Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders used his convention address to set high stakes for the upcoming presidential election, framing this moment as a referendum on American values where decency and democracy hang in the balance.
“In response to the unprecedented crises we face, we need an unprecedented response: a movement, like never before, of people who are prepared to stand up and fight for democracy and decency — and against greed, oligarchy and bigotry,” Sanders said. “And we need Joe Biden as our next president.”
Sanders attempted to quash any fear of lingering division between his progressive supporters and the more moderate Biden in his blunt assessment of the upcoming election.
“Under this administration, authoritarianism has taken root in our country,” Sanders said. “As long as I am here, I will work with progressives, with moderates and, yes, with conservatives to preserve this nation from a threat that so many of our heroes fought and died to defeat.”Sanders spoke directly to his supporters, affirming their influence on the party’s platform while calling for them to back Biden.
“Many of the ideas we fought for, that just a few years ago were considered ‘radical,’ are now mainstream,” Sanders said. “But let us be clear: If Donald Trump is reelected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy.”
He addressed specific areas where he and Biden agree, including climate change, increasing the minimum wage and providing universal pre-K, while acknowledging that the two still have differences on issues like health care. Sanders closed his remarks by calling on his supporters and those who backed other candidates, including Trump, to rally together for Biden.
“The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake,” Sanders said. “We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president.”
