Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) said Wednesday that the United States is moving toward an “oligarchic society” and called on Vice President Harris to make that message a central part of her campaign.
Sanders said on CNN's “The Lead with Jake Tapper” that doing so would help Harris appeal to supporters of former President Trump, who backed him during the presidential election.
“Here's the message,” Sanders said when asked how Harris could target these voters. “I know that's a hard message for a lot of politicians to get across, and that's the perception that America is moving more and more toward an oligarchic society.”
Sanders, who ran for the White House in 2016 and 2020, pointed to widening inequality in the country and the accumulation of wealth among a select few billionaires.
“Billionaires and the top 1 percent have never had it so good. Period. End of debate,” the senator said, noting that inequality in income and wealth between them is “greater than it has ever been in American history.”
At the same time, Sanders added, “Tens of millions of people, working people, are struggling to put food on the table. That's the reality.”
He didn't condemn any specific politicians, but called on today's political leaders to address inequality and the disproportionate influence that wealthy Americans have in elections.
“This isn't Kamala Harris' fault, this isn't Joe Biden's fault, this isn't Donald Trump's fault. It's been that way for a long time, and it's just getting worse,” the independent from Vermont said. “But, hey, we have to acknowledge that.”
Sanders also gave Harris advice on what message to send: “To the working people of America, I stand with you, and I'm prepared to take on the billionaire class, including the wealthy campaign donors, who currently control our political process.”
He said they should work to repeal the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which opened the way for corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited money on elections.
He added that the decision “allows billionaires to buy elections.”
“I think the working class is suffering, and I think they're turning to Trump because they don't see a real alternative,” Sanders said. “And if she offers them an economic alternative that says, 'I'm going to stand up for you, I'm going to take on the greedy people who want it all,' I think she can convert some of the Trump supporters and win this election, probably in a big way.”
The Hill has reached out to Harris' campaign for response.
