Bernie Sanders says Kamala isn’t ‘abandoning’ progressive agenda, she’s just trying to get elected

During a Sunday interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said he still considers Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris to be “a progressive” who isn’t “abandoning her ideals” but is merely being “pragmatic” on her changing positions in order to win.  

When asked by host Kristen Welker if he thinks Harris “is abandoning her progressive ideals,” Sanders responded: “No, I don't think she's abandoning her ideals. I think she's trying to be pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election.”
 

“My own view is slightly different. I think that in America today, there are a lot of people, rural people, working class people, who no longer believe that the United States Congress and government represents their interests, who are dominated by big money interests.” Sanders also distanced himself from Harris saying, “Her views are not mine, but I do consider her a progressive.” 

Sanders elaborated, saying “She is not where I am. but I think, for example, when she talks about making the child tax credit permanent, and you know, we did that in the American Rescue Plan, we lowered childhood poverty by 40 percent,” Sandes claimed. 

The senator and former Democratic presidential contender also lauded Harris’ housing plan that is highly reminiscent of ideas promoted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "When she talks about building three million units of affordable housing, that's a big deal, because we have a major housing crisis in America … So yes, our views are not mine, but I do consider her a progressive," Sanders added. 

Harris has also proposed socialist-style price controls that she insists are aimed at “price gouging” in the grocery industry. Grocers usually make profit margins of only 1-3 percent in the highly competitive market.