that he was running for President. Despite being the longest standing Independent in

參選美國總統。除了身為國會最資深的無黨籍議員之外

Congress, many people had never heard of this far-left candidate. So we wanted to know,

許多人從沒聽過這位極左派候選人的大名。所以我們想知道

who is Bernie Sanders?

桑德斯到底是誰？

Well, despite his 16-year tenure as Vermont’s only House Representative, followed by his

雖然他曾任佛蒙特州唯一的眾議員達16年之久，接著

current 8-year term as US Senator, Sanders is still considered somewhat of an outcast

又選上任期8年的參議員，桑德斯在國會中特立獨行

in Washington. His long standing voting record has regularly been at odds with the dominating

多年的投票紀錄顯示他常與主流意見相左

political climate. He has voted against the 2002 Iraq War Resolution, the PATRIOT ACT,

他反對2002年伊拉克戰爭決議案、愛國者法案

the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, and the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. In turn,

布希時期富人減稅法案、以及1996年捍衛婚姻法案。同時

he sponsored the Global Warming and Pollution Reduction Act, pushed for an audit of the

他支持降低全球暖化污染法案、推動審計聯準會

Federal Reserve, and has repeatedly supported Medical Marijuana legislation.

也不斷聲援藥用大麻合法化

The 73-year-old candidate is also a self-admitted socialist, and has pointed to the high quality

73歲的桑德斯自詡為社會主義者，並且認為

Scandinavian social system as an example of effective policy. As a candidate, Sanders

北歐完善的社福體制是有效政策的典範。參選總統後

has outlined a number of initiatives he would tackle. Among them are efforts to break up

他提出幾項政見，其中包括打擊

the “too big to fail” banks, raising minimum wage, expanding union power, and promoting

「大到不能倒」的銀行、提高最低工資、擴大工會力量、以及

a single-payer health care system. However Sanders has been criticized on his voting

推動政府單方支付的健保系統。然而他的部分投票紀錄也招致批評

record against the implementation of the child abduction AMBER alert system, as well as his

包括反對實施孩童綁架警報系統，以及他對於

views on gun rights.

槍枝權利的看法

And despite his progressive track record and policy ideas, Sanders will be competing with

除了他激進的政治思想與過去表現外，桑德斯將要

political heavyweight Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Many political

與政壇重量級人物希拉蕊角逐民主黨提名

analysts, including those who support him, have suggested that he is unlikely to win

包括他的支持者在內，許多政治分析家都不認為他會在初選勝出

the primary. Still, some say that by officially entering the presidential arena, his progressive

不過有些人表示，桑德斯正式參選總統，他的激進立場

stance could force Clinton to revise some of her more moderate positions to the left.

會迫使希拉蕊將原本偏溫和的立場向左修正

This is particularly relevant, as a look at their top donors would suggest that Clinton

很明顯的一點是，光看他們的最大捐款單位就知道

and Sanders have distinctly separate priorities. Clinton’s top donors are primarily banks

他們的政見優先考量的選民完全不同。希拉蕊的捐款主要來自銀行

like Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, along with media conglomerates Time Warner and Cablevision.

如花旗和摩根大通，以及媒體集團如時代華納和光電視覺公司

On Sanders’ side, nearly all of his top donors are comprised of auto, teaching, and

桑德斯的最大捐款單位則是工會，如汽車業、教師

labor unions. Additionally, 61% of Sanders’ donations are made up of individual contributions

和勞工。另外，他的捐款有61%來自個人捐款

of less than $200, compared to Hillary’s 28% during her 2008 run for candidacy.

每筆少於200美金，相比希拉蕊2008年參選時，只有28%捐款來自個人

So, who is Bernie Sanders? Clearly, he’s a man of the people. But his socialist-democratic

所以桑德斯到底是怎麼樣的人？顯然他最重視人民，但他的社會民主政策

policies may turn many traditional voters off.

讓許多傳統選民倒盡胃口

So for now it’s Bernie Sanders vs. Hillary Clinton. Want to learn more about his opponent?

現在是桑德斯和希拉蕊對決。想更了解他的對手嗎？

Check out our video overview of her, right here. We’ll have more profiles of candidates

那就來看我們的影片吧。隨著更多人宣布參選

as they announce, so make sure to subscribe now! You won’t miss a single video!

我們會介紹更多候選人，記得訂閱，才不會錯過