“Given the recent tragedy in Arizona, as well as the start of the new Congress, I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few words with political friends in Vermont and throughout the country.  I also want to thank the very many supporters who have begun contributing online to my 2012 reelection campaign at www.bernie.org.”

– U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the only avowed socialist in the Senate, in a fundraising letter to supporters this week.