At Iowa Town Hall, Bernie Sanders says: 'We need a political revolution'

Bernie Sanders at the Democratic Town Hall in Iowa on Monday.
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

At the CNN Iowa Democratic Town Hall on Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said his campaign is "touching a nerve with the American people."

They "understand that establishment politics is just not good enough," he told moderator Chris Cuomo. "We need bold changes. We need a political revolution." When asked what democratic socialism means to him, Sanders responded that "in its essence, we cannot continue to have a government dominated by the billionaire class and a Congress that continues to work for the interest of the people on top while ignoring working families. What this campaign is about, and what I believe in, is creating a government that works for all of us, and not just a handful of people on the top."

Sanders said he would make public college and university free, and would lower student loan interest rates. To pay for his programs, he would "demand that Wall Street start paying its fair share of taxes." He would have Wall Street pay a tax on speculation, and said that since "working families bailed out Wall Street, maybe it's their time to help the middle class of this country." There's also been a massive redistribution of wealth in the United States, and there are "profitable corporations who in some years don't pay a nickel in taxes," as well as the "wealthiest people in the country who sometimes have an effective tax rate lower than truck drivers or nurses — you are going to start paying your fair share of taxes."

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Sanders, 74, told Cuomo he's been "blessed with good health," and will release his medical records before the Iowa Caucus. He also said he has a "100 percent pro-choice voting record" and is "probably the most progressive member of the Senate," but has worked with Republicans when they had "common ground." Sanders says he's the best person to be president because "I think I have the background, and I think I have the judgement."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.