Widgetized Section
Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
Bernie Sanders Annihilates Mitch McConnell and Delivers a Lesson in Compassion
Sen. Bernie Sanders went on MSNBC today and completely leveled Sen. Mitch McConnell for claiming that revenue is not the issue, and explained that the government is spending money to keep people from starving.
Here is the video:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Sanders said, “The question that we have to debate as a nation is that deficit reduction is a very important point, but we have to understand that today at 15.7% our revenue as part of GDP is the lowest that’s it has been in sixty years. So when Sen. McConnell says revenue is not the issue, he is dead wrong. Revenue is very much the issue. The American people have been very clear. They do not want to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. They do want to ask the wealthy and corporations to pay more in taxes.”
Sen. Sanders explained why the government is spending so much money right now, “Do you know why we are spending a lot of money? Because we are in the midst of a terrible Wall Street caused recession. Where real unemployment is close to 15%, and if we do not expand the Food Stamp program children in America go hungry. And if you do not provide unemployment compensation, workers will be out on the street having lost everything. Historically what happens when you are in the midst of this terrible, terrible recession, and again real unemployment close to 15%, what the American society has got to do as a society, is take care of people in need. As the economy improves, as fewer people are on unemployment, those spending programs should go down. But you can’t leave fellow Americans out there on the street.”
Sen. Sanders is correct. The government has historically spent money to keep people from starving and losing everything during economic downturns. When the economy gets better, and there are fewer people in need, the government spends less on these programs. Republicans have no evidence to support their position that cutting spending on economic assistance will grow the economy, and history has proven that what Republicans are advocating will only make things worse.
Herbert Hoover tried to cut spending at the start of the Great Depression, and the result was an increase in poverty and hunger. Until the current recession, no political party has tried to cut spending during a recession since Hoover. Republicans have revived their ignorance of the lessons of Hoover, and embarked on a strategy of callous neglect of our societal obligation to people in need during economic hard times. Conservatives suggest that churches and private charities ought to be responsible for assisting those in need, but these organizations also suffer from decreased revenues during an economic downturn. They can’t handle the increased demand on their resources during hard times.
Mitch McConnell is dead wrong, and his insistence on cuts without revenue will lead to more suffering for millions already in need. Republicans has tossed aside their responsibility to our society. All they can see is their own ideology. Conservatives want spending cuts because their ideology tells them cuts will grow the economy.
This is why, in the face of an onslaught spearheaded by blind ideology, it is the responsibility of the left to speak for the voiceless and fight for those most in need during these difficult days.
Related Posts :
Sen. Bernie Sanders took to The Ed Show to explain why the GOP's plan to destroy the Postal Service is a ...
At 12:15 President Obama will be speaking to the nation about the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ...
On The Last Word, Sen. Bernie Sanders demonstrated why Democrats need his voice in the super congress if ...
Sen. Bernie Sanders has perfectly summed up what Republicans stand for in one sentence, 'If it ...
On the "Psycho Talk" segment of his MSNBC show tonight, Ed Schultz turned his attention to Rep. Ron Paul (R- ...
47 Responses to Bernie Sanders Annihilates Mitch McConnell and Delivers a Lesson in Compassion
Public Service Advertisements
djchefron
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Love Bernie Sanders.But why have him on to tell the truth about the repubs after the fact?On MSNBC to boot!
I used to watch MTP now not so much.Want to get me to watch again?Put Sen.Sanders right there next to the turtle or any of the weekly teabaggers you have on to refute the Reich wing talking points.Because we know dancing Dave wont do it.
C.
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Because it’s all about ratings, the networks want drama and fights. They only want you on if it benefits them and the agenda they want to drive.
That’s why President Obama is taking it directly to the people in live addresses to the public. During the campaign it was local networks who would cover him more fairly than national media.
It’s the networks that need people screaming at them, to cut the crap and be fair to both parties.
djchefron
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 7:01 pm
Sometimes I wish a bigger voice like say the goebals wannbe Frank Luntz because every Democrat and sane people would repeat these talking points over and over again so the American people could unstand whats at stake
1.Failure to raise the debt ceiling will blow Republican hopes of spending cuts out of the water, because interest rates will immediately rise. In other words, failing to raise the ceiling will place the United States in the same position as Greece and other European countries as the United States becomes awash in higher interest rate payments.
2.The debt ceiling and the budget resolution are NOT the same and should not be treated the same.
3. The sequester and the budget resolution are negotiable; the debt ceiling is not.
tubbie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Dancing Dave! roflmfao thank you so much I needed that today.
Who can ever forget Rove’s drunk dancing partner?
I NEVER watch MTP and always wonder who Dancing Dave was friending to get that gig.
Gindy51
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Not once, from ANY side have I heard one word about cutting subsidies to oil, gas, and other corporate WELFARE. Nothing but crickets. Until that and the closing of tax loop holes for the uber wealthy and extremely profitable corporations is on the table, not one word of cuts to PAID FOR entitlements should be spoken.
Nefer
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I agree 100%, Gindy51!
Until congress decides they do not need their discretionary luxury perks, and until we talk about subsidies and lack of tax payments from highly profitable private companies, there is no need to talk about reducing SS or Medicare or Medicaid benefits or cutting back on school lunches. Let’s cut back on the congressional dining room expenses before we talk about cutting back on school lunch expenses!
C.
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Guess you missed Nancy Pelosi being asked on Sunday whether these loopholes would be put on the table, discussed and addressed.
She speaks for the democrats.
C.
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 7:16 pm
Here is the video and transcript from the Nancy Peliosi interview with Bob Schiefer Face the Nation last Friday.
www.cbsnews.com/8301-3460...
PELOSI: We’re talking about looking at the tax code, putting everything on the table from the standpoint of closing loopholes — and we know that we can do that — special subsidies for big oil, for example, $38 billion right there. But again, not to take things in isolation, just to say, OK, well, how much more revenue can we get as we go forward?
SCHIEFFER: What would be some of the things that you think — on the upper-income people, what kind of deductions are you talking about?
PELOSI: Put it all — put it all on the table and see what is working. You know, I’m fairly — frankly, I’m fairly agnostic about what it could be, now that we have injected some fairness into the process. But, you know, if it works for us, if it grows our economy, if it’s something that justifies its existence, it should be there. If it’s something — I mean, we’ve talked about carried interest. How do we do that correctly? We’ve talked about subsidies for big oil. What is the justification to give an incentive to drill when oil companies are making $1 trillion over that same period of time? So again, it’s justify your existence if you are a special tax break, and again, all of it not to reach down to the middle class.
djchefron
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Hey I have some cuts for you
So, What Would You Do? Real Solutions for Medicare Solvency and Reducing the Deficit
www.medicareadvocacy.org/...
knight4444
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 11:58 am
And you’re not going to! because we all know big oil and the banksters send lobbiest EERRRR! mob reps to line the pockets of our beloved politicians to rewrite every law that remotely gets in the way of their profits! We use to have a law called GLASS/STEAGALL to keep bankers honest!
djchefron
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Well one can dream and then reality hit.Check out the orange one passing out bribes,yes bribes on the house floor
John Boehner admits to giving bribes from Big Tobacco on the House floor…Why does the media consider him credible?
crooksandliars.com/john-a...
KarenJ
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Hard to believe someone who looks* old enough to have been born during the Great Depression is so completely clueless — or rapaciously callous — about our responsibility to help our neighbors in need — ALL our neighbors “from sea to shining sea” — because we are UNITED states.
————
*Turtle Boy is only 3 years older than I am, i.e. he was born during WWII. But he LOOKS like a ’30s fossil.
charlie
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
1voice1vote
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 10:50 pm
2002 …“Allegedly, Cheney replied by saying that “deficits don’t matter.”
2008 “Six years later, the Bush administration’s consistent belief that deficits don’t matter has increased the national debt to over $10 trillion. This is the highest dollar amount ever, and pushes the debt to 69% of the gross domestic product, which is the highest percentage since 1955.”…
thinkprogress.org/economy...
charlie
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Hello 1V1V-
Why do you keep going back and pointing at Bush as though that’s some sort of justification for Obama to do the same? I’m not going to defend Bush…you know why? Because I think both parties are responsible for where we’re at now. Yep…I’ll give them both a big fat F and say they are both grossly negligent. And while I’m at it, I’ll blame all of us …yep, the American people…we’re all responsible too. But you know what …it’s over..it’s done.. and we can’t go back and undo any of it. So I want these guys that are in office now to start to fix the mess…but I don’t see any sign of anyone in DC wanting to change their ways.
Meet the new boss…same as the old boss…
That’s what I see.
1voice1vote
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Charlie’s solution is ______________?
charlie
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 12:17 am
A balanced budget amendment. Too much too ask?
djchefron
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 7:44 am
Charlie wants a balanced budget amendment.Exactly how that would work seeing that the US projects economic growth.So if they project 2%growth and growths is only 1%Then what?We cut the federal payroll they say.But then with fewer workers you have less tax revenue so you make the problem worse.
Lets cut entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.Forget the fact that they are not entitlements and have nothing whatsoever contribute to the deficit,you would really forced our citizens in choosing cat food or medicine.
We choose to go to war.The main people who push this silly argument are the same hawks that want to blow up everything because we’re murikans.Contrary to what bush did wars have to be paid for.So we need to raise taxes to buy the bullets.But to do that you need a super majority.Now at any given time you will find a minority for whatever reasons will say no can do.Furthermore once the taxes are raise and programs get started it is very hard to shut them down.So you keep raising the budget to keep pace meaning taxes will keep going up.
People say the states have to balance their budgets.Forgetting most of the time they use tricks and shenanigan to reach their goal it is asinine to compare a state to the Federal budget.First states dont have to maintain a military,diplomatic missions,disaster relief etc ect.Charlie my advice to you is,turn faux off,stop listening to grifters posing as congressmen, and think before you speak.
knight4444
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
@charlie charlie charlie! you’re doing it again! using FUX news propaganda just it’s gonna fly here! I believe you’re sincere and want a fresh real world exchange of ideas but heres your problem! you political foundation is false! conservative media aren’t supplying their listeners to real facts! For example you foolishly say ”why look back? @charlie you have to look back! it’s called “HISTORY” and BTW you can’t burn a house down to the ground and then blame to clean up crew! See your party has NO sense of who they are!! Because @charlie NO true conservative would EVER put TWO wars on the books with absolutely NO concern about paying for it! looking back?? you’re damn right I’m looking back!!
charlie
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Fair point, knight4444-
I don’t mean that we should discard history in it’s entirety…as there are always useful lessons to be learned from it. I’m only looking at the whole deficit/debt mess from this point on… and who is going to be diligent about fixing it. The clean up crew told me quite a long time ago they were going to take care of it all…excellent….glad to have them on the job. Well, all I see now, is the clean up crew seems to have made promises they couldn’t keep….and now doesn’t even seem to remember they made those promises either. All I hear about is millionaires and gazillionaires and fair share. Nice populist message…but now I want to hear the ideas on the hard part…cutting spending and slowing the growth of entitlements. No one wants to have to do it, but everyone knows it must be done. Where is my president? He was elected to lead us out of the woods….when is he going to do it?
knight4444
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
@charlie in all honesty I agree with some of your points! the reality is both parties work for multibillion dollar corporations! Heres a thought for you what would William Buckley jr. say about todays gop? and what would FDR say about todays democratic party? @charlie we’ve lost our way! our politicians aren’t working for us anymore! their just getting as much as the pie and screw the common man!! Somehow I don’t think the founding fathers envisioned this kind of country! This country MUST established term limits and put a short leash on corporations!!
charlie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 11:41 am
@knight 4444
Eureka! I think we may have just found common ground!
Rudy Gonzales
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 11:33 pm
It is the combative and confrontational 67 who are bent on shutting down the federal government. It is truly the federal government’s responsibility to help and assist the needy to get back on their feet much like the feds did after the great depression. The TEA-types are dead-set on taking down the federal government even at their own demise or risk. Paul Ryan is one of the 67 hostage takers! National disasters are the responsibility of the federal government as many citizens do not have the capability to get massive aid and supplies to effected areas, but the radical sect of the party with the fringe on top do not care. Hard core elements want citizens with limited resources to fend for themselves under the guise “only the strongest survive.” Bear in mind the strongest are already secured with massive money, influence and supplies at their disposal and the current tax code has preferential writings to benefit them first. Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn both have talked about shutting down the government over Social Programs which benefit the most destitute of people in need of assistance based on a state-version of the same idea. This same click proudly proclaim “States rights” as if states could have the same powers as the federal government. Sadly the states have little power to float currency of their own or have the backing to guarantee adequate coverage’s for their populous. We already have money and power in the hands of fewer and fewer people and stricter less compassionate hands in many states and moving into Washington. Do not sit on the sidelines and allow others to make decisions that will effect you directly without your input. And the 2014 Mid-term election is a-coming!
Peri Gordon
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 9:09 am
I agree with Senator Sanders on all but one point. This business of extending unemployment benefits. I know far too many individuals who are sitting back and taking advantage, not trying to get a job, but making supplemental income in other ways. I believe that after a person exhausts their earned benefits, there should be a requirement to work doing something for the community…along the lines of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps of the 30′s)
charlie
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 10:09 am
djchefron
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
No Charlie entitlement are not I REPEAT NOT the driving force of our deficits.Like I said Social Security and Medicare are not entitlements.Entitlements that you so much want to cut like food and medical aid for the poor among other things that contribute to the general welfare of its citizens[sounds familiar huh]accounts for only 4.5% of GDP .That means Gross Domestic Product.
You want to know one of the main reasons of the deficit.Health care cost.The cost per GDP for the US, 17.9% data.worldbank.org/indica...
You want a way to fix it?Single payer.But nooooooooooo we cant have that.IT’S SOCIALISM!!!!
Lets see what else is the driver of the deficit.Ah the wars,That I trust you supported.True cost of Afghan, Iraq wars is any one’s guess
Read more here: www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/...
So since no one really knows lets just say its a whole lotta money.
Let me compliment you on writing a thoughtful post.I commend you for an engaging exchange of ideas and further more whoever you get your sources from,let me just say they are full of bovine excrement.
charlie
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Hello again djchefron..
Just spotted your post…but I gotta go right now… I want to read it all carefully when I have some time.
I got the bovine excrement part though.
Cya later
charlie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 11:37 am
I’m not some harda$$ that’s looking to deny a poor man a loaf of bread or medical care for a sick child, but I do want to figure out a way to help people untangle themselves from the safety nets and slow the growth of these programs. We need to be producing jobs…and it’s not happening. The labor force participation rate is still in the gutter. It sickens me that we actually still need to provide for extended unemployment benefits for years after the crash…why is that? People want and need jobs and the revenue that is needed should be coming from those who get back in the game….not more taxes from those who are out there still pulling the wagon.
Now …did I support the wars? I’d have to say I just voted “present” on that. I hate, hate, hate sending our boys out into harms way. But I look at the fact that Congress authorized the Afghan war almost unanimously and then I say… I guess it’s the right thing to do. Same with Iraq…when there is bipartisan support for the undertaking, I shrug and shake my head and think I hope the president and Congress knows what’s it’s doing. Now, when Obama decided to go into Libya…that was another matter for another reason. I’m trying to follow a bit on what we’re doing with Syria and hoping we’re not getting sucked into that. Enough is enough.
And here’s a piece I read from USA today about SS and the deficit.
www.usatoday.com/story/op...
Oh, and by the way, I do know what the GDP is… but if you’re going to start to get into the QE3 and the SEC, my eyes are going to glaze over.
djchefron
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Here we go again with the both sides argument that the editorial suggest.Democrats know exactly how SS works.We know its pay as you go.The workers today support the workers of yesterday and the workers of tomorrow.And so on and so on.Now there are those who say this is a ponzi scheme.I say look at who is saying that and their motivations.They want that money for wall street.Would you trust your retirement to them?
We all want jobs,good paying jobs.So lets ask why did McConnell insist on keeping the tax break in the past fight foe companies that ship jobs overseas?Do you agree that we need to repair our infrastructure?If so why do the republicans fight with every bone in their bodies to stop stimulus spending but have no qualms about spending billions in Iraq and Afghanistan?
You talk about cutting spending but you did not once address one of the largest drivers of the deficit.Health care.What is so bad about single payer?Do you really believe that being ranked 38 in the world in care but number 1 in cost is the best system?
I believe that you are concerned about the state of our union.I also believe you are looking for answers but is asking the wrong questions
knight4444
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 7:17 pm
@djchefron great comments from you! I for one read your post and agree with pretty much everything!! just remember the gop isn’t the real problem!! their just the hired front men for their masters!! it’s the corporations that make money their only reason for living are the problem! Without toxic capitalist corporations and the super wealthy we’d have NO rush limbaugh, glen beck, bill o’reilly, mark savage, FUX news! you get my point!
charlie
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 10:31 am
“After years of historic deficits, this new Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay as you go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.”
-Nancy Pelosi, Jan. 2007
www.rawstory.com/news/200...
I’m still waiting….
Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 11:37 am
Why are you waiting on Pelosi? Who is the speaker of the house?
charlie
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Hey, Shiva-
I wasn’t ignoring you…I’m on an old laptop and it seems to be demanding a nap now every so often…
I’m waiting for Pelosi to show me one shred of evidence that she wants to make good on all that “no new dedicits”…”pay as you go”…”not burden future generations” rhetoric she tossed out to all of us…. Because right now all I see is it was “quelle horreur” when Bush ran up the debt…but now it’s fine. Boehner right now is talking a good game, but in all honesty, I half expect him to disappoint in the end too.
sigh
Gotta run…
Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
The reason Obama is such a low spending president is that he passed a ”pay as you go” bill in 2010. www.washingtonpost.com/wp...
That is what she is doing.
She is not the majority, ergo your question is futile
charlie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 12:14 pm
She’s still the leading Democrat in the House… and IMO, still needs to be addressing the appropriate reforms that she knows are needed to programs that are unsustainable. The last thing I saw from her sure sounded like she’d rather kick the can. That’s not leading.
M
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 10:47 am
sen bernie sanders sed, cutting food stamps and unemployment will cause lots of americans to loose everything,…. news flash mr sanders, many people have lost everything already! 100% have nothing they worked so verrrrry hard for, “we are called the 47%” , we are adrift on the streets, and the lucky ones like me, are at friends/familys homes!
oldasoak
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Lets cut entitlements like Social Security ?????
What does SS have to do the debt? Government keep you hands off.
Rixar13
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
The answer will be the Trillion Dollar Coin. We can’t be held hostage by the Republican/Tea-Bags which will hurt the economy again. Let us remember who created the debt…
djchefron
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
I don’t think that will hold up in court.Now its true if you read what a republican congressman got passed in law the treasury can mint commemorative coins.Now it does not say at what value so the thinking goes if the treasury minted a trillion dollar coin it is legal.
Now one small problem well a couple really .First the court can decide that was not the intent and second and more importantly its against the constitution.Only congress can mint and set the value of coins.www.usconstitution.net/xc...
Anyways here is an argument for it from of all placrs Bloomberg.
Why Platinum Coin Opponents Are All Wrong
www.bloomberg.com/news/20...
Leddy Smith
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
So much for capitalism thats controlled by the uber rich (the 1%). They use Citizens United to buy the the members of congress they desire. They get Grover Norquist the put them under contract to demand their edicts and they maticulously continue their march to overtake the government. They own us all and when they have sufficiently brought the govenment to its knees, they will walk in without a shot being fired and take over this country and we will become a dictatorship run by a politburo.The Congress will become their pawns and the Constitution will be null and void. At that point the 2nd amendment will no longer exist and the dictatorship will outlaw all guns to protect themselves. All property will be seized except for that owned by the 1%. This is the direction our country is going. It will probably never reach this point in my lifetime, but to change this direction dramatic changes need to take place. I believe at some point the general population will have had enough and try to do something, but I believe the worst is yet to come.
A bedtime story to make you sleep well.
sherrie heckendorn
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
I sadly agree with your comment. I am a history buff and history is quite clear with the consequences that will happen if this is not fixed. We need the taxes that used to be paid and we need to rid our government of all politicians that are beholden to corporate dollar. We need to cease the ability of those that lobby to use ‘legal’ bribery. We need to cap CEO pay and tie it to employee base pay at no more than 50 times(prior 1980 averaged 20 times and now it goes from a low 0f 300 times to a high of over 750 times) We need to ensure that all large corporations once more pay all of their taxes(now the ones that pay, pay at about 12.5%-lowest in the world and 30 paid no taxes at all and received tax rebates) We need to amp up all safety net programs and as mr sanders said, as employment rises, so does revenue and the need for aid goes way down. That is the way it is supposed to work. I also fear, from the undertone of some sites i visit, that there is the probable fact that if the GOP continue to sabotage our economy, that there could be violence. Ironic to note that its the GOP base of low informed low educated that also have the most guns and will be the first to cry for violence as they all in most cases are on some form of aid from the fed government. I say ironic since the GOP are so in favor of everyone having ‘assault’ weapons and that could prove their downfall.
knight4444
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Very well said @sherrie I love studying history and I’m telling you the USA looks a hellava like 336 bc Egypt when corruption destroyed them! where Alexander ”the great” was actually made a pharaoh!! with “CITIZENS UNITED” maybe the Koch brothers are looking to be co- kings of America lol
Dick Marshall
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Read Paul Krugman’s Op-Ed piece in the NYTimes this past weekend. It tells it how it is.
The GOP is holding us captive just as repressive regimes in the Middle East have been holding their people captive. Maybe it’s time to have popular demonstrations like Occupy Wall Street again. Time for an American Spring!
charlie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 5:41 pm
@djchefron 1-9 2:26pm
charlie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
room.
Time too. Let me get back to you.
How come sometimes there isn’t a “reply” option on a post?
charlie
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Obamacare is not a step towards single payer. But the laws it has currently put in place are definitely a step in the right direction
Single payer would be so much better