Locals Turn Out in Hotchkiss to Support Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign

Locals Turn Out to Support Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign

By Thomas Wills

On the evening of July 29 about 64 supporters of Vermont independent, and Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders gathered at Memorial Hall in Hotchkiss.  The event was part of some 3,500 held across the country with well over 100,000 core supporters of Sanders attending. The highlight of the meeting was a live stream via the Internet of Sanders giving a short version of his standard stump speech to the attendees followed by a plea for people to sign up as volunteers. Many of those attending the Hotchkiss meeting did so on the spot via their smart phones. Most attendees had also RSVPed via the www.BernieSanders.com website where they shared their contact information with the national campaign. The main purpose of the July 29^th meetings, which took place in everything from private homes to large halls, was to take a step forward in building a nationwide network of local volunteers to help in overcoming the Sanders campaigns largest weak point, lack of money.  Although the campaign raised some $15 million, in small contributions averaging about $35 each, in the first 3 months, that pales in comparison to relative huge amounts being raised by other candidate’s PACs, including Clinton’s and those supporting Republican candidate Jeb Bush. The Sanders campaign hopes to make up the gap with the sheer numbers and energy of volunteers and citizen supporters sharing Sander’s message with friends. It is hoped that this “movement” will remain and grow, win or lose the Democratic nomination.

Among the interesting discussion and lively conversation that took place during the evening was the input from a couple from Delta who had moved to the area after living for decades in Vermont. The couple assured the Hotchkiss crowd that Sanders (or Bernie as his supporters affectionately call him) was just as he appeared a forthright honest man who was passionate about the issues and always kept his word. In their opinion this was unique among most politicians.

               Gusti Granzella Boiani of Eckert explains what she like about Bernie Sanders.

Attendees at the Hotchkiss Sanders meeting, which was partially coordinated through the North Fork for Bernie Sanders Facebook page, ranged from a 19 year old “new voter” to retired seniors inspired by 73 year old Sanders. Those present agreed that many local people still had no idea who Bernie Sanders is or what he stands for and getting that information out and :making the introduction” was probably the biggest challenge.

A local Bernie, Bernie Heideman of Hotchkiss, former owner and founder of Big B’s Juices, expressed support for the candidate Bernie and suggested that people need to get past wedge issues like gun control and focus on what is truly important.

Two days later on Friday July 29, Sanders supporters, including those who had missed the first meeting, held a second Memorial Hall meeting to watch a recording of the July 29 video stream and discuss local actions to support the campaign. That meeting was facilitated by Don Foster of Hotchkiss.

Sanders spent eight years as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont before being elected and reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives as an Independent several times before moving to the Senate where he is in his second term. He is the longest serving Independent member of congress in U.S. History who only recently declared as a Democrat in order to run for that party’s presidential nomination.  He is, according to current polls, running in second place for the Democratic nomination behind Hillary Clinton, but has been gaining ground steadily as the early months of the long campaign.   Polls have Sanders and Clinton very close in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire. Three other candidates are in the Democratic race:  James Webb, Lincoln Chaffee and Martin O’Malley. Polls, as of late July, show both Sanders and Clinton The leading Republican candidate for that party’s nomination as of the end of July was businessman/ television star, Donald Trump, although as the campaign proceeds it is expected by most political experts that Jeb Bush will move to the front of the pack of some 19 party candidates.

Sanders is 73, and an unapologetic “democratic” socialist in the mold of what used be called a “populist”, with Franklin Roosevelt being an example. He strongly supports the current social safety net (Social Security, Medicare, ACA protections (but favors a “Medicare for All” system), but would like to strengthen and add to it. He points to successful programs in the Scandinavian countries as things the U.S. could learn from and adapt to our needs. He advocates a return to the post World War II Eisenhower administration rates of progressive taxation on the wealthy to pay for such improvements. His core issues include mitigating the current massive level of income inequality in the nation (much of it due to the industrial base moving to China and other countries, and opposes trade agreements that would further encourage industry to move to other countries. He also strongly supports moving forward to mitigate climate change.

Information sources:  www.berniesanders.com , Facebook:  Delta County for Bernie Sanders (many links to videos and articles), Colorado for Bernie Sanders, etc. , You Tube channel – Bernie Sanders.

(Note:  The July 29 meeting was facilitated by this reporter who is an active supporter of Bernie Sanders.)