Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders brought his message of political revolution to Vancouver on Sunday.
“What this campaign is essentially about is whether or not we retain our democratic foundations or whether we move to an oligarchic form of society,” Sanders told the crowd at Hudson’s Bay High School. “Today, here in Vancouver, we say to the billionaire class, we say to corporate America, we say to Wall Street: ‘No, this country is not going to be an oligarchy.’ ”
The crowd of about 5,000 broke into resounding applause.
Sanders’ speech hit familiar themes: He pledged to raise the national minimum wage to $15 an hour and spoke of the need for universal health care and for campaign finance reform. The Vermont senator said his opponents and “members of the establishment” have likened him to Santa Claus and asked how he plans to pay for free college education.
“I’m going to tell you,” he told his supporters, “and it requires thinking outside of the box. Eight years ago, as a result of greed and recklessness and illegal behavior on Wall Street, Congress bailed them out.”
As if on cue, the crowd booed.
“Well, I think right now, it’s time for a tax on Wall Street,” Sanders said, with the crowd erupting in applause.
A tax on Wall Street speculation would make college affordable, the senator said. “If Congress can bail out Wall Street, now is the time for Wall Street to help the middle class,” he said.
Roben White, a volunteer with the Clark County Democrats, a Sanders supporter and an enrolled member of the Lakota Tribe, hoped before the speech that the candidate would address both Native American issues and taking care of the environment.
Sanders delivered. He thanked Native Americans for “enriching our culture” and teaching us about the environment we live in, “with nature and not against nature.”
Sanders also addressed climate change.
“Climate change is real. It is caused by human activity and it is already causing devastating problems in this country and around the world,” he said.
His supporters didn’t appear to mind that he was hitting his standard talking points — he was often interrupted by applause or chants of his name.
Sanders spoke of creating an economy that works for the middle class and not just the top 1 percent. He touched on removing marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act’s list of serious drugs that carry stiff penalties. He spoke of rebuilding the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, moving away from using fossil fuels and preventing future water crises like the one that’s gained national attention in Flint, Mich. He touted single-payer health care and the need for immigration reform.
Sanders also held rallies in Seattle and Spokane on Sunday ahead of the state’s Democratic caucuses Saturday. Oregon holds its primary in May.
The senator urged Washington Democrats to vote.
“We win when voter turnout is high,” he told the crowd.
