The Convocation Center was packed when democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to Eastern Michigan University Monday, Feb. 15. The line to get into the building wrapped down to Huron River Drive and then down that road to Emu’s indoor practice facility. According to a fire marshal on the scene, 9,341 people were in attendance.
“Bernie! Bernie! Bernie Bernie!” chanted the crowd.
Sanders was introduced by a nurse employed by the U of M Health System. Her union, the Michigan Nurse’s Association, took this opportunity to announce its unanimous decision to endorse the Vermont Senator.
“Nurses are feeling ‘the Bern’ because he is the only candidate to recognize that our country’s healthcare system is broken beyond repair,” she said.
Sanders started his rally by talking about his earlier meeting that day with families that have been affected by the Flint water crisis. He stated his feelings about Gov. Rick Snyder, calling for his resignation.
The self-styled democratic socialist reiterated the themes that he built his campaign on. He was on stage for a hour long speech, where he touched on everything from unemployment and special interest groups, to Wall Street and LGBT rights.
Regarding education, Sanders said that the world has changed. He said that 50 years ago the focus on public education did not go beyond the end of high school because with a diploma, one could get a decent paying job.
“In many respects a college degree is what a high school degree was fifty years ago,” Sanders said. “That is why I believe when we talk about public education today, it must be free tuition …”
Sanders said raising taxes on Wall Street would pay for this.
Sanders used multiple examples of change that have occurred within his lifetime to explain why he believes so much change is possible.
“If we were in this room 10 years ago…if someone said they think gay rights will be legal in 2016 the person next to them would say ‘What are you smoking?’” he said.
Sen. Sanders sits on the Senate Committee. Touching on climate change, Sanders said “The debate is over, climate change is real.”
“We have a moral responsibility to leave this planet in a way that is healthy and habitable to our kids and our grandchildren,” said Sanders.
Valerie Andrews-Walker, elementary education major at EMU, shared her reason for waiting out in the cold to see Sen. Sanders.
“I went to see Bernie speak because he’s the only candidate I’ve found that doesn’t shy away from tackling big issues,” she said. “Seeing all the support at the rally, being so close to him, and hearing him speak made me believe we can lead this political revolution to success!”
Sanders wrapped up by going back to the topic of health care stating “Healthcare is a right for all people. He exited with his wife, Jane, shaking the hands of his supporters.
Bernie’s appearance at EMU seemed to make students more enthusiastic about being politically involved and aware. Elaine Barker, a major in political science and linguistics, arrived at the convocation center around 8 a.m. Monday morning.
“I immensely enjoyed the rally. Bernie Sanders is an energetic speaker and touched on many topics that touched home for me, especially women’s rights and civil rights issues,” she said after the rally. “Also I’m so glad he chose to stop at EMU!”
The sudden death of famously conservative justice Antonin Scalia has created a new level of anxiety in the current election process. In the last GOP debate, almost all the Republican candidates joined most of the Republican congressional leadership in calling for the next president to appoint his replacement, not Obama. If Sanders becomes president, he said he that he would not appoint a nominee unless they would overturn the controversial case decision Citizens United.
Sanders was considered a long shot candidate when he made his announcement on the lawn of the United States Capitol last year. He has risen steadily against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He nearly tied with her in Iowa and beat Sec. Clinton 60.4 percent to 38 percent in the New Hampshire Primary. According to the most recent poll on realclearpolitics.com, he is trailing Clinton by 30.5 points in the latest Michigan polls. Clinton has 59.5 percent according to their average, versus Sanders’ 29 percent.
The Vermont senator was elected to the House of Representatives as an independent in 1991. He became that state’s Senator in 2007 and was the longest serving independent in American history before he became a democrat to run for president.
