Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., ripped the Democratic party Sunday, saying it needs to be a "grassroots party" that "speaks to the pain of the working class," which proved to be President Donald Trump's winning strategy in middle America despite being the "most unpopular candidate in modern history."
"Well, I think what is clear to anyone who looks at where the Democratic party today is, that the model of the Democratic party is failing," Sanders told CBS's "Face The Nation." "We have a Republican president who ran as a candidate as the most unpopular candidate in modern history of this country."
Sanders, who primaried unsuccessfully as a Democrat against Hillary Clinton despite being an Independent, pointed to the Democrat's losses in the House, Senate, and governor's chairs, losing "900 legislative seats," he told host John Dickerson.
"Clearly, the Democratic party has got to change, and in my view what it has to become is a grassroots party, a party which makes decisions from the bottom on up, a party which is more dependent on small donations than large donations, a party, John, that speaks to the pain of the working class in this country," Sanders said.
"Middle class is shrinking. 43 million people living in poverty. Almost all new income and wealth is going to the top 1 percent. People can't afford to send their kids to college. They can't afford childcare. They can't afford healthcare."
A Democratic president has not been able to fix those issues, but Sanders vows to "build a progressive movement" in the party, he added.
"The Democratic party has got to take the lead, rallying young people, working people, stand up to the billionaire class," Sanders said. "And when we do that, you're going to see voter turnout swell. You're going to see people coming in and running for office. You're going to see Democrats regain control of the United States Congress."
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