Contrast: Bernie vs. Hillary

Letters to the Editor | July 22nd, 2015

To the editor:

As the race for the Democratic nomination for president in 2016 heats up, there needs to be a very clear distinction made between the two frontrunners, Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. That distinction can be summed up in one subject of particular importance not just to labor, but to all middle class and working families in America: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and in particular the fight against what was called “trade promotion authority” (TPA) or fast track.

In the recent fight against the TPA, labor, progressives, independents, environmentalists and even libertarians and some moderate conservatives demanded that politicians and candidates running for president take a position on the most important political issue of the current administration.

Did they support TPA for the president or not? By allowing TPA to pass, the president of the United States can bring trade agreements to the Senate for a strict up or down vote, with duly elected senators giving up their constitutional right to add amendments to the legislation. Here is where the stark contrast between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders comes to light.

Bernie Sanders spoke loudly, with great conviction, and voted AGAINST granting that authority to the president. Hillary Clinton remained virtually silent on the subject, sitting on the sidelines and not taking a solid position, one way or the other. Her silence was deafening. Sanders chose the people, Hillary chose the corporations. Bottom line.

Bernie Sanders’ entire political career, which spans over 40 years, has centered on what is best for the middle class and working families in our country. His unwavering conviction that the enormous and grotesque levels of income and wealth inequality we see today will not be corrected by supporting a trade bill like the TPP is emblematic of what he stands for.

If integrity is important to you when it comes to supporting a candidate for president in 2016, then Bernie Sanders is by far and away the best candidate for our times. The line in the sand was drawn, and Bernie Sanders stood on the side of the middle class and working families in our country, unlike some who chose to remain silent.

The Solidarity Effect is a labor/talk radio show that I host every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and can be heard broadcasting simultaneously on KNDS 96.3 FM and KRFF 95.9. The show is also streamed live online at the same time and can be found on the TuneIn radio search engine app.

I have been an active member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for over 21 years at the CNH 4WD Products Plant in Fargo. The views expressed in this letter are my own and do not reflect any official endorsement of a political candidate by the IAM.

-Kevin L. Murch

West Fargo

RECENTLY IN

Recently in: