Mainers Back Bernie at Big Rally ( video)
Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 04:10 AM - Edit history (1)
Bernie Sanders Rally in Portland, Maine
Bernie and his wife, Jane, come out at 51:00
More than 7,500 people packed an arena in Portland, Maine Monday night in another big show of grassroots support for Bernie Sanders.
“In case you didn’t notice, this is a big turnout,” Sanders told the placard-waving crowd as they cheered his call to take on the billionaire class and rebuild the American middle class.
“From Maine to California, the American people understand that establishment politics and establishment economics are not working for America,” Sanders said. “They understand that the greed of Wall Street and corporate America is destroying the great middle class of this country and people from coast to coast are saying, ‘You can’t keep getting away with it.’”
In his fiery speech, Sanders pledged to address gaps in wealth and income inequality that are greater than at any time since the Great Depression. The big turnouts, he said, are sending a powerful message that Americans are tired of a system rigged to help the rich and powerful instead of working families.
“It is not acceptable that a handful of billionaires is now controlling our political process and the time is long overdue for the corporate media to start talking about the real issues,” Sanders said. “People are becoming involved in this campaign because they want change – real change – and that is what this campaign is about.”
Sanders was introduced by Troy Jackson, a logger from Allagash, Maine, who praised the senator’s willingness to take on “the big corporate structure.” Sanders’ proposals for improving health care, raising the minimum wage and making higher education tuition-free also were cited by the Democratic National Committee member and former Maine Senate majority leader. “What a lot of people are feeling is that there is somebody speaking to their issues,” Jackson told the Portland Press-Herald. “That’s why you’re seeing so many people come out.”
He also called for closing tax loopholes that let profitable corporations stash income in the Cayman Islands and other tax havens. He said he would break up the largest financial institutions in the country that are bigger today than before they were bailed out by taxpayers after the 2008 Wall Street crash.
The Portland turnout was another in a string of big crowds coming out for Sanders. A 10,000-seat arena in Madison, Wisconsin, was filled to capacity last Wednesday when more people turned out than for any presidential candidate anywhere so far this campaign. On the Friday night before the Fourth of July, more than 2,500 showed up at a convention center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the biggest Iowa audience for any candidate to date.
https://berniesanders.com/news/portland-maine-rally/
What was scheduled as a town hall forum had become a full-blown rally by Monday night. Sanders’ speech was delayed by 20 minutes as organizers let in the throngs of people still awaiting entry. Estimates pegged the crowd at 8,000 to 9,000 people.
http://www.wgme.com//news/features/top-stories/stories/bernie-sanders-urges-political-revolution-portland-28134.shtml#.VZssN-1VhBc
Wow, look at this crowd (30 sec video)
Bernie Sanders in Portland, Maine ending his speech to an enormous crowd
https://twitter.com/ericryanbenson/status/618215971925397504
= new reply since forum marked as read
This is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!! Wait till he gets to the big city. He's going to be playing sports stadiums out here in California. WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
I don't remember the first time I visited the site but it was sometime in the Bush years. I visit quite a bit and watch the debates that go on here. I actually registered this account in 2012 but there was so much traffic due to President Obama winning re-election, I could not get in at the time. After that night I just kept lurking for all of these years. A lot of that has to do with me being somewhat reserved I guess.
I finally decided to reset my password tonight after showing my mother this video. We are both very excited. She was already going to vote for him based on some things I told her over the past months, but tonight she sat down and watched for an hour and I could tell that Bernie did a better job of laying out his platform than I had. She was laughing, nodding her head, and even finishing sentences with him.
I have a feeling that if people hear his message it will speak to a part of them that has rarely ever been addressed. For that reason I think Bernie has a chance. I don't think his win will be a sure thing however. the powerful are very entrenched and are very comfortable with the establishment in both parties.
I am very upset with the establishment but on the rare occasions I do speak I am going to try to focus more on what I support rather than trying to fight what I do not. I feel like putting the energy into growing is more productive in the long run but I do see that there may be times to counter misrepresentations.
Anyway, just wanted to log on and show my support for Bernie. I'm very excited and I can not wait to vote for him!
Thanks for the post and the video.
I'm glad you're here, and especially in the Bernie Sanders Group!
Being reserved is just fine--esp. if it keeps you from making rash statements. We need our thoughtful posters!
Enjoy yourself!
Welcome to DU!
Bernie seems tired. And it's no wonder. The man is working very hard on our behalf. If his supporters work half as hard, Bernie will be the next president. And I fully expect Bernie's supporters to work hard because that's the kind of people they are. Bernie's people are driven! They believe. We believe.
