The Unlikely Truth-Teller: Bernie Sanders, Borders, and a Moment of Political Candor

Well, who saw this coming? Honestly, if you’d told me a few years back that Senator Bernie Sanders – a self-described democratic socialist, mind you – would be tipping his hat to Donald Trump on border policy, I might have just chuckled. Yet, here we are. The Vermont Independent, known for his fiery progressive rhetoric, recently stepped into the ring on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” and delivered some strikingly candid observations that, for once, cut across traditional party lines.

Sanders, without mincing words, actually offered a measure of praise for former President Trump’s approach to the southern border. “He was right on some of these things,” Sanders remarked, which, let’s be real, is not exactly a common refrain from that particular corner of the political spectrum. It’s almost disorienting, isn’t it, to hear such an acknowledgment from a figure so often diametrically opposed to Trump’s policies.

And then, to double down on the unexpectedness, Sanders didn't just stop at a backhanded compliment for his ideological rival. Oh no. He turned his gaze, quite critically, toward the current administration, the one helmed by President Joe Biden. The situation at the border under Biden’s watch? Sanders didn’t pull any punches, describing it as “absolute chaos.” A stark, blunt assessment, wouldn't you say?

But beneath these surprising remarks lies a fundamental principle that, in truth, isn't really up for debate, at least not in the real world. Sanders articulated it plainly: “You’ve got to have borders. Period.” It’s a simple declaration, really, almost a truism, but one that feels increasingly important to hear amidst the swirling political arguments. A country, by its very definition, needs defined boundaries and a process for entry. You can’t, well, just not have them.

Now, lest anyone think Bernie has suddenly shed all his progressive skin, he was quick to reiterate his long-standing support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. And that’s a crucial distinction, isn't it? It suggests a nuanced view: acknowledging the humanitarian aspects and the plight of those seeking a better life, while simultaneously confronting the very real, immediate challenges of an uncontrolled border situation. It’s not an either/or; it’s both.

His comments, in a sense, underscore just how pressing and complex the border issue has become, forcing even stalwart figures like Sanders to acknowledge certain uncomfortable truths. It highlights, perhaps, a growing consensus—even if unspoken—that the current state of affairs is untenable. And honestly, whether you agree with Sanders’ broader politics or not, his willingness to state what many might consider an uncomfortable truth is, you could say, a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stifling political climate.