When I hear the statesmen discussed I think of something Disraeli,  “The world is weary of statesmen whom democracy has degraded into politicians.”

For a very long time I have been saying that we have many, many politicians and few, if any, statesmen……finally I have found one statesman in Washington, at least in my opinion……we have many people that are labeled as statesmen, but few live up to the title, for most of their endeavors are purely egotistical….we have Clinton or Carter or Bush 1&2, so on and on and on….none of these are statesmen.  A true statesman tells the truth and puts the good of the country above all else….name one of those…..I can wait….

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has lived up to the label of statesman…..he supported single payer and then fought for the public option and then in the end he too made a backroom deal for his support of the current health reform bill……but unlike most of the back room deals, his was not all about Vermont or whatever his was all about the American people….all of us.  His deal was:

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, I-VT., who was angered after a new government-run health plan was dropped from the legislation to win over moderates like Nelson and Landrieu, held out on backing the bill until Reid, D-Nev., agreed to a $10 billion increase in support for community health centers.

His deal was for health centers in ALL 50 states, not just his home state……to me….that makes him a statesman…he is looking out for ALL Americans, not just some group that pays him to…..

Sen. Sanders is, when interviewed, blunt and honest….in a recent interview when asked about the bill….he stated that it was not a perfect bill but it was the best they could get because of the games and stalls that the Senate was playing….the games came from both sides….he also said that the insurance and drug companies were going to make out like bandits…..and that the US Congress was OWED by special interests…….he is very forthcoming with facts and the truth…..

His honesty is refreshing……there is nothing in Congress but lies, misinformation, games and tricks….and to hear Sen. Sanders be so honest…..well it was heart warming to know that there is at least ONE person in the Congress that is honest in his assessment of the issues……

So he, Sen. Sanders, fits my criteria of a statesman…..he works to better the lives of ALL Americans…….

“What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions. ”  Aristotle