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Saving American Democracy

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    Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) talks with Alan about his efforts to end unrestricted campaign spending by corporations.

  • Duration 5:32
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Welcome -- Bernie Sanders senator Sanders back to our microphone senator from Vermont.

And -- you are now proposing the -- American democracy amendment please tell us what there's there's.

Look I think most Americans who follow publics that understand that the supreme court's five to four decision on Citizens United.

Well one of the most serious blows against democracy in this country as we know what.

-- -- at the scene and so what it's about.

Al what is the supreme -- that corporations bank of -- -- ExxonMobil.

Should be treated like -- human beings that they are the equivalent of human beings and they have first amendment rights.

Are in terms of being able to play an active role in the political process and what that means but what its -- today.

-- these companies and wealthy individuals believe -- -- billion -- sitting down and planning on how to spend hundreds of millions of dollar of and TV ads radio where it's all over the country that is not what I think the founding fathers envisioned -- -- and democracy to base line.

Well we -- volatile but now it was a good employment equity and book we've got to do.

Well it is probably -- American people around the concept.

The corporations ought not people they do not out first amendment rights -- campaigns.

And -- elections.

And so that is exactly what we intend to do.

Understand the Ted Deutch and -- -- to Florida congressman is.

-- -- introducing a similar measure.

-- -- studying the exact.

It's a -- okay so well what kind of reaction -- is it too early to tell whether what the likelihood is of this moving forward in the two chambers.

Well I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that we're gonna get.

You know we're gonna win this in the house -- summit today.

But what I will tell you is every poll that I have seen -- -- -- whether you're a Democrat Republican or an independent.

Just think it is wrong to corporations can spend without disclosure -- There was sort of -- -- -- groups.

Drop right now.

It is to win over the American people educate organize.

And eventually pass this constitutional amendment that says.

What everybody in America understand to be true just -- cooperation on not people.

What do you think our elections would look like if indeed we could succeed with this kind of amendment would -- attract a totally different group of people to run for office.

Portugal amid a bucket of -- It might be typical for you to open for Citizens United.

A campaign finance for the Merkel was not good electricity -- played a couple back to the good old days.

Our candidates all over the country senators members of congress having the -- full -- huge sums of money from wealthy people.

All and the result book that big money undue influence over the congress.

What's Citizens United has gone island it's made a bad situation much -- You can go home and remember -- pathetic and go home absolutely wake up -- like millions of dollars.

Its ugly head against the you know what that means what it means -- that candidate that have been even more time.

Raising money in order to respond to those -- All right -- have been incredible money trees were little people doing here is where you -- money often the wealthiest people all the contributors about -- It seems to me it discourages a lot of perhaps potentially good candidates from running because that -- no -- been all the time raising money.

Look -- -- -- the record you talk not just put them where to talk to Republicans you can already feel.

Stopping on the pole followed every day raising money -- you know what it's -- it's -- got into politics don't oil with elected.

To the congress will defend -- -- an ugly business Citizens United has made a lot worse.

And we've got -- the -- One of the key issues the presidential race -- often talk about is how important it is.

If you know if you're undecided about which way to vote or if you are -- want to vote for third party candidate.

One of the main reasons to in my view to reelect President Obama or Democrat.

It's a -- the Supreme Court doesn't move further to the right.

And that doesn't get talked about often enough.

It -- which are quite -- this was an outrageous.

Decision.

But they are I think history -- board -- flight aboard the flight -- decision.

All of the supreme court of Citizens United is portable worst decisions in the history of the United States Supreme Court it'll go down is pretty -- -- -- position.

I've got to be overturned because that is subverting.

What virtually all book on the same American democracy.

Too big -- problem for Obama.

We have held meetings with people come together and mortuary talk about their school -- -- -- -- how much -- one person one vote.

And I don't think what democracy is about is a few -- sitting in the and -- in in -- secret room there.

The party how to spend hundreds of millions of all of the electoral defeat the candidates what they -- They don't forget we have a candidate seeking the Republican nomination name Mitt Romney who says corporations are people that's one of his.

The comebacks to somebody challenged him -- a public event.

I got from bad news from bit I think it'll protect its most people do not think that the -- couple markers to the category one of Fargo put the -- -- -- -- Publish -- or not people.

-- a strong feeling about which candidate whether it's Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney you'd rather see be the Republican nominee.

Government.

Report that's not that's not you're -- tepid data to element of that list and I sinners appreciate -- -- thanks for your time -- I -- her and I.