President Obama is honoring Bernie’s historic campaign with a visit to the White House today!
WaPo:Clinton may take the nomination, but Sanders has won the debate
He [Bernie] started at single digits in the polls and was widely dismissed as a “fringe” candidate. He has astounded even his supporters, winning more than 20 contests, 10 million votes and 1,500 pledged delegates, the most of any true insurgent in modern history. He has captured the support of young voters by record margins. And he did so less with personal charisma than with the power of his ideas and the force of the integrity demonstrated by spurning traditional deep-pocketed donors in favor of grass-roots fundraising. Harvard researchers found that Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have actually become more progressive over the course of the campaign. Sanders hasn’t merely won a seat at the table, he’s started a sea change in Democratic politics that the party will have to adjust to.
Even as Clinton turns her focus to Donald Trump, Sanders will play a major role over the next five months. At the convention, we will witness a powerful demonstration of the passion that Sanders represents. His allies will seek to ensure that the Democratic Party platform incorporates the fundamental reforms that he has championed — from the $15 minimum wage and Medicare-for-all, to tuition-free college and breaking up the banks, to rebuilding our infrastructure and getting serious about climate change. He will use his prime-time address to lay out the next stage in the political revolution, while showing that stopping Trump is vital to its progress.
The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss a unity strategy.
Of utmost importance, will be ensuring Bernie’s enthusiastic supporters are brought into the fold; Democrats will bring all forces to bear to beat Trump in November.
Bernie is strongly committed to defeating Trump and we can expect to see him out on the trail:
Our campaign from Day 1 has understood some very basic points, and that is first, we will not allow right-wing Republicans to control our government. And that is especially true with Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. The American people in my view will never support a candidate whose major theme is bigotry. Who insults Mexicans, who insults Muslims and women and African Americans. We will not allow Donald Trump to become president of the United States.
Beyond beating Trump, Bernie remains steadfast in continuing the fight for equality, peace and sustainability:
As all of you know, that when we began this campaign a little over a year ago we were considered to be a fringe campaign. But over the last year, I think that has changed, just a little bit. By the end of tonight, we’ll have won, I believe 22 state primaries and caucuses. We will have received well over 10 million votes. And what is most extraordinary to me is that in virtually every single state, we have won in big numbers, the votes of young people. Young people understand that they are the future of America, and they intend to help shape that future. And I am enormously optimistic about the future of our country when so many young people have come on board and understand that our vision, a vision of social justice, economic justice, racial justice, and environmental justice, must be the future of America. Our vision will be the future of America.
#TheStruggleContinues
President Obama is expected to make a statement following the meeting.
Thursday, Jun 9, 2016 · 4:44:21 PM +00:00 · igualdad
Bernie opened his remarks by thanking President Obama and VP Biden for not putting a thumb on the scales throughout this primary election. He went on to mention several major issues which were the center of his campaign, and yes, Bernie said OLIGARCHIC on the WH lawn! Go Bernie!
Bernie went on to emphasize the importance of beating Trump:
“Donald Trump would be a disaster for the United States.
It is unbelievable to me that the Republicans would have a candidate that would make bigotry the cornerstone of his campaign.”
He closed his remarks with: “I spoke briefly to Secretary Clinton on Tuesday night, uh, and I congratulated her on her very strong campaign. I look forward to meeting with her in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump and to create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1%. : H/T AngelaMarx
Of note, Bernie DID NOT MENTION A CONTESTED CONVENTION. Bernie clearly sees the race is over and after the DC primary, he will join forces with President Obama and Secretary Clinton to beat Trump.
VIDEO: Bernie's Full Remarks Post WH Meeting
THIS IS WHAT UNITY LOOKS LIKE: President Obama gives a shout out to Bernie in his endorsement of Hillary.
Thursday, Jun 9, 2016 · 6:33:15 PM +00:00 · igualdad
The first black President, the first woman Presidential candidate, and the first Jewish, “socialist” Presidential primary runner up made history today. We are unified.
The contrast between the Democratic and Republican party could not be more striking. We will defeat the “Republican party’s candidate, Trump, who has made the cornerstone of his campaign bigotry.”