Posted on 08/21/2015 4:49:44 PM PDT by markomalley
The conservative Upstate got a taste of “Bernie-mania” on Friday.
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders drew roughly 2,800 people to the TD Convention Center for the self-described democratic socialist’s first campaign event in the state.
The U.S. senator, an independent from Vermont, spoke for about an hour, delivering a fiery speech on why he thinks the United States has failed to deliver enough jobs, wages, education and healthcare to the middle and working classes, and to protect them under the law, based on their racial, sexual or income status.
The crowd came from near and far – some from the Greenville area while others drove from Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. The audience delivered the same energy that Sanders has been attracting in rallies nationwide, their loud cheers and boos punctuating nearly every stump speech point that he delivered.
Not all of Sanders’ supporters are liberals.
Ann Tupiak, 41, of Mauldin said she considered herself socially conservative – she voted for George W. Bush twice and would prefer it if Sanders opposed abortion – but she supports the independent’s economic and environmental policies, including his denunciation of the role that money has come to play in driving politics.
Increasing the minimum wage – which Sanders called a “starvation wage” – offering free college and paid sick leave for all employees are among Sanders’ positions that Chapman said he supports.
On a two-day swing through the Palmetto State, Sanders will speak later Friday in Columbia.
Sanders tailored some of his message for S.C. voters, noting 27 percent of Palmetto State children live in poverty.
He also took a jab at S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, and the GOP-controlled Legislature for rejecting federal money to expand Medicaid.
(I)t is terribly wrong to allow a rigid, right-wing political ideology to stand in the way of healthcare for hundreds of thousands. It is wrong to allow hundreds of people to die unnecessarily because they don’t have Medicaid. – Bernie Sanders
On “family values,” Sanders says he wants to end “the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee family medical leave.”
“Staying home with your baby is a family value,” he said.
Sanders did not attack Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, instead targeting the GOP.
“What the Republicans are talking about when they refer to family values is telling every woman in America that they cannot control their own bodies,” and telling “our gay brothers and sisters (that they) should not have the right to marry or enjoy the other benefits of American citizenship,” Sanders said.
The senator’s speech offered few details on how he would accomplish his agenda if elected president. Instead, Sanders called for a political revolution, echoing the disenchantment that many of his supporters said they feel over current policies.
In an effort to reach out to women and minorities – two powerful S.C. Democratic groups – Sanders was introduced by three women, two minorities and a Furman University student.
If da SC “conservatives” liked Barney, they are really going to love the fireplug in the orange jumpsuit.
How disgusted with Hillary and desperate in general must the Dems be to go hankering after Bernie Sanders? Is it because he’s too boring for anyone to have any dirt on him? Or is it because he’s a straight up socialist?
Golly, there’s socialists in a state. Who’d a thunk it.
aaannnndddd no negative adjectives attached to anything Sanders said or Sanders himself. Its good to have Marxist media giving the Left a helping hand!
A cranky, ugly, jealous, old marxist is not going anywhere. And I’m just talking about Hillary.
CSPAN was supposed to cover the Trump rally at 8 but, oh nooooo, they decided to cover a communist instead.
Greenville-Spartanburg is the technogeek hub of South Carolina and the closest thing to a white liberal bastion here.
A whole 2,800 attended Bolshevik Bernie’s consciousness raising? Whoop-tee-doo!
Come on, Bernard—tell them your vision for the U.S. is Venezuela. You know you want to.
Come on, Bernard—tell them your vision for the U.S. is Venezuela. You know you want to.
That is just plain weird. Sanders supporters are the reason Mental Hospitals need to be re-opened.
I can not believe you said that. In Columbia we consider Greenville-Spartanburg as the reddest part of the state. In my experience, Columbia is the liberal capitol of the state. And I live in Columbia. And it really is blue.
they misspelled Presidential “maniac”
The crowd came from near and far, they needed the near and the far to muster 2800 poeple
I live in Columbia & yes, we have Starbucks & Mellow Mushroom & state govt workers in abundance, plus the University of South Carolina, but does that make Columbia a liberal bastion?
The Rant & Rave page of Free Times is full of liberal bile against Columbia & Nikki Haley but that’s about it.
I live eight blocks from downtown but have to admit Main Street is another world. There is a mosque on Gervais but our local muzzies tend to keep vewy vewy quiet.
Ever since Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day, I go to the one on Harden Street regularly but haven’t noticed any faggie protesters there.
I see lots of good looking chicks near U.S.C. but no identifiable liberals. I shop at Whole Foods wearing my Vietnam vet cap but nobody’s screamed “babykiller!” yet.
Asheville with its head shops, funky art galleries & third world eateries this ain’t. No aging hippies in Columbia either, near as I can tell.
;^)
Socialism is such a fraud. The uber elites are always exempted from punishment.
All they offer is neo-feudalism. Exempt elites, exploited productive class, and dependent welfare stooges.
It keeps out their competition, that's why rich people love socialism.
Ping
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