Sanders’ Advice to Democrats Running in Midterms: ‘Talk About the Economy’

U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders on Sunday urged Democrats running for office next month to focus more on economic issues on the campaign trail.

The Independent senator from Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, echoed his recent opinion piece for The Guardian in an NBC News interview, telling “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd that “what I think is Democrats should talk about the economy.”

“I think they should contrast their views with the Republican positions,” he said. “I believe, and most Democrats believe, that at a time when half our people are living paycheck to paycheck, we should raise the minimum wage to a living wage. No Republicans support that. I think we should make it easier for workers to join unions. Republicans don’t support that.”

Though many corporate media outlets are ignoring it, Republicans have made clear that they plan to gut Social Security and Medicare if they regain control of Congress in the November election. The four GOP congressmen hoping to serve as House Budget Committee chair have suggested the next deadline to raise or suspend the debt ceiling is “a point of leverage.”

Moreover, Sanders hopes that Democrats can hold and perhaps even expand their power in Congress. The interview highlighted some key Senate races, including Democratic Pennsylvania Lt. Gov John Fetterman v. Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz and Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes v. GOP Sen. Ron Johnson.

Also, campaigning Republicans have blamed Biden and other Democrats for economic issues that are disproportionately impacting working-class Americans. Meanwhile, many congressional Democrats have stayed silent on the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate hikes, which not only hit poorer people the hardest but also risk a recession and ignore how corporate greed is helping drive inflation.

Inflation “is an international problem” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, Russia’s war on Ukraine, and “incredible corporate greed,” Sanders stressed. “And I hope everybody understands that when you go to the gas tank, you fill up your car today, the oil companies are making huge profits. The food companies are making huge profits… Pharmaceutical [companies] are making huge profits. We’ve got to deal with that issue. And Republicans won’t, by the way.”

Sanders said that he believes the Fed is “hurting the situation,” adding: “I think it is wrong to be saying that the way we’re going to deal with inflation is by lowering wages and increasing unemployment. That is not what we should be doing. This inflation thing is a real issue. It is a global issue. But at a time when working families are struggling and the people on top are doing phenomenally well, I don’t think you go after working people.”

The senator’s message to voters across the country, but particularly working-class folks, is to vote for Democrats on November 8.

Originally published at Commondreams.org.