At a "Fight Oligarchy" event in Folsom, California on Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke about the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC.
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00:00Now Alexandria comes from New York City. I come from Vermont. We've come a long way here.
00:08The least you could do is sit down with your constituents right here.
00:19You know, as I observe what's going on in D.C., I think a little bit about American history.
00:29And I think about Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg in 1863, and I think you all know this.
00:37Lincoln was there a few days after that horrific battle where 20,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded in the fight to end the nightmare of slavery.
00:51And Lincoln looked out on the field just a few days after that carnage.
00:57And he said, you know what? Our vision of America is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
01:09And that's why Alexandria and I are here this evening.
01:21We believe in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, not a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, and for the billionaires.
01:35And when we talk about oligarchy, it's not just the incredible economic power that the billionaires have, which is unprecedented.
01:50And it's not just about the massive income and wealth inequality, which is also unprecedented.
01:57Today in America, as a result of that disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United,
02:05billionaires like Musk can put unlimited amounts of money into both political parties.
02:21Mr. Musk himself put $270 million to elect Donald Trump as president.
02:36And that for Musk was a pretty good investment, not a lot of money when you're worth $300, $400 billion.
02:42So it's a modest investment. And his reward was to become the most powerful person in the United States government.
02:55But I must tell you, it is not only Musk and the Republicans who are putting huge amounts of money
03:03to make sure they elect the candidates of their choice. It is Democrats as well.
03:10And there is a reason why Democrats for so many years have not had the courage to stand up to the ruling class
03:19and represent working people. And that is because that party is dominated by corporate interests.
03:26So today we say loudly and clearly, and I think in saying this, I speak for conservatives and progressives and moderates.
03:41The time is now to get rid of this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision.
03:49And move to public funding of elections.
04:02And move to public funding of elections.