Bernie Sanders on John Fetterman, Pittsburgh politics and the rising tide of Democratic Socialism

JUL 12, 2018 3:11 PM
JULIAN ROUTH

Excerpts:

When the Vermont senator and Democratic Socialist visits Pittsburgh this Sunday to attend a teachers’ union conference and rally with lieutenant governor candidate John Fetterman, he’ll likely ride in on a wave of momentum from the area’s leftward shift in politics, but come equipped with a message of urgency: that in the age of Donald Trump, candidates must fight even harder for the Democratic Socialist ideals of health care for all, raising the minimum wage and reforming the criminal justice system.

The recent successes of DSA-backed state House candidates Summer Lee and Sara Innamorato serve as validation, Mr. Sanders said, that the “political revolution,” as he calls it, is picking up steam across the country.

The senator said he followed Ms. Lee and Ms. Innamorato closely in their races against members of the Democratic establishment, and has spoken with both of them recently. He said he was told they would both be attending this Sunday’s rally.

"What impressed me is the grassroots campaign that they ran. My understanding, which is really quite amazing, is that they had hundreds and hundreds of people in their legislative districts knocking on doors," Mr. Sanders said of the two candidates. "That is really quite incredible."

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2018/07/12/Bernie-Sanders-Summer-Lee-John-Fetterman-Sara-Innamorato-costa-pittsburgh-democratic-socialists-america-dsa-our-revolution/stories/201807120146