One thing you can count on with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is consistency. His positions haven’t evolved much over the last thirty years – instead the Democratic Party has started shifting toward his brand of socialism.
At last night’s CNN town hall, moderated by Wolf Blitzer, Sanders stuck with positions that made him popular in the 2012 election. He was also brutally honest with his answers on health care, wealth inequality and the job that President Trump is doing.
On health care, Sanders stands by a single payer Medicare for All program. “The only way to provide health care to all people in a cost-effective way is a Medicare for All single-payer program. That’s what I believe and that’s what I will fight for.”
However, if you like your private plan already, you won’t be able to keep it.
Sen. Bernie Sanders addresses his universal health care plan: “The only way to provide health care to all people in a cost-effective way is a Medicare for All single-payer program. That’s what I believe and that’s what I will fight for." #SandersTownHall https://t.co/n2hqMm3i6W pic.twitter.com/7OINhBmIBa
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019
He jokingly said he’d bring a lie detector test to a debate with Trump.
"We'll bring a lie detector along and every time he lies it goes 'beep.'" Sen. Bernie Sanders jokingly describes his strategy for engaging President Trump if he faces him in a debate later in the campaign. https://t.co/xeojGb8xy3 pic.twitter.com/mLULKN6yOr
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019
And he plans to make the wealthy corporations pay their fair share in taxes. “‘Am I going to demand that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes?’ Damn right, I will!”
"‘Am I going to demand that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes?’ Damn right, I will!”
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’d raise money for his ambitious policy proposals by raising taxes on Amazon and companies like it. https://t.co/xeojGb8xy3 pic.twitter.com/Ih3lveCCWg
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019
He also talked about Democratic socialism and what it means to him for society.
Bernie Sanders explains why he supports Democratic socialism: “What democratic socialism means to me is having in a civilized society, the understanding that we can make sure that all of our people live in security and in dignity.” #SandersTownHall https://t.co/n2hqMm3i6W pic.twitter.com/9xL7a78l4x
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019
And like many other candidates, believes that college should be free for all.
Bernie Sanders on affordable education: "We make public colleges and universities tuition-free and we substantially lower the outrageous levels of student debt. … We’re going to pay for that by a tax on Wall Street speculation." #SandersTownHall https://t.co/aYTul5ggvA pic.twitter.com/3AnSRf3pZy
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019
Washington D.C. should also become a state, according to Senator Sanders.
Bernie Sanders discusses DC representation in Congress: "I strongly support statehood for DC … The size of this community is larger than some states. Why don't they have senators and a member in the House?” #SandersTownHall pic.twitter.com/ZbW6OUjXdA
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019
But probably the oddest and most awkward exchange of the night was when Blitzer asked him about his tax returns.
.@wolfblitzer "Will you release 10 years of your tax returns?"@BernieSanders: “Yes.”
Blitzer: When do you think we’ll be able to see them?
Sanders: “Soon. … They’re very boring tax returns." #SandersTownHall https://t.co/n2hqMm3i6W pic.twitter.com/CjzpHTCTtp
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2019