Bernie Sanders drew the contrast between electing Hillary Clinton or alternatively Donald Trump in the starkest of terms Tuesday.
"If anyone out there thinks that this election is not important," he told the New Hampshire crowd, "take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump will nominate and what that means to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country.”
Sanders reminded the crowd that he had known Clinton for 25 years, dating back to her first effort to enact universal health care in the '90s, and called her a "fierce advocate" for children's rights while serving in the Senate. On issues ranging from increasing the minimum wage and expanding health care coverage to saving the environment and ending mass incarceration, Sanders wholeheartedly endorsed his former rival in a roughly 30-minute speech.
"Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her today," he said, punctuating his sentence with a pointed finger in characteristic verve.
If Sanders has been a hold out on lending his support to Clinton until now, his reservations seem to have melted away, especially in light of the catastrophic consequences of a Trump presidency. He was also genuinely enthused about the Democratic platform his campaign helped negotiate with the Clinton camp, calling it "by far, the most Progressive platform in the history of the Democratic party."
"Our job now is to see that platform implemented by a Democratically controlled Senate, a Democratically controlled House, and a Hillary Clinton presidency," he said, rallying his troops to the cause. "And I intend to be in every corner of this country to make certain that happens."
Head below for some specific snippets from Bernie.
Here's several of the major contrasts Sanders drew between Clinton and Trump. (Bernie’s prepared remarks available here.)
On worker pay
Hillary Clinton understands that we must fix an economy in America that is rigged and that sends almost all of the new wealth and income to the top 1%. Hillary Clinton understands that if someone in America works 40 hours a week that person should not be living in poverty. She believes, we all believe, that we must raise the minimum wage to a living wage. [...]
[Trump] believes that states should have the right to lower the minimum wage or even abolish the concept of the minimum wage. If Donald Trump is elected we will see no increase in the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, a starvation wage.
On the Supreme Court
This election is about which candidate will nominate Supreme Court justices who are prepared to overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, a decision which is allowing billionaires to buy elections and is undermining our democracy. This election is about who will appoint new justices on the Supreme Court who will defend a woman's right to choose, who will defend the rights of the LGBT community, who will defend workers' rights, the needs of minorities and immigrants and the government's ability to protect our environment.
On student debt
Hillary Clinton believes that we must substantially lower student debt and that we must make public colleges and universities tuition free for the middle class and working families of this country.
On the environment
This election is about climate change, the greatest environmental crisis facing our planet and the need to leave this world in a way that is healthy and inhabitable for our children and future generations. Hillary Clinton is listening to the scientists who tell us that if we do not act boldly in the very near future there will be more drought, more floods, more acidification of the oceans, more rising sea levels.
On everyone getting a fair shot
This election is about the leadership we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform and repair a broken criminal justice system. It's about making sure that young people in this country are in good schools or at good jobs, not in jail cells. Secretary Clinton understands that we do not need to have more people in jail than any other country on Earth at an expense of $80 billion a year.
On diversity
In these stressful times for our country, this election must be about bringing our people together not dividing us up. While Donald Trump is busy insulting Mexicans and Muslims and women and African-Americans and our veterans, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.