The Bern Is Back: Sanders Officially Announces His Presidential Campaign
Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Politics News Bernie Sanders
Senator Bernie Sanders appeared on Vermont Public Radio and released a video Tuesday, launching his bid for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race.
Sanders told Bob Kinzel of VPR:
I wanted to let the people of the state of Vermont know about this first. And what I promise to do is, as I go around the country, is to take the values that all of us in Vermont are proud of—a belief in justice, in community, in grassroots politics, in town meetings—that’s what I’m going to carry all over this country.
Sanders’ campaign comes as little surprise to anyone following the increasingly crowded Democratic field. He’s already managed to stand out simply in his announcement video, though. Clocking in at nearly 11 minutes, the video is not zippy or flashy. There are no clips of Sanders staring out a car window wistfully or shaking community leaders’ hands. The 77-year-old is fired up, speaking directly into the camera, and making substantive promises about education and healthcare. Sanders name-checks Wall Street, health insurance companies and the private prison industry as some of the foremost impediments to justice in our country.
Sanders rails against the status quo and states in no uncertain terms that our country needs real change:
Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history. It is not only about winning the Democratic nomination in the general election. Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.
Watch the full video below:
And here’s his shorter launch video, with a shout-out to a piece by Paste’s own Jacob Weindling at the 27-second mark:
I’m running for president. I am asking you to join me today as part of an unprecedented and historic grassroots campaign that will begin with at least 1 million people from across the country. Say you’re in: https://t.co/KOTx0WZqRfpic.twitter.com/T1TLH0rm26
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 19, 2019