In a recent interview, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders articulated his concerns regarding President Joe Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
Sanders shared his analysis that while empathetic towards Biden's paternal motivations, the pardon might yield precarious precedents, Fox News reported.
During his appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," hosted by Kristen Welker, Sanders expressed understanding of President Biden's familial protective instincts. However, he voiced reservations about the broader implications of such a pardon. "When you have his opponents going after his family as a father, as a parent, I think we can all understand Biden trying to protect his, his son and his family," Sanders stated.
Senator Sanders highlighted potential risks associated with the nature of the pardon. "On the other hand, I think the precedent being set is kind of a dangerous one. It was a very wide open pardon, which could, under different circumstances, lead to problems in terms of future presidents," he revealed.
The pardon, according to Sanders, was "very wide open," a factor that could pose difficulties for future administrations. Despite these concerns, Sanders noted that President Biden's track record remains appreciable due to his progressive stances on numerous domestic policies.
Sanders complimented the current state of the U.S. economy under Biden's administration. "The economy today in many ways is in very strong shape," he commented, suggesting robust economic health.
Expounding on Biden's administrative accomplishments, Sanders called him "the most progressive president since Franklin D. Roosevelt." These advancements, however, are juxtaposed against unmet needs within wage policy, an area Sanders has actively worked to reform.
The issue of the federal minimum wage was a significant topic in Sanders' commentary. Despite efforts dating back two years to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, sufficient support was lacking. He now proposes a new target of $17 per hour to counteract inflation and cost of living increases.
Describing the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, Sanders did not mince words. "Look, a $7.25 per hour minimum wage is an absolute disgrace," he declared.
“We have millions of people in this country who are working for starvation wages. They cannot afford housing, that cannot afford to adequately feed their kids.”
Sanders emphasized the dire consequences for workers earning the stagnant federal minimum wage, and struggling to afford necessities like adequate housing and sufficient food for their families. His advocacy for a raised minimum wage was coupled with a call for bipartisan cooperation. "Can work in a bipartisan way to finally accomplish that goal," he reflected on the prospects of increasing the wage.
In conclusion, while Sanders empathizes with President Biden's paternal responses to political pressures, he is concerned about the implications of a vast and unrestrictive pardon. Meanwhile, he remains engaged in efforts to enhance domestic policies, particularly those affecting the economic welfare of ordinary Americans. Sanders persists in urging an increase in the minimum wage to meet the demands of modern living costs, advocating for bipartisan support to realize this increase.
