Meet the Press: Sen. Bernie Sanders

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

There has got to be an ideological change of course.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

It is no secret that I want Joe Biden to be reelected president. If that is going to happen, if we are going to defeat creeping authoritarianism and right-wing extremism, there has got to be an ideological change of course.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Thank you for having me.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

No. I think what you can read into that is that Biden has every right to be proud of a long series of accomplishments. You know, two and a half, three years ago this country was in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression because of Covid. Today, unemployment is all of 3%. We're gaining new jobs, rebuilding manufacturing. We've invested in the infrastructure. We're making progress, and Biden has a right to be proud of that. The point of my remarks is that you cannot simply, as President of the United States, rest on your laurels. What you have got to understand is that today, for structural reasons that have gone on for decades, tens and tens of millions of people are struggling to put food on the table. They can't afford health care. They can't afford prescription drugs. They can't afford housing. They can't afford childcare. And meanwhile, in the midst of all of that, you have incredible corporate greed, and the billionaire class has never done better. So my message yesterday for the Democrats, not just for the President --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

-- is if you want to do well in this election, talk to the needs of the American people, have the guts to take on the big money and trusts who have so much power.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, it's -- yes. You need to recognize that not only have we accomplished a great deal in Biden's first three years, and he deserves credit for that, but there are so many long-term problems that this country is facing. Does anybody in America think that our healthcare system is working? And yet, the insurance companies make tens of billions of dollars, drug companies make tens of billions of dollars. We don't have enough doctors, nurses, mental health providers, pharmacists, dentists. So we need fundamental reform in health care. And by the way, the existential issue of our time is whether or not we address climate change. And we have made some steps forward, but there is no question in mind if we're going to allow our kids and grandchildren to live in a healthy planet, we've got a lot, lot more to do.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, I think in this particular time, this particular moment in American history, when we're taking on the, somebody, the former President, who in fact does not believe in democracy, he is an authoritarian, and a very, very dangerous person, I think at this moment there has to be a unification of progressive people in general all of this country, people who are prepared to make sure that women control their own body, that we deal with climate change, that we represent the needs of the working class of this country, and take on the billionaire class.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Look, when people look at a candidate, whether he's Joe Biden, or Trump, or Bernie Sanders, anybody else, you know, they have to evaluate a whole lot of factors. I, you know, met with the President, I don't know, five or six weeks ago. We had a great discussion. He seemed fine to me. But I think at the end of the day, what we have to ask ourselves is, "What do people stand for?" Do you believe that women have a right to control their own bodies? Well, the President has been strong on that. Do you think that climate change is real, or do you agree with the Republicans that it's a non-issue? Do you think we should raise the minimum wage? Do you think we should reform and take on the pharmaceutical industry? So age is an issue, Chuck, but there are a lot of broader issues than just that.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, I've known Cornel for many, many years. He's a very independent-minded guy, he will do what he wants to do. I just think, again, I think Cornel or anybody else can play an important role now about raising issues that are not always discussed. But at the end of the day, I think the progressive community in general and the American people have got to make a decision as to whether we stand for democracy or authoritarianism, or whether or not we're going to represent working class families.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

I really haven't followed it that closely.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Thank you.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source