>> HE CAME WITHIN A HAIR OF THE
2016 DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
>> THIS TIME,
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS SAYS HE'S
GOING ALL THE WAY.
>> WHAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT
THIS TIME?
>> WE ARE GOING TO WIN.
>> WITH A PART OF A ECONOMIC
PARTY MOVING LEFT, THE
INDEPENDENT OF AQUATIC SOCIALIST
FROM VERMONT REMINDS VOTERS HE'S
THE ORIGINAL.
>> THREE YEARS AGO DURING OUR
2015 CAMPAIGN, WE WERE TOLD THAT
OUR IDEAS WERE RADICAL AND THEY
WERE EXTREME.
>> AND IN THE SHADOW OF THIS
ONCE ICONIC STEEL PLANT...
>> SENATOR BERNIE KEMP DOMINICK
SANDERS TALKS ABOUT THE ECONOMY,
JOBS AND HIS VISION FOR THE FUTF
AMERICA.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
>> GOOD EVENING HERE AND BEEN
SLAPPED DOMINIC BETHLEHEM,
PENNSYLVANIA, .
I'M BRET BAIER.
>> Martha: AND I
MARTHA MacCALLUM.
INCORPORATED YOU SO MUCH.
GREAT TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.
BEHIND US, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS
THE NOW SHUTTERED BETHLEHEM
STEEL PLANT.
>> Bret: IN ITS HEYDAY THE
BETHLEHEM STEEL PLANT BLASTS
THOSE FURNACES AND PRODUCED
THOUSANDS OF TONS OF STEEL A
DAY.
THAT STEEL BUILT SKYSCRAPERS AND
HELPED THE U.S. WIN TWO WORLD
WARS.
THE PLANT CLOSED IN 1995.
IT REALLY DEVASTATING WAS
WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY.
>> Martha: NOW THERE IS A NEW
DAY DAWNING BETHLEHEM
ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY.
HERE IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTRY --
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHICH IS
WHERE WE ARE, THEY VOTED FOR
BARACK OBAMA IN BIG NUMBERS AND
FOR THE DEMOCRAT ALL THE WAY
BACK TO BUSH 41 ACTUALLY, BUT IT
FLIPPED THE SCRIPT IN HIS COUNTY
AND THEY VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP
IN 2016 BY A SHIFT OF NINE
POINTS.
>> Bret: AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
REASONS WE ARE HERE.
SENATOR SANDERS IS HOPING TO GET
THOSE VOTERS BACK IN THE BLUE
COLUMN.
ACCORDING TO ALL RECENT POLLS,
HE IS LEADING AMONG DECLARED
DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Senator Sanders: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> Bret: SENATOR, WE WANTED TO
START -- WE WILL GET A LOT OF
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE,
MARTHA AND I WILL FOLLOW UP
THROUGHOUT.
LET'S START BY GETTING WORK TO
OUR AUDIENCE.
OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM JOE.
HE IS A STUDENT FROM ALLENTOWN,
PENNSYLVANIA.
WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?
>> HI, SENATOR SANDERS.
NOW THAT YOUR TAX RETURNS HAVE
BEEN RELEASED AND YOU HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS A MILLIONAIRE AND
IN THE TOP 1%, WILL YOU PAY YOUR
FAIR SHARE, AND HOW DO YOU PLAN
TO APPLY THE POLICIES THAT
YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
ENFORCING ON TOP EARNERS?
THANK YOU, SENATOR SANDERS.
>> Senator Sanders: I HAPPEN
TO BELIEVE, JOE, THAT WE HAVE AN
ABSURD TAX SYSTEM, AND WHILE
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TODAY ARE
PAYING ACTUALLY MORE IN TAXES
THAN ANTICIPATED, AMAZON,
NETFLIX, AND DOZENS OF MAJOR
CORPORATIONS, AS A RESULT OF
TRUMP'S TAX BILL, PAID NOTHING
IN FEDERAL TAXES.
I THINK THAT'S A DISGRACE.
SO TODAY --
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
YOU RAISED THE ISSUE I'M A
MILLIONAIRE.
ACTUALLY THIS YEAR WE HAD
$560,000 INCOME.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, AND THAT
MONEY, IN MY CASE, MY WIFE'S
CASE, IT CAME FROM A BOOK THAT I
WROTE, PRETTY GOOD BOOK, YOU
MIGHT WANT TO READ IT.
[LAUGHTER]
BEST SELLER, BEST SELLER SOLD
ALL OF THE WORLD, AND WE MADE
MONEY.
IF ANYONE THINKS THAT I SHOULD
APOLOGIZE FOR WRITING A
BEST-SELLING BOOK, I'M SORRY,
I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
BUT LET ME REITERATE, I VOTED
AGAINST -- I GUESS I'M FOX NEWS
YOU SO THAT IT BENEFITED FROM
TRUMP'S TAX BILL, DID YOU TELL
PEOPLE I VOTED AGAINST TRUMP'S
TAX BILL?
SURE.
>> Bret: BUT YOU DID BENEFIT
FROM IT.
>> Senator Sanders: BUT I
VOTED AGAINST IT.
AND I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT A
TAX BILL WRITTEN AND PUSHED BY
TRUMP, WHO TOLD THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT THAT TAX BILL, SOME
OF YOU MAY RECALL, WOULD NOT
BENEFIT THE WEALTHY.
DO REMEMBER THAT?
NOT GOING TO BENEFIT THE
WEALTHY.
83% OF THE BENEFITS WENT TO THE
TOP 1%.
I THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA AND IN
MY VIEW, PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S
ME, YOU, PROBABLY MAKE A LOT
MORE MONEY THAN I DO, BUT
WHETHER IT'S ME OR YOU ARE
ANYBODY ELSE, I THINK WEALTHY
PEOPLE AND LARGE CORPORATIONS
THAT ARE MAKING BILLIONS OF
PROFITS SHOULD START PAYING
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Bret: TO YOUR POINT, AND TO
JOE'S POINT, YOUR TAXES TO SHOW
THAT YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE.
YOU DID MAKE 1 MILLION IN
2016-2017.
YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE 561 IN
2017-2018 FOR YOUR MARGINAL TAX
RATE WAS 26% BECAUSE OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TAX CUTS.
WHY NOT SAY ON LEADING THIS
REVOLUTION, GOING TO TAKE THIS?
>> Senator Sanders: COME ON.
I PAY THE TAXES THAT I OWE, AND
BY THE WAY, WANT TO GET
DONALD TRUMP UP HERE AND ASK
THEM HOW MUCH HE PAYS IN TAXES.
>> Bret: WE WILL.
>> Senator Sanders: I AM
AWAITING YOUR DOING THAT.
>> Bret: WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
THEM.
>> Martha: WE ABSOLUTELY WILL.
SPEECH REC IS THE PRESIDENT
WATCHES YOUR NETWORK A BIT,
RIGHT?
[LAUGHTER]
HEY PRESIDENT TRUMP, MY WIFE AND
I JUST RELEASED TEN YEARS.
PLEASE DO THE SAME.
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW.
>> Bret: JUST TO WRAP THAT UP,
YOU DO SPEND A LOT OF TIME
VILIFYING --
>> Senator Sanders: I DON'T
VILIFY.
THE FACT THAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE
DOING PHENOMENAL AND     PHENOME
DOING PHENOMENAL AND     PHENOMA
DOING PHENOMENAL AND     PHENOML
DOING PHENOMENAL AND     PHENOMY
WELL, FOR FOUR YEARS WE HAVE
BEEN A SHRINKING MIDDLE CLASS,
40 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN
POVERTY AND TODAY JUST SO
HAPPENS THAT THE VERY WEALTHY
ARE DOING INCREDIBLY WELL.
IT'S NOT VILIFYING TO SAY THAT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF
MONEY, AND SOME CASES BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF WEALTH, THEY
SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF
TAXES.
I'M NOT VILIFYING.
>> Bret: LAST QUESTIONS ON
THIS.
A LOT OF MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES GIVE A TIME TO
CHARITY.
YOU GAVE 3.4%.
>> Senator Sanders: YEAH.
MY WIFE AND I DO GIVE MONEY TO
CHARITY.
AND WE ARE PROUD TO DO WHAT WE
DID.
YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE, GATES
FOUNDATION, DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
WE DO WHAT WE DO.
>> Martha: I'VE GOT A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
YOU RECOMMENDED A WELL TAX.
70% --
>> Senator Sanders: ACTUALLY I
DIDN'T, THAT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE.
I THINK ANOTHER PERSON.
>> Martha: WHAT'S HER NUMBER?
>> Senator Sanders: WHAT'S MY
NUMBER?
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK.
I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE
SURE THAT ELDERLY PEOPLE DO NOT
CONTINUE TO LIVE IN POVERTY AND
YOU'VE GOT 20% OF ELDERLY PEOPLE
TRYING TO GET BY ON 13,000 OR
$14,000 A YEAR, I THINK WE
SHOULD RAISE THAT GAP FOR PEOPLE
MAKING $250,000 OR MORE SO WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARENTS
CAN LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES IN
DIGNITY.
I WILL TELL YOU ELSE DOMINIC
WOULD ALSO THINK.
A TIME WHEN WALL STREET IS DOING
PHENOMENALLY WELL AND WE HAVE
MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WERE
DEEPLY IN DEBT FOR THE CRIME OF
HAVING GONE TO COLLEGE, I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD PASS A
SPECULATION TAX ON WALL STREET.
>> Martha: THAT'S FINE, BUT I
MET ASKING ABOUT THE WEALTHY AND
HOW MUCH HIGHER YOU WOULD MAKE
IT.
YOU DON'T AGREE WITH 70%, WHAT
WOULD YOUR NUMBER BE?
>> Senator Sanders: IN THE
CAMPAIGN OF 2016 WE TALKED ABOUT
52%.
>> Martha: 52%, WOULD YOU BE
WILLING TO PAY 52% ON THE MONEY
MAY?
YOU CAN VOLUNTEER.
>> Senator Sanders: YOU CAN
VOLUNTEER TOO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Martha: EVERYBODY IN YOUR
BRACKET SHOULD DO.
>> Senator Sanders: MARTHA,
YOU MAKE MORE MONEY THAN I DO.
WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT CONNECT
>> Martha: I DIDN'T SUGGEST
THE WEALTH TAX.
>> Bret: AND SHE'S NOT RUNNING
FOR PRESIDENT.
>> Senator Sanders: WE ARE
GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE WEALTH
TAX AND WE ARE GOING TO DEMAND
THAT WE END THE ABSURDITY WERE
MAJOR CORPORATION AFTER MAJOR
CORPORATIONS -- DO YOU KNOW WHA
WHAT?
IN THIS TAX BILL THAT YOU ARE
DEFENDING --
>> Martha: ARE NOT DEFENDING
ANY TAXABLE, WE ARE ASKING
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU
PROPOSE.
>> Senator Sanders: FAMILIES
LIKE THE KOCH BROTHERS GET
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN SAVINGS.
THAT IS ABSURD.
TRUMP WANTS TO REPEAL THE ENTIRE
ESTATE TAX.
HUGE TAX BREAKS FOR
BILLIONAIRES.
YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> Bret: WE HAVE MANY
QUESTIONS.
>> Martha: WE HAVE MANY
QUESTIONS ASKED LIKE >> Bret:
WE WANT TO GET SUBSTANCE, WE
WANT TO GET DETAIL.
>> Senator Sanders: LET'S DO
IT.
>> Bret: THE AUDIENCE HAS A
TON OF QUESTIONS TOO.
>> Martha: ARE QUESTION COMES
FROM KATHY HARRINGTON.
KATHY, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?
>> HI, SENATOR SANDERS GRADE
WELCOME TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY.
MY QUESTION IS THE DEFINITION OF
SOCIALISM IS JUST A SOCIETY
AGREEING TO WORK TOGETHER AND
COMBINING THEIR RESOURCES TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS PROTECTED
AND TAKEN
HOW CAN YOU CHALLENGE THE IDEA
THAT SOCIALISM IS BAD?
IN THE
MINDS OF THE PUBLIC?
>> Senator Sanders: ASK THEM,
NOT ME.
>> Bret: IS THIS GOING TO BE A
CONSTANT THING?
>> Senator Sanders: NO.
IT WILL NOT.
>> Bret: ALL RIGHT.
>> Senator Sanders: YOU ASK ME
FOR QUESTIONS, I WILL GIVE YOU
FOR ANSWERS.
>> Bret: THANK YOU, SIR.
>> Martha: THAT'S THE DEAL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Senator Sanders: NOT
EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD
COME ON THE SHOW.
>> Bret: AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> Senator Sanders: ALL RIGHT.
YOUR NETWORK DOES NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF
RESPECT, IN MY WORLD, BUT I
THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO BE HERE AND HAVE A SERIOUS
DISCUSSION ABOUT SERIOUS ISSUES.
THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE
AND IT WILL COME UP, WHAT IS
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM?
FAIR QUESTION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, TO ME, IS
CREATING A GOVERNMENT AND AN
ECONOMY AND A SOCIETY WHICH
WORKS FOR ALL RATHER THAN JUST
THE TOP 1%.
IT MEANS ENDING THE ABSURD
INEQUALITIES THAT EXIST TODAY
AND I WANT TO LAY THIS OUT,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
AS MUCH ON FOX, AND YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE THIS MUCH IN THE
MEDIA IN GENERAL.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO
CONCLUDE WHETHER WE THINK IT IS
APPROPRIATE, AND WHAT AMERICA IS
ABOUT, HAVE THREE FAMILIES OWN
MORE WEALTH THAN THE BOTTOM,
HALF OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, 169
PEOPLE.
WHETHER WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE
TOP 1% TO OWN MORE WEALTH THAN
THE BOTTOM 92%.
WHETHER IT IS RIGHT THAT 49% OF
ALL THE INCOME GOES TO THE TOP
1%, WHEN MANY PEOPLE, BRET AND
MARTHA, WERE WATCHING THIS
PROGRAM, OR WORKING TWO OR THREE
JOBS JUST TO PAY THE BILLS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO
CREATE A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS
FOR ALL OF US, AND WE WANT
GREATER POLITICAL SYSTEM WHICH
IS BASED ON ONE PERSON, ONE
VOTE, NOT BILLIONAIRES BUYING
ELECTIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS
DISASTROUS CITIZENS UNITED --
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND FURTHERMORE, FURTHERMORE,
WHEN I TALKED -- PEOPLE HAVE
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF CAPITALISM OR
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, WHATEVER
IT MAY BE, BUT THIS IS MY VIEW.
I BELIEVE THAT HUMAN BEINGS,
ESPECIALLY IN A WEALTHY
DEMOCRATIC CIVILIZED SOCIETY
LIKE OUR OWN, ARE ENTITLED TO
CERTAIN BASIC RIGHTS.
IF SO LET ME BE VERY CLEAR AND
I'M SURE WE WILL DISCUSS IT
LATER IN THE SHOW, BRET.
I BELIEVE THAT HEALTH CARE IS A
HUMAN RIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS SOMETHING
EMBARRASSINGLY WRONG WHEN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE
ONLY MAJOR COUNTRY ON EARTH NOT
TO GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE TO ALL
PEOPLE.
I LIVE 50 MILES FROM THE
CANADIAN BORDER.
>> Bret: WE WILL GET IN DETAIL
ABOUT MEDICARE.
>> Senator Sanders:
HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT.
I BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION,
WHETHER POOR, WHETHER YOU'RE
RICH, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET
ALL OF THE EDUCATION YOU NEED,
AND THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE WE
SHOULD MAKE PUBLIC COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TUITION-FREE.
>> Bret: WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND WE ARE
GOING TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT HOW
TO PAY FOR IT, WHICH IS A REAL
QUESTION.
>> Senator Sanders:
ABSOLUTELY.
>> Bret: BACK ON THE TAXES
BRIEFLY.
WHEN YOU WROTE THE BOOK AND YOU
MADE THE MONEY, ISN'T THAT THE
DEFINITION OF CAPITALISM AND THE
AMERICAN DREAM?
>> Senator Sanders: NO.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT
IS A COUNTRY WHERE EVERYBODY HAS
OPPORTUNITY.
I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE.
I'M A UNITED STATES SENATOR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A
COLLEGE DEGREE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
I WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION SO WHEN THEY TURN ON
THE WATER, HAVE DRINKABLE WATER,
NOT TOXIC WATER.
SO WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR,
BRET, IS NOT A SOCIETY WHERE A
FEW PEOPLE CAN MAKE A LOT OF
MONEY, BUT A SOCIETY WHERE
EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY HAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN
SECURITY AND DIGNITY.
>> Martha: THIS WEEKEND, WANT
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
FIELD OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
WHO ARE OUT THERE.
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       B
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       T
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       I
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       G
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       ,
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       T
THIS WEEKEND PETE BOOTED       E
MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND ANNOUNCED HE
IS ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
HE IS RUNNING.
AND HERE'S WHAT HE SAID IN
SOUTH BEND.
>> A MOMENT LIKE THAT CALLS FOR
HOPEFUL AND AUDACIOUS VOICES
FROM COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, AND
YES, IT CALLS FOR A NEW
GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS
COUNTRY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Martha: SO BUTTIGIEG
OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN THE YOUNGEST
CANDIDATE -- HE WOULD CERTAINLY
BE THE YOUNGEST PRESIDENT IF HE
WERE TO WIN AT 37 YEARS OLD, AND
YOU ARE 77 YEARS OLD.
HE'S CALLING FOR A NEW
GENERATION.
HE DIDN'T NAME ANYONE
SPECIFICALLY, BUT WHAT DO YOU
SAY TO THOSE WHO HAVE RAISED THE
QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT HE
WOULD BE TO ALL THAT 79 AS
PRESIDENT?
>> Senator Sanders: FOLLOW ME
AROUND THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
MARTHA, IT IS A FAIR QUESTION.
IT'S A FAIR QUESTION AND ALL I
CAN SAY IS IF THERE WAS WHAT HE
OR I WOULD KNOCK ON THE GREATEST
THANK GOD MY HEALTH IS GOOD.
WHEN I WAS A KID I WAS A LONG
DISTANCE RUNNER, ONE OF THE
BETTER MILERS IN NEW YORK CITY
AND CONTINUE TO HAVE MY
ENDURANCE.
BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT A
CANDIDATE, YEAH, YOU CAN LOOK AT
IT, THAT'S FAIR.
YOU CAN LOOK AT EXPERIENCE.
I WAS A MAYOR FOR EIGHT YEARS, A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, I'M
A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE, I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE
WORLD TALKING TO HEADS OF STATE.
SO I MEAN I THINK IT IS A
COMBINATION OF FACTORS, BUT THE
END OF THE DAY, THIS IS WHAT I
HONESTLY BELIEVE, IT'S NOT
WHETHER YOU'RE YOUNG, NOT
WHETHER YOUR OLD, IT IS WHAT YOU
BELIEVE IN.
AND I HAVE TO SAY -- AND I HAVE
TO SAY, THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM
OF FOX, THIS IS A CRITICISM OF
MEDIA IN GENERAL.
THERE IS TOO MUCH FOCUS ON
INDIVIDUALS AND NOT IN A ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU -- AGAIN,
THIS IS NOT JUST FOX, THIS IS
ALL THE REST.
I GO OUT AND I LISTEN TO THE
PEOPLE AND THEY SAY -- THEY
ASKED ME QUESTIONS, THOSE
QUESTIONS ARE OFTEN VERY, VERY
DIFFERENT THAN THE ISSUES BEING
DISCUSSED BY MEDIA ON
CAPITOL HILL.
>> Bret: WE WANT TO GET BACK
TO AUDIENCE QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO SAY WE UNDERSTAND
AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT
YOU'RE HERE.
WE ARE GIVING YOU AN HOUR OF
SUBSTANCE AND TALK ON OUR
AIRWAVES, SO WE CAN GET OVER THE
FOX THING.
IF YOU'RE ALL     ALL RIGHT WITH
IF YOU'RE ALL     ALL RIGHT WITT
IF YOU'RE ALL     ALL RIGHT WITA
IF YOU'RE ALL     ALL RIGHT WIT.
OKAY.
BRIAN IS A CITY COUNCILMAN HERE
IN BETHLEHEM.
WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?
GO AHEAD, BRIAN.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND, BRIAN HAS
GOT THE FLOOR.
>> SENATOR SANDERS --
>> Senator Sanders: WHERE IS
BRIAN?
>> AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL,
WELCOME TO THE CITY, MY QUESTION
IS AS A LIFELONG KENNEDY
DEMOCRAT, MORE SPECIFICALLY
CENTER LEFT, MY CONCERN IS
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SO INFLAMED
THE DEMOCRATIC BASE THAT WE WILL
SHIFT TO FAR LEFT AND
OVERREACHED THE COMIC LIKE THE
REPUBLICANS DID WITH THE TEA
PARTY IN 2010, WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> Senator Sanders: GOOD
QUESTION.
THIS IS WHAT I SAY EVERY DAY.
I DISAGREE WITH DONALD TRUMP ON
VIRTUALLY EVERY ISSUE, AND I
TALK ABOUT IT, AND I WILL TELL
YOU WHAT UPSETS ME -- BUT I WILL
TELL YOU WHAT UPSETS ME THE
MOST, AND I'M GOING TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION, IS THAT WHETHER
YOUR CONSERVATIVE OR MODERATE OR
PROGRESSIVE, I DON'T THINK THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PROUD THAT
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WAS A
PATHOLOGICAL LIAR.
AND I SAY THAT -- IT DOES NOT
GIVE ME PLEASURE TO SAY THAT.
I DISAGREED WITH GEORGE W. BUSH
ON ALMOST EVERYTHING.
BUSH WAS NOT A PATHOLOGICAL
LIAR.
TRUMP CANNOT EVEN TELL THE TRUTH
EVEN AS TO WHERE HIS FATHER WAS
BORN.
REALLY THAT CRAZY, HIS FATHER
WAS BORN IN NEW YORK, HE CLAIMS
HE WAS BORN IN GERMANY, BUT IF
YOU CAN EVEN TELL THE TRUTH
ABOUT WHERE YOUR FATHER WAS
BORN, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
ANYTHING THAT HE SAYS.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
LOOK, IF WE SPEND ALL OF OUR
TIME ATTACKING FROM, YOU KNOW
WHAT, DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO
LOSE.
ALL RIGHT?
[APPLAUSE]
OUR JOB -- OUR JOB IS TO LAY OUT
A VISION THAT MAKES SENSE TO THE
WORKING FAMILIES OF THIS
COUNTRY, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT
I'M TRYING TO DO.
OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, AND THE
VIDEO THAT YOU SHOWED EARLIER, I
THINK CAPTURED THAT, WE RAISED
ISSUES FOUR YEARS AGO WHICH WERE
THOUGHT TO BE EXTREME AND A
LITTLE BIT OUT THERE, BUT TODAY
THERE ARE ACCEPTED BY THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, SO I THINK YOU
TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF BETHLEHEM
AND BURLINGTON, VERMONT, AND YOU
SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
AMONG OTHER THINGS, IF YOU WORK
40 HOURS A WEEK, PEOPLE DON'T
WANT TO LIVE IN POVERTY.
WITH GOT TO RAISE THAT MINIMUM
WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE.
[APPLAUSE]
IN MY STATE OF VERMONT AND ALL
OF THIS COUNTRY WITH GOT AN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS FALLING
ABOUT, ROADS AND BRIDGES AND
WATER SYSTEMS, WE COULD PUT
50 MILLION PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
WITH A TRILLION DOLLAR
INVESTMENT.
IT DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO
PEOPLE?
[APPLAUSE]
SO I AGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK TRUMP IS A DANGEROUS
PRESIDENT, BUT IF ALL WE DO IS
FOCUS ON HIM, WE LOSE.
OUR JOB IS TO DEVELOP AN AGENDA
THAT SPEAKS TO THE NEEDS OF
WORKERS.
WHEN WE DO THAT WE ARE GOING TO
WIN AND WIN BIG.
>> Martha: SENATOR, IT LOOKS
LIKE -- AND NOBODY KNOWS FOR
SURE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS
LIKELY TO GET INTO THE RACE.
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THE DNC,
THAT HE WOULD BE A STRONG
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE,
OBVIOUSLY BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG
TIME, ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THE
DNC MIGHT PUT ITS FINGER ON THE
SCALE AGAIN THE WAY THAT THEY
DID TO YOU BACK IN 2016 WITH
HILLARY CLINTON?
>> Senator Sanders: ARE RIGHT,
WE WENT THROUGH THAT IN 2016 AND
I THINK WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY
SINCE THEN.
WE SPEAK TO THE DNC EVERY WEEK
AND I THINK THE PROCESS WILL BE
FAIR.
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT CHANGES
THAT WE MAKE AND WE WANT IS, AS
YOU RECALL, BOTH OF YOU WILL
RECALL, AND THE LAST TIME AROUND
IN 2016, SECRETARY CLINTON HAD
500 SUPERDELEGATES LINED UP
BEHIND HER BEFORE THE FIRST VOTE
WAS CAST IN IOWA, AND THAT
SEEMED TO ME PRETTY DUMB AND
UNFAIR.
THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN CHANGED
AND I THINK THAT WORKS WELL FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> Martha: LET ME ASK YOU,
BECAUSE NOW THE PROCESS IS THAT
IN THE NEXT ROUND THE
SUPERDELEGATES WILL COME INTO
PLAY AND WITH SO MANY CANDIDATES
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, IT'S
POSSIBLE THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T
GET 50%.
ARE YOU CONCERNED -- ARE YOU
TALKING TO THE DNC ABOUT THAT?
>> Senator Sanders: THAT'S
WHAT THE RULE IS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW,
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY UNDERSTANDS
WHAT THEY DIDN'T SOME YEARS AGO,
AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU IS NOT POLITICAL
INSIDERS AND CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTORS.
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM
ORDINARY PEOPLE IN IOWA AND
PENNSYLVANIA, AND THEY SHOULD
DETERMINE WHO THE NEXT
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE WILL BE.
>> Bret: LET'S GO TO ANOTHER
QUESTION.
JORDAN, A STUDENT FROM SCOTCH
PLAINS.
HE HAS THE NEXT QUESTION.
>> HI, SENATOR, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
MY QUESTION IS WHY HE BELIEVED
THE GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE
BETTER HEALTH CARE FOR THEM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AND WASH PEOPLE
WHO LIKE THE PLANS BE FORCED TO
SWITCH?
>> Senator Sanders: OKAY.
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S BE CLEAR
WHAT WE MEAN BY MEDICARE FOR
ALL.
OKAY?
MEDICARE IS A GOVERNMENT-RUN
PROGRAM FOR SENIORS, WHICH IS
WIDELY POPULAR AND QUITE
EFFECTIVE.
IN 1965 WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON
PASSED THAT BILL, IT WAS CALLED
BY SOME REPUBLICANS SOCIALISM IN
EVERY THING ELSE BUT YOU GO TO
THE AVERAGE SENIOR NEWS AND HOW
DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MEDICARE, AND
THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY
WILL OPPOSE ANY REPUBLICAN
EFFORT TO CUT MEDICARE, AND BY
THE WAY, AND TRUMP'S BUDGET, HE
HAS PROPOSED AN $845 BILLION CUT
OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD MEDICARE,
WHICH SENIORS DON'T WANT TO.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE
ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE.
THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND
MOST VETERANS THINK THAT THAT'S
A PRETTY GOOD HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, TALK TO THE
AMERICAN LEGION AND THE VFW,
THEY STRONGLY DEFEND THE
VETERANS HEALTH CARE.
THAT'S GOVERNMENT-RUN.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
SIMPLY A SINGLE-PAYER INSURANCE
PROGRAM, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU
WILL HAVE A CARD WHICH SAYS
MEDICARE ON IT, YOU WILL GO TO
ANY DOCTOR THAT YOU WANT, YOU
WILL GO TO ANY HOSPITAL THAT YOU
WANT, AND BY THE WAY, MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE TODAY ARE IN NETWORKS
WHICH PREVENT THEM FROM DOING
THIS, SO THIS GIVES YOU FREEDOM
OF CHOICE WITH REGARD TO THE
DOCTORS YOU GO TO FOR THE
HOSPITALS YOU GO TO, BUT HERE IS
THE MAIN POINT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT HEALTH CARE.
RIGHT NOW WITH GOT 30 MILLION
PEOPLE, ZERO HEALTH INSURANCE,
AND MANY OF YOU AND TENS OF
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE
UNDER-INSURED WITH HIGH
DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS, IS THAT
CORRECT?
ALL RIGHT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE ARE
ESTIMATES THAT SOME 30,000
AMERICANS DIE EVERY SINGLE YEAR
BECAUSE THEY DON'T GO TO THE
DOCTOR WHEN THEY SHOULD.
MEANWHILE, WE PAY THE HIGHEST
PRICES IN THE WORLD FOR
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, 1 OUT OF 5
AMERICANS ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF
BY THE DRUG COMPANIES WHO MAKE
BILLIONS IN PROFITS WHILE
CHARGING US THE HIGHEST PRICES
IN THE WORLD, AND ON TOP OF ALL
OF THAT, WE SPEND TWICE AS MUCH
PER CAPITA ON HEALTH CARE AS DO
THE PEOPLE OF ANY OTHER NATION
SO THE QUESTION A THROWBACK TO,
DO YOU THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO
SPEND TWICE AS MUCH PER CAPITA
AS THE PEOPLE OF ANY OTHER
NATION AND BE THE ONLY COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD NOT TO GUARANTEE
HEALTH CARE TO ALL PEOPLE?
[APPLAUSE]
>> Bret: THIS AUDIENCE HAS A
LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN IT.
IT HAS REPUBLICANS,
INDEPENDENTS, DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISTS, CONSERVATIVES.
I WANT TO ASK THE AUDIENCE A
QUESTION, IF YOU COULD RAISE OR
HINDER, SHOW OF HANDS OF HOW
MANY PEOPLE GET THEIR INSURANCE
FROM WORK, PRIVATE INSURANCE,
RIGHT NOW?
HOW MANY GET IT FROM PRIVATE
INSURANCE?
OKAY.
OF THOSE, HOW MANY ARE WILLING
TO TRANSITION TO WHAT THE
SENATOR SAYS, A GOVERNMENT-RUN
SYSTEM?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
180 MILLION PEOPLE IN PRIVATE
INSURANCE.
THEY WOULD BE LOST, RIGHT?
TO YOUR SYSTEM.
>> Senator Sanders: FAIR
QUESTION.
LET ME ANSWER IT.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE
YEAR LOSE THEIR HEALTH
INSURANCE.
IF YOU KNOW I?
THEY GET FIRED OR THEY QUIT AND
THEY GO TO ANOTHER EMPLOYER.
I WAS A MAYOR FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WHAT I DID PROBABLY EVERY MAYOR
IN AMERICA DOES, JUST LOOK
AROUND FOR THE BEST INSURANCE
PROGRAM, THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
INSURANCE.
IF YOU CHANGE INSURANCE.
EVERY YEAR MILLIONS OF WORKERS
WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND THEIR
EMPLOYER HAS CHANGED THE
INSURANCE THAT THEY HAVE.
MAYBE THEY LIKED THE DOCTORS --
PEOPLE ARE NODDING THEIR HEADS.
OKAY, SO THIS IS NOT NEW.
EVERY YEAR.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING BUT ACTUALLY
IS STABILITY, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE
A MEDICARE FOR ALL, IT IS THERE
NOW, IT IS THERE IN THE FUTURE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Martha: LET ME ASK YOU A
QUESTION ABOUT VERMONT, BECAUSE
VERMONT TRIED TO HAVE A
SINGLE-PAYER PROGRAM AND IN 2014
THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ABANDON
IT BECAUSE HE HAD TO RAISE
INCOME TAXES, HAD TO RAISE
PAYROLL TAXES AND THE PEOPLE OF
VERMONT DIDN'T WANT THEIR TAXES
TO GO UP.
>> Senator Sanders: THAT'S NOT
QUITE TRUE.
>> Martha: THEY ABANDON THE
PROGRAM.
>> Senator Sanders: INTERNAL
VERMONT POLITICS OF WHICH I KNOW
A LITTLE BIT.
>> Martha: I'M SURE YOU DO.
>> Senator Sanders: THE
GOVERNMENT
GOVERNOR DID A RATHER POOR JOB.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING
ESPECIALLY AMONG DEMOCRATS, YOU
TELL ME, STRONG MAJORITY OF
DEMOCRATS, AND MORE THAN A FEW
REPUBLICANS WANT TO SEE A
MEDICARE FOR ALL PROGRAM.
LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH
HEALTH CARE, WHICH IS, WHAT IS
IT, 18% OF OUR GDP?
TALKING ABOUT THREE AND A HALF
TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR AND
YOU HAVE INSURANCE COMPANIES
THAT MAKE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN PROFIT, LET ME
GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF I MIGHT,
OF THE DYSFUNCTIONALITY OF THE
CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
RECENTLY, AETNA MERGED WITH CPS,
BIG MERGER, WHICH MIND YOU, WILL
DRIVE HEALTH CARE COSTS UP.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS HEAD OF
AETNA, AND YOU KNOW HE GOT FOR
PUTTING TOGETHER THAT MERGER?
HE GOT A $500 MILLION BONUS.
TO THINK THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD
SPEND HEALTH CARE DOLLARS?
>> Martha: I THINK EVERYBODY
IS IN AGREEMENT THAT HEALTH CARE
NEEDS TO BE FIXED IN THIS
COUNTRY, THE QUESTION IS HOW,
AND MY QUESTION TO YOU WAS, IT
WILL DRIVE UP TAXES TO PAY FOR
HEALTH CARE, AND NOT JUST THE
WEALTHY WILL PAY FOR THAT, THE
MIDDLE CLASS WILL ALSO PAY FOR
IT.
>> Senator Sanders: VERY GOOD.
>> Martha: HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY
IT?
>> Senator Sanders: MARTHA,
WHAT ARE YOU NOT INCLUDING IN
YOUR DISCUSSION?
>> Martha: YOU TELL ME.
>> Senator Sanders: I WILL
TELL YOU.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ANY
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
>> Martha: YOU'RE GOING TO PAY
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> Senator Sanders:            H
>> Senator Sanders:            T
>> Senator Sanders:            S
>> Senator Sanders:            O
>> Senator Sanders:            R
>> Senator Sanders:            I
>> Senator Sanders:            C
>> Senator Sanders:            M
>> Senator Sanders:            E
>> Senator Sanders:            T
>> Senator Sanders:            X
OR PAYROLL TAX.
>> Senator Sanders:
HEALTH CARE IS NOT FREE.
>> Martha: OF COURSE NOT, YOU
JUST SAID IT'S GOING TO BE FREE
FOR EVERYONE.
>> Senator Sanders: IS GOING
TO BE FREE OF THE POINT OF WHEN
YOU USE IT, OKAY?
WHY ARE YOU SO SHOCKED BY THIS?
>> Martha: BECAUSE SOMEONE'S
GOING TO PAY.
>> Senator Sanders: SOMEBODY
IS GOING TO PAY.
>> Martha: WHO ARE THEY?
>> Senator Sanders: LET ME
TALK.
IT WILL GET THROUGH THIS
TOGETHER.
>> Martha: IT'S A COMMON
QUESTION.
>> Senator Sanders: OKAY.
HERE WE GO.
>> Martha: SO MANY QUESTIONS,
ASK SENATOR SANDERS HOW HE IS
GOING TO PAY?
>> Senator Sanders: I GOT IT.
LET'S JUST SAY HYPOTHETICALLY,
YOU ARE SELF-EMPLOYED AND YOU'VE
GOT A HUSBAND AND TWO KIDS,
OKAY?
FAMILY OF FOUR COMING TO KNOW
HOW MUCH THAT FAMILY IS PAYING
TODAY FOR HEALTH CARE?
>> Martha: TELL ME.
>> Senator Sanders: $20,000.
$11,000 PER PERSON.
WHERE THINK OF THAT FAMILY
BEFORE YOU AREN'T GOING TO PAY
MORE THAN 20,000.
YOU'RE NOT PAYING ANY MORE
COPAYMENTS, MORE PREMIUMS,
ANYMORE DEDUCTIBLES.
HOW IS THAT?
28,000 YOU ARE NOT PAIN, BUT
DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO PAY SOMETHING CANNOT OF
COURSE IT DOES.
YOU'RE GOING TO PAY MORE IN
TAXES.
>> Bret: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
WE NOW HAVE GOLD PLATED HEALTH
INSURANCE --
>> Senator Sanders: NO WE
DON'T.
>> Bret: HAVE A SPECIAL PLAN
THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OBAMACARE, A
DIFFERENT PLAN.
TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ARE
THEY GOING TO DO THE TRANSITION
AS WELL?
>> Senator Sanders: DAMN RIGHT
RIGHT.
OF COURSE.
I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT -- I
WANT TO GET BACK TO THE POINT
THAT MARTHA RAISED.
LOOK, HEALTH CARE COSTS MONEY.
EVERY OTHER COUNTRY, VIRTUALLY
EVERY COUNTRY DOES IT IN THE
SAME WAY WE DO EDUCATION FOR OUR
KIDS.
OKAY?
WHEN A KID WALKS INTO SCHOOL,
THE KID DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT
A CREDIT CARD, RIGHT?
IT GETS PAID FOR OUT OF PUBLIC
FUNDS.
THAT'S WHAT MOST COUNTRIES DO.
IF YOU'RE ASKING ME -- IT'S A
FAIR QUESTION, ARE PEOPLE GOING
TO PAY MORE IN TAXES?
YES.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO END UP PAYING LESS
