Bernie Sanders accepts Liberty University's invitation to speak

It may sound like the setup for a joke — a Jewish democratic socialist walks into a bastion of evangelical Christian conservatism — but Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is serious about delivering a convocation at Liberty University on Sept. 14.

"Liberty University was kind enough to invite me to address a convocation and I decided to accept," Sanders said in a statement. "It goes without saying that my views on many issues — women's rights, gay rights, education, and many other issues — are very different from the opinions of some in the Liberty University community." Sanders added that it's "very easy for a candidate to speak to people who hold the same views," but it's harder and just as important "to reach out to others who look at the world differently. I look forward to meeting with the students and faculty of Liberty University."

The Lynchburg, Virginia, school was founded by Jerry Falwell in 1971, and is the same place where Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) launched his presidential campaign. Other convocation speakers scheduled for the fall are Duck Dynasty stars Korie and Sadie Robertson and conservative Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), CNN reports. Sanders previously told reporters that it was imperative that he go out into Republican-friendly areas, and said he plans to hold events in South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. "Progressives will never win unless we plant a flag in these states," he said. "The Democratic Party cannot abdicate and surrender half the states in the country."

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