SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: You know, I did that. In Vermont, as many know, I defeated Democrats and Republicans to become mayor, defeated Democrats and Republicans to make it into the Congress. Recent years, Democrats have been more sympathetic. And I've been a member of the Democratic caucus for 25 years. So right now I would not have accepted the position of leadership if I was not serious about fundamentally reforming the Democratic Party. So that's where my head is right now.
AMY GOODMAN: Thank you. Bernie, the last question is--I'm famous for my "finallys."
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: This is your fourth last question!
AMY GOODMAN: For people who are feeling deeply discouraged right now--
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Yes.
AMY GOODMAN: What did you learn from your campaign this time around?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Good question.
AMY GOODMAN: Where you almost won.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Let me just say this, and the feeling of--I wouldn't use the word "discouragement." The feeling of maybe frustration, depression, all of which is valid, but here's what I hope that everybody remembers. Anybody who knows anything about American history, you know, think about what this country--and I don't mean to be ultra-patriotic here, but think about the issues that we had to confront. Think about 120 years ago. There were children--children, kids, 12, 10 years old--working in factories, losing their fingers. People fought back. They fought to create unions. Think about the women's movement. Think about the civil rights movement. Think about the gay rights movement. Think about the environmental. Think about all of the hurdles that those folks had to overcome. We were, during the course of the campaign--Amy, I don't know if you know this; I didn't know it 'til last year--we were in Birmingham, Alabama. And all of you, you know, probably remember the horrific bombing that took place in Birmingham. You remember that, where 12 children were killed? I did not know, until I was at that church, that that month in Birmingham--do you how many bombings there were in that month? Testing you, Amy; I'm asking you a question.
AMY GOODMAN: Two hundred?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: No, but there were a lot. Point being--what's the point? The point is--you know, I thought there was one terrible bombing. There were 13 bombings. That city was under siege by terrorists who did not want to see the Voting Rights Act passed. And people fought back.
So, where we are now is in a difficult moment. I don't want to minimize the difficulties facing us. But throughout history, serious people have fought back. That's where we are now, and that is exactly what we have to do. It is not acceptable--it really is not--for people to throw their hands up and say, "Oh, I'm depressed. Oh, I'm giving up." It's not about you. It's about the future of this planet. It's about your kids and your grandchildren. It is about American democracy. It is about some very fundamental issues. And nobody in this room or in this country has a right to say "I give up." On the other hand, you've got to jump in and start fighting.
AMY GOODMAN: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, in an interview recorded live on November 28th at the Free Library in Philadelphia. Sanders' new book is called Our Revolution. If you'd like a copy of today's broadcast, you can go to democracynow.org.
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