Among the other things that make the 2016 election cycle unique is the fact that there is a self-described "Democratic Socialist" running a competitive race in the Democratic Party. But what, beside the "socialist," makes Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) any different from...oh, I don't know. Saaaaaay, Barack Obama?
The last GOP primary debate was held at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and the place was just swarming with Bernie Sanders supporters proudly sporting their buttons, hats and T-shirts. I talked to many of these young people who were "feeling the Bern" in an effort to determine exactly what a Democratic Socialist is.
Sanders supporters were blunt in their support of Sanders’ Socialist vision for America:
- “We need to apply regulations and stuff to limit the amount of wealth that people can accumulate,”
- “He wants to spread the wealth,”
- “I like Socialism,”
- “I’m a Socialist.”
When MRCTV pointed out that Pres. Obama has supported many of the same policies as their candidate, the Sanders supporters conceded that Obama is Socialist-lite:
- “I would say Pres. Obama has socialist tendencies. I don’t think you can be a Socialist unless you declare yourself a Socialist,”
- “Obama is for single-payer health insurance and that is a quote-unquote “Socialist” policy,”
- “Obama’s much more moderate. He’s actually very middle-of-the-road,”
- “It depends on how radical he makes it.”
Watch the video below and see for yourself: