Omar Bennett
Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist and nearly 30-year veteran of Congress. He has taken progressive stances on social issues, advocating for abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and criminal justice reform. Sanders has also been critical of US foreign policy and military intervention. In terms of his views on the Constitution, Sanders has expressed support for the First Amendment and the right to freedom of religion. He has also proposed a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizen's United ruling and ban corporations from unlimited campaign expenditures. Additionally, he has signed pledges to uphold Congress's constitutional authority over US foreign policy and the use of military force.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden | Snowden played a role in educating the American people about the undermining of civil liberties and constitutional rights. Snowden broke the law, but his actions should be taken into consideration. |
| Foreign Policy | Sanders signed a pledge to reclaim congressional authority to oversee U.S. foreign policy and independently debate the authorization of military force. He also supported ending U.S. support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. |
| Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement | Sanders does not support BDS but defends the constitutional right of Americans to express their views peacefully without fear of government punishment. |
| North Korea | Sanders believes that direct negotiations with North Korea are a positive step towards de-escalation and addressing nuclear threats. |
| Religion | Sanders believes that religion should be kept private and separate from public debate and political office. |
| Constitutional Amendment | Sanders proposed an amendment to reverse the Citizen's United ruling and ban corporations and nonprofits from unlimited campaign expenditures. |
| Immigration | Sanders supports offering a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and has voted for immigration bills to increase border security and grant provisional status. |
| Gun Control | Sanders supports banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He also advocates for universal background checks and has co-sponsored bills to repeal laws protecting gun manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits. |
| Healthcare | Sanders supports "Medicare for All," a single-payer system where federal and state governments provide healthcare for all Americans. |
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What You'll Learn
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden
Bernie Sanders is a Brooklyn-born democratic socialist and nearly 30-year veteran of Congress. He has been a popular mayor, a Senate committee chairman, and an early social media phenomenon. Sanders considers himself an ardent anti-war activist and advocate for military veterans. He has proposed a constitutional amendment that would effectively reverse the Supreme Court's Citizen United ruling and ban corporations and nonprofits from unlimited campaign expenditures.
In 2015, during the first Democratic presidential debate, Bernie Sanders was asked for his opinion of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. When asked if Snowden was a "hero or traitor", Sanders replied:
> "I think Snowden played a very important role in educating the American people to the degree in which our civil liberties and our constitutional rights are being undermined. He did—he did break the law, and I think there should be a penalty to that. But I think what he did in educating us should be taken into consideration."
Edward Snowden is a former NSA intelligence contractor and whistleblower who leaked classified documents revealing the existence of global surveillance programs. Snowden's disclosures revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments. Snowden himself has stated that he gradually became disillusioned with the programs and tried to raise his ethical concerns through internal channels but was ignored. He has also said that he does not want to live in a society that engages in such activities.
Snowden's actions have been described as the most significant leak in U.S. history, even more so than the Pentagon Papers. He has been charged with espionage and subsequently fled the country. Snowden's exposure of NSA surveillance is a controversial subject; supporters claim he is a hero, while detractors say he is un-American. Snowden himself is confident about the positive impact of his disclosures and believes that his actions have made the world a safer place. He has faced retaliation and threats of prosecution from the U.S. government, and he currently resides in Hong Kong, where he chose to go due to its commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent.
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Foreign policy in Latin America
Bernie Sanders has been a vocal critic of US foreign policy in Latin America, particularly during the 1980s. He has expressed interest in the problems in Latin America, and has criticised US interventionism in the region, including the use of military force to remove governments. He has also criticised US support for the Contra militia in Nicaragua, and was impressed by the Sandinista government's health care, education, and land reform programs during a visit to the country in 1985.
Sanders has also been critical of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), arguing that it would eliminate jobs in the US and only benefit multinational corporations. He has described NAFTA as a failure, citing concerns about its impact on wages, jobs, democratic control, and health and environmental standards.
In addition to his views on NAFTA and US interventionism, Sanders has been an advocate for decreasing economic injustice in Latin America. He has supported the left-wing Sandinista government in Nicaragua and has been critical of US policy towards Venezuela. He has also called for greater international collaboration and adherence to international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal framework.
Sanders has been described as a leader of the modern American progressive movement, advocating for policies such as universal healthcare, paid parental leave, tuition-free tertiary education, and a Green New Deal. He supports reducing military spending and increasing diplomacy and international cooperation. He has also been an anti-war activist and an advocate for military veterans.
In terms of his interpretation of the US Constitution, Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court's Citizen United ruling and ban corporations and nonprofits from unlimited campaign expenditures. He has also signed pledges to uphold Congress's constitutional authority over US foreign policy decisions and the use of military force. Additionally, Sanders has defended the constitutional right to freedom of expression, regardless of political views, and has supported NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, acknowledging the importance of his role in educating Americans about the undermining of their civil liberties and constitutional rights.
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LGBTQ+ rights
Bernie Sanders has been a steadfast supporter of LGBTQ+ rights throughout his decades of public service. Since 1972, he has been an outspoken ally of the LGBTQ+ community. When he first ran for office in Vermont in 1972, a plank of his platform proposed abolishing all discriminatory laws pertaining to sexuality.
In 1983, as mayor of Burlington, he approved a resolution declaring "Gay Rights Day," and supported gay rights activists when they held Burlington's first-ever Gay Pride parade. In 1985, as mayor, he signed a groundbreaking housing and employment proclamation protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination—one of the first of its kind in the country.
In 1993, he opposed the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and in 2000, he supported gay civil unions in Vermont. He has also consistently voted against efforts to weaken non-discriminatory laws and rebuked Congress members who made derogatory comments towards LGBTQ+ individuals.
Sanders has co-sponsored many bills to strengthen and expand LGBTQ+ rights, including the Uniting American Families Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the International Human Rights Defense Act, the Equality Act, and the bill to designate an LGBTQ+ Equality Day. He has also voted in favor of the Student Non-Discrimination Act to ensure students can attend school without fear of bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence.
In terms of healthcare, Sanders' "Medicare for All" plan would confront the massive health disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community. It would cover gender-affirming surgeries, increase access to PrEP, remove barriers to mental healthcare, and bolster suicide prevention efforts.
Sanders also opposes legislation that purports to "protect" religious liberty at the expense of others' rights, such as laws that would block transgender people from using the bathrooms of their choice or serving in the military. He has strongly opposed the Trump administration's proposal to roll back protections for transgender students, calling the attacks against transgender people "part of a bigotry which has got to end."
Overall, Sanders believes that the LGBTQ+ community should have equal rights in all respects, including the right to be free of discrimination at school, in the workplace, and in the military.
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The right to choose
Bernie Sanders, the Brooklyn-born democratic socialist, has served in Congress for almost 30 years. He is an ardent anti-war activist and advocate for military veterans. Sanders has also been a popular mayor and a Senate committee chairman.
Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment that would effectively reverse the Supreme Court's Citizen United ruling and ban corporations and nonprofits from unlimited campaign expenditures. He has also supported a pledge by grassroots organization Common Defense to reclaim Congress's constitutional authority to conduct oversight of U.S. foreign policy and independently debate whether to authorize each new use of military force.
Sanders is a strong supporter of abortion rights and has voted against bills to ban abortions after 20 weeks. He has also advocated for LGBTQ rights, supporting gay civil unions in Vermont in 2000 and opposing laws that would block transgender people from using the bathrooms of their choice.
Sanders has long taken progressive stances on social issues. He considers himself a feminist, opposes defunding Planned Parenthood, and has denounced institutional racism. He has called for criminal justice reform to reduce the number of people in prison and supports abolishing private, for-profit prisons and the death penalty.
Sanders has also advocated for greater democratic participation by citizens and has criticized the Democratic Party establishment for robbing their constituents of their right to participate in the democratic process.
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The War Powers Resolution
Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, is an ardent anti-war activist and a veteran of Congress. He has been vocal about the need to reclaim Congress's constitutional authority to oversee US foreign policy and independently debate the authorisation of military force. Sanders has also emphasised the importance of bringing "the Forever War to a responsible and expedient conclusion", signalling his commitment to ending prolonged military conflicts.
In February 2018, Sanders joined other senators in signing a letter to President Trump, asserting that a preemptive military strike against North Korea would lack a constitutional basis or legal authority without congressional approval. This stance aligns with the principles enshrined in the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
The resolution stipulates that the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of initiating military action and prohibits armed forces from remaining in a conflict zone for more than 60 days without prior congressional approval. It also requires the president to routinely consult with Congress throughout the duration of the conflict. Since its enactment, sitting presidents have submitted over 130 reports to Congress, providing transparency and accountability in the use of military force.
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Frequently asked questions
Bernie Sanders has shown support for the US Constitution. In 2019, he signed a pledge to "fight to reclaim Congress's constitutional authority to conduct oversight of US foreign policy". Sanders has also proposed a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling.
Bernie Sanders has been accused of hating the First Amendment or being anti-Christian. This accusation stems from Sanders' criticism of Russell Vought, a Christian, for expressing traditional Christian views regarding one's relationship with God. Sanders accused Vought of being Islamophobic and un-American.
Bernie Sanders has supported gun control measures. He has voted for the Manchin-Toomey legislation, which expands federal background checks. Sanders also co-sponsored a bill to repeal a law that protects gun manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits.
