Only one U.S. representative is not a member of any political party. That unique individual is Bernie Sanders of Burlington, Vt. In a new book, Outsider in the House (Verso, $25) Sanders and co-author Huck Gutman recount Sanders' rise from four terms as a socialist mayor in Burlington to his role today in the House of Representatives.
Writing about Congress in the weeks prior to last year's election, Sanders observes that all he sees is "gay bashing, immigrant bashing, racism, sexism, and attacks on the poor." Attacking the right wing, Sanders writes, "If you have no rational analysis of the causation of social problems, if you represent the rich and powerful and can't address the needs of ordinary people, then the surefire route to political success is to manipulate peoples' fear and ignorance, to play off one group against another -- to scapegoat."
Sanders was sworn in for his fourth congressional term last January. He saw his role as first representing his state, where he is its only representative. Second, he writes, he must continue to defend the rights of working people and stand up for the needs of workers, the middle class, the poor, the elderly and the nation's children. "All Americans are entitled to live lives of decency and dignity, and I will not abandon that struggle," he writes.
A native of Brooklyn, Sanders is the younger son of a lower middle class family. "At a very young age I learned that lack of money and economic insecurity can play a pivotal role in determining how one lives life," he says. During his college days at the University of Chicago in the early 60s, he worked in the Congress on Racial Equality, the Student Peace Union, and the Young People's Socialist League. With these groups, he claims, he learned more than through formal studies at the university.
Sanders moved to northern Vermont and began running for political office in 1972. In 1981 he won election as mayor of Burlington, defeating a five-term Democratic incumbent, thereby becoming the only socialist mayor in the nation. During his four terms the conservative news magazine U.S. News and World Report chose him as one of the best members of Congress.
He ran for Congress in 1988 and lost by only 3 percent. Success came two years later against GOP incumbent Peter Smith, who ran TV ads pairing pictures of Sanders with Cuba's Fidel Castro. Sanders won by a 16 percent margin.
In Congress he formed the Progressive Caucus, now with 58 members. Before President Clinton launched his attacks on Newt Gingrich and his gang, Sanders was holding press conferences to assail the majority leader.
Leading the fight against NAFTA, Sanders visited Mexico in 1993 to see the effects of free trade first hand. There was precious little response when he suggested that Congressional salaries be cut back to the level of their counterparts in the Mexican government. He said those in power should receive the same treatment as those they represent.
Outsider in the House is a fast, fascinating and funny read, written with great style and containing many instances of wise advice and admirable ideas.
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