BOOK REVIEW: WHY BERNIE SANDERS MATTERS

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Why Bernie Sanders Matters, by Harry Jaffe (Regan Arts, New York, NY, 2015, 219 pages)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

"A nation will not survive morally or economically when so few have so much and so many have so little." -- Bernie Sanders (photo, right, by Ron Logan at San Diego rally)

 

April 14, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--Radical, hippy, revolutionary, self-proclaimed democratic socialist. Hot from the campaign trail, a vivid new biography goes inside Bernie Sanders’ contradictions, his unusual life, and his electrifying quest to make the American dream a reality for all. This unauthorized biography by Harry Jaffe gives us insight into this man running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic candidacy for President of the United States. 

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders may be the least political person in politics – a brusque, unpolished, Jewish  socialist from Brooklyn with deep-seated convictions and distaste for small talk. Donald Trump mockingly and repeatedly refers to this “Socialist” as a “Communist” in his Republican campaign speeches for president.

Harry Jaffe (photo, right), the author of this book, is a leading journalist covering Washington, DC – its crime, its heroes and villains. Beyond Washington, Jaffe’s work has been published in Yahoo News, Men’s Health, Harper’s, Esquire, and newspapers from the San Francisco Examiner to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He’s appeared in documentary films and on television and radio across the country and throughout Europe. It is this type of journalistic background that enables us to fully appreciate his latest book about this enigma of a man, Bernie Sanders, in Why Bernie Sanders Matters.    

While reporting from inside the campaign, personal relationships with Sanders’ friends and colleagues, and meticulous research, Jaffe offers an engaging, insightful portrait of the ultimate insider candidate, charting Sanders’ course from Brooklyn to Burlington, and now to Des Moines and beyond. Within the untold narrative of Sanders’ origins and political developments – including the Occupy movement, the Great Recession, and the rise of the millennial generation – that have shifted Sanders’ views from fringe to focal point.

Why Bernie Sanders Matters reveals:

  • How Sanders’ parents came to America, Sanders’ troubled relationship with his father, and how Sanders’ brother Larry helped spark his interest in politics;
  • His working class roots in Brooklyn, surrounded by neighbors with socialist and communist views;
  • How the racial unrest of the late 50s and early 60s fueled his passion for equality;
  • The deaths of his parents, and how Sanders managed to support himself through college on his own;
  • Sanders’ surprising roots in the “free love” movement – which influenced some of his own idiosyncratic romantic relationships;
  • His passionate political awakening in Chicago, working with CORE – a radical offshoot of the NAACP – on racial and economic justice, and why the recent disrupting of a Sanders campaign event by “Black Lives Matter” activists was particularly jarring;
  • The fascinating story of how he avoided serving in the Vietnam War;
  • His shocking win in the 1980 mayoral election in Burlington VT, against an entrenched political machine that tried to run him out of office;
  • Why he briefly – and counter-intuitively – became the darling of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the 90s;
  • Exactly what kind of socialist is Sanders?;
  • Why the issues of income inequality, the bloated billionaire class, and the need for universal healthcare – which Sanders has been raising since the 1970s – became the driving topics in the 2016 campaign;
  • How Sanders has constructed a presidential campaign built to go the distance;
  • Madison High School “Wall of Fame” includes Bernie Sanders, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, singer Carole King, New York Senator Charles Schumer, actor Martin Landau, comedian Andrew Dice Clay, baseball great Frank Torre, comedian Chris Rock (although Rock did not graduate).

Jaffe describes Sanders as an “unapologetic socialist”, who champions the working class. Jaffe also said that the black vote is not monolithic and that southern African Americans – largely rural, more religious and conservative – are quite different from their northern counterparts, who are urban and prioritize good jobs and making a living. The contention has been that while Clinton runs exceptionally well with African Americans in the southern states, she might not do as well among northern blacks in the Ohio and Illinois primaries. Sanders lost the black vote recently in Mississippi to Hillary Clinton 86% to 14%! However in Illinois, Sanders took 29% of the black vote, though not enough to beat Clinton, who won 52-48%. Similarly he took 30% of the black vote in Ohio, a key factor in his loss to Clinton who got 56% overall.

Bernie Sanders’ appeal to young, often first time voters, is not a mystery to Harry Jaffe, whose recent book “Why Bernie Sanders Matters” was the subject of a Focus Washington interview with Chuck Conconi. Jaffe said that the youthful voters are “attracted to” Vermont Senator’s authenticity, helping propel him to win 7 of the last 8 primaries and put him within 250 pledged delegates of Clinton on the eve of the New York primary (though she still has a commanding lead among super delegates).

Strangely missing from Jaffe’s book is no discourse or insight into Ta-Nehisi Coates inquiry to Sanders about his position against reparations for blacks.

In the January issue of “The Atlantic” magazine, Ta-Nehisi Coates was quoted as stating that Bernie Sanders was asked whether he was in favor of “reparations for slavery.” Sanders response left me dumbfounded and disillusioned, as it probably has most other African Americans. Sanders stated: “No, I don’t think so. First of all, its likelihood of getting through Congress is nil. Second of all, I think it would be very divisive. The real issue is when we look at the poverty rate among the African American community, when we look at the high unemployment rate within the African American community, we have a lot of work to do.” That argument on the part of Sanders is duplicitous, and looking at the issue of reparations under double standards. Sanders, himself Jewish, certainly has no issue with Jewish immigrants receiving reparations for what they endured during the Holocaust, nor the issue of reparations received by the Japanese that were interned in camps during the war.    

Perhaps, and as Jaffe indicates in his book, Sanders’ stance on slavery reparations was tempered by his thoughts on the likelihood of success on his proposed $5.5 billion social and jobs program that was designed to help blacks. Covering the event for Bloomberg Politics, where Sanders’ social and jobs program came up, David Weigel wrote that a $5.5 billion social program would have had a rough road even in a Democratic Congress, further stating: “In a Capital controlled by Republicans, it might as well propose taxing churches to pay for sex-reassignment surgeries on a moon base.”

Why Bernie Sanders Matters, by Harry Jaffe, is actually a book to introduce Sanders to America, for until his campaign for president most folk were unaware of him or his achievements. Sanders has had to play a game of catch up to Hillary Clinton in the campaign for president, but if they actually knew the facts brought about by Jaffe in his book, Clinton would probably be trailing him in all categories, including delegates.

For those blacks stating that Hillary Clinton has been there for them, if they were aware of just one statement referenced by Jaffe in his book about Sanders, they would be running in support of him in droves. Jaffe points out that while a student at the University of Chicago in the 1960s, at the first civil rights sit-in in Chicago, Sanders stated: “We feel it is an intolerable situation when Negro and white students of the university cannot live together in university-owned apartments.” Sanders was ahead of his time! Hillary Clinton was not yet in high school at the time, while living in the same general area of Chicago.

It is clear from reading this book that Bernie Sanders cut his teeth on social activism and politics while a student at the University of Chicago in the 1960s, a hotbed of socialism and radical concepts. The author points out that Sanders joined the “Young People’s Socialist League” and attended meetings of the South Side Socialist Party. The university attracted an active cultural community that included the screenwriter Ben Hecht, poets Carl Sandburg and Vachel Lindsay, and muckraker Upton Sinclair, the socialist author who exposed the horrendous working conditions of Chicago’s meatpacking industry. Jaffe also points out that progressives like Clarence Darrow made their homes in the Hyde Park area of Chicago near the university campus, where President Obama has a home, and where I attended church for many years.

Perhaps most revealing and insightful about the psyche and metamorphosis of Bernie Sanders, is a 2,000 word manifesto against forced chastity in the student newspaper, The Maroon, written by Sanders, which states: “In my opinion, the administrators of this university are as qualified to legislate on sex as they are to mend broken bones. One can best use an old saying to describe their actions: that their ignorance of the matter is only matched by their presumptuousness. If they dislike sex, or if they think that it is ‘dirty,” or ‘evil,’ or ‘sinful’ that is their misfortune. It is incredible, however, that they should be allowed to pass their attitudes, or neuroses, on to the student body…. Not only must the administrators not be allowed to forbid students who desire sexual intercourse from being able to have it, but they must also not be allowed to prevent a man and a woman from spending a night in conversation, or from simply studying together, alone.”        

At once a captivating biography and a thought-provoking window into the contemporary political landscape, WHY BERNIE SANDERS MATTERS will become the defining account of a pivotal moment in American history, a very insightful book that I encourage all to read.

Throughout Bernie Sanders' failed campaign for President, he railed against big banks such as Wells Fargo and Union Bank, repeatedly stating that that they are too large and should be broken up. He joined Senator Elizabeth Warren in the attached letter calling for an investigation of Wells Fargo as to if they violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) with respect to its account executives, bank tellers, branch managers, and customer service representative. This would lead to the resignation of Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf. Read letter here.

Dennis Moore has been the Associate Editor of the East County Magazine in San Diego and the book review editor for SDWriteway, an online newsletter for writers in San Diego that has partnered with the East County Magazine, as well as a freelance contributor to the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper and EURweb based out of Los Angeles. Mr. Moore can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you can follow him on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8


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Comments

Still Sanders

Thanks to Dennis for excellently reviewing a book about Bernie Sanders, who has risen from obscurity to mount the most successful insurgent campaign to be the Democratic nominee for President in American history. Bernie is also the most successful Jewish Presidential primary candidate to date but has not run as a Jewish candidate. A rarity among politicians, Bernie has authenticity as his notable trait; many of his progressive views, for example on civil rights, were adopted long before they became mainstream, as Dennis points out, not as a matter of expediency. Bernie’s call for campaign finance reform has resonated with a cynical electorate at a time when the two major parties have both been captured by Big Money interests. His quest for economic justice has even caught the attention of the Vatican, which invited him to speak at a conference of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences last month. Bernie aims to recast the Democratic Party once again as the champion of ordinary working people. With 80% of the primary and caucus contests completed, however, it is clear that one reason Bernie is coming up a bit short in his primary bid is that minority voters, a demographic that the Democratic Party is able to take for granted without delivering much of substance in return, have largely remained loyal to the Democratic Establishment. I wish that Dennis' article could have reached more people, but, regardless, I hope that his readers and fellow voters will help to deliver a big win in California for Bernie.

Senator Bernie Sanders hospitalized

Senator Bernie Sanders, and Presidential Candidate, was hospitalized. Our hearts and prayers go out to him and his family for his complete recovery.

100%

Couldn't have said it better Dennis. Thank you for doing that for Bernie!

Rejected in 2016, Bernie Sanders hopes for a warmer reception

South Carolina gave Bernie Sanders the cold shoulder in 2016. Four years and several visits later, Sanders hopes the state is ready to warm to him. The Vermont senator has spent months working to deepen his ties with the black community in South Carolina. He returns to the state for the first time as a 2020 candidate, eager to prove that those efforts to put him in a more competitive positive.

Congressman Hunter use of campaign funds under scrutiny

An ethics advocacy group has filed complaints with two federal oversight agencies, asking officials to investigate what the group describes as a pattern of questionable campaign spending by Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine), according to a story by Morgan Cook, a writer for the San Diego Union Tribune, in the Los Angeles Times newspaper dated April 30, 2016.

 

The complaints, filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission and the Office of Congressional Ethics, described thousands of dollars Hunter's campaign spent on personal items, including video games and an oral surgeon - and raise new questions about spending on what appears to have been a vacation to Italy.

Truthfull? Bernie Sanders Matters

Truthfully, Why 'Bernie Sanders Matters' is one book that I would never had given a second glance, let alone remove from a shelf to browse. For one reason, I am not a Bernie Sanders fan. Two, though I am registered as an independent, like Sanders, I lean more toward non-conservative republican. Even setting aside my political views, more than likely my having an inkling of interest reading about Bernie ... well, to be kind, would still be next to nil. Now, my point to these statements, Dennis? Simply, your review of such a non-interest topic, to me of course, has elicited The spark, the curiosity factor that would not have otherwise been stimulated. Your thorough in depth references ... I must admit, challenged my peripheral regarding anything 'Berni'. Will I purchase the book? Maybe is the only honest answer I can give. But think of it this way, it is much more than 'nil' and a guarantee that I will now remove it from a shelf to at least browse, as I sip my coffee. Thank you for sharing 'another view'. Donetta Lozzi DiZoglio Sent from my iPhone

Bernie Sanders for President!

After writing subject book review a few years ago, I was somewhat surprised that Bernie Sanders would be running for President again!

Why Bernie Sanders Matters

Why Bernie Sanders Matters - is it a question or a statement? It could be interpreted either way. I think he matters because competition matters. I felt that at one point Hillary had become too complacent and thought that she already had the nomination, Bernie however, began making tremendous strides because he comes across as a genuine candidate who is not beholden to any special interest group. As Bernie began picking up speed then Hillary made some re-adjustments - competition does matter. I totally agree with some of Bernie's statements especially as they relate to the executives on wall streets, and how they at times manipulate the market. However, I thought that his stance on free education though quite appealing to the young, is somewhat unrealistic at best. Further, it's my first time hearing about his response to the question about reparations for African Americans enslavement. I would say that his answer and thought process is not unique, most people (non-African Americans) are not in agreement either but his answer shows that he is a person who is not hypocritical, he is not saying what people want to hear, he is saying exactly what he thinks. Mr. Moore, I enjoy this review just like the many others you have done. I am always encourage to go out and purchase the books you have reviewed, and this one is no different. Submitted by Jacqueline Carr - author of "A Selected Few Just For You".

"Why Bernie Sanders Matters": Robert Reich

Robert Reich, a UC Berkeley professor who is a prominent Bernie Sanders backer and served as President Clinton's first Secretary of Labor, suggested this past Wednesday that both teams for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders retreat in regard to their heated rhetoric. Reich specifically stated; "I want to urge Bernie supporters to tone down negative characterizations of Hillary and Hillary supporters to do the same with regard to Bernie." He further stated on his Facebook post: "It's important that we not jeopardize that future joint effort through excessive divisiveness now," he said. But another key Sanders supporter insisted that Sanders should campaign unrelentingly - and she did so in language sure to inflame the Clinton forces.

 

Speaking of the New York loss, RoseAnn DeMoro, exeutive director of National Nurses United, a union that was an early Sanders endorser, said it "makes us far more determined because the election was essentially stolen." Her argument, seconded by Sanders in Scranton on Thursday, was that independents should have been allowed to vote in the New York primary, even though they are not Democratic Party members. "If the independents were able to vote in New York, Bernie would have won," she said. "Anywhere where the vote was fair, Bernie won. We are not going to be deterred by a stolen, corrupted system."

 

She characterized Sanders as treating Clinton with "kid gloves" and said "she is great at being the victim. She is one of the most aggressive females I've ever watched, and she has the tendency to pose as a victim." "We plan on beating Clinton," she added. "This isn't Kumbaya time."

Why Bernie Sanders Matters

Thank you again, Dennis, for another insightful and in-depth review. Firstly, I must admit that I have not yet made up my mind for whom I will vote to assume leadership of this great nation. As an Independent, I must wait to choose from the candidates who survive the fray. Harry Jaffe's new title, Why Bernie Sanders Matters does offer a more in-depth view of Mr. Sanders. As a reminder though, I would like to say that even though this candidate does not favor reparations for African American enslavement, he does have a strong civil rights history. And considering the temperament of many during these times, he is most likely correct that there is no chance that reparations would be paid for this historical atrocity. Neither would it be paid for Native American tribal nations that were slaughtered nearly to the brink of genocide. What Sanders does promise is to redress tribal treaty violations and improvement in healthcare options to better address the needs of Native Americans. Furthermore, he promises to acknowledge continuing racism against a group that comprises only 0.09 percent of the total US population of well over 300 million. Sanders has also appointed tribal attorney Tara Houska, an Ojibwe from Couchiching First Nation, and Indian Country Today Media Network (ICTMN) contributing editor, as Native American advisor to his campaign. Her duties include recruiting voters (with Native Americans as a target group); responding to questions by the press; and assisting Sanders in drafting a policy for Native Americans. Furthermore, Sanders's wife, Jane, a former college president and a community organizer (who once enjoyed roaring about on her motorcycle!) has visited the Hopi and Navajo communities, and supports the Apache in their protests against mining companies that negatively impact their lands. Unless I've missed something, if Mr. Sanders is elected, she would be the first First Lady to champion such causes. A little off the subject, but few journalists mention that the Obama administration created the White House Tribal Nations Conference initiative at the beginning of his term to provide a platform for tribal leaders to bring issues to the federal government that affect tribal communities. These annual conferences were the first official attempts to do such since the Clinton administration in 1994. Regardless of whether or not Bernie Sanders wins the nomination, his phenomenal rise on the political stage has already made an indelible mark on American politics.----KB Schaller, Author, 100+ Native American Women Who Changed the World

Sanders is prepared to be a liberal thorn in Clinton's side

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a loyal soldier for Hillary Clinton since he conceded the Democratic presidential nomination in July, plans to push liberal legislation with like-minded senators with or without Clinton's support if she is elected - and to agressively oppose appointments that do not pass muster with the party's left wing, according to a story in The Washington Post by John Wagner October 24, 2016.

Tribune endorsements: Sanders for President, Sestak for Senate

In a Philadelphia Tribune editorial, this the oldest African-American newspaper in the country has endorsed Bernie Sanders for President. The Tribune states in their endorsement of Sanders: "Bernie Sanders offers an inspiring message and hold vision for America without the excessive baggage of Clinton, which is why Sanders is our choice in the Democratic primary." The Tribune further states: "Clinton has on many occasions exercised bad judgment on critical issues including her avid support for her husband's draconian 1994 crime bill which led to a major increase in mass incarceration of African Americans. She may not be responsible for signing the crime bill but she strongly supported it. She has since apologized for her support including her use of the race-coded term 'super predator' to describe Black males involved in crime. But her previous stance raises serious questions." 

Jaffe's bio of Bernie Sanders' validates his modernistic views

Who is Harry Jaffe and why he chose to write an unauthorized bio on Bernie Sanders sends a message that this man's life has a lot of twists and turns and is worth of looking into? With this political campaign being one of the most interesting one's I've witnessed since I began following politics, I can't wait to see how the November elections will turn out. I'm not making any predictions one way or the other, but no one believed Sanders or Trump would go as far as they have. It's been a newsman's dream to have so much scandalizing publicity on the race for President. No wonder Jaffe is taking advantage of this publicity opp. And Dennis, the reviewer, always provides a prolific account of the book that makes you want to go out and buy it, or say oh well, I've heard and seen enough through his review. Sanders is an interesting political figure who has risen out of the ashes so to speak, from the tiny state of Vermont and will forever be remembered...win or lose. Good job Dennis. I'm looking forward to the day when you provide the same fecundity to my upcoming new book release. Dorothy Bracy Alston: educator, author, speaker.

"Why influence isn't corruption": Richard L. Hasen

Sanders calls Clinton's fundraising 'obscene,' but it's more nuanced, so says Richard L. Hasen, professor of law and political cience at UC Irvine and the author of the book "Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections." Hasen stated in a Los Angeles Times op-ed piece dated April 25, 2016: "Despite Bernie Sanders' repeated accusations, there's no real evidence that Hillary Clinton has been corrupted by large campaign contributions. But that's not to say donors haven't influenced her thinking and priorities. Lodged in the gap between Sanders' attacks and Clinton's rejoinders lies the truth about big money in politics."

 

Hasen further states: "Still, Clinton struggles to explain why, whe she opposes the influence of big money on politics, that no one should worry about her super PAC money and massive donations. During a New Hampshire debate she said 'you will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received.' I bet Clinton actually believes this statement. But it glosses over the more subtle way money influences politics."

Can an Honest Person be Elected in the U.S.? Re: Dennis Moore Re

I am deeply troubled by this coming election. For those of you who read Dennis Moore's review of "Clinton Cash", you will understand. If you have not read it I suggest you do. The vacillations of Hillary Clinton's positions on matters are enough to hoist a red flag. The fact that her campaign money comes from groups she is beholden to scares me. They own her. And she has shown she will pay. Our country exports jobs at will to the point where students often work at fast food establishments for minimum wage with little choice as to how they will fund an education. There is no structure underlying a plan to educate the Black underclass who suffer most from poverty and rely on welfare types of payments that perpetuate the destruction of the Black family. Corporate America and multi-national companies pollute the environment with industrial wastes and line the pockets of the already rich. We are tipped at an angle that should scare them into a more equitable mind frame. We are increasingly divided into a pie where the largest slices go back as usual to the wealthy. The middle class, which is just recovering from a ghastly loss of homes due to truly criminal acts by the banks who were only slapped on the fingers as the government bailed them out. - the middle class is fighting for its life. Whites are not immune to this and many feel that those who lost their homes were simply lazy. In actuality they lost their equity and many lost savings from fighting a battle where they were lied to about the banks desire to help them work it out only to face sudden foreclosure and being thrown out of their homes. And yes, this happened in America. This brings me back to the violence and arrogance in the Trump campaign and the possibility of a demagogue rising from the ashes of our anger and hatred towards each other (black and white). We need to make education available as it is in other countries. Illiterate people make bad decisions for their future and are forced out of the workplace and into dangerous drug infested communities that breed more of the same. We have a choice to stop the hate, open our eyes to the corruption around us and make changes. There will be no changes coming from the Clinton camp, it will be the status quo. As for Trump, he has his own money and did fund his campaign. Still, the underlying violence in his rallies is alarming. When a country is in deep trouble it looks for strong leadership. Do not think the disasters of history cannot happen in this country. They can. This brings me back to Sanders. His money came from grass roots funding. He says what he thinks regardless of whether it is popular, and he is not a racist. I am afraid there is not much to choose from in this election and a lot riding on it. Please re-think your hatreds in life and go out and vote. Europe has a refugee crisis we are about to be brought into and the world is in trouble. Think about it all and vote. MJ Payne, Author of "The Remembered Self: A Journey into the Heart of the Beast

Bernie Sanders is an Independent running as a Democrat

I like Bernie Sanders, but it concerns me that he is an Independent running as a Democrat, which means that in the current New York primary only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote. There are numerous Independents that I am sure would want to cast a vote for Bernie, but are prevented from doing so. Also, Bernie has recently complained about the unfair way the Democratic National Committee is financing Hillary Clinton's campaign. Bernie being and outsider to the Democratic party makes his position on the matter somewhat tenuous.

The problem is that the two major parties have rigged

the election system making it next to impossible that other parties can field a candidate. It is simply another example of how this "democracy" isn't....I recommend Ralph Nader's book "Crashing the Party." He lived it. You want to run in state X? You must use green paper and red ink to get the 100,000 signatures required (I exaggerate, but you get the point).

Bernie Sanders

All I know is if Bernie Sanders becomes president and puts his free college into action, I want my student loans paid! I don't think it's fair that people would get free college when I'm still sitting on $100,000 of student debt. Good, informative review by Dennis Moore, as always.

Thank you for this

analysis of the very American experience of Sanders, a story of someone who saw things he didn't like and did something about it. As someone said (paraphrase), one person can't do everything, but one person can do something.

Oh well, let's go with Margaret Mead....

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Book Review?

It reads like an advertisement and not a review.

Tom, I don't think you read it closely enough.

 

Dennis had both positive and negative reflections on the Sanders campaign after reading the review.  He  wrote on Sanders' lack of support for reparations to descendants of slavery: "Sanders response left me dumbfounded and disillusioned, as it probably has most other African Americans. Sanders stated: “No, I don’t think so. First of all, its likelihood of getting through Congress is nil. Second of all, I think it would be very divisive. The real issue is when we look at the poverty rate among the African American community, when we look at the high unemployment rate within the African American community, we have a lot of work to do.” That argument on the part of Sanders is duplicitous, and looking at the issue of reparations under double standards. Sanders, himself Jewish, certainly has no issue with Jewish immigrants receiving reparations for what they endured during the Holocaust, nor the issue of reparations received by the Japanese that were interned in camps during the war."

That's hardly a glowing endorsement, but rather an honest opinion from our reviewer (who happens to be African-American) who also reflected on some actions Sanders has supported that would benefit African-Americans, and in some cases, many others.

Dennis has previously provided critical reviews of books by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as a book critical of the Clintons by another author.  I think he's done a good job of providing analytical insights on all of these political figures.

 

 

 

 

Bernie Sanders meets with Pope Francis

Bernie Sanders stopped short of his campaign for President by meeting at The Vatican with Pope Francis. Although not expecting or getting an endorsement from the Pope, clearly Pope Francis must have been impressed with Bernie's message on Income Inequality, among other issues.