Amid all the accusations from Republicans that Barack Obama is a socialist, many Americans are not aware that we have a real Socialist in the Senate. He’s Bernie Sanders (I-VT). In addition, he is the strongest progressive voice in the Senate. He made it clear who we should hold responsible for our government’s failure to address many of the issues we face.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that Republicans "do not want Americans to succeed" in laying out his case for energizing the liberal base to go to the polls in November . Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist who caucuses with Democrats, discussed President Obama’s disconnect with the liberal wing along with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on CBS’ "Face the Nation" Sunday. While Obama’s accomplishment including healthcare reform have been "nothing to sneeze at," Sanders said, the middle class is shrinking while poverty increases and income gaps become wider. "We have a very serious situation and I think there’s a concern that the president hasn’t seen that urgency," Sanders said, and "stood up for the American people the way we would like him to." He said Obama needed to rally on a "progressive agenda to expand the middle class." When pressed by host Bob Schieffer on his comments about Republicans, Sanders defended his words, saying that given the choice between political power and "initiatives to help the American people" that the GOP would choose power. "The Republicans have said no, no, no," Sanders said. "They have been the party of no and obstructionism."… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Common Dreams>

Here’s a short clip of his appearance:

Note that Sanders had both praise and criticism for the Obama administration, and rightly so. Both are completely valid. At the same time, he made it clear that he sees the Republicans as the prime cause of the problem, because they are selling America out in their attempt to grab power. He also made it clear that the best solution is for the liberal base to get to the polls.