'Today We Begin a Political Revolution': Bernie Sanders Launches Presidential Bid in Vermont
With a progressive vision that includes breaking up the biggest banks, political transparency, free college education, environmental action, and equity for working and middle class Americans, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Tuesday officially launched his bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Speaking at a rally at Waterfront Park in Burlington, the socialist-Democrat kicked off his campaign like any Vermonter would: with free Ben & Jerry's ice cream and live Zydeco music.
In remarks prepared for delivery, Sanders said: "Today, with your support and the support of millions of people throughout this country, we begin a political revolution to transform our country economically, politically, socially and environmentally. Today, we stand here and say loudly and clearly that: ‘Enough is enough. This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their Super PACs and their lobbyists."
"Let me be very clear," he added. "There is something profoundly wrong when the top one-tenth of 1 percent owns almost as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent and when 99 percent of all new income goes to the top 1 percent. There is something profoundly wrong when, in recent years, we have seen a proliferation of millionaires and billionaires at the same time as millions of Americans work longer hours for lower wages and we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country on earth. There is something profoundly wrong when one family owns more wealth than the bottom 130 million Americans. This grotesque level of inequality is immoral. It is bad economics. It is unsustainable. This type of rigged economy is not what America is supposed to be about. This has got to change and, as your president, together we will change it."
The Sanders' campaign hosted a live-stream of his announcement, which began at 5 PM EST
Though dubbed a long-shot candidate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, in an email to supporters on Tuesday, Sanders expressed confidence in his vision for "political revolution," saying: "We can make real change. People should not underestimate us."
"Income and wealth inequality have reached obscene levels, the threat of climate change is more frightening than ever, and the billionaire class is now allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money to buy the candidates they want," the email reads. "Our country is in serious trouble, and it is up to us to stand up and fight back."
According to the Burlington Free Press, other speakers at Tuesday's rally included notable locals such as Ben & Jerry's founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, 350.org founder Bill McKibben, and Mike O'Day, district vice president for Communications Workers of America, among others.
Ahead of the rally, Sanders gave an interview to CNBC in which he outlined some of his hopes for the future.
"Do we live in a country where 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent of the people vote?" Sanders asked. "Where we have serious discourse on media rather than political gossip? Where we're debating trade policy, we're debating foreign policy, we're debating economic policy, where the American people actually know what's going on in Congress?"
Then, touching upon a theme in which he calls for a more "moral" distribution of wealth, Sanders continued: "Ninety-nine percent of all new income generated today goes to the top 1 percent. Top one-tenth of 1 percent owns as much as wealth as the bottom 90 percent. Does anybody think that that is the kind of economy this country should have? Do we think it's moral? So to my mind, if you have seen a massive transfer of wealth from the middle class to the top one-tenth of 1 percent, you know what, we've got to transfer that back if we're going to have a vibrant middle class."
"I am sensing that based on trips that I made to Iowa, New Hampshire, that there is more disconnect and more anger at the establishment—the corporate establishment, the political establishment, the media establishment," said Bernie Sanders. "As I've said before, don't underestimate me. We're going to do better than people think."
Though recent polling indicates that former Secretary of State Clinton still holds a tremendous lead in the Democratic field, Sanders currently has more on-the-ground support from voters than Republican contenders, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Further, according to Real Clear Politics, Sanders boasts more support than former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham combined.
"I fully concede that I get into this race as a major underdog. No question about it," Sanders said Tuesday. "And clearly, in terms of money, I will be very, very, very heavily outspent."
However, during recent events across the country, Sanders said he has noticed increased support for many of the ideas he has discussed.
He continued: "A couple months ago, I was in California, a beautiful sunny day. We had 500 people coming out at a union hall. I went to Austin, Texas, we had about 600 people coming out. I was in Las Vegas, we had 300 people coming out. Went to Chicago, we had 400 people. So I am sensing that based on that trip and trips that I made to Iowa, New Hampshire, that there is more disconnect and more anger at the establishment—the corporate establishment, the political establishment, the media establishment."
"As I've said before though, don't underestimate me. We're going to do better than people think. And I think we got a shot to win this thing."
Updates and reactions can be seen online under the hashtag #Bernie.