In the days leading up to the 2020 election, Kamala Harris joined Bernie Sanders for a virtual town hall, pledging to work on his key agenda items, a key part of his endorsement of the Biden-Harris campaign.
Harris spoke to Sanders and his supporters about the “inequality, injustice and immorality” behind the federal government’s failure to help workers with an agenda that would benefit them and their families, and outlined her and Biden’s policy promises.
“Enough about that guy, let’s get to what we’re actually going to do,” Harris said, referring to her opponent, then-President Donald Trump.
Instead, she focused on praising Sanders, a proud self-described Democratic socialist, in front of his supporters just days before Election Day.
“You are amazing,” cheered Harris, who described her former primary opponent as “someone who questions every premise” of the current federal system and exposes the flaws of the status quo.
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) lend support to each other on the 2020 debate stage
“Look at him, with that mischievous grin, he knows what he’s doing… you decided to do it within the system,” she said, laughing.
She praised Sanders for challenging all Democrats on the debate stage during the 2020 Democratic primaries.
“I want to thank you, Bernie Sanders, for what you have done and what you continue to do. You are truly a treasure,” she said warmly.
The vice president pledged to champion Sanders’ agenda, including policies that would provide affordable housing, affordable health care, affordable child care, paid parental leave, free college tuition and a $15-an-hour minimum wage.
Kamala Harris at a 2020 campaign event with Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in New York City
But those promises have not been kept, despite the Biden administration approving more than $4 trillion in government spending.
The American Rescue Plan cost $2.1 trillion, the Inflation Reduction Act cost $750 billion, and the infrastructure bill cost $1.2 trillion.
But Harris’ promises to Sanders have not been fulfilled to this day.
Now that she is campaigning for president herself, Harris is making many of the same campaign promises.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (L) (D-NY) greets Sen. Bernie Sanders (R) (I-VT) outside Capitol Hill
President Joe Biden gestures toward Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont.
“We are fighting for a future with affordable housing, affordable health care, affordable child care and paid leave,” she said at an August rally in Pennsylvania.
On Friday, Harris proposed federal price controls to prevent “extortion” by food producers, a common socialist proposal to reduce inflation. Harris also proposed offering a $25,000 down payment to first-time homeowners.
Despite her failed promises, Sanders has not been deterred from endorsing his former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Speaking to the Boston Globe, Sanders said he hoped Harris would win the presidential election, but warned her that she should focus her agenda on “wealth inequality.”
“(Harris) needs to have an agenda that addresses the crisis facing working families across the country,” he said.