Sanders planning ‘major speech’ on democratic socialism, he tells Iowa supporters
By John Wagner
October 18, 2015 at 6:31 PM
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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been making waves as the only democratic socialist running for president. Here’s what you need to know about being a democratic socialist and how it’s different from socialism. (The Washington Post)
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said Sunday that he is preparing to give a “major speech” on democratic socialism, the political philosophy that is guiding him and his upstart campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“I think we have some explaining and work to do,” the Vermont senator told an audience at a house party here in the nation’s first caucus state, acknowledging that the term “democratic socialism” makes some people “very, very nervous.”
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate, has long identified as a democratic socialist. As a presidential candidate, he has put forward policies that try to create more fairness in a country he says is now rigged to favor the rich -- but he has stopped short of calling for classic socialist ideas, like government takeovers of private industry.
Sanders, for instance, has advocated free tuition at public colleges and universities, a single-payer health-care system, guaranteed family leave for workers and a “massive” federal jobs program to put more people to work and to fix the country’s infrastructure.
Sanders said his speech on democratic socialism is one of several addresses his campaign is preparing as his race against Hillary Rodham Clinton heads toward the first nominating contests early next year.
Aides said there is no date set yet for the speech on democratic socialism.
On a two-day swing through Iowa that began Sunday, Sanders also pressed a plan to revamp the way Social Security cost-of-living increases are calculated. Sanders bemoaned last week's Social Security Administration announcement that it would freeze retirement benefits next year, barring action by Congress.
“I myself think it’s an outrage,” Sanders said. “This is an issue we’re going to stay on.”
Sanders has proposed using criteria more specific to seniors -- such as prescription drug costs -- to gauge the need for such increases, rather than making a determination based on a broader measure of inflation.
Sanders has also called for a broader expansion of Social Security benefits that would be paid for “scrapping the cap” on payroll taxes for those with incomes above $250,000.
Sanders’s swing through Iowa also had some lighter moments. He was asked about actor Larry David's portrayal of him on Saturday Night Live. David, among other things, suggested the democratic socialist wears only one pair of underwear.
Sanders assured reporters that he has “an ample supply.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign stop at the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP)Sen. Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, eat at the Brooklyn Diner in New York. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)Sen. Bernie Sanders gestures to supporters during a campaign rally in Laramie, Wyo. Sanders won the Democratic presidential primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday. (Brennan Linsley/AP)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders arrives to have breakfast at the Blue's Egg restaurant in Milwaukee. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks with a patron while stopping for breakfast at Blues Egg. (Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters)Sanders eats breakfast in Milwaukee on the day of the Wisconsin primary. (Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters)Sanders speaks with a patron at Blue's Egg. (Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters)Bernie Sanders arrives at a campaign rally at the Wisconsin Convention Center in Milwaukee. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)People cheer at a Sanders campaign rally at the Wisconsin Convention Center. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)Sanders arrives onstage at his campaign rally in Milwaukee. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)Sanders pumps his fist during the Milwaukee campaign event. (Paul Sancya/AP)Supporters listen as Sanders speaks in Milwaukee. (Paul Sancya/AP)Sanders speaks in Milwaukee. (Paul Sancya/AP)Sanders speaks at the Wisconsin Convention Center. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)Supporters hold up signs as Sanders speaks at a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wis. (Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters)Sanders addresses the crowd at the Sheboygan South High School Acuity field house in Wisconsin. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)People hold signs that say A future to believe in during Sanderss campaign event in Sheboygan, Wis. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, wave to supporters at Sheboygan South High School in Sheboygan, Wis. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)A supporters holds a sign at Sanderss campaign event in Sheboygan, Wis. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)Sanders shakes hands with a supporter after his address at the Sheboygan South High School in Wisconsin. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)A woman holds a drawing of Sanders as he speaks at a campaign rally at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay campus in Green Bay, Wis. (Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at Safeco Field in Seattle. (Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders pumps his fist at passers-by while arriving for breakfast at Lou Mitchell's Restaurant and Bakery in Chicago. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Bernie Sanders smiles as he sits for breakfast with his guests, Cook County Commissioner, Jess "Chuy" Garcia and his wife Evelyn at Lou Mitchell's Restaurant and Bakery in Chicago. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Supporters listen as Sanders speaks to them during a rally at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Sanders speaks to his supporters during a rally at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Bernie Sanders speaks to his supporters at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Sanders speaks to supporters during a rally at the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University in Chicago. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Sanders speaks to his supporters at the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University in Chicago. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Supporters of Sanders cheer during his rally at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Sanders arrives to speak to his supporters during rally at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Young people listen as Sanders speaks at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Sanders speaks to his supporters during a rally at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Supporters cheer as Bernie Sanders speaks to them during a rally in the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Bernie Sanders speaks to his supporters during a rally in the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)Bernie Sanders addresses an overflow crowd during a campaign rally at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)Supporters listen to Bernie Sanders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)Supporters wait to enter the Sanders rally. (Charles Ledford/Getty Images)Sanders speaks at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)Sanders waves to supporters after addressing the rally. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)Sanders waves to a crowd as he arrives at the Rainbow Push Coalition in Chicago. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)A Sanders supporter cheers the Democratic presidential candidate at the Rainbow Push Coalition, a group headed by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)The Rev. Jesse Jackson, right, listens as Sanders speaks at the Rainbow Push forum in Chicago. (Tannen Maury/European Pressphoto Agency)Sanders, center, greets members of the crowd at the Rainbow Push Coalition after sitting for an interview with the Rev. Jesse Jackson in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders addresses a rally at Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)Sanders supporters cheer during a rally at Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)Sanders laughs as he arrives to speak to his supporters during a Super Tuesday rally at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, Vt. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)
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John Wagner is a political reporter covering the race for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.