Come 2006, the state of Vermont may be represented by an independent socialist in the U.S. Senate. Jim Jeffords, the former Republican Senator who went independent in protest of the Bush agenda, announced last month that he will not seek re-election. Bernie Sanders, Vermont’s sole representative in the House and an independent as well, quickly announced his intention to run for Jeffords’ seat.
Sanders has long served in public office as an independent, beginning with a five year stint as Mayor of Burlington in the 1980’s and culminating in the last fifteen years in the US House of Representatives. He has also spearheaded the birth of a competitive statewide third party in Vermont, the Progressive Party and founded the US House Progressive Caucus.
Sanders doesn’t shy away from the “s” word, either. He spoke at the Democratic Socialists of America convention in 1999, and I have, somewhere, pictures of him speaking at the 1983 Socialist Party convention.
Which is not to say that Sanders gets full bona fides on the left. His “independence” has long had a nudge-and-wink relationship with the Democrats, with whom he caucuses in the House, and who have not mounted a serious challenge against his candidacy for at least ten years. In fact, the Democrats are unlikely to field a serious candidate against Bernie’s Senate campaign either.
There’s also Bernie’s disappointing hedging on some military engagements.
But, then, he has an across-the-board 100% voting score on labor issues, women’s issues and a litany of progressive causes, and he takes every opportunity he can to give Alan Greenspan agita.
His is a voice that would serve us well to be amplified in that most exclusive club, the US Senate. Considering the fact that the Democrats won’t contest the seat, the Republicans do not have a marquee name to run and Sanders already gets elected by huge majorities of all of Vermont’s voters every two years, he looks to be a shoo-in.
Keep an eye on this one. Bernie has a tremendous potential to be a rallying point for progressive and independent politics. He also has more rope to hang himself. I prefer to give him qualified support now and hope for the best, than to denounce him and expect the worst. I urge you to do the same.