Senator Bernie Sanders said that he’s not a big fan of compromise, especially when it means compromising a progressive agenda in favor of a centrist, Republican-leaning agenda.
The Senator said that he plans on using the leverage he has earned with millions of supporters nationwide to urge a President Clinton not to settle in deals with Republicans without deciding what is required by the American people.
In an interview with the Washington Post Tuesday morning, the senator said:
“It’s not good enough for me, or anybody, to say, ‘Well, look, Republicans control the House: From Day One, we’re going to have to compromise.’ ”
Instead, Bernie says that he plans to continue advocating for issues important to the middle and working class. According to the Senator, it is not acceptable to “compromise,” key issues important to those classes.
Though many progressives were not at all pleased that Sanders lost the race – and were even less pleased when he endorse Clinton – he has made it clear repeatedly that he intends to be a major part of the government in the next several years.
“The leverage that I think I take into the Senate is taking on the entire Democratic Party establishment, and, you know, taking on a very powerful political organization with the Clinton people. We won 22 states and 46 percent of the pledged delegates, 13.4 million votes … and a majority of the younger people, the future of the country. … That gives me a lot of leverage, leverage that I intend to use.”
It almost seems that at this point, it would be easier for Clinton if Sanders had washed his hands of her. Instead, he plans to be a liberal thorn in her side, prodding her left-ward each time she tries to swing right.
