Two of the biggest concerns with people re Bernie are (1) how will he be able to accomplish what he wants to do. And (2) does he have enough leadership experience. You may have read that he’s known as the “Amendment King” for his use of amendments to get things done. You may have read of his 8 years as mayor. But you still have questions. How about the word of a VA employee who worked with Sanders & his staff?
Carter Moore was a Congressional Relations Officer with the VA and dealt with the New England delegation. As such, s/he had dealings with Sanders and his staff. It’s a great read. Here are some highlights.
What was it like dealing with Sanders & his staff?
the way Senator Sanders’ staffers conducted their business and represented their Boss was a direct reflection of the Senator’s expectations: be courteous, but know your stuff and be sharp. Those principles are carried by the Senator, which brings me to my personal interactions with him.
What are examples of issues he was interested in?
In 2011, he’d engaged with the Smithsonian Institution to ensure that the products sold out of their museums' gift shops were all made in America. Soon after that campaign, he asked us: How much of the products on VCS’ (Veterans Canteen Service) retail shelves are made in America?
How did s/he sum up the experience of interacting with Sanders?
In short, What was it like to work with Senator Sanders in the capacity that I had? It was great, and I can't speak highly enough of him. He and his office were never less than professional, there was never a sense that they were rushing to judgment, and I could always expect that they’d treat whatever information we provided them with fairness. It was very rare in my line of work to come across a team like the one he put together and then led by example. If everyone in Congress had an ethic like his - even if not the philosophy - I think we'd have a much better political climate.