Bernie Sanders singles out Elon Musk during San Marcos campaign stop

Want to know exactly how much Texas progressives despise their Republican lawmakers? Attend an event with Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator, who in person is equal parts bombastic professor, polished politico, and SNL parody, made a much publicized visit to the Texas State University in San Marcos on October 29. During his 20-minute speech, the former presidential candidate periodically mentioned various Republicans as examples of greed or incompetence, or both, inciting the outrage of the 350 or so people in attendance who booed in reaction. Though Donald Trump received a sizable collective outrage, the top boos were reserved for Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz, the latter receiving not one, but two hearty rebukes from the crowd. (Elon Musk drew the senator’s criticism, too, but more on that later.)

Amid this contentious and pivotal election season, Sanders (D-VT) joined Greg Casar, the former Austin City Council member running for Texas’ Congressional District 35, for an evening of events beginning with a visit to San Marcos. The crowd, a mix of students, locals, and politicians such as Texas Rep. Erin Zwiener, waited in Texas State’s Sewell Park for more than hour to see the Vermont senator, who eventually arrived wearing a suit jacket, sweater, and button down.

Following the speeches, the two politicians took a ceremonial walk over the San Marcos River.

Daniel Cavazos/MySA

Once on stage, Sanders’ speech hit the progressive high notes — free tuition, healthcare for all, the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the environment — and was hampered only briefly by a protester in a conspicuous red wig. Ever the pro, Sanders continued on even as most of the crowd’s attention turned to the protestor, whose wig was eventually ripped off and thrown onto the steps in front of the stage where it would stay for the rest of the event.

Sanders also took the opportunity to tackle inflation, calling it the result of “an unprecedented level of corporate greed.” The senator noted that Exxon Mobil, headquartered in Irving, Texas, is reporting profits of 280 percent over last year despite rising inflation and gas prices that have crippled consumers at the pump.

Sanders also took aim at billionaires via the estate tax, singling out Texas resident/newly minted Twitter owner/Tesla founder Elon Musk.

“It is the tax that [taxes] the wealthiest one-tenth of one percent,” Sanders explained. “Their families pay when the billionaire dies. If you repeal that tax, it will increase the national debt by $1.75 trillion. Elon Musk’s family — just one family, I have nothing against the family, I don’t know the family — but they do not deserve a tax break of $83 billion for one family.”

What Sanders didn’t do was apologize for Congress’ unprecedented spending during the pandemic, something denounced by Republican politicians like Gov. Kristi Norm of South Dakota. “Let me tell you this: I, as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee … I am not going to apologize to anybody for in the middle of a pandemic when people were dying by the thousands every day, when people were losing their jobs by the millions, I am not going to apologize for every man, woman, and child had a check for 1400 bucks.”

Greg Casar, the former Austin City Council member, is running for Texas’ Congressional District 35, which includes San Antonio.

Daniel Cavazos/MySA

Sanders’ stump speech was arguably one of the biggest political moments for the 33-year-old Casar — the presumptive winner of the highly democratic District 35, which runs from Austin to San Antonio along the I-35 corridor. It was also a chance for voters to see the candidate in action with 10 days left until election day. After nearly a year on the campaign trail, Casar’s delivery has gotten sharper, more deliberate. Perhaps boosted by his near certain win, the former labor organizer does not shy away from the hot button issues that will likely make him a progressive darling — and a conservative foe — when he enters Congress next year.

When he does head to Washington, D.C, Casar will certainly have his share of friends. Along with Sanders, both Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made the trip this year to show their support for Casar.

Following their campaign stop at Texas State, Sanders, Casar, and crew jumped in an SUV and headed north to Austin, where they were slated to join Rep. Lloyd Doggett and members of the local AFL-CIO to celebrate “recent union wins” in the Capital City. There was also a rumor that Sanders would make an appearance at Stubb’s where he was allegedly going to introduce King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard during Levitation Fest. Here’s hoping.