Bernie Sanders says he will not repeat Barack Obama's 'greatest mistake'

Labour is set to elect it's most left-wing leader since Michael Foot with Jeremy Corbyn expected to win the leadership election tomorrow.

Corbyn is in many ways as unlikely a leader possible for Labour, who has gone from a rank outsider to the hot favourite in a matter of months.

It's not just the UK flirting with left-wing politics, however, as in the US, where the political midpoint is much more to the right, an avowed socialist is making waves.

According to several polls this week in key primary states for the Democratic nomination for president, independent senator Bernie Sanders has drawn level - and in one case surpassed - Hillary Clinton, seen for years as the dead-cert to win the nomination.

Sanders has himself admitted he is "stunned" with his progress, with many months ahead to still make his case.

In many ways, Sanders's rise to the top of the polls is as improbable as Donald Trump's success among the Republican field, but he should still be taken very seriously as a candidate.

This week he has been talking about his respect for Barack Obama, but also a promise to not repeat what he called the president's "biggest mistake".

Sanders told MSNBC:

I happen to have a lot of respect and affection for Barack Obama. [The] biggest political mistake that he made is after his brilliant campaign in 2008, he basically said to the millions of people who supported him, 'Thanks for getting me elected, I will take it from here'. I will not make that mistake.

If I'm elected president, trust me, we will be directly involved and working with millions of people who will tell the billionaire class: their day is over, they are not going to get it all, they're going to pay their fair share of taxes, we are going to create millions of jobs, we are going to raise the minimum wage, Wall Street will pay a tax on speculation whether they like it or not, because millions of people now will be involved in the political process.

Huh.

Fancy that.

HT Mediaite

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