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Bernie Sanders got his way. After soliciting an invite and spending a fortune in campaign funds, he chartered a 767 to fly his wife, children and grandchildren to Rome. The in flight meal was first class, the progressive candidate got to sleep in the Pope’s house and then, supposedly, meet with Pope Francis for five minutes!
Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Sanders adviser, told Reuters that the meeting took place in the Vatican guesthouse where the Pope lives and where Sanders had spent the night after addressing a Vatican conference on social justice.
As much as I admire Bernie, I am all too aware of the prophet delusion. Too many idealists run for office, get some success and then become caricatures of saints. I worry that Bernie is on the slippery slope so well greased by Norman Thomas, Abie Hoffman, and Bob La Folette.
I guess when you charter a transatlantic flight, the food is pretty good!
Sachs said Sanders, who was accompanied by his wife, (a Roman Catholic) and the Pope spoke for about five minutes.
Pope Francis version is a bit more restrained:
“This morning as I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there. He knew I was coming out at that time, and he had the kindness to greet me. When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,” the pope added. “It’s common courtesy, this is called common courtesy.
“If someone thinks that greeting someone is getting involved in politics,” he said, “I recommend that they find a psychiatrist.”
Sanders has said the trip was not a pitch for the Catholic vote but a testament to his admiration for the pontiff.
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