Sen. Sanders Compliments Pope Francis for Citing Dorothy Day, ‘a Socialist’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

SANDERS: “Yes, he is. One of the four Americans that he cited was a woman named Dorothy Day. Most people don't know who Dorothy Day was. I think that's fair to say.”

BASH: “I know.”

SANDERS: “They do now. She was a very, very progressive woman, socialist, who organized working people and the poor to stand up to the wealthy and the powerful and to fight for social justice. The fact that he cited her, not to mention Martin Luther King Jr. as one of people that he appreciated tells you exactly where this man is coming from in the global world.”

BASH: “The fact that he talked about a socialist.”

SANDERS: “Yes. The fact he talked about somebody who spent her life fighting for the poor and fighting for justice.”

BASH: “And that's on those issues, but then of course when he talked about climate change, saying that it is human made, manmade, talking about immigration in a way that, as you said, you know, saying it was a golden rule. A lot of issues certainly appeared to make Republicans a bit uncomfortable. But then it's the same on the Progressive side. Maybe he wasn't as aggressive in talking about the issue of abortion or same-sex marriage. But he made clear what his personal beliefs are. The doctrine of the church is.”

SANDERS: “Look, I think he handled himself in a very dignified way. He was an invited guest. He was not here to make partisan points or to embarrass anybody and I respect that and, you're right, certainly for me and many other Progressives, we disagree with the church on issues regarding a woman rights to choose or gay marriage.”