A remarkably moving thing happened at a Bernie Sanders rally today in Iowa

[n2doc]

Bernie Sanders did a town hall event Monday morning in Iowa Falls, Iowa. He asked the crowd for testimonials about the difficulties of sustaining a life off of $12,000 a year.

What happened next is both hard to watch/listen to and important. A woman is called on and she emotionally tells the story of her life -- minimum wage jobs despite a degree, on disability and living with her parents. Here's a snippet of what she said:

It’s so hard to do anything to pay your bills, you’re ashamed all the time...when you can’t buy presents for your children it’s really really really hard – and I work 3, 4, 5 jobs sometimes, always minimum wage, I have a degree, divorced and it’s just I’m waiting for disability to come through so my parents have to support me – it’s just hard.

Sanders thanked her and the crowd applauded. Then he said this: "It is not easy for people to stand up and say that but the truth is that until millions of people who are experiencing what you’re experiencing do say that we don’t make change."

more

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/25/a-remarkably-moving-thing-happened-at-a-bernie-sanders-rally-today-in-iowa/

[guillaumeb]

1. I remember a similar moment during the George W. Bush campaign,

when a person also talked having to work multiple minimum wage jobs. Bush, the man who partied until he was in his 40s, responded that this person's struggles were a uniquely American experience.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. How uniquely American, she is.

I wonder how much harder can she work? How many more jobs can she take on?

Maybe wanting to making $12,000 a year instead of $10,000 is asking too much?

$12,000 is the amount a rich person spends on a night out with friends.

An awakening is needed.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

8. Jackie Wilson Said...

...some pretty righteous stuff right there!

Welcome to DU, JWS!

[Jackie Wilson Said]

10. Thanks!

[thereismore]

3. Good people feel ashamed to speak about their circumstances. We need to speak up. nt

[draa]

4. Can someone post the vid please.

I'm over my article limit for the Washington Post and can't see the video.

[Bryce Butler]

5. This isn't from WP...

but here is the CNN video:

[draa]

6. Good enough and thanks.

[draa]

7. Damn that was powerful.

Also very true. I'm in much the same position so I can sympathize with her struggles.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

9. Bless her heart, she's trying so hard. And you can multiply this times MILLIONS! Now...

...where is that box of tissues that was under my end table?

[marlakay]

11. Stuff like this breaks my heart

I went thru tough times in the early 80's for a few years out of work 2 small kids, husband out of work, only time in my life on food stamps and wic. People shame you in grocery stores.

I am glad actually I went thru this because the rest of my life I have a deep understanding of how it erodes your self esteem, how people pull away from you. You get desperate and start asking relatives if they know about jobs, etc.