Highlights: Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday the United States should use aid to Israel as leverage to force its government to change its approach.
“If you want this money, you got to change your military strategy, Sanders (I-Vt.) said on CNN’s “State of the Union” when asked about a possible aid package for Israel to be considered by the Senate.
But the two senators who followed Sanders on that program were much more concerned about what Iran might be up to than what Israel is doing. Sanders condemned both Hamas (“an awful terrorist organization”) and the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (whom he hopes will be voted out), calling for a two-state solution to the intractable crisis but not specifying how to create a path forward without Hamas, Netanyahu or war.
While decrying empty slogans on both sides of the conflict, Sanders also declined to endorse or condemn Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s (D-Mich.) criticism of President Joe Biden — she accused him of supporting “genocide” — even as he said attention needed to be paid to the rhetoric of Republicans on the subject, citing former President Donald Trump.
“If anyone thinks that Trump is going to be better than Biden on this issue or any other issue, for that matter, I think they are sorely mistaken,” he said.
He’s been a politician for 40+ years, and he’s still likely the most honest and consistent senator we’ve ever had. But he’s still a politician, and he has to play the game.
The unfortunate political reality in the US is that Bernie’s career would have ended decades ago if he just came out and said his feelings on subjects that will kill your political career forever.
I prefer a Bernie that can do great things in the Senate for 4+ decades to, “honest to a fault about unpopular opinions”-Bernie that serves one term as Mayor of Burlington, then gets voted out and becomes an insurance salesman or whatever.