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| | :{{See also|Democratic Socialism}} | | :{{See also|Democratic Socialism}} |
| | Sanders began his electoral political career in 1971 as a member of the Liberty Union Party, which originated in the anti-war movement and the [[People's Party (1970s)|People's Party]]. He ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont in 1972 and 1976 and as a candidate for U.S. senator in 1972 and 1974.<ref>[http://media.cq.com/members/509?rc=1 Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.)] RollCall.com. Retrieved February 20, 2017.</ref> In 1980, Sanders ran for mayor of Burlington, Vermont at the suggestion of his close friend and political confidante Richard Sugarman, a professor of religion at the [[University of Vermont]]. He defeated the incumbent Democrat mayor by 10 votes and served for eight years, from April 6, 1981 to April 4, 1989. | | Sanders began his electoral political career in 1971 as a member of the Liberty Union Party, which originated in the anti-war movement and the [[People's Party (1970s)|People's Party]]. He ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont in 1972 and 1976 and as a candidate for U.S. senator in 1972 and 1974.<ref>[http://media.cq.com/members/509?rc=1 Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.)] RollCall.com. Retrieved February 20, 2017.</ref> In 1980, Sanders ran for mayor of Burlington, Vermont at the suggestion of his close friend and political confidante Richard Sugarman, a professor of religion at the [[University of Vermont]]. He defeated the incumbent Democrat mayor by 10 votes and served for eight years, from April 6, 1981 to April 4, 1989. |
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| | + | In 1986, Sanders unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Governor Madeleine Kunin (D) in her reelection bid. Running as an independent, Sanders finished third with 14.4% of the vote. Kunin won with 47%, followed by Lt. Governor Peter P. Smith (R) with 38%. |
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| | + | In 1990 Sanders was elected to the [[U.S. Congress]] as a [[Socialist]] on a third party ticket. Sanders was a leading member of the [[National Rainbow Coalition]] at the time. He was supported by the [[AFL-CIO]], [[environmentalist]]s and Democratic Party leaders.<ref>''[[People's Weekly World]]'', Nov. 10 1990, page 23.</ref> |
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| | + | ===Sandinistas=== |
| | + | In 1985 Sanders travelled to New York City to meet with [[Daniel Ortega]] a few weeks after [[Nicaragua]] imposed a “state of emergency”, mass arrests of the socialist regime'S critics, and the shuttering of opposition newspapers and magazines. Talk-show host Phil Donahue told Ortega that his actions looked "[[fascist]]". Sanders refused to condemn the decision. Sanders said in a press conference that he was “not an expert in Nicaragua” and “not a Nicaraguan." “Am I aware enough of all the details of what is going on in Nicaragua to say ‘you have reacted too strongly?’ I don’t know.” Sanders later said that the Sandinistas’ brutal crackdown “makes sense to me.” |
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| | In 1985 Sanders was "the highest ranking American official” to attend a parade celebrating the [[Sandinista]] seizure of power in [[Nicaragua]] as [[Daniel Ortega]]'s guest.<ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/28/when-bernie-sanders-thought-castro-and-the-sandinistas-could-teach-america-a-lesson.html When Bernie Sanders Thought Castro And The Sandinistas Could Teach America A Lesson], Michael Moynihan, ''Daily Beast'', 02.27.16.</ref> | | In 1985 Sanders was "the highest ranking American official” to attend a parade celebrating the [[Sandinista]] seizure of power in [[Nicaragua]] as [[Daniel Ortega]]'s guest.<ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/28/when-bernie-sanders-thought-castro-and-the-sandinistas-could-teach-america-a-lesson.html When Bernie Sanders Thought Castro And The Sandinistas Could Teach America A Lesson], Michael Moynihan, ''Daily Beast'', 02.27.16.</ref> |
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| − | In 1986, Sanders unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Governor Madeleine Kunin (D) in her reelection bid. Running as an independent, Sanders finished third with 14.4% of the vote. Kunin won with 47%, followed by Lt. Governor Peter P. Smith (R) with 38%.
| + | ===U.S Peace Council=== |
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| | A notice was placed in the [[CPUSA]] newspaper, the ''[[Guardian (NY)]]'' on November 8, 1989, concerning an upcoming [[U.S. Peace Council]] national conference.<ref>''Guardian'', November 8, 1989</ref> The U.S. Peace Council was [[Kremlin]]-backed anti-American [[communist front]] organization. Speakers included Bernie Sanders, Rep.[[John Conyers]], [[Leslie Cagan]], [[Holly Sklar]], Jack O'Dell of the [[Rainbow Coalition]], Zehdi Terzi of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], Gunther Drefahl of the [[East German]] Peace Council among others.<ref>[http://www.aim.org/aim-column/should-the-nsa-be-watching-senator-sanders/ AIM Should the NSA Be Watching Senator Sanders? Cliff Kincaid — January 6, 2014]</ref> | | A notice was placed in the [[CPUSA]] newspaper, the ''[[Guardian (NY)]]'' on November 8, 1989, concerning an upcoming [[U.S. Peace Council]] national conference.<ref>''Guardian'', November 8, 1989</ref> The U.S. Peace Council was [[Kremlin]]-backed anti-American [[communist front]] organization. Speakers included Bernie Sanders, Rep.[[John Conyers]], [[Leslie Cagan]], [[Holly Sklar]], Jack O'Dell of the [[Rainbow Coalition]], Zehdi Terzi of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], Gunther Drefahl of the [[East German]] Peace Council among others.<ref>[http://www.aim.org/aim-column/should-the-nsa-be-watching-senator-sanders/ AIM Should the NSA Be Watching Senator Sanders? Cliff Kincaid — January 6, 2014]</ref> |
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| − | In 1990 Sanders was elected to the [[U.S. Congress]] as a [[Socialist]] on a third party ticket. Sanders was a leading member of the [[National Rainbow Coalition]] at the time. He was supported by the [[AFL-CIO]], [[environmentalist]]s and Democratic Party leaders.<ref>''[[People's Weekly World]]'', Nov. 10 1990, page 23.</ref>
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| | ==='Socialist Scholars'=== | | ==='Socialist Scholars'=== |