By Molly Prince
Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders revealed on Monday that he believes all Americans over the age of 18 should be given the right to vote, which includes violent felons such as terrorists and rapists.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
“What our campaign is about, and what I believe, is creating a vibrant democracy,” Sanders said during a CNN town hall. “Today, as you may know, we have one of the lowest voter turnouts of any major country on Earth. I want to see us have one of the highest voter turnouts.”
“What we’re seeing is more young people getting involved in the political process, but not enough,” he continued. “In my view, if young people voted at the same percentage that older people voted in this country, we would transform this nation.”
Sanders was pressed by Anna Carlstein, a Harvard University student, who questioned comments he previously made urging imprisoned felons to have their voting rights reinstated. She asked if he supports “enfranchising people like the Boston Marathon bomber, a convicted terrorist and murderer” as well as individuals convicted of sexual assault.
“As it happens in my own state of Vermont, from the very first days of our state’s history, what our constitution says is that everybody can vote. That is true. So people in jail can vote,” Sanders said. “Now here’s my view: If somebody commits a serious crime — sexual assault, murder — they’re going to be punished.”
He further noted that while an individual who commits a serious crime will “be in jail for 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, their whole lives” as a result of their actions, but that should not disqualify them from having a right to participate in American democracy.
“I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy, yes, even for terrible people, because once you start chipping away … you’re running down a slippery slope,” Sanders said. “I believe that people commit crimes, they pay the price, but when they get out of jail they certainly should have the right to vote. But I do believe that even if they are in jail paying their price to society, that should not take away their inherent American right to participate in our democracy.”
Sanders also accused the New Hampshire legislature and governor of “working hard to make it more difficult for young people to vote.” The allegation was seemingly a response to Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who reached out to the Vermont senator hours earlier in an attempt to rally opposition for a recently signed state law that prevents college students from voting in the Granite state unless they are permanent residents.
“To me, that is an incredibly undemocratic, unAmerican, process,” Sanders said. “And I say to those people by the way, if you don’t have the guts to participate in free and fair elections, you should get another job and get out of politics.”
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” because once you start chipping away … you’re running down a slippery slope”
But what about the 1st amendment that leftist institutions are “chipping away”
And leftist fascist gun grabbers who are “chipping away” on the 2nd amendment?
What about that chipping away burnee? you’ve never screamed your concern
for those 2 but if it’s not a tax paying law abiding citizen your not concerned at all
are you burnee.. Just for the criminals you bring out your concern..
Umm, you’re all so upset–unwarrantedly, probably–at Sanders that you’re missing the fact that it is (I think) and has been (I know) Vermont law that imprisoned felons (and released felons) can vote: Sanders is not proposing anything that is not already Vermont law.
I was a Vermont town clerk about twenty years ago and a convicted murderer, in prison, a legal voter in our Vermont town, telephoned my office and asked for absentee ballot. I was surprised, but checked with the proper authorities, and was assured that the law allowed imprisoned felons to vote.
I respect True North’s viewpoints–I share many of them–so I am dismayed when an article overlooks or minimizes or doesn’t understand facts to make a point. If one knows the real story this kind of thing has a very poor effect, even if the core values of True North are shared. Thanks.
RB, You are correct VT allows Felons to vote !! Every vote counts, Socialist Sanders
wants every vote.
I bet most Vermonters never new this was on the books……….Including myself !!
whoops, Knew
CHenry, 50 lashes with a wet noodle
That a thing is ‘legal’ does not necessarily mean that it’s ‘right’.
Bernie being Bernie! People in jail should not be allowed to vote. Of course he wants to see college students vote who are not residents of the the state they vote in…..that is how he got to be mayor of Burlington.
Simple, the Burn is looking for votes anywhere he can get em. That’s part of his New World Order group in desperation to achieve power any way possible. Shows how the very minority in gov can and will change the US into their mentality——to achieve what else, power like Hitler. No guns, Katorgas (Gulags) ref: was a system of penal labor in the Russian Empire and food hand out.
This is the Burn speaking to us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8 (0:59) 1984 Apple’s First Macintosh Commercial – 1984 It has always spoken (and warned) a lot of truth about today’s society
Thats like saying a person with 6 DWI should,not loose thier right to drive
Of course he does. How does someone making $174,000 a year in a few short years have a few million dollars and three homes. Since he never made a paycheck until he was 40 years old it seems uncanny that he is now part of the one percent. Considering how he all of a sudden came into his fortune it’s no wonder he advocates for criminals and terrorists to be able to vote. He knows honest hard working American citizens will not vote for him so he will go anywhere he can to get votes anyway he can.
“I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy”
Hey Burnmeister,you Marxist bozo,I’ve news for you we are not a democracy but rather a Constitutional Republic however I know if you had your way that would change.
This could be a mild leftist agenda by the time the current leftist clown car
gets whittled down. The problem being you have to out crazy the entire
bat $hit crazy herd of entrants to stand out.
The consequence of being a criminal disqualifies you from participation,
it’s what encourages you to walk the straight and narrow..Removing those only encourages criminal activity. But when did the anti American Left ever
care about protecting citizens from criminals..
Well you know, terrorists, murderers and rapists are actually nice people, just misunderstood.
Why should they not vote? How unfair!
Bernie will do or say anything to get votes. He’s great at spreading his rhetoric BS but that’s it. He’s never accomplished a thing in all the years he’s been a Senator.
Socialist Sanders, what a buffoon…….
I can’t believe that Vermonter’s vote this idiot in year after year and this fools must be really
desperate for votes, convicted criminals lost their rights when they were found guilty of
there crimes by there peers !!
Sanders, maybe he’s thinking of Jane when she gets convicted of her devious deeds !!