Bernie Sanders keeps hitting all the right notes

On policy issues and on being authentic, Bernie Sanders is my top choice.   I have withheld my total support, because I worry that he cannot win or, if he did, that he couldn't effectively govern in today's climate in Washington.   And, for the sake of the balance on the Supreme Court, we must elect a Democrat president.

But Bernie continues to hit all the right notes -- and week by week he is winning me over.   The latest came when he addressed the student assembly at Liberty University, which of course was not his natural political home ground.   Liberty U. was founded by the late Jerry Falwell and is ultra-conservative in social issues.

So what did Bernie, who is Jewish, tell them?   First, he was authentic and honest about his differences from conservatives, but he sought to find common ground and to appeal to their sense of morality as opposed to party line talking points.

As Samantha Lachman reported on his talk for the Huffington Post, Sanders began by saying he believes that it is "vitally important" for those who hold different views to have civil discourse instead of shouting at each other.   He acknowledged that he believes "in marriage equality and in a woman's right to control her own body.  But he went on to argue that on issues like income inequality, childhood poverty, youth unemployment and access to health care, he and religious conservatives should be able to find some common ground. . . ."

Sanders explained:  "When we talk about morality, and when we talk about justice, we have to, in my view, understand that there is no justice when so few have so much, and so many have so little."   And he quoted the Bible on doing to others what you would have done to you.   He noted those in the audience believe in "family values" and then argued that "It is imperative that we have the courage to stand with the poor, to stand with working people, and, when necessary, take on very powerful and wealthy people whose greed is doing our country enormous harm."

While getting mostly polite applause, he seemed to hit a note of enthusiastic response when he answered a question to explain how he reconciles his views on abortion with his belief in defending the vulnerable.

Sanders replied that it is hypocritical for conservatives to demand less government intervention in every matter except reproductive rights.  "I do believe that it is improper for the United States government to tell every woman in this country the very painful and difficult choice she has to make on this issue."   And then he talked about Republican budgets that give tax cuts to wealthy people while cutting Pell grants for college students and nutrition programs for children.    He also address the question of war:   It should always be the last resort after diplomatic solutions have been sought.

Well done Bernie.   I predict you got a few votes there and made a few of the others think.   But, more important, your forthrightness, your attempt to find common ground, your framing inequality as a moral issue, and your absence of political spin influenced a lot more people like me who are just short of jumping on your bandwagon.

Ralph

NOTE:  [I wrote the above based on video clips and transcript excerpts without having watching the entire speech and Q&A.   Now that I have watched it, I am even more impressed by Bernie Sanders.   He was terrific and touching.   Here's the link for the entire hour:  >http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/14/1421219/-A-worthwhile-use-of-six-minutes-of-your-time?detail=email<    The last 22 minutes are the Q&A.]