Sanders: I don't consider myself a Democrat



"No, I'm an Independent," Sanders said when asked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes whether he now identifies as a Democrat.



"If the Democratic Party is going to succeed - and I want to see it succeed - it's gonna have to open its door to Independents," he continued. "There are probably more Independents in this country than Democrats or Republicans. It's got to open its doors to working people and to young people, create a grassroots party. That's what we need."



Sanders had been dogged by questions about his party affiliation throughout the presidential primary. Last April, his campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, told Bloomberg that Sanders would remain a Democrat after the election.



Sitting alongside Perez during a joint interview, Sanders said that he wants the Democratic Party to focus on key issues for progressives, such as the decline of the middle class, the "need" to take on wealthy interests and unite around "Medicare for all."



When asked whether the party supports the idea of "Medicare for all," Perez argued that the party believes "healthcare is a right, not a privilege."





http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/sanders-i-dont-consider-myself-a-democrat/ar-BBA1muj?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday night that he still does not consider himself a Democrat, despite taking part in a Democratic National Committee unity tour with the party's new chair Tom Perez."No, I'm an Independent," Sanders said when asked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes whether he now identifies as a Democrat."If the Democratic Party is going to succeed - and I want to see it succeed - it's gonna have to open its door to Independents," he continued. "There are probably more Independents in this country than Democrats or Republicans. It's got to open its doors to working people and to young people, create a grassroots party. That's what we need."Sanders had been dogged by questions about his party affiliation throughout the presidential primary. Last April, his campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, told Bloomberg that Sanders would remain a Democrat after the election.Sitting alongside Perez during a joint interview, Sanders said that he wants the Democratic Party to focus on key issues for progressives, such as the decline of the middle class, the "need" to take on wealthy interests and unite around "Medicare for all."When asked whether the party supports the idea of "Medicare for all," Perez argued that the party believes "healthcare is a right, not a privilege." 25 Tweet