Democracy|accessdate=February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Tim|url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/11/bernie-sanders-cable-access-show-clips|title=I Can't Stop Watching These Old Clips of Bernie Sanders' Cable-Access Show|publisher='']''|date=November 10, 2015|accessdate=February 10, 2016}}</ref> He collaborated with 30 Vermont musicians to record a folk album, '']'', in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Mark|url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2014/09/17/bernie-sanders-recorded-a-folk-album-no-punchline-required|title=Bernie Sanders Recorded a Folk Album. No Punchline Required|publisher='']''|date=September 17, 2014|accessdate=February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kaczynski|first=Andrew|url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/watch-this-1980s-bernie-sanders-public-access-show-on-record#.hmERWgXypW|title=Watch This 1980s Bernie Sanders Public Access Show On Recording His Folk Album|publisher=]|date=June 25, 2015|accessdate=February 10, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| In 1986, Sanders unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Governor ] (D) in her run for reelection. Running as an Independent, Sanders finished in 3rd place with 14.4% of the vote. Kunin won with 47%, followed by Lt. Governor ] (R) with 38%. | |||
| In 1987, '']'' ranked Sanders as one of America's best mayors.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwwn9zHT-8 |title=Real Change |date=November 1, 2015 |via=YouTube}}</ref> {{As of|2013}}, Burlington was regarded as one of the most livable cities in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Great Places to Live, 2013 |publisher=kiplinger.com |url=http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/real-estate/T006-S003-10-great-places-to-live-2013/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=August 20, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: The 'Uncola' of American politics |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/20/bernie-sanders-is-the-uncola-of-american-politics/}}</ref> | |||
| After serving four two-year terms, Sanders chose not to seek reelection in 1989. He lectured in political science at ]'s ] that year and at ] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |title=WSJ Sanders Profile |work=] |url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/bernie-sanders--VT-S |accessdate=January 18, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ==U.S. House of Representatives== | |||
| {{See also|Electoral history of Bernie Sanders}} | |||
| Sanders' 1990 victory was heralded by '']'' and others as the "First Socialist Elected" to the ] in decades.<ref name=Daly>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Christopher B. |date=November 11, 1990 |title=For Vermont's Sanders, Victory Followed Long Path; First Socialist Elected to House in Decades Gets Attention With Frank Talk of Class Conflict |work=] |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1158059.html |subscription=yes |accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Pertman/> Sanders served in the House from 1991 until he became a senator in 2007. | |||
| ===Elections=== | |||
| In 1988, incumbent Republican Congressman ] decided to run for the U.S. Senate, vacating the House seat representing ]. Former ] ] (R) won the House election with a plurality, securing 41% of the vote. Sanders, who ran as an independent, placed second with 38% of the vote, while Democratic State Representative Paul N. Poirier placed third with 19% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=VT At-Large Race, November 8, 1988 |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37984 |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}</ref> Two years later, Sanders ran for the seat again and defeated the incumbent Smith by a margin of 56% to 39%.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/308177/Rep10.pdf| title=Vermont State archives - General Election Results| accessdate=March 31, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders was the first independent elected to the ] since ]' election to represent ] 40 years earlier.<ref name=Pertman>{{cite news |last=Pertman |first=Adam |date=November 11, 1990 |title='The Times Caught Up' To Vermont Socialist |work=] |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61683884.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11%2C+1990&author=Adam+Pertman%2C+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=%27THE+TIMES+CAUGHT+UP%27+TO+VERMONT+SOCIALIST&pqatl=google}}</ref> He served as a representative for 16 years, winning reelection by large margins except during the 1994 ], when he won by 3.3%, with 49.8% of the vote.<ref name="Carle1995">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#45 |title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994 |date=May 12, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114171645/clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#45 |archive-date=November 14, 2015 |dead-url=no |editor-last=Carle |editor-first=Robin H.}}</ref> | |||
| ===Tenure=== | |||
| ] | |||
| During his first year in the House, Sanders often alienated allies and colleagues with his criticism of both political parties as ]. In 1991, Sanders co-founded the ], a group of mostly ] Democrats that Sanders chaired for its first eight years.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> | |||
| In 1993, Sanders voted against the ], which mandated federal background checks and imposed a waiting period on firearm purchasers in the United States; the bill passed by a vote of 238–187.<ref name="Tampa Bay Times ">{{cite web |last=Qiu |first=Linda |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Did Bernie Sanders vote against background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases? |work=Tampa Bay Times |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jul/10/generation-forward-pac/did-bernie-sanders-vote-against-background-checks-/ |accessdate=August 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 614 |website=US House of Representatives |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1993/roll614.xml |accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> | |||
| In 1994, Sanders voted in favor of the ]. Sanders said he voted for the bill "because it included the ] and the ban on certain assault weapons". He was nevertheless extremely critical of the other parts of the bill.<ref>Jonathan Capehart, "", '']'' (February 25, 2016).</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Where do Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders stand on the death penalty?|publisher=Politifact|url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/sep/02/viral-image/where-do-hillary-clinton-and-bernie-sanders-stand-/|accessdate=February 26, 2016}}</ref> Though he acknowledged that "clearly, there are some people in our society who are horribly violent, who are deeply sick and sociopathic, and clearly these people must be put behind bars in order to protect society from them", he maintained in his intervention before the House that the government's ill-thought policies played a large part in "dooming tens of millions of young people to a future of bitterness, misery, hopelessness, drugs, crime, and violence". In this same intervention, he argued that the repressive policies introduced by the bill were not addressing the causes of violence, stating that "we can create meaningful jobs, rebuilding our society, or we can build more jails".<ref>.</ref> | |||
| In 2005, he voted for the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 534 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll534.xml |accessdate=July 18, 2007}}</ref> The act's purpose was to prevent firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products. In 2015, Sanders defended his vote, saying: "If somebody has a gun and it falls into the hands of a murderer and the murderer kills somebody with a gun, do you hold the gun manufacturer responsible? Not any more than you would hold a hammer company responsible if somebody beats somebody over the head with a hammer."<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=July 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders wants to 'bring us to the middle' on guns |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/05/politics/bernie-sanders-gun-control/ |accessdate=July 6, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders voted against the ] authorizing the use of force against Iraq in 1991 and 2002, and opposed the ]. He voted for the 2001 ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 342 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll342.xml |accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> that has been cited as the legal justification for controversial military actions since the ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnsen |first=Gregory D. |date=January 16, 2014 |title=60 Words And A War Without End: The Untold Story Of The Most Dangerous Sentence In U.S. History |publisher=Buzzfeed |url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/gregorydjohnsen/60-words-and-a-war-without-end-the-untold-story-of-the-most |accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> Sanders voted for a ] expressing support for troops at the outset of the invasion of Iraq, but gave a floor speech criticizing the partisan nature of the vote and the ] administration's actions in the run-up to the war. Regarding the investigation of what turned out to be a leak of CIA agent ]'s identity by a State Department official, Sanders stated: "The revelation that the President authorized the release of classified information in order to discredit an Iraq war critic should tell every member of Congress that the time is now for a serious investigation of how we got into the war in Iraq and why Congress can no longer act as a rubber stamp for the President."<ref name="Yost2006">{{cite news |last=Yost |first=Pete |date=April 7, 2006 |title=Libby: Bush, Cheney OK’d leak campaign |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_3683110 |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209220920/www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_3683110 |work=Bennington Banner |dead-url=no}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders was a consistent critic of the ].<ref name="blogs.wsj.com">{{cite web |last=Tau |first=Byron |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders Revel in NSA Ruling |website=] |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/05/07/rand-paul-bernie-sanders-revel-in-nsa-ruling/ |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> As a member of Congress, he voted against the original Patriot Act legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 398 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll398.xml |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref> After its 357-to-66 passage in the House, Sanders sponsored and voted for several subsequent amendments and acts attempting to curtail its effects,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=David L., Jr. |date=May 25, 2004 |title=Patriot Act |work=Libraries and First Amendment |publisher=First Amendment Center |url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/patriot-act |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref> and voted against each re-authorization.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: It's Time To End Orwellian Surveillance of Every American |work=Time |url=http://time.com/3850839/bernie-sanders-usa-patriot-act/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> In June 2005, Sanders proposed an amendment to limit Patriot Act provisions that allow the government to obtain individuals' library and book-buying records. The amendment passed the House by a bipartisan majority, but was removed on November 4 of that year in House-Senate negotiations and never became law.<ref>{{cite journal |date=November 4, 2005 |title=Sanders' Freedom to Read Language Dropped from Spending Bill |journal=] Washington Office Newsline |volume=14 |number=107 |url=http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washnews/2005ab/107nov04.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604000337/http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washnews/2005ab/107nov04.htm |archivedate=June 4, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| ], 2004]]In March 2006, after a series of resolutions passed in various Vermont towns calling for him to bring ] against George W. Bush, Sanders stated that it would be "impractical to talk about ]" with Republicans in control of the House and Senate.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=March 8, 2006 |title=Vermont Town Votes to Impeach President |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/08/nation/na-impeach8 |accessdate=July 19, 2015 |quote=Sanders said in a statement that although the Bush administration 'has been a disaster for our country, and a number of actions that he has taken may very well not have been legal,' given the reality that the Republicans control the House and the Senate, 'it would be impractical to talk about impeachment.'}}</ref> Still, Sanders made no secret of his opposition to the ], which he regularly criticized for its cuts to social programs.<ref>{{cite web |author=Office of Bernie Sanders |date=May 20, 2004 |title=Sanders Blasts Bush's Housing Secretary on Housing Cuts in Vermont |publisher=US House of Representatives |url=http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040520150051.asp |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926074517/http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040520150051.asp |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |title=Have They No Shame? |publisher=TPMCafe.com |date=June 24, 2005 |url=http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/24/155932/073 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114164102/http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/24/155932/073 |archivedate=November 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 20, 2006 |title=(VIDEO) Bernie Speaks Out Against The President's Attempt to Eliminate Critical Program Providing Food to Low-Income Seniors |publisher=Internet Archive: Wayback Machine |url=http://bernie.house.gov/multimedia/video.asp?video='4791' |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926083930/http://bernie.house.gov/multimedia/video.asp?video='4791' |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders was a vocal critic of ] ]; in June 2003, during a question-and-answer discussion with the then-], Sanders told Greenspan that he was concerned that Greenspan was "way out of touch" and "that you see your major function in your position as the need to represent the wealthy and large corporations".<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Congressman Sanders on 7/16/2003 regarding: Congressman Sanders' Questioning of Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan |via=Web.archive.org |url=http://bernie.house.gov/statements/20030716135257.asp |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926023514/http://bernie.house.gov/statements/20030716135257.asp |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>. C-SPAN video on YouTube. Retrieved June 20, 2015.</ref> In October 2008, after Sanders had been elected to the Senate, ] admitted to Congress that his economic ideology regarding risky mortgage loans was flawed.<ref>Edmund Andrews for the New York Times. October 23, 2008 </ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96070766 |title=Greenspan Admits Free Market Ideology Flawed |publisher=NPR |date=October 24, 2008 |accessdate=January 18, 2016 |author=Naylor, Brian}}</ref> In 1998, Sanders voted and advocated against rolling back the ] provisions that kept ] and commercial banks separate entities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_10535992 |title=Who should pay? |work=Brattleboro Reformer |date=September 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529131100/www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_10535992 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |dead-url=no}}</ref> | |||
| On November 2, 2005, Sanders voted against the Online Freedom of Speech Act, which would have exempted the Internet from the ] restrictions of the ].<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2, 2005 |title=H.R.1606 – Online Freedom of Speech Act: Final Vote Results For Roll Call 559 |publisher=Congress.gov |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll559.xml}}</ref> | |||
| ==U.S. Senate== | |||
| ===Elections=== | |||
| {{Main article|United States Senate election in Vermont, 2006|United States Senate election in Vermont, 2012}} | |||
| ] by then Vice President ] in the ], January 2007]] | |||
| Sanders entered the race for the U.S. Senate on April 21, 2005, after Senator Jim Jeffords announced that he would not seek a fourth term. ], chairman of the ], endorsed Sanders, a critical move as it meant that no Democrat running against Sanders could expect to receive financial help from the party. Sanders was also endorsed by ] ] of ] and ] chairman and former Vermont governor ]. Dean said in May 2005 that he considered Sanders an ally who "votes with the Democrats 98% of the time".<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2005 |title=Meet the Press: Transcript |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7924139 |accessdate=August 1, 2011}}</ref> Then-Senator ] also campaigned for Sanders in Vermont in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krieg |first=Gregory |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Watch Young Senator Barack Obama Campaign for Bernie Sanders in 2006 |publisher=mic.com |quote=Back in March 2006, the future president traveled to Vermont to headline a rally and fundraiser for then-Rep. Bernie Sanders, an independent running for Senate, and Pete Welch, a Democrat seeking election to Sanders' House seat. |url=http://mic.com/articles/122011/watch-young-senator-barack-obama-campaign-for-bernie-sanders-in-2006 |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref> Sanders entered into an agreement with the Democratic Party, much as he had as a congressman, to be listed in their primary but to decline the nomination should he win, which he did.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Jessica |date=June 24, 2015 |title=This Quirky New Hampshire Law Might Keep Bernie Sanders Off The Ballot |publisher=NPR |quote=He did appear on the Democratic primary ballot in Vermont for the Senate in both 2006 and 2012, winning their primary, but he declined the nomination both times so he could run as an independent. |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/24/416929786/this-quirky-new-hampshire-law-might-keep-sanders-off-the-ballot |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=May 26, 2015 |title='Don't Underestimate Me': Bernie Sanders Knows a Thing or Two About Winning |work=The Nation |quote=When Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, a Republican who turned independent in his last term, announced that he was stepping down in 2006, Sanders jumped into a race that a number of Democrats would have liked to run. He won the Democratic primary and then declined the nomination, mounting an audacious independent run that was not supposed to be easy. |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/why-bernie-sanders-says-dont-underestimate-me/ |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| In the most expensive political campaign in Vermont's history,<ref name="BGlobe-110706">{{cite news |last=Ring |first=Wilson |date=November 7, 2006 |title=Sanders, Welch are winners in Vermont |work=] |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/VT/2006-11-08-us-congress_x.htm |accessdate=January 25, 2007}}</ref> Sanders defeated businessman ] by an approximately 2-to-1 margin. Many national media outlets projected Sanders as the winner just after the polls closed, before any returns came in. He was reelected in 2012 with 71% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vermont Election Results |work=Decision 2012 |publisher=NBC News |url=http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2012/vermont/ |accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders was only the third senator from Vermont to caucus with the Democrats, after Jeffords and Leahy. His caucusing with the Democrats gave them a 51–49 majority in the Senate during the ] in 2007–08. The Democrats needed 51 seats to control the Senate because ] ] would have broken any ] in favor of the Republicans.<ref name=Jones>Jones, Van and Conrad, Ariane. '''', p. 27 (Nation Books 2012).</ref> When he officially announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for president, Sanders set himself on a path to become only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate, the other being Leahy.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} | |||
| ===Tenure=== | |||
| Polling conducted in August 2011 by ] found that Sanders's approval rating was 67% and his disapproval rating 28%, making him then the third-most popular senator in the country.<ref name="Easley"/> Both the ] and the ] have given Sanders 100% voting scores during his tenure in the Senate.<ref name="Ackerman2015">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/sanders-race-primary-president-civil-rights/ |title=Give the People What They Want: Bernie Sanders’ signature issues aren’t ‘white’ issues |work=] |date=June 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721162037/www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/sanders-race-primary-president-civil-rights/ |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |dead-url=no |last=Ackerman |first=Seth |issn=2158-2602}}</ref> In 2015 Sanders was named one of the Top 5 of '']'' 50.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2015 |url=http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/ |title=Forward 50 2015 |publisher=Forward.com |accessdate=November 11, 2015}}</ref> In a November 2015 Morning Consult poll, Sanders had an approval rating of 83% among his constituents, making him the most popular senator in the country.<ref name="newsweek.com"/> | |||
| As an independent, Sanders worked out a deal with the Senate Democratic leadership in which he agreed to vote with the Democrats on all procedural matters, except with permission from Democratic whip ] (a request that is rarely made or granted). In return, he was allowed to keep his seniority and received the committee seats that would have been available to him as a Democrat; in 2013–14, he was chairman of the ] (during the ]).<ref name=vet>, ] (October 15, 2015).</ref><ref name=hillcommittee>{{cite web |last=Needham |first=Vicki |date=December 12, 2014 |title=Senate Democrats lock in key committee memberships |work=] |url=http://thehill.com/policy/finance/227000-senate-democrats-set-key-committee-memberships |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> Sanders was free to vote as he pleased on policy matters, but almost always voted with the Democrats.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} | |||
| ====Budget==== | |||
| ].]] | |||
| On September 24, 2008, Sanders posted an open letter to Treasury Secretary ] decrying the initial ] proposal; it drew more than 8,000 citizen cosigners in 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 24, 2008 |title=(Video) Bailout Petition Statement |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303544 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014003612/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303544 |archivedate=October 14, 2008}}</ref> On January 26, 2009, Sanders and Democrats ], ], and ] were the sole majority members to vote against confirming ] as ].<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records: Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00015 |accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| {{anchor|2010 filibuster|2010 Filibuster|filibuster}} On December 10, 2010, Sanders delivered an {{frac|8|1|2}}-hour speech against the ], the proposed extension of the ] that eventually became law, saying "Enough is enough!{{nbsp}}... How many homes can you own?"<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite news |date=December 10, 2010 |last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |title=Sen. Bernie Sanders ends filibuster |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://articles.latimes.com/print/2010/dec/10/news/la-pn-sanders-filibuster-20101211 |accessdate=August 1, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=October 25, 2011 |title=Bernie Sanders' war on the banks |website=Salon |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/10/25/bernie_sanders_war_on_the_banks/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}} A long speech such as this is commonly known as a ], but because it did not block action, it was not technically a filibuster under Senate rules.</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 10, 2010 |title=Senator Sanders Filibuster |publisher=] |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?297021-5/senator-sanders-filibuster |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref> In response to the speech, hundreds of people signed online petitions urging Sanders to run in the 2012 presidential election, and pollsters began measuring his support in key ] states.<ref name="Prez" /> ] activists such as Rabbi ] and economist ] publicly voiced their support for a prospective Sanders run against President ].<ref name="Prez">{{cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=December 29, 2010 |title=That 'Sanders for President' Talk is Real Enough, But Bernie's Not Going There |work=] |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/157346/sanders-president-talk-real-enough-bernies-not-going-there}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders's speech was published in February 2011 by ] as ''The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class'', with authorial proceeds going to Vermont ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/03/15/sanders-85-hour-tax-cut-filibuster-gets-a-book|title=Sanders's 8.5 Hour Tax Cut Filibuster Gets a Book|first=Paul|last=Bedard|publisher=US News|date=March 15, 2011|accessdate=2016-05-15}}</ref> | |||
| ====Senate Budget Committee==== | |||
| In January 2015, Sanders became the ] of the ].<ref name=hillcommittee /> He appointed economics professor ], a ] scholar and self-described "deficit owl", as the chief economic adviser for the committee's Democratic minority<ref>{{cite web |last=Lawler |first=Joseph |date=December 26, 2014 |title=Sanders names 'deficit owl' his chief economist |work=] |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sanders-names-deficit-owl-his-chief-economist/article/2557903 |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> and presented a report aimed at helping "rebuild the disappearing middle class", which included proposals to raise the ], boost ], and increase ] payments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Resnikoff |first=Ned |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders, mulling presidential run, adopts novel stance on deficit |publisher=] |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/19/bernie-sanders-mulling-2016-bid-adopts-a-novel-stance-on-the-deficit.html |accessdate=March 25, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ====Committee assignments==== | |||
| * ''']''' (Ranking Member) | |||
| * ''']''' | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| * ''']''' | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** ] | |||
| * ''']''' | |||
| ** ] | |||
| ** ], ranking member | |||
| * '''],''' former chairman | |||
| ==2016 presidential campaign== | |||
| {{main article|Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016}} | |||
| ], August 2015]] | |||
| ], March 2016]] | |||
| ], in May 2016.]] | |||
| Sanders announced his intention to seek the ]'s nomination for ] on April 30, 2015, in an address on the ] lawn.<ref name="kane2015">{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Paul |last2=Rucker |first2=Philip |date=April 30, 2015 |title=An unlikely contender, Sanders takes on 'billionaire class' in 2016 bid |work=] |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-takes-on-billionaire-class-in-launching-2016-bid-against-clinton/2015/04/30/4849fe32-ef3a-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20150429">{{cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Announces He Is Running for President |work=] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-for-president.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Cogan">{{cite web |last=Cogan |first=Marin |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Daily Intelligencer: Bernie Sanders Is Officially Running for President – That Doesn't Mean You Can Ask Him About Hillary Clinton |work=] |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/04/sanders-is-running-just-dont-say-hillary.html |access-date=July 18, 2015}}</ref> ] was officially launched on May 26, 2015, in ].<ref name="NYT-20150429" /> | |||
| In his announcement, Sanders said, "I don't believe that the men and women who defended American democracy fought to create a situation where billionaires own the political process," and made this a central idea throughout his campaign.<ref name=kane2015/><ref name="NYT-20150429" /> Senator ] welcomed Sanders's entry into the race, saying, "I'm glad to see him get out there and give his version of what leadership in this country should be."<ref>{{cite news |last=Pointdujour |first=Prisca |date=May 2, 2015 |title=Elizabeth Warren praises Bernie Sanders prez bid |work=] |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/05/elizabeth_warren_praises_bernie_sanders_prez_bid |accessdate=May 3, 2015}}</ref> On June 19, 2015, the "Ready For Warren" organization, which had unsuccessfully tried to draft Warren to run for president, endorsed Sanders and re-branded itself "Ready to Fight".<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamisar |first=Ben |date=June 19, 2015 |title=Ready for Warren Endorses Sanders |work=] |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/245541-ready-for-warren-endorses-sanders |accessdate=February 24, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Unlike the other major candidates, Sanders stated that he would not pursue funding through a "]", instead focusing on small individual donations.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Sanders doesn't want billionaires' backing |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/30/politics/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-first-interview/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> His presidential campaign raised $1.5 million within 24 hours of his official announcement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Ken |date=May 1, 2015 |title=Sanders raises $1.5M after announcing presidential bid |agency=] |website=Yahoo News |url=http://news.yahoo.com/sanders-raises-1-5m-announcing-presidential-bid-194439911--election.html |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> At year's end the campaign had raised a total of $73 million from more than one million people making 2.5 million donations, with an average donation of $27.16.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 2, 2016 |title=Sanders raises $33M in final quarter, $73M total for 2015 |work=Politico |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/sanders-fundraising-final-quarter-2015-217288?cmpid=sf |accessdate=January 2, 2016}}</ref> The campaign reached 3.25 million donations by the end of January 2016, raising $20 million in that month alone.<ref>. ''The Huffington Post.'' January 31, 2015.</ref> | |||
| Sanders has used social media to help his campaign gain momentum.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corasaniti |first=Nick |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Seeking the Presidency, Bernie Sanders Becomes Facebook Royalty Through Quirky Sharing |work=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/us/politics/bernie-sanders-wants-to-be-president-but-hes-already-facebook-royalty.html |accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> He posts content to online platforms such as ] and ], and has answered questions on ]. Sanders has also gained a large grassroots organizational following online. A July 29, 2015, meetup organized online, brought 100,000 supporters to more than 3,500 simultaneous events nationwide.<ref>Lisa Lerer (July 30, 2015). . ''Business Insider''. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> | |||
| Sanders' campaign events in June 2015 drew overflow crowds around the country, to his surprise.<ref name=":1">Sofia Tesfaye (June 16, 2015). . ''Salon''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref><ref>John Wagner (June 15, 2015). . ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref><ref name="Keith">Tamara Keith (June 15, 2015). . NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref> When ] and Sanders made public appearances within days of each other in Des Moines, Iowa, Sanders drew larger crowds, even though he had already made numerous stops around the state and Clinton's visit was her first in 2015.<ref name=GuardianSandersVsClinton>{{cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |date=June 25, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders closes on Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire Democrats poll |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/25/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-new-hampshire-democrats-poll |work=The Guardian |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref> On July 1, 2015, Sanders's campaign stop in Madison, Wisconsin, drew the largest crowd of any 2016 presidential candidate to that date, with an estimated turnout of 10,000.<ref name="MSNBCMadisonBiggestCrowd">{{cite web |last=Seitz-Wald |first=Alex |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws biggest crowd of any 2016 candidate yet |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bernie-sanders-draws-biggest-crowd-any-2016-candidate-yet |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="HuffPo10K">{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |title=Bernie Sanders Draws His Biggest Crowd Yet In Progressive Stronghold |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/01/bernie-sanders-madison_n_7709966.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067 |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref> Over the following weeks he gained even larger crowds of 11,000 in Arizona,<ref name="Washington Post AZ crowd">{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=John |date=July 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws his biggest crowd yet – in Arizona of all places |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/07/19/bernie-sanders-draws-his-biggest-crowd-yet-in-arizona-of-all-places/ |accessdate=July 21, 2015}}</ref> 15,000 in Seattle,<ref>{{cite web |last=Connelly |first=Joel |date=August 8, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws 15,000 people at UW, state's biggest political crowd since 2010 Obama visit |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/08/08/bernie-sanders-draws-15000-people-at-uw-states-biggest-political-crowd-since-2010-obama-visit/ |accessdate=August 9, 2015}}</ref> and 28,000 in Portland.<ref>Chris Cillizza (August 10, 2015). . ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| After the last primary election (the District of Columbia's, on June 14), Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign.html | title=Bernie Sanders, Still Running, Pledges to ‘Make Certain’ Donald Trump Is Defeated | publisher=The New York Times | date=16 June 2016 | accessdate=18 June 2016 | author=Alcindor, Yamiche}}</ref> Sanders met with her on June 16 and issued a press release reading “Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton met in Washington on Tuesday evening and had a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation. Sanders congratulated Secretary Clinton on the campaign she has run and said he appreciated her strong commitment to stopping Trump in the general election." That evening Sanders gave a live online speech to his supporters, saying, "The political revolution continues".<ref name="Bernie 2017">{{cite web | url=https://berniesanders.com/news/ | title=Press release | accessdate=18 June 2016}}</ref> On July 12, Sanders formally endorsed Clinton at a rally in ],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/11/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/index.html |title=Bernie Sanders endorses Hillary Clinton |work=] |date=July 12, 2016 |accessdate=July 13, 2016}}</ref> but he continued to work with the Democratic National Convention organizers to implement the progressive positions he had been campaigning for. Speaking at the ] on July 25, Sanders gave Clinton his full support, saying, "Any objective observer will conclude that — based on her ideas and her leadership — Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States."<ref name="CNN">{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/bernie-sanders-democratic-national-convention-speech/ | title=Bernie Sanders: 'I am proud to stand with her' | publisher=CNN | date=26 July 2016 | accessdate=26 July 2016 | author=Collinson, Stephen}}</ref> | |||
| ===Democratic Party presidential debates=== | |||
| {{main article|Democratic Party presidential debates, 2016}} | |||
| {{see also|2016 Democratic National Committee email leak}} | |||
| The 2016 Democratic Party presidential debates occur among candidates in the campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for the President of the United States in the ]. The DNC announced on May 5, 2015, that there would be six debates, much fewer than the 26 debates and forums during the 2008 Democratic primary.<ref name="debatesix">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/05/politics/2016-democratic-debates-hillary-clinton/ |title=First on CNN: Clinton, Democratic presidential opponents to debate six times |publisher=CNN |date=May 5, 2015 |author=Preston, Mark}}</ref> Critics, including the Sanders campaign, alleged that the debate schedule was part of the DNC's deliberate attempt to protect the front-runner, Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Politics-Voices/2015/1222/How-Saturday-debates-protect-Hillary-Clinton |title=How Saturday debates protect Hillary Clinton |first=Doug |last=Mataconis |date=December 22, 2015 |accessdate=December 23, 2015 |work=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/2015/12/bernie_sanders_dems_tipping_scales_in_hillary_clintons_favor |title=Bernie Sanders: Dems tipping scales in Hillary Clinton's favor |first=Chris |last=Cassidy |date=December 19, 2015 |accessdate=December 23, 2015 |work=Boston Herald}}</ref> Clinton expressed willingness to hold more debates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/254118-hillary-willing-to-do-more-debates |title=Hillary willing to do more debates |work=TheHill}}</ref> | |||
| The sixth and last debate was scheduled for May in California, but Clinton refused to participate. Her spokeswoman explained, "We believe that Hillary Clinton's time is best spent campaigning and meeting directly with voters across California and preparing for a general election campaign that will ensure the White House remains in Democratic hands." A spokesperson from ], the television network that was to air the debate, said, "Naturally, Fox News is disappointed that Secretary Clinton has declined our debate invitation, especially given that the race is still contested and she had previously agreed to a final debate before the California primary." Sanders responded, "I am disappointed but not surprised by Secretary Clinton's unwillingness to debate before the largest and most important primary in the presidential nominating process."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-fox-debate-california/ | title=Clinton declines to debate Sanders in California | publisher=CNN | date=24 May 2016 | accessdate=28 May 2016 |author1=Stelter, Brian |author2=Merica, Dan }}</ref> | |||
| ===Party affiliation since 2015=== | |||
| In November 2015, Sanders announced that he would be a Democrat from then on, and will run in any future elections as a Democrat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-nh-primary/75242938/ |first=Kathleen |last=Ronayne |newspaper='']'' |title=Sanders declares as Democrat in NH primary |date=November 5, 2015 |quote=Sanders says he’ll run as a Democrat in future elections. He says, 'I am running as a Democrat obviously, I am a Democrat now.'}}</ref><ref>Blomquist, Dan and Way, Robert. , '']'' (November 5, 2015): "When a reporter asked Sanders his party allegiance after he filed, Sanders responded, 'I’m a Democrat.' He then called on Buckley, the Democratic chairman, who confirmed the senator’s party allegiance. Sanders added that he would run as a Democrat in any future elections."</ref><ref>Seitz-Wald, Alex and Koenig, Kailani. , ] (November 5, 2015): "Sanders declared himself a Democrat Thursday, and said he will run as a Democrat in future elections, and that was good enough for Gardner."</ref> On February 4, 2016, Sanders said, "Of course I am a Democrat and running for the Democratic nomination."<ref> CNN. 5 February 2016.</ref> In 2016, many additional sources, such as ],<ref>Bykowisz, Julie. , ] (January 13, 2016): "Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., speaks at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 2015."</ref> '']'',<ref>Harder, Amy and Mayer, Kris. , '']'' (February 3, 2016): "The Democratic Party also said its two presidential hopefuls, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D., Vt.), would hold a debate in Flint on March 6 as a way to draw attention to the contaminated-water issue."</ref> and ]<ref>Perry, Tim. , ] (January 25, 2016): "Sen Bernie Sanders (D-VT) responded to criticisms that his campaign was too 'idealistic,' and showed optimism about his chances in South Carolina."</ref> described Sanders as a Democrat. | |||
| The United States Senate website includes pages that refer to Sanders as an Independent<ref>See .</ref> as well as pages that refer to him as a Democrat. Some of the pages calling him a Democrat are dated before 2015, possibly in error or in reference to his caucusing with the Democrats, not his later-declared affiliation.<ref>See . Also see .</ref> In 2016, his official Senate press releases still referred to him as an Independent,<ref>, www.sanders.senate.gov (January 26, 2016).</ref><ref>, www.sanders.senate.gov (March 28, 2016)</ref> or omitted party affiliation.<ref>, www.sanders.senate.gov (February 4, 2016).</ref> Following his presidential campaign, Sanders returned to the Senate as an independent.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/07/26/bernie-sanders-to-return-to-senate-as-an-independent/ |title=Bernie Sanders to Return to Senate as an Independent |work=] |date=July 26, 2016 |accessdate=August 6, 2016 |first=Peter |last=Nicholas}}</ref> | |||
| ==="Our Revolution" organization=== | |||
| In August 2016, Sanders founded ], an organization dedicated to educating voters about political issues, getting people involved in the political process, and recruiting and supporting candidates for local, state, and national office.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/15/bernie-sanders-progressive-message/87073052/ | |||
| |accessdate=July 27, 2016|title=Bernie Sanders will launch organizations to spread progressive message|first=Nicole|last=Guadiano|date=July 15, 2016|work=USA Today|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> | |||
| <blockquote>“Election days come and go, but the struggle for economic, social, racial and environmental justice must continue. We have the guts and the energy to take on the special interests, win critical battles on the most important issues of our time, and redefine what’s possible in this country. Now it’s time for all of us to get to work."<ref name="The Washington Times">{{cite web | url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/aug/18/bernie-sanders-running-our-revolution/ | title=Bernie Sanders: Still percolating | publisher=The Washington Times | date=August 18, 2016 | accessdate=August 19, 2016 | author=Harper, Jennifer}}</ref></blockquote> | |||
| Sanders also plans to establish The Sanders Institute, which will focus on issues he believes the "corporate media" has failed to focus on. The agenda will include "the disappearing middle class, 'massive' income inequality, horrific levels of poverty and problems affecting seniors and children."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/15/bernie-sanders-progressive-message/87073052/ | |||
| |accessdate=July 27, 2016|title=Bernie Sanders will launch organizations to spread progressive message|first=Nicole|last=Guadiano|date=July 15, 2016|work=USA Today|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> | |||
| Former Sanders presidential campaign staffers have also formed a ], ], to elect Congressional representatives in line with the campaign's political platform. | |||
| ''Our Revolution'' is also the title a book by Sanders to be released in November 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bernie-sanders-book-revolution-a-911034|title=Bernie Sanders Writing Book With Policy Ideas, Primary Reflections|publisher=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/14/bernie-sanders-book-our-revolution-coming-november-2016|title=Bernie Sanders wrote a book that's out in November|publisher=ew.com}}</ref> | |||
| ==Political positions== | |||
| {{American socialism}} | |||
| {{Main article|Political positions of Bernie Sanders}} | |||
| Sanders is a self-described ],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/04/29/bernie-sanders-is-an-avowed-socialist-and-democrats-are-actually-pretty-ok-with-that/ |title=Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist. 52 percent of Democrats are OK with that. |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=April 29, 2015 |work=] |accessdate=November 19, 2015 |quote=I am a socialist and everyone knows that}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-socialist-successes |title=Sanders Socialist Successes |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=April 22, 2009 |access-date=December 6, 2015 |quote=Representative Spencer Bachus is one of the only people I know from Alabama. I bet I'm the only socialist he knows.}}</ref> ],{{refn|<ref name=sanders_confirms>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders confirms presidential run and damns America's inequities |work=] |quote=The self-described 'democratic socialist' enters the race as a robust liberal alternative... |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/30/bernie-sanders-confirms-presidential-run-and-damns-americas-inequities |accessdate=June 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="socialism">{{cite news |last=Dreier |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Dreier |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' Socialism Is as American as Apple Pie |work=] |quote=...because the 73‑year{{bracket|‑}}old U.S. senator from Vermont describes himself as a 'democratic socialist.' |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernie-sanders-socialism-_b_7210120.html |accessdate=May 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="politicosocialist">{{cite web |last=Lerer |first=Lisa |date=July 16, 2009 |title=Where's the outrage over AIG bonuses? |work=] |quote=Only a handful of members, including self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), criticized... |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25000.html |accessdate=April 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name="postsocialist">{{cite news |last=Powell |first=Michael |date=November 6, 2006 |title=Exceedingly Social But Doesn't Like Parties |work=The Washington Post |quote=He knows what the corporate media might do with his answer, but whatever... 'Yeah. I wouldn't deny it. Not for one second. I'm a democratic socialist.' |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/04/AR2006110401124.html |accessdate=November 26, 2012}}</ref>}} and ] who admires the ] of ] and is a proponent of ].{{refn|See: | |||
| * {{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 26, 2013 |title=What Can We Learn From Denmark? |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/what-can-we-learn-from-de_b_3339736.html |accessdate=August 19, 2013}} | |||
| * {{cite news |last=Issenberg |first=Sasha |date=January 9, 2010 |title=Sanders a growing force on the far, far left |work=] |quote=You go to Scandinavia, and you will find that people have a much higher standard of living, in terms of education, health care, and decent paying jobs. |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/01/09/sanders_a_growing_force_on_the_far_far_left/?page=1 |accessdate=August 24, 2013}} | |||
| * Ben Schreckinger and Jonathan Topaz (July 6, 2015). . ''].'' Retrieved August 18, 2015. | |||
| * . ''Salon'' October 8, 2015.}}<ref name="socialism"/><ref name="Scandinavia">{{cite web |last=McMurry |first=Evan |date=May 3, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: America Should Look More Like Scandinavia |website=] |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bernie-sanders-america-should-look-more-like-scandinavia/ |accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> In November 2015, Sanders gave a speech at ] about his view of democratic socialism, including its place in the policies of presidents ] and ].<ref name=atlanticsocialism>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/bernie-sanders-makes-his-pitch-for-socialism/416913/ |title=How Bernie Sanders Explains Democratic Socialism |first=Clare |last=Foran |work=The Atlantic}}</ref><ref>. BernieSanders.com, November 19, 2015.</ref> In defining what democratic socialism means to him, Sanders said: "I don’t believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down. I do believe in private companies that thrive and invest and grow in America, companies that create jobs here, rather than companies that are shutting down in America and increasing their profits by exploiting low-wage labor abroad."<ref name="atlanticsocialism" /> ] described Sanders as "basically a ]er,"<ref name="Chomsky"/><ref>Apart from Chomsky, ] also noted "He’s a New Dealer" on his book, which was mentioned in the following book review.{{cite news |last= Lozada |first=Carlos |date=2016-03-11 |title=The liberal war over the Obama legacy has already begun|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/wp/2016/03/11/the-liberal-war-over-the-obama-legacy-has-already-begun/ |newspaper=] |location= |access-date=2016-03-17 }}</ref> and many journalists have likened his policies to the New Deal. ], which is based on the British political spectrum, scores Sanders' positions as ] as of the ].<ref name=2016-political-compass>{{cite web|title=The US Primary Candidates 2016|url=https://www.politicalcompass.org/uselection2016|accessdate=21 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Many commentators have noted the consistency of Sanders's views throughout his political career.<ref name="Gram2015a">{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bernie-sanders-has-had-consistent-message-for-4-decades/ |title=Bernie Sanders has had consistent message for 4 decades |date=May 11, 2015 |work=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111064629/www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bernie-sanders-has-had-consistent-message-for-4-decades/ |archive-date=November 11, 2015 |dead-url=yes |issn=0745-9696}}</ref><ref name="maddow1">{{cite news |last1=Maddow |first1=Rachel |title=Bernie Sanders' track record distinguished by consistency |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/sanders-record-distinguished-by-consistency-504479811515 |accessdate=October 13, 2015 |publisher=] |date=August 13, 2015}}</ref> Calling international trade agreements a "disaster for the American worker", Sanders voted against and has spoken for years against ], ], and ] with China, saying that they have resulted in American corporations moving abroad. He also strongly opposes the ], which he says was "written by corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 21, 2015 |title=The TPP Must Be Defeated |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/the-tpp-must-be-defeated_b_7352166.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="On the Issues">{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_Free_Trade.htm |title=Bernie Sanders on Free Trade |publisher=On the Issues |accessdate=January 20, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders focuses on economic issues such as ] and ],<ref name="sanders_confirms" /><ref>{{cite web |title=On the Issues: Income and Wealth Inequality |url=https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/ |publisher=BernieSanders.com |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> raising the ],<ref>Samantha Lachman (July 22, 2015). . ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref> ],<ref>{{cite news |last=Jaffe |first=Sarah |date=July 14, 2009 |title=Sanders Schools McCain on Public Healthcare |work=] |quote=Senator Bernie Sanders is one of the Senate's fiercest advocates for real healthcare reform that puts Americans, not private insurance companies, first. Recently, Sanders told The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel, 'f you are serious about real healthcare reform, the only way to go is ].' |url=http://www.thenation.com/video/sanders-schools-mccain-public-healthcare |accessdate=October 16, 2013}}</ref> reducing the burden of ],<ref>{{cite web |last=Dash |first=Stephen |date=April 22, 2015 |title=What Is Bernie Sanders' Endgame for College Affordability and Student Loans? |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-dash/what-is-bernie-sanders-en_b_7119602.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> making public colleges and universities tuition-free ],<ref>{{cite news |last=Resnikoff |first=Ned |date=May 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders unveils plan for tuition-free public colleges |publisher=] |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/19/bernie-sanders-unveils-plan-for-tuition-free-public-colleges.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> and expanding ] benefits by eliminating the cap on the payroll tax on all incomes above $250,000.<ref>. Senate.gov. March 12, 2015.</ref><ref>Nicole Woo, Janelle Jones and John Schmitt (September 2011). ]. Retrieved September 7, 2015.</ref> He has become a prominent supporter of laws requiring companies to give their workers ], ], and ], noting that such laws have been adopted by nearly all other developed countries.<ref name="agenda">{{cite web |title=Family values agenda: paid family leave, paid sick leave, paid vacation |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/061115-familyvaluesagendafactsheet?inline=file |format=PDF |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> He also supports legislation that would make it easier for workers to join or form a ].<ref name="Economic Agenda">Bernie Sanders (December 1, 2014). . ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved June 27, 2015.</ref><ref>Ned Resnikoff (October 6, 2015). . Al Jazeera. Retrieved October 6, 2015.</ref> | |||
| Sanders has advocated greater democratic participation by citizens, ], and a constitutional amendment or judicial decision that would overturn '']''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislation: Campaign Finance |website=Bernie Sanders: U.S. Senator for Vermont |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/legislation/issue/?id=a22c4c55-2c79-4d6b-895b-704230412415 |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>. 8 Dec 2011. Sanders Senate web site</ref><ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=March 22, 2015 |title=If We Don't Overturn Citizens United, The Congress Will Become Paid Employees of the Billionaire Class |work=] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/sanders-to-senate-if-we-dont-overturn-citizens-united-the-congress-will-become-paid-employees-of-the-billionaire-class_b_6918468.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> He calls for comprehensive financial reforms,<ref>{{cite web |title=Text of Bernie Sanders’ Wall Street and economy speech |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/text-of-bernie-sanders-wall-street-and-economy-speech-2016-01-05 |work=MarketWatch |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref> such as breaking up ]" financial institutions, restoring ], reforming the ] and allowing the Post Office to offer basic financial services in economically marginalized communities.{{refn|<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Break Up Big Banks |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/break-up-big-banks_b_7233284.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=Bernie Sanders backs big bank breakups, in contrast with Hillary Clinton |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-big-ban-break-ups-glass-steagall-120287.html |website=Politico |publisher=Politico |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sanders |first1=Bernie |title=Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/23/opinion/bernie-sanders-to-rein-in-wall-street-fix-the-fed.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=December 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pinsker |first1=Joe |title=Bernie Sanders's Highly Sensible Plan to Turn Post Offices Into Banks |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-lets-turn-post-offices-into-banks/411589/ |work=The Atlantic |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref>}} Sanders strongly opposed the ] and has criticized a number of policies instituted during the ], particularly ] and the ].<ref> Official Senate Site</ref><ref>Krieg, Gregory (May 7, 2015). . Mic.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on NSA Surveillance |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-on-nsa-surveillance |website=Sen. Bernie Sanders |accessdate=October 13, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders has liberal stances on social issues, having advocated for ] and against the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lyons|first=Kim|date=April 29, 2015|title=Bernie Sanders' Views on Gay Marriage Show He's Been a Supporter for a Long Time|url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/79951-bernie-sanders-views-on-gay-marriage-show-hes-been-a-supporter-for-a-long-time|accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> He considers himself a ],<ref>{{cite news|last=Tumulty|first= Karen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/24/hey-bernie-sanders-are-you-a-feminist|title=Hey Bernie Sanders, are you a feminist?|publisher='']''|date=September 24, 2015|accessdate=February 10, 2016}}</ref> is ] on abortion, and opposes the de-funding of ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lavender |first=Paige |date=July 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: GOP Efforts To Defund Planned Parenthood 'An Attack On Women's Health' |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-planned-parenthood_55b8f386e4b0074ba5a6fe60 |accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref> Sanders has denounced ] and called for criminal justice reform to reduce the ],<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Ken |date=August 16, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-racism_55d10b2be4b055a6dab0a4a8 |work=The Huffington Post |title=Bernie Sanders Vows To Better Address Racism}}</ref> advocates a crackdown on ], and supports abolishing ]<ref>. BernieSanders.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>. ''Salon''. September 17, 2015.</ref><ref>Bernie Sanders (September 22, 2015). . ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved September 23, 2015.</ref> and the ].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.vice.com/read/bernie-sanders-wants-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-vgtrn-1030 | title=Bernie Sanders Wants to Abolish the Death Penalty | author=Drew Schwartz | work=Vice | date=October 29, 2015 | access-date=August 3, 2016 | quote=Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders called for an end to the death penalty on Thursday, laying out his case in a Senate floor speech just one day after Hillary Clinton—the party's 2016 frontrunner and Sanders' main rival for the nomination—said she was opposed to abolishing the practice.}}</ref> Sanders supports legalizing marijuana at the federal level.<ref>. ''Rolling Stone''. October 28, 2015.</ref> On November 15, 2015, in response to the ] (ISIL)'s ], Sanders cautioned against "Islamophobia" and said, "We gotta be tough, not stupid" in the war against ISIL, further stating that the U.S. should continue to welcome Syrian refugees.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/politics/bernie-sanders-cleveland-isis/index.html |title=Bernie Sanders on ISIS: U.S. needs to be "tough" not "stupid" |author=Tom LoBianco, CNN |date=November 17, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders advocates bold action to reverse ] and substantial investment in ], with "energy efficiency and ]" and ] as prominent goals.<ref>. '']'' September 22, 2014.</ref><ref>Ashley Halsey III (January 27, 2015).. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref> He considers ] to national security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/260184-sanders-climate-change-still-greatest-threat-to-national-security |title=Sanders: Climate change still greatest threat to national security |publisher=The Hill |year=2015}}</ref><ref name="Totten">{{cite news |last=Totten |first=Shay |date=January 15, 2007 |title=Sanders to push global warming legislation in Senate |work=Vermont Guardian |quote=Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, said Monday he was making good on at least one of a handful of campaign promises – introducing a bill designed to cut U.S. contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade. ... Sanders added that construction of new power plants is "extraordinarily expensive" and he would prefer to see federal funding support used to expand the development of sustainable energy, as well as biofuels. |url=http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/012007/GlobalWarmingBill.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508004601/www.vermontguardian.com/local/012007/GlobalWarmingBill.shtml |dead-url=yes}}</ref> | |||
| ==Personal life== | |||
| ] in ], January 2016]] | |||
| In 1963, Sanders and Deborah Shiling, whom he met in college, volunteered for several months on the Israeli ] ]. They married in 1964 and bought a summer home in Vermont; they had no children and divorced in 1966.<ref name=Politico/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Aderet |first1=Ofer |title=Mystery Solved? Haaretz Archive Reveals Which Kibbutz Bernie Sanders Volunteered On |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.701513 |website=Haaretz |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |date=February 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Leibovich2007">{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Leibovich |work=] |title=The Socialist Senator |date=January 21, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> Sanders's son, Levi Sanders, was born in 1969 to girlfriend Susan Campbell Mott.<ref name="The Populist Prophet"/> In 1988, Sanders married ] ({{née|Mary Jane O'Meara}}), who later became president of ], in Burlington, Vermont.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenhouse |first=Emily |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Getting to Know Jane Sanders, Wife of Bernie |publisher=Bloomberg |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-12/getting-to-know-jane-sanders-wife-of-bernie |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> The day after their wedding, the couple visited the Soviet Union as part of an official delegation in his capacity as mayor, a trip he ironically called a honeymoon.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Bernie Sanders Spent His Soviet 'Honeymoon'|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-02-11/how-bernie-sanders-spent-his-soviet-honeymoon|publisher=]|last=Bershidsky|first=Leonid|date=February 11, 2016}}</ref> Sanders considers Jane's three children — Dave Driscoll, Carina Driscoll, and Heather Titus (née Driscoll) — to be his own.<ref name=Politico/><ref>{{cite news |publisher=CNN |date=May 27, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/bernie-sanders-fast-facts/ |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> He also has seven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/article/bernie-sanders-fun-grandpa |title=Bernie Sanders Is 'Fun Grandpa': 5 Things We Learned at His Home : People.com |work=PEOPLE.com}}</ref> | |||
| In December 1987, during his tenure as mayor, Sanders recorded a folk album titled '']'' with 30 Vermont musicians. As Sanders was not skilled at singing, he performed his vocals in a ] style.<ref name="nprbehindthemusic">{{cite news |title=Behind The Music: Bernie Sanders |url=http://www.npr.org/2016/01/30/464736315/behind-the-music-bernie-sanders |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |work=NPR |date=January 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-untold-story-of-bernie-sanders-1987-folk-album-20151202 |work=Rolling Stone |title=The Untold Story of Bernie Sanders' 1987 Folk Album |date=December 2, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |author=Tessa Stuart}}</ref> Sanders appeared in a cameo role in the 1988 comedy-drama film '']'', playing a man who distributes candy to young trick-or-treaters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/who-knew-bernie-sanders-had-career-low-budget-rom--231777 |title=Bernie Sanders has appeared in not one, but two low-budget rom-coms |publisher=A.V. Club.com |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |date=February 5, 2016 |author=Joe Blevis}}</ref> In 1999, he acted in the film ''My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception'', playing the role of Rabbi Manny Shevitz. In this role he mourned the ] moving to Los Angeles, reflecting Sanders's own upbringing in Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bernie-sanders-played-rabbi-1999-romantic-comedy-article-1.2519921 |work=New York Daily News |title=Bernie Sanders plays rabbi Manny Shevitz in 1999 romantic comedy, goes on long-winded Brooklyn Dodgers rant |date=February 4, 2016 |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |author=Meg Wagner}}</ref> On February 6, 2016, Sanders was a guest star alongside ] on '']'', playing a Polish immigrant on a ] that was sinking near the ].<ref name="SNL">{{cite web|url = http://www.npr.org/2016/02/07/465892623/with-a-little-help-from-larry-david-bernie-sanders-does-snl|title = With A Little Help From Larry David, Bernie Sanders Does SNL|publisher = NPR.org|accessdate = February 7, 2016|date = February 7, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| On December 4, 2015, Sanders won '']''{{'}}s 2015 ] readers' poll with 10.2% of the vote<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-216481?cmpid=sf/ |title=Bernie Sanders wins Time's Person of the Year readers' poll |publisher=] |accessdate=December 7, 2015 |date=December 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://time.com/4137173/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-win/ |title=Bernie Sanders Wins Readers’ Poll for TIME Person of the Year |work=] |accessdate=December 7, 2015}}</ref> but did not receive the editorial board's award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usuncut.com/politics/time-magazine-snubs-bernie-sanders-person-of-the-year/ |title=TIME Snubs Bernie Sanders for Person of the Year After He Crushes Readers' Poll |publisher=U.S.Uncut |accessdate=December 7, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders's elder brother, ], lives in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sanders brothers: A tale of two underdogs |publisher=BBC News |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33254500}}</ref> He was a ] ], representing the East Oxford ] on ], until he retired from the Council in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--none given--> |date=June 4, 2009 |title=Election results for East Oxford |publisher=Oxfordshire County Council |url=http://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/%28S%2833rhih553gpijinuki3kvf55%29%29/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=27 |accessdate=May 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!--none given--> |date=June 8, 2013 |title=Green County Councillor Retires |publisher=Oxfordshire Green Party |url=http://www.greenoxfordshire.com/news/green-county-councillor-retires.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Larry ran as a Green Party candidate for ] in the ] and came in fifth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Lauren |date=May 8, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' brother lost his longshot bid for British Parliament |work=The Week |url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/554052/bernie-sanders-brother-lost-longshot-bid-british-parliament |accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Collinson>{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' brotherly love |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/07/politics/bernie-sanders-brother-larry-sanders-uk/index.html |accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref> Bernie told CNN, "I owe my brother an enormous amount. It was my brother who actually introduced me to a lot of my ideas."<ref name=Collinson/> | |||
| ===Religion and heritage=== | |||
| Sanders had a typical upbringing for his generation of ]: his father generally attended synagogue only on ]; he attended public schools while his mother "chafed" at his ] Sunday schooling at a ]; and their religious observances were mostly limited to ] seders with their neighbors. Larry Sanders said, "They were very pleased to be Jews, but didn’t have a strong belief in God."<ref name=NYT02242016>{{cite news | last =Berger | first = Joseph| title =Bernie Sanders Is Jewish, but He Doesn’t Like to Talk About It| newspaper =] | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =February 24, 2016 | url =http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/us/politics/bernie-sanders-jewish.html| accessdate =February 24, 2016 }}</ref> Bernie had a ]<ref name=Sellers /> at the historic ] in ], where he grew up.<ref name=NYT02242016/> | |||
| In 1963, in cooperation with the ] youth movement ], Sanders and his first wife ] at ], a kibbutz in northern Israel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zeveloff |first=Naomi |date=February 4, 2016 |title=Bernie Sanders Kibbutz Revealed at Last |url=http://forward.com/news/israel/332946/bernie-sanders-kibbutz-revealed-at-last/ |newspaper=Forward |location=|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="jtamysterysolved">{{cite news |title=Mystery solved: Sanders volunteered at Kibbutz Shaar HaEmekim |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/05/news-opinion/politics/sanders-in-1990-named-the-kibbutz-were-he-stayed-in-the-early-1960s?utm_source=Newsletter+subscribers&utm_campaign=c0288f7c11-Daily_Briefing_2_5_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2dce5bc6f8-c0288f7c11-28459777 |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Frances Stead Sellers |title=The kibbutz Bernie Sanders stayed in may have been revealed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/05/the-kibbutz-bernie-sanders-stayed-in-may-have-been-revealed/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 5, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref><ref name="CSM Breakfast">; ''Christian Science Monitor''; June 11, 2015</ref> His motivation for the trip was as much socialistic as it was Zionistic.<ref name=NYT02242016/> | |||
| As mayor of Burlington, Sanders allowed a ] ] to be placed at city hall, an action contested by the local ] chapter. He publicly inaugurated the ] menorah and performed the Jewish religious ritual of ].<ref name=NYT02242016/> His early and strong support played a significant role in the now widespread ] celebrations around the globe.<ref>Kellner, Mark. , ] (February 10, 2016).</ref><ref>Ziri, Danielle. , ] (February 10, 2016).</ref><ref>Johnson, Sally. , ] (December 9, 1988).</ref><ref>, ].</ref> When asked about his Jewish heritage, Sanders has said he is "proud to be Jewish".<ref name="feldman2015" /><ref name="CSM Breakfast"/> | |||
| Sanders rarely speaks about religion.<ref name="Sellers" /> He describes himself as "not particularly religious"<ref name="feldman2015" /> and "not actively involved" with ].<ref name="Sellers"/> A press package issued by his office states "Religion: Jewish".<ref>, www.sanders.senate.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2015.</ref> He has said he believes in God, though not necessarily in a traditional manner: "I think everyone believes in God in their own ways," he said. "To me, it means that all of us are connected, all of life is connected, and that we are all tied together."<ref name="Sellers">Sellers, Frances and Wagner, John. , '']'' (January 27, 2016).</ref><ref>Winston, Kimberly. , ] (February 4, 2016).</ref> In October 2015, on the ], '']'', Kimmel asked Bernie, "You say you are culturally Jewish and you don't feel religious; do you believe in God and do you think that's important to the people of the United States?" Bernie replied:<ref>Friedman, Gabe. , '']'' (October 24, 2015).</ref> | |||
| <blockquote>I am who I am, and what I believe in and what my spirituality is about is that we're all in this together. That I think it is not a good thing to believe as human beings we can turn our backs on the suffering of other people ... and this is not Judaism, this is what Pope Francis is talking about, that we can't just worship billionaires and the making of more and more money. Life is more than that.</blockquote> In 2016, he stated he had "very strong religious and spiritual feelings" and explained, "My spirituality is that we are all in this together and that when children go hungry, when veterans sleep out on the street, it impacts me."<ref name="jtasandersdiscussesfaith">{{cite news |title=Sanders discusses faith, Clinton grapples with rabbinical question on humility |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/04/news-opinion/politics/sanders-discusses-faith-clinton-grapples-with-rabbinical-question-on-humility |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 4, 2016}}</ref> | |||
| Sanders does not regularly attend any synagogue, and he works on ], a day when Jews typically take a holiday from work. He has attended ] in memory of the deceased, for the father of a friend, and attended a ], an atonement ceremony, with the mayor of Lynchburg on the afternoon of ] in 2015.<ref name=NYT02242016/> According to Sanders's close friend ], a professor of religious studies at the ], Sanders's Jewish identity is "certainly more ethnic and cultural than religious".<ref>Kampeas, Ron. , '']'' (October 8, 2015).</ref> ], a Judaic scholar at the ], has said that Sanders has a particular type of "ethnic Jewishness" that is somewhat old-fashioned.<ref>Mangla, Ismat Sarah. , '']'' (February 18, 2016).</ref> Sanders's wife is ], and he has frequently expressed admiration for ], saying that "the leader of the ] is raising profound issues. It is important that we listen to what he has said." Sanders has said he feels "very close" to Francis' economic teachings, describing him as "incredibly smart and brave".<ref name=gaudiano/><ref name="Pope Francis">{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=February 15, 2015 |title=Pope Francis |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/pope-francis |accessdate=June 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>Heilman, Uriel. , '']'' (February 2, 2016).</ref> In April 2016, Sanders accepted an invitation from ], an aide close to the pope, to speak at a Vatican conference on economic and environmental issues. While at the Vatican, Sanders met briefly with the pontiff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/16/us/politics/bernie-sanders-vatican.html |title=As Bernie Sanders Heads to Vatican, a Visit With Pope Francis Seems in Doubt |first=Jason |last=Horowitz |date=April 15, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=April 17, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/51a3860bb14940608f9f6539bd441f4e/bernie-sanders-says-he-met-pope-francis |title=Pope: Sanders encounter sign of good manners, 'nothing more' |first=Ken |last=Thomas |date=April 16, 2016 |publisher=] |accessdate=April 17, 2016 }}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
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| ==Notes== | |||
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| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|30em}} | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| * {{cite book |last=Rall |first=Ted |date=2016 |title=Bernie |publisher=Hollowbrook Publishing |location=New York, New York |isbn=978-1609806989}} | |||
| * {{cite journal |last=Rice |first=Tom W. |year=1985 |title=Who Votes for a Socialist Mayor?: The Case of Burlington, Vermont |journal=Polity |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Journals |doi=10.2307/3234575 |issn=0032-3497 |jstor=3234575 |oclc=5546248357 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=795–806 |subscription=yes}} | |||
| * {{cite book |last=Rosenfeld |first=Steven |date=1992 |title=Making History in Vermont: The Election of a Socialist to Congress |publisher=Hollowbrook Publishing |location=Wakefield, New Hampshire |isbn=978-0-89341-698-0 |lccn=91034055 |oclc=24468446 |ol=1553980M}} | |||
| * {{cite book |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=2011 |title=The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Wn_AgAAQBAJ |publisher=Nation Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1-56858-684-7 |lccn=2011920256 |oclc=697261221 |ol=25090387M}} | |||
| * {{cite book |last1=Sanders |first1=Bernie |last2=Gutman |first2=Huck |date=1998 |orig-year=1st <abbr title="published">pub</abbr>. 1997 |title=Outsider in the House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2YjBm2_JGUC |publisher=Verso |location=London |isbn=978-1-85984-177-8 |lccn=97024753 |oclc=477165857}} | |||
| * {{cite book |last=Soifer |first=Steven |date=1991 |title=The Socialist Mayor: Bernard Sanders in Burlington, Vermont |publisher=Praeger |location=Westport, Connecticut |isbn=978-0-89789-219-3 |lccn=90048954 |oclc=22491683 |ol=1887682M}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{sister project links|b=no|commons=Category:Bernie Sanders|d=Q359442|n=yes|q=Bernie Sanders|s=Author:Bernie Sanders|v=no|wikt=no}} | |||
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| * – detailed position descriptions compiled by volunteers | |||
| * {{CongLinks |congbio=s000033 |ballot=Bernie_Sanders |nndb=304/000040184 |votesmart=27110 |govtrack=400357 |natjournal=439 |opencong=400357 |rollcall=509 |politifact=bernie-s |fec=S4VT00033 |opensecrets=N00000528 |assets=bernard-sanders |legistorm=460/Sen_Bernard_Sanders.html |followthemoney= |ontheissues=Senate/Bernie_Sanders.htm |congress=bernard-sanders/1010 |worldcat=lccn-n79-136413 |cspan=994 |rose= |imdb=0761471 |bloomberg=bernie-sanders |nyt=s/bernard_sanders |washpo=gIQABiDjMP}} | |||
| * {{C-SPAN|Bernie Sanders}} | |||
| * {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Vermont/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Bernie_Sanders_%5BI%5D}} | |||
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Revision as of 00:23, 2 September 2016
Bernie sanders. A guy