https://www.post-gazette.com/news/election2022/2022/11/06/bernie-sanders-summer-lee-rally-pittsburgh/stories/202211060144

Senator Bernie Sanders and state Rep. Summer Lee didn’t just share a stage Sunday on the South Side: They underscored their common ideologies.

Mr. Sanders, who held a second rally later in the day at Schenley Plaza, followed a roughly 10-minute speech from Ms. Lee in which she laid out a list of “maybe you’re here because” political issues. For his eight or so minutes, Mr. Sanders structured his address via “Summer understands” hot buttons.

The shared talking points, delivered at the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers’ headquarters on the South Side, were likely familiar to supporters of either — free higher public education, a livable minimum wage, the importance of the labor movement, health care for all — served with an urgency driven by the looming Election Day.

“If there was ever a time in American history where we needed leadership in the Congress to say, we’re going to stand with working families, we’re going to create a government and nation that work for all, not just the few, this is that moment. Summer is that candidate,” Mr. Sanders said.

Ms. Lee, in introducing Mr. Sanders, noted that the senator “has been in this fight way longer than me” — she’s in her mid-30s — and that she was where she is “because of the people who came before us and forged paths for us.”

Like Mr. Sanders, Mr. Lee nodded often to the David vs. Goliath struggle inherent in their fight.

“Do you want power for the people, or power for the corporations?”

As it happened, Mr. Sanders, long a fan of anthemic songs, walked to the podium at Schenley to John Lennon’s “Power to the People.” At that event, he rallied more generally to get Pittsburghers to the polls to vote for Ms. Lee and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat.

On the South Side, the senator began his speech with a cute opener (and possible a nod to climate change, which he did mention later): In driving from his hotel, he commented on the 70-degree day. “I said, here it is, early November, and it’s a summer day. Well, it is a Summer day! We’re going to elect Summer Lee.”

One of the first things on her to-do list, after she’s elected, he noted, “will be to overturn this damn Citizens United Supreme Court decision and move to public funding of elections.”

https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-11-06/progressive-champion-bernie-sanders-rallies-with-summer-lee-in-final-hours-of-2022-campaign

And Sanders said it was especially important to support Lee amid the UDP attacks. While most of the group’s activities are backed by AIPAC, which has its own extensive network of donors, it also has been supported by individuals tied to a slew of hedge funds and other investment firsm.

“I think it is a sad state of affairs when a handful of billionaires are spending hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars trying to defeat candidates like Summer Lee,” Sanders said. “In the next couple days, I hope people fight back and say, ‘You know what? This nation belongs to all of us and not just a handful of billionaires.’”

UDP ads don’t mention Israel — a subject that Lee has barely discussed in her political career — and Sanders said that proves “the Israel issue is not the issue. it’s just a smokescreen. This is simply one more instance where billionaires are protecting their own personal interest.”

Still, the Vermont Senator, who is Jewish, said he worries it may be bad for Israel if its advocates in the U.S. are used as cover for those other interests.

“I really do” worry, he said. He added that he has “strong concerns” about a rightward turn in Israel, where former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to assemble a new government with support from the far right. “We can have that debate. But the fact that AIPAC is now getting involved in issues and campaigns which have nothing to do with Israel … that’s bad news.”

But “our job right now,” he said, is to address the fact that “so many working people, so many elderly people, so many kids are hurting. Let’s stand with those folks.”

I've got news for the election-denying Republicans across this country — in a democracy, sometimes you're gonna lose. Don't be a whiner. Have the guts to stand up and say, "I lost." pic.twitter.com/1dCtEqkXC3

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 7, 2022