Bob CollinsIt was a fairly interesting interview this morning with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is thinking of running for president and who will get clobbered if he does.
Sanders, an independent, is all about making his point, knowing that in many cases his populist view isolates him in the club that is the U.S. Senate.
A presidential bid would allow Sanders a better platform to do what many Democrats were scared to death to do in the recent campaign: Stand up and defend middle-class principles that have traditionally been Democratic principles.
“In the last election, in state after state, you had an abysmally low vote for the Democrats among white, working-class people. And I think the reason for that is that the Democrats have not made it clear that they are prepared to stand with the working-class people of this country, take on the big money interests. I think the key issue that we have to focus on, and I know people are uncomfortable about talking about it, is the role of the billionaire class in American society,” he said on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Steve Inskeep asked Sanders a good question.
“Why are people uncomfortable in your view (talking about the billionaire class)?”
“Because they fund organizations like NPR,” Sanders said, adding other reasons such as campaign contributions.
“You’re on NPR. You get your voice on. Are you being drowned out?” Inskeep replied.
“No,” Sanders said. “I’m doing pretty well lately as a matter of fact. But that’s because I’m giving thought to running for president.”
Inskeep didn’t pursue it any more (at least on the interview that made it to the broadcast). It was a puzzling answer and an allegation not well explained.
