The Speech (Sanders book)
| Company type | Political publication |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Bernie Sanders |
| Products | Book |
The Speech: A Landmark Filibuster Addressing Corporate Greed and the Erosion of the Middle Class is a political publication from 2011 authored by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Initially released by PublicAffairs, it was republished in 2015 by Bold Type Books featuring a newly added foreword.
This volume is a verbatim record of Sanders' filibuster delivered on December 10, 2010, opposing the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 on the Senate floor. The speech extended for a duration of 8 hours and 37 minutes.
Content
The book captures Sanders' lengthy objection to the 2010 Tax Relief Act, which aimed to prolong Bush-era tax rates alongside certain elements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. He challenged the legislation for disproportionately benefiting the wealthiest segment of society, questioning the necessity for affluent individuals to possess multiple residences.
Although Sanders mounted a significant filibuster, the Senate approved the bill by a wide margin, and it was enacted into law on December 17, 2010.
Reception
Matt Taibbi from Rolling Stone commended the publication, remarking, “Bernie Sanders stands out as an exceptional figure, and his efforts deserve recognition not only for Vermont but also for enhancing the integrity of politicians broadly.”
In the aftermath of the speech, numerous individuals signed petitions online advocating for Sanders to enter the 2012 presidential race, leading pollsters to assess his support across crucial primary states. Progressive figures such as Rabbi Michael Lerner and economist David Korten openly endorsed a potential challenge against President Obama. While Sanders chose not to pursue a presidential bid in 2012, instead seeking re-election to the Senate, he subsequently ran campaigns in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential contests.
External links
- Senator Bernie Sanders Filibuster, C-SPAN.