Democrats criticize Sanders for online behavior of his supporters
February 19, 2020
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren seized an opportunity to criticize the online behavior of some of Sen. Bernie Sanders supporters, saying their harassment and threats could hurt party unity in the general election; it sparked a pile-on to the self-described democratic socialist.
“I've said many times before, we are all responsible for our supporters and we need to step up,” Warren said. “That's what leadership is all about.”
After Nevada’s powerful Culinary Workers Union criticized Sanders’ “Medicare for All” proposal, leaders reportedly received threatening emails and voicemails. The group ultimately did not endorse a candidate in the caucuses. The Sanders campaign denounced the harassing messages. The Vermont senator’s campaign has faced criticism for the behavior of online supporters dubbed by critics Bernie Bros. It has repeatedly rebuffed these critiques, noting Sanders’ broad support among women and voters of color.
Sanders responded to Warren, saying of the millions of Twitter followers, “99.9 percent of them are decent human beings, are working people, are people who believe in justice, compassion and love. And if there are a few people who make ugly remarks, who attack trade union leaders, I disown those people.” He then pivoted to harassment he said some of his campaign’s female and African American staffers had received.
Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg jumped in soon after, prefacing that he did not believe Sanders was directing the online activity, but then said: “I think you have to accept some responsibility and ask yourself what it is about your campaign, in particular, that seems to be motivating this behavior more than others.”
Source: https://www.politico.com/
