Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told the crowd at Liberty University that America was founded on “racist principles” and that the election of President Barack Obama was a “huge step forward.”
After his speech at Liberty’s convocation, Sanders responded to a question and answer session moderated by Liberty’s senior vice president for spiritual development, David Nasser.
“If you were elected president, what would you do to bring healing and resolution to the issues of racism in our country?” Nasser asked Sanders.
“That is an excellent question. I thank you for it. I would hope and I believe that every person in this room today understands that it is unacceptable to judge people, to discriminate against people, based on the color of their skin,” Sanders stated.
“And I would also say that as a nation… The truth is, that a nation which in many ways was created—and I’m sorry to have to say this—from way back on racist principles. That’s a fact,” Sanders claimed.
“We have come a long way as a nation,” Sanders asserted. “Now I know, my guess is probably not everybody here is an admirer or a voter for Barack Obama. But the point is, that in 2008, this country took a huge step forward, David, in voting for a candidate based on his ideas and not the color of his skin.”
“And whether you like Obama or not, and I do, he’s a friend of mine and I work with him on many issues, that is a step forward for America,“ Sanders repeated.