Bernie Sanders hilariously mocks Hillary Clinton for her paid speeches to big banks

Speaking to supporters in Warren, Michigan, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday took direct shots at opponent Hillary Clinton.
He attacked Clinton for her super PAC's acceptance of special interest donations, saying that if candidates' claims that special interest funds won't affect their decisions were true, "why would Wall Street be spending $15 million?" He also mocked the former secretary of state for her refusal to release her paid speeches to big banks, including Goldman Sachs, unless every candidate also releases their speeches. "I kind of think if you're going to be paid $225,000 for a speech, it must be a fantastic speech," Sanders said, "a brilliant speech which you would want to share with the American people." He said the remarks must be "Shakespearean" given how much Clinton was paid to deliver them, and said he looks forward to being able to read them.
He also emphasized his populist economic message, saying America's economy is "rigged" and citing the mega-rich Walton family's underpaying of its employees — which requires them to rely on taxpayer-funded programs like food stamps — as an example. "To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln: This is a campaign of the people, by the people, and for the people," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Michigan's primary contest is Tuesday, March 8, where Real Clear Politics polls show Clinton enjoying a strong lead over Sanders.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Rep. Sylvester Turner dies, weeks after joining House
Speed Read The former Houston mayor and longtime state legislator left behind a final message for Trump: 'Don't mess with Medicaid'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses Ukraine intelligence sharing
Speed Read The decision is intended to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rules against Trump on aid freeze
Speed Read The court rejected the president's request to freeze nearly $2 billion in payments for foreign humanitarian work
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published