Sanders touts freedom from super-PACs, attacks Clinton’s paid speeches

Bernie Sanders on Monday night took several shots at Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, continuing to call on her to release the transcripts to her paid speeches to Wall Street .

The Vermont senator called into question Clinton’s six-figure speeches to Goldman Sachs and the donations from Wall Street to her super-PAC at a rally in Milton, Mass., on the eve of Super Tuesday.

Sanders has repeatedly hammered the former secretary of State for not releasing those transcripts after saying at a past debate she would “look into” making them public. The Vermont senator has tried to draw contrasts with Clinton over campaign finance and ties to Wall Street.

“I’m not quite sure how you bring about real change in America if your super-PAC collects millions and millions of dollars from Wall Street … and from drug companies and from fossil fuel industries,” Sanders said.

“And I’m not quite so sure you’ll bring about real change in America if you give a speech to Goldman Sachs for $225,000 and you don’t release the transcript,” he continued.

“Now my own view is if you’re going to give a speech for $225,000, it must be a hell of a good speech,” he said, “And you’re going to want to share it with the American people.” 

The Vermont senator continued to tout the fact he has no super-PACs aiding his campaign and instead, is funded by small contributions.

“One of differences in our campaigns is I don’t have a super-PAC, I don’t want a super-PAC, I don’t need a super-PAC,” Sanders said.

“Our campaign has received over 4 million individual contributions, more than any candidate in history of America at this point,” Sanders continued.

At the rally, Sanders also sought to court minority voters and continued his call to overhaul the criminal justice system.

“There’s no rational reason why in America today there are more people in jail than any other country on Earth,” Sanders said, inquiring “why a black male baby born today has a 1 in 4 chance of ending up in jail. 

“That’s a disgrace, we’re going to bring justice to a broken criminal justice system,” Sanders added, taking off his jacket and throwing it into the audience. “It’s getting hot in here.”

Clinton is poised for a strong night Tuesday, when 11 contests will be held. She holds a strong lead in the polls in a number of southern states that have large contingencies of African-American voters.

The former secretary of State’s resounding win in South Carolina over the weekend showed that Clinton’s “firewall” with minority voters remains intact. She is hoping to use that momentum going into Tuesday as she tries to lock up the nomination.