Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt)
Credit: aattp.org
Many years ago I pitched a magazine editor on a story about Bernie Sanders, then a congressman from Vermont, who’d agreed to something extraordinary – he agreed to let me, a reporter, stick next to him without restrictions over the course of a month in congress.
“People need to know how this place works. It’s absurd,” he’d said. (Bernie often uses the word absurd, his Brooklyn roots coming through in his pronunciation – ob-zert.)
Bernie wasn’t quite so famous at the time and the editor scratched his head. “Bernie Sanders,” he said. “That’s the one who cares, right?”
“Right, that’s the guy,” I said.
I got the go-ahead and the resulting story was a wild journey through the tortuous bureaucratic maze of our national legislature. I didn’t write this at the time, but I was struck every day by what a strange and interesting figure Sanders was.
Many of the battles he brought me along to witness, he lost. And no normal politician […]
I ditto the title of this well-written article! Bernie Sanders came to Brewer Maine some twelve or thirteen years ago. I heard this man speak and was amazed (and blessed) with the knowledge he has of issues. I was also impressed with his willingness to listen and really hear folks, and with the compassion this man has for “ordinary” people.
In my exuberance I forgot to mention that I will volunteer to work on his campaign. 🙂
You could have stopped at “the only one who thinks,” Stephan, and I heartily agree that Bernie would be the only Democrat (or any party’s hope) to offer REAL change.
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
by Malcolm Gladwell – the book explains why Bernie Sanders should do very well against the PAC money, the focus groups and the handlers of the Giants. A man that knows his position and has developed the answers from weekly town hall meetings. I can wait to see him during the debates.