Sanders, Graham pull no punches in debate
It started with a handshake, but U. S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Lindsey Graham wasted very little time when their debate devolved into the same disagreements they would have had if they stayed in D.C.
“Do yourself a favor and ask yourself the following question, am I better off today than I was two years ago? And if you are, you were in a world of hurt two years ago, because most people are not better off today,” Graham, a Republican of South Carolina, told the audience Monday.
“What we don’t need right now is demagoguery, we need thoughtful solutions to the major crisis that we face,” Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats, said.
Sanders and Graham met in Boston for the first of a series of debates hosted by a coalition of political foundations — the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate — aimed at showcasing the potential for those of differing beliefs to still come together for civil discourse.
Monday’s debate topic was chosen in advance of the event and centered on the economy.
Sanders was offered the opportunity to open the debate, when he told the Fox News audience that he was about to share with them information they would not be able to get on the network normally. Sanders told the audience that our country is slipping ever closer to oligarchy, as wealth distribution reaches disparities never before seen in our society.
“We are moving toward an oligarchic form of society where a small number of billionaires not only have extraordinary wealth, they have extraordinary political power,” he said. “We are living at a time when half of our people are living paycheck-to-paycheck in the wealthiest country on Earth.”
Graham responded that if the Democrats had a plan it would pass muster and clear Congress. He challenged Sanders several times to bring any of his plans to the Senate floor, where he said they would be defeated.
“After hearing Bernie talk, you would believe we’re building a wall to keep people in, not out. Things are tough, but they’re going to get better, right? And socialism is not the answer to all these problems. So I just want to remind you a little bit about where we’re at: the Democrats have the House, the Senate, and the White House. All these problems that were talked about, they could change or fix if they could. Their agenda is not working,” he said.
Sanders accused Graham of parroting the party line.
“Now, it’s interesting to hear Senator Graham speak because, other than the partisan rhetoric, what you don’t hear him talking about are in fact the most important issues facing this country. That’s what the establishment does,” Sanders said.
“All these problems that were talked about, they could change or fix if they could. Their agenda is not working. So here’s what I want to tell you, vote Republican in 2022,” Graham said, a point he made several times.
The debate, hosted by Bret Baier, was carried live by Fox’s streaming service, Fox Nation, Monday at noon, but will air on Fox News on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The next debate is scheduled for July at Georgetown University and the third in Utah at the Hatch Foundation, named for former U. S. Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Each further debate will include a new set of U. S. senators.