10 tough questions for Bernie

Editor’s note: Joseph Farah is on vacation. The following is a repeat of his popular column from Feb. 12.

The proof that the media are in the tank for unlimited government is the lack of grilling candidates like Bernie Sanders, an avowed socialist, get from what we euphemistically call the "mainstream" press.

One of Sanders' pet peeves, which he mentions in every speech and every debate, is his opposition to a Supreme Court decision called "Citizens United," which essentially put a stake in the heart of a provision of the McCain-Feingold legislation designed to remove "soft money" from being used during political campaigns.

So, tough question No. 1 for Bernie is this: "You say the 'Citizens United' decision of the Supreme Court was a terrible ruling. What would you do about that as president? Would you pack the Supreme Court with justices who agree with you?"

Tough question No. 2: "Since the Supreme Court ruled in that case that the First Amendment was crafted by America's founders largely to protect political speech, and thus, Congress did not have the constitutional power to restrict political speech, what would be your response to that argument?"

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Tough question No. 3: "You boast about having raised tens of millions of dollars through small donations to run your campaign. If you became president, what limit would you put on individual spending in political campaigns? And, whatever the limit, isn't that yet another limit on political speech – something the Congress has no power to do under the First Amendment?"

Tough question No. 4: "You have criticized your opponent in the Democratic presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton, for accepting millions in fees for speeches, much of that money paid by bankers and financiers such as Goldman-Sachs, presumably for the purpose of buying influence with the former senator, former secretary of state and potentially future president. Would you seek to make that kind of activity illegal as president? And, again, isn't that yet another illegitimate limit on political speech?"

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Tough question No. 5: "Would you also seek to restrict what labor unions could spend on political campaigns in either soft money or hard?"

Tough question No. 6: "Since we're talking about First Amendment issues, where do you stand on the production and distribution of hard-core pornography? Is that protected by the First Amendment, in your view?"

Tough question No. 7: "You have famously explained that your brand of socialism is not designed to abolish free enterprise and entrepreneurship, adding: 'I don't believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production.' But what if that grocery store down the street is owned by a multi-billion-dollar corporation? What then? How big is too big for a business? When does it need to be nationalized?"

Tough question No. 8: "When asked what kind of socialism you believe in, you have frequently mentioned the economies of Denmark and Sweden. But Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen takes issue with your characterization of his country, insisting that Denmark maintains a 'market economy.' As to Sweden, the country has been moving away from its cradle-to-grave welfare state for decades because it was not sustainable. What would you say to the leadership of these two countries you cite as models of your brand of socialism? Do they not know what they are doing – or what kind of economy is right for them?"

Tough question No. 9: "Since the leaders of Denmark and Sweden, the two workers' paradises you cite as proof socialism work, disagree with you, do you have any other examples of nations where socialism – democratic or otherwise – has actually worked?"

Tough question No. 10: "Can you cite in the Constitution the powers that permit Congress or the federal government to redistribute wealth the way you seek to do so as a self-described democratic socialist? Or will you be seeking to amend the Constitution through the democratic process? If so, how so?"

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