Bernie Sanders’ brother, Larry, has admitted to Heat Street what his younger sibling will not: Hillary Clinton is likely to be the next president of the United States.
After an extraordinary campaign during which Bernie has raised more than $200 million from individual donors and inspired legions of young voters to take an interest in politics, this member of the Sanders family is prepared to acknowledge publicly that the game is up as far as the Democratic Party nomination is concerned.
“I think he’s made it quite plain: he will campaign against Trump and therefore for Mrs Clinton,” says Larry, speaking from his home in Oxford, England. “And he will continue his campaign for an equal society.”
Why won’t Bernard say this in public? Why is he fighting on?
“He no doubt has his reasons for these tactics, but I’m sure he has no sense of a great likelihood of winning,” he replies.
Larry, who moved to the UK in the late 1960s to pursue a life in academia, remains in regular contact with his brother and has been helping with his campaign.
“I’ve been over [to the US] several times and we communicate. I’ll be there for the convention, certainly, in August. I am an overseas delegate. Democrats Abroad represents Americans living overseas. There are 17 overseas delegates: nine for Bernard and four for Mrs Clinton plus four superdelegates who are unelected.”
Since Bernie’s attempt for the White House is now dead in the water, what next?
Reminding ordinary people that government can work for them and can speak with their voice is, I believe, the hope for America's future.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 13, 2016
Larry says his brother has been mentioned by some as a possible vice presidential candidate alongside Hillary Clinton, but he is not so sure that will happen.
“Other than that, I think Bernard would prefer to be a leader in the senate,” he says.
“I have very great confidence in him that whatever he will do will not be based on his personal preferences but what is more likely to accomplish his political goals.”
So what would a Hillary Clinton presidency be like?
This is the greatest nation on earth. We are far too experienced and wise to get caught up in constant partisan conflict.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 14, 2016
“That remains to be seen. Obviously whether she incorporates Bernard’s policies is in her hands. But I am very proud of my brother. He really is a bright light in a not very bright world.”
And can he foresee a Donald Trump presidency?
“I think it would be a disaster, but I think it’s unlikely. I think Mrs Clinton is most likely to be the next president.”
Would she be any good?
The question of our time is whether we will take on the enormous power of the billionaire class, or do we slide into political oligarchy.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 11, 2016
“A lot depends on how she responds to the issues that Bernard has been raising and that millions of people have supported.”
Larry, who combined academic pursuits with social work, remains politically active himself. At the age of 82, he is the health spokesman for the Green Party, regarded as something of a fringe movement in British politics.
Has he been helping Bernie to shape policy?
“Not really, but we talk about it a lot. I’m very clear: he’s a much better politician than I am. But our views are very similar.”
What does he make of Obama’s presidency?
“Obama’s not been the worst president, but he’s not been the best. I think George W. Bush destroyed a lot more people and did a lot more damage. He’s been better than him, but a bit of a disappointment to me. It’s been a long decline in the Democratic Party. I think Bernard is really trying to bring it back to its greatest days under Roosevelt, and Obama had a chance to improve it from the poverty of the Bill Clinton administration and he hasn’t really come through, he’s avoided some of the worst things. His health plans are an improvement, but an improvement with a dead end, because they’re still based on the very wasteful insurance system. Obama is in himself a very impressive person, which is worth something in politics, but in my view he hasn’t tried hard enough to make the changes that need to be made.”
Huge, profitable corporations regularly get massive government subsidies. We have socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for the poor.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 11, 2016
How would he sum up his brother’s campaign?
“I think something around $200 million has been raised at an average of $27 a person. It’s extraordinary. The whole picture of a large campaign funded by small donors is unheard of in America politics.
“I hope this is a turning point. We’ve had 40 years of pretty dismal politics, transferring wealth and income from the bulk of people to the very richest people both in America and in Britain and in many other countries. The Americans are the worst and the British second or third worst. If it doesn’t turn around, I believe we have a very unpleasant future.
“I think Bernard has left his mark, but the rich people are not stupid and they are not lazy. They will fight back.”
