Senator Bernard "Bernie" Sanders' popularity has begun to sky-rocket considerably, giving Hillary Clinton a run for her money in the fight to come out on top as the Democratic Party's champion in the upcoming '16 presidential election. His supporters have made the Vermont Senator's unofficial slogan "Feel the Bern."
Sanders is America's longest-standing independent politician in Congress and a self-described "democratic socialist." He has a long history of progressive ideals.
Born September 8, 1941, he was the younger of two sons of two Jewish immigrants from Poland who settled in Brooklyn. His father a paint salesman, Sanders did not just get a front row view of the struggles and desparity of America's working class. He lived and grew-up in the struggles.
"I saw unfairness. That was a major inspiration in my politics," he said, adding that American socialist league leader Eugene V. Debs was an important influence in his political views.
After finishing from Brooklyn's James Madison high school, Sanders enrolled at Brooklyn college but later transferred to the University of Chicago. There he served as an organizer of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, speaking at the first nonviolent protests and sit-ins in Chicago's history, against segregated residential living quarters on campus (see picture below).
Sanders, having graduated from college in '64 with a degree in political science, lived in a kibbutz in Israel for some time before settling in Vermont, where he worked odd jobs as a filmmaker and free-lance writer. During this time, his interest in politics grew further.
Spurred by his interest in politics, as a member of the Liberty Union Party in the '70s he made unsuccessful bids for public office. In '87, at the encouragement of friend and professor of religion at the University of Vermont Richard Sugarman, Sanders ran for Mayor of Burlington. He won by 10 votes against six-term Democrat Gordon Paquette. Three more times he would again win office.
In 1988, he was the first independent to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 40 years. Repeatedly, he won reelection until getting elected for the Senate in 2005. Then-Senator, President Barack Obama campaigned for Sanders in Vermont in March '06.
Sanders defeated opponent and businessman Rich Tarrant in the election and was again elected in '12.
He gave a famous eight and a half hour filibuster in opposition of the proposed extension of the Bush-era tax rates: Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of '10. Saying "Enough is enough! How many homes can you own?" It turned out to be unsuccessful, but you can see the full speech here.
Sanders was found to have a 67 percent approval rating and a 28 percent disapproval rating, according to the Public Policing Polling in August '11, deeming him the third most popular senator in the country.
According to thepolitick, the 74-year-old Brooklyn native said in April, “At a time of massive wealth and income inequality, we need a progressive tax system in this country which is based on ability to pay... It is not acceptable that a number of major profitable corporations have paid zero in federal income taxes in recent years, and that millionaire hedge fund managers often enjoy an effective tax rate which is lower than the truck drivers or nurses.”
He admits that his campaign will be an uphill battle as the dark horse of the U.S. presidential elections. Many young liberals and progressives favor the rising underdog, knowing he has experienced and fought for the working class, and being part of the major Civil Rights Movement.
Known for his untamed mane of hair, Sanders is a leading progressive voice and supporter of issues like income inequality, parental leave, climate change, LGBT rights, civil rights, universal healthcare, and campaign finance reform and continues to fight for these.
Is the United States of America ready to "Feel the Bern?"
