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Sanders hits key themes in Youngstown visit
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders hit on all his key themes during a speech at the Covelli Centre before about 1,800 people.
Sanders, who is running against former first lady, secretary of State and senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president, talked about income inequality, railed against “Wall Street” and “corporate America” and also contrasted himself with Clinton.
The crowd Monday was the largest of rallies by the candidates in the area over the last 72 hours.
Clinton drew about 500 people to an appearance Saturday. Gov. John Kasich, one of four people running for the Republican nomination, had about 300 people at a town hall event Monday in Youngstown.
Sanders said he wants to transform the country and to do that, he needs voters’ help.
“No president can do it alone,” Sanders said. “That is why we need a political revolution.”
Of those in the crowd, the majority were younger faces. One of those was Cheryl Jonesco of Lake Milton, who works for General Motors and said she supports Sanders because of his opposition to overseas trade pacts, something Sanders said Clinton supports.
“I really like what he believes in,” Jonesco said.
Zane Arbuckle, from over the state line in Mercer County, Pa., said he was attending because the Youngstown visit was the closest one that Sanders was appearing at. He said Sanders appeals to him because he believes Sanders is honest and he does not trust Clinton.
Arbuckle’s wife, Jessica, also said she is drawn to Sanders’ honesty.
Roger LaFontaine of Youngstown said he has followed Sanders’ career over the last two decades and he is a strong believer in Sanders’ policies. He also said he does not like Clinton.
“He [Sanders] has always looked out for the working class. He’s been honest,” LaFontaine said. “The Clintons have literally turned their political career into a gold mine. That’s something Bernie Sanders would never do.”
Sanders said he wants to invest $1 trillion into revamping roads and water systems across the country, which would create about 13 million jobs. He also said he wants the criminal justice system to treat people fairly, saying that Wall Street bankers whose policies led to the economic downturn late in the last decade got treated far better than someone who is arrested with a bag of marijuana.
Sanders also said a big difference between him and Clinton is he does not take major corporate contributions.
Sanders said he has received about $5 million in contributions, the average amount of which is $27. He contrasted that with Clinton, who he said has several super PACs that raise money from Wall Street and big corporations.
Sanders said he wants to invest in education and social programs to keep young people learning and working and help reverse the trend of the United States having more people in prison than any other place in the world.
“We’re going to make sure our people are working or in school and not in jail,” Sanders said.
Sanders said “change always comes from the bottom up” and for his supporters to make that change they have to get to the polls and vote today. Sanders said in every state where there was a large voter turnout, he was victorious. In states where the turnout was low, Clinton won.
He also said polls show him beating Republican front-runner Donald Trump in a national race by a far greater margin than Clinton. Sanders said that’s because he wants to unite people, and most people in this country want to help their fellow human, not hurt them.