"We need to be discussing issues facing working families at a debate hosted by trade unions."

[Scuba]

In my email, from Bernie Sanders ...

If Secretary Clinton wants more debates, we'll get them

Did you watch last night’s Republican presidential debate, Steve?

If you are one of the wealthiest people in this country, then you had ten candidates talking about your needs for two hours.

But in the entire time I watched, I saw very little discussion about the issues important to most American families. There was no talk about climate change and clean energy, raising wages and providing healthcare for all Americans, criminal justice reform and the undermining of the Voting Rights Act, and nothing at all about the crushing burden of student debt.

And when they did talk about campaign finance reform and the billionaire class buying candidates and elections, it was the butt of a Donald Trump joke.

We need to be discussing issues facing working families at a debate hosted by trade unions. We need to discussing climate change and environmental issues at a forum hosted by the environmental community. We need to be discussing civil rights issues and racial injustice at a forum sponsored by civil rights groups. We need to be discussing gay rights at a forum hosted by the LGBT community. In other words, more discussion, more debate is good for the Democratic Party and good for the American people.

I know, and you know, that the best chance for this country is to discuss the issues that matter. Republicans aren’t going to do it, so we need more Democratic debates — more than the four scheduled by the Democratic National Committee before the Iowa Caucuses.

And I know that if Secretary Clinton wants more debates, we’ll get them.

Sign my petition and tell Secretary Clinton to encourage the Democratic National Committee to schedule more debates before the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire primary in February and to allow important constituencies within the Democratic Party to host their own debates.

Here’s what I did hear a lot about last night: I heard a group of ten Republicans on stage longing for a return to the days of George W. Bush. The return to more war and tax breaks for the rich, and less jobs and health insurance for most American families.

Do they remember the two wars George Bush put on the credit card?

I do. Some of us voted no.

Do they remember the 800,000 jobs a month we were hemorrhaging when Bush left office?

I do. Some of us voted against the policies that led us there.

The American people deserve more debates — debates about how we got to where we are today, and how we move this country forward. And if all the candidates running for the Democratic nomination, especially Secretary Clinton, call for more, then we’ll get them.

Add your name and encourage Secretary Clinton to call on the Democratic National Committee to schedule more debates before Iowa and New Hampshire, and let’s start right away.

We are at a moment of truth. We need to face up to the reality of where we are as a nation, and the best ways to move forward.

Thank you for standing with me.

Bernie Sanders

[SonderWoman]

1. The Democratic debates I'm sure will be a stark contrast from GOP debates.

Unlike Republicans, Democratic candidates have already released proposals on economic policy, climate policy, student loan policy, Wall Street policy, criminal justice policy, education policy, etc. The Republican candidates had absolutely nothing to offer except dismantle federal govt, let Wall Street run amok, destroy unions, and govt forced childbirth. Should be interesting.

[winter is coming]

2. If unions want to host a debate to get their issues addressed in detail, they should

be able to. Same goes for any group that can schedule a room and persuade the candidates to show up. Voter's interests are not served by the DNC's monopoly on the process.

[Scuba]

4. +1

[MoveIt]

5. It seems like DWS and DNC would move to punish any unions who tried to hold debates

[beam me up scottie]

3. K & R

It's an honour to stand with Bernie Sanders.