Bernie Sanders Is Building A ‘Revolution’ To Challenge Clinton In 2016

Vice‘s Grace Wyler recently interviewed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and uncovered some interesting information. Sen. Sanders is angry. Totally “furious.” Here’s what has him hot under the collar:

  • Income inequality
  • Decades of economic policies and trade agreements that have eroded the middle class
  • Republicans in DC who want to gut spending for Social Security and Medicare
  • House Speaker John Boehner for suggesting that the U.S. may have “no choice” but to send ground troops to Syria
  • Everyone in Congress for not doing more to address climate change
  • Everyone in Congress for not reining in the financial industry after the 2009 economic meltdown
  • He’s angry at Democrats — for not being as mad as he is

And he’s “really, really mad” about the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling and the “overwhelming political influence of corporate campaign contributors.”

Bernie Sanders, the self-proclaimed “democratic socialist,” is seriously considering a run for the White House in 2016. Democrats seem to be lying in wait for a Hillary Clinton announcement, but Sen. Sanders isn’t waiting. He has full intentions of challenging her if she runs — and challenging her hard.

Sen. Sanders is already working hard on the ground. He’s trying to build support for a grassroots “revolution” that will be the progressive response to the Tea Party movement. Sen. Sanders knows that a win for him is unlikely, citing a recent poll?that shows him a clear loser in the race. But what he also knows is that the long-shot candidates often influence a presidential election in “profound and interesting ways.”

Vice asked if he’s going to run for president. His response:

“I was just in New Hampshire and I’m going to Iowa next week, so I am going around the country just trying to hear from as many people as possible about if they think that the agenda I would run on?which is basically to protect the interest of working families and take on big money interests?really has resonance in their areas. So we’re still doing a lot of talking but I haven’t made a final decision yet.”

Does he think it’s possible to channel his message into the 2016 political campaign? Emphasis mine.

“I believe so. One of the problems is that while the Republican Party has become a far-right extremist party controlled by the Koch brothers and other billionaires, and the Democratic Party has not been as clear as it should be in making the American people aware of the fundamental economic issues facing this country and their willingness to fight on behalf of working families and take on Wall Street and corporate America. All I can tell you is that in my political life there is virtually no special interest, whether it’s Wall Street, the military-industrial complex, the pharmaceutical industry, oil companies, coal companies? you name it? I’ve taken them on.”

He believes that the American people are hurting and angry. He believes, correctly, that we worry very much about what’s going to happen to our children. He believes:

?Do I believe that a strong, progressive agenda can motivate many millions of?Americans?to stand up and fight back, yes, I do believe that is the case.?

He wants to see public funding of elections, with Citizen’s United being overturned. He said:

“At the end of the day, I personally want to see all billionaires unable to heavily influence campaigns.”

He’s referring to billionaires who donate to Republicans AND Democrats, though he says that Democrats have far fewer billionaire backers.

And that “revolution”?

“What we need is a political revolution. We need to end the situation where, in this coming election, the estimate is that 60 percent of the people are not going to vote. We need to change that and get people much more actively involved in the political process than is currently the case.”

Read the entire interview at Vice and follow Grace Wyler on Twitter.

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Tiffany Willis is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.

I had a successful career actively working with at-risk youth, people struggling with poverty and unemployment, and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. In 2011, I made the decision to pursue my dreams and become a full-time writer. Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.