Sen. Bernie Sanders has always been a political outsider, but the longest-serving independent in US congressional history is now not afraid to exhibit his pragmatic side.
In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY on Wednesday, the senior senator from Vermont discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, antisemitism, student protests, and President Biden’s record. One common thread that emerged immediately was Sanders’ refusal to let his disagreements with Biden on some subjects distract him from facing something more pressing: the threat posed by former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
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- 1 Sanders praises Biden’s work on health care access, infrastructure
- 2 At odds with policy on military aid to Israel
- 3 ‘Solution is to mobilize the American people’
He believes Biden’s policy change on Israel is long overdue, but he is also concerned that young people are underestimating the true threat that Trump poses and, in their rage over Israel and other issues, may fail to recognize that Biden is better on their side, even if he is not where they want him to be on Israel.
“We can be extremely upset at the Biden administration for their policies toward Israel and Gaza, but the difficulty is that in the real world that you live in, you have to look at a whole lot of things,” he said, sitting in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee hearing room on Capitol Hill. “On the other hand, I would hope that most of the young people and protestors do not want to see Donald Trump, who is a racist, a sexist, and a homophobe who doesn’t acknowledge the reality of climate change, become elected president of the United States.”
The 82-year-old senator was popular with young people when he ran in 2020, but he eventually embraced Biden and became an effective surrogate. His remarks about young people and Trump come as the self-described Democratic socialist is becoming more active in messaging directly to Democrats, and polling shows Biden’s support dwindling among a key voting demographic that helped the incumbent president win the White House nearly four years ago. Sanders’ political career has been based on his commitment to challenge the powerful, particularly large businesses and lobbyists, for the betterment of the working class.
“I believe the president has much to be proud of in terms of his previous accomplishments. “I’m not sure if he gets credit for it,” he remarked.
Sanders praises Biden’s work on health care access, infrastructure
Chairing the HELP committee, Sanders discussed his collaboration with Biden in tackling the pharmaceutical industry. In a recent White House event, he joined Biden to address health care advocates, emphasizing the goal of reducing inhaler costs to $35 per month. This exemplifies the Democrats’ commitment to expanding access to affordable health care.
According to the speaker, the introduction of Medicare negotiating prices marks a significant milestone in healthcare. It is emphasized that this development is a noteworthy advancement for the healthcare industry as a whole.
The Biden administration has achieved several notable accomplishments, as he confidently listed. One of the key achievements is the successful passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law worth $1.2 trillion. This significant investment aims to rebuild the deteriorating roads, bridges, and water systems across the country. Additionally, the administration has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the pressing issue of climate change. Moreover, they have taken steps towards alleviating the burden of student debt by canceling a substantial amount.
Biden’s support for workers and unions was evident when he joined the picket line with the United Auto Workers in Michigan, making history as the first president to do so. This act showcased his unwavering commitment to being pro-union and pro-worker.
Senator Bernie Sanders has expressed strong disagreement with the Biden administration’s provision of “unfettered military aid” to Israel during its ongoing conflict with Gaza. Sanders has been particularly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war and holds him accountable for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 35,000 individuals. The situation is further exacerbated by an imminent famine, as highlighted in a U.N. report on March 18. Humanitarian organizations estimate that more than 2 million people are at risk of starvation.
At odds with policy on military aid to Israel
According to a recent Gallup survey, which was released on March 27th, a day before the Biden campaign’s fundraiser, the majority of Americans, 55% to be exact, express their disapproval of Israel’s military action. This disapproval is particularly significant among Democrats, with a notable increase from 63% in November to 75% now.
In April, President Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid bill that encompasses $26 billion in funds specifically allocated for Israel, as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza and other regions. Interestingly, Senator Sanders opposed this particular measure.
According to Sanders, although Congress has approved and the president has signed off on the funds, they have not yet been released.
“The president should firmly convey to Netanyahu that without a substantial and meaningful increase in humanitarian aid and immediate efforts to alleviate the potential famine, not a single penny will be granted,” he emphasized. “It is imperative to put an end to the destructive actions of the settlers on the West Bank and initiate sincere discussions about a viable two-state solution. These are the prerequisites for receiving financial assistance.”
Pro-Palestinian protest movements have emerged across the nation after police initially attempted to disband a camp at Columbia University in New York nearly two weeks ago. Furthermore, there have been several documented cases of antisemitism on college campuses since the beginning of the conflict.
Student protestors have voiced their concern about the tendency of politicians to equate criticism of Israel’s government with antisemitism. In fact, Prime Minister Netanyahu went as far as labeling the college protestors as “antisemitic mobs.”
According to Sanders, he strongly disagrees with the notion that expressing concerns about the military automatically makes one anti-Semitic. He finds it unacceptable that Netanyahu would try to use the label of anti-Semitism to divert attention from the questionable actions of his government.
He added that just like criticizing the government of Italy or Ireland does not make someone anti-Italian or anti-Irish, criticizing the government of Israel does not make someone anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic.
Sanders, while acknowledging the rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, also recognized that these forms of discrimination are becoming more prevalent.
“I want to make it clear to all protestors that any form of anti-Semitism or racism, whether it is directed towards Muslim students, Black students, or gay students, is absolutely unacceptable. Such behavior goes against the principles of a peaceful movement,” he emphasized. “I want to express my strong condemnation for these actions.”
‘Solution is to mobilize the American people’
Biden has expressed his identification as a Zionist, although this term has taken on a controversial connotation. Certain individuals claim that they are not anti-Semitic, but rather anti-Zionist. Given that Sanders is a Jewish lawmaker, how does he personally define Zionism?
“I don’t spend my time fretting over the exact definition of the word. What I do know is that currently in Israel, there is a government with strong right-wing leanings, some of whom are outright racists,” he stated firmly. “Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization, initiated this conflict. While Israel has the legitimate right to defend itself, it does not have the authority to wage war against the entire Palestinian population.”
Many segments of the Democratic party, including young voters, Black voters, Arab, and Muslim American voters, are expressing disillusionment with Biden’s position on Gaza, according to recent polls. To win over these voters, the president must address their concerns. In response to this, one individual suggested that a crucial first step would be to alter their policy towards Netanyahu and Israel. They emphasized that this change is long overdue and should be prioritized by the administration.
According to Sanders, a prominent figure in the progressive wing of the Democratic party and a supporter of Biden, he believes that the answer to voter disenchantment is not to elect a president who admires authoritarian leaders like Putin and seeks to undermine American democracy.
We need to rally the American people, including working-class individuals of all races – Black, white, Latino, Native American, and others – to unite and advocate for a government that truly represents all citizens, rather than just a privileged few.
