A Jewish socialist running for president as a Democrat goes to a conservative Christian university. No, this isn’t the start of a joke. Bernie Sanders really did make an appearance at Liberty University on Monday.
The Washington Post provided a video and transcript of his speech. The full event is also available.
Sanders didn’t mince words. He acknowledged very early on in his speech, when he referenced his support for abortion and same-sex marriage, that there are issues of disagreement between him and his audience.
But then he said this:
Too often in our country — and I think both sides bear responsibility for us — there is too much shouting at each other. There is too much making fun of each other.
He also made this point:
And it is important to see where if possible, and I do believe it is possible, we can find common ground.
Sanders quoted the Bible and Pope Francis a few times, and did try to appeal to those in attendance to come together in agreement on certain issues.
It wasn’t on abortion and same-sex marriage where Sanders got opinionated. He spoke of “income and wealth inequality.” He criticized the 1 percent and claimed that “it would be hard to make the case that we are a just society, or anything resembling a just society today.”
Sanders also tried to appeal to the crowd on “family values,” particularly with health care and how “the United States of America is the only — only — major country on earth that does not provide paid family and medical leave.”
One noteworthy comment was meant with applause. “Money and wealth should serve the people. The people should not have to serve money and wealth,” Sanders said.
In closing, Sanders mentioned:
The question and answer part also received particular attention. In his response on race and racism, Sanders claimed “that’s a fact,” that we are “a nation, which in many ways was created… from way back on racist principles…”
At the closing, Sanders was asked how they could pray for him and his family on the campaign trail. His answer was to pray for wealth equality to help the children and the poor.
The appearance at least seemed to over better than Hillary Clinton’s campaign speech at Case Western Reserve University. Hillary didn’t know her crowd there too well and her campaign had to explain why students were given pledges to support her.
Sanders may not have won too many people over at Liberty University. The New York Times reported a mix of responses from students. His bold move to appeal to Evangelicals though, for this sort of agree to disagree on certain issues, is worth commending.
