During his primetime address at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont emphasized his policy priorities, many of which differ from those of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sanders reiterated his longstanding support for Medicare for All, asserting that healthcare should be treated as a human right. “We need to join the rest of the industrialized world and guarantee health care to all people as a human right, not a privilege,” he stated, clearly acknowledging the differences in views on healthcare policy between himself, Harris, and President Biden.
In a pre-DNC interview with Politico, Sanders highlighted this divide, saying, “We need Medicare for All. That’s not her view, nor is it President Biden’s point of view. And you know what, I think I’m right and they’re wrong.”
In addition to healthcare, Sanders criticized the influence of wealthy donors in politics, despite the support that Harris has received from billionaire megadonors. “Billionaires in both parties should not be able to buy elections—including primary elections,” Sanders remarked.
He also called for action against corporate monopolies in various sectors, stating, “We must take on big pharma, big oil, big ag, big tech and all the other corporate monopolists whose greed is denying progress for working people.”
By focusing on topics like universal healthcare, political financing, and class warfare, while refraining from praising Harris, Sanders intentionally bypassed the typical expectations of convention speakers, who are generally expected to support the party’s nominee.