The Socialist Senator

[Herman Munster]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?hp&ex=1169442000&en=3dacaa287419d80e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

When Bernie Sanders visits a high-school class, as he does regularly, students don’t hear a speech, a focus-grouped polemic, a campaign pitch or, heaven forbid, practiced one-liners. Nor, in all likelihood, do they hear Sanders tell stories about his family, childhood or some hardship he has endured. He makes no great effort to “connect” emotionally in the manner that politicians strive for these days, and he probably doesn’t “feel your pain” either, or at least make a point of saying so. It’s not that Sanders is against connecting, or feeling your pain, but the process seems needlessly passive and unproductive, and he prefers a more dynamic level of engagement.

“I urge you all to argue with your teachers, argue with your parents,” Sanders told a group of about 60 students at South Burlington High School — generally liberal, affluent and collegebound — one afternoon in mid-December.

The newly elected senator whipped his head forward with a force that shifted his free-for-all frizz of white hair over his forehead. (Journalistic convention in Vermont mandates that every Sanders story remark on his unruly hair as early on as possible. It also stipulates that every piece of his clothing be described as “rumpled.”)

“C’mon, I’m not seeing enough hands in here,” he said.

A senior named Marissa Meredyth raised hers, and Sanders flicked his index finger at her as if he were shooting a rubber band. She bemoaned recent cuts to college financial-aid programs.

Sanders bemoans these, too, but he’d rather provoke.

“How we going to pay for this financial aid?” Sanders asked. “Who in here wants us to raise taxes on your parents to pay for this?”

Not many, based on the show of hands.

“O.K., so much for financial aid,” Sanders said, shrugging.

Next topic: “How many of you think it was a good idea to give the president the authority to go to war in Iraq?”

No hands.

“C’mon, anyone?”

[napi21]

1. I listen to Bernie every week on Thom Hartmann Shiow. He's a

very good man, andactually uses common sense! Imagine that!

[KT2000]

2. Love him

he is the only politician I know of who has read into the record the health damage done by exposure to chemicals. All the other politicians are too afraid of the DOWs and Monsantos of the world.

[cool user name]

3. That's a great piece. Thanks for posting.

Kicking!

Woot, woot for Bernie!

[mmonk]

4. I was wondering if he might be a good candidate

for initiating an impeachment inquiry? That would give any cowardly dems the cover to do the right thing.