Sanders says gender 'still an obstacle' for female politicians
Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) said sexism remains a major obstacle for female candidates on the campaign trail but added that other factors such as age could also be a disadvantage for candidates.
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Asked during an interview with New Hampshire Public Radio if gender is “still an obstacle,” Sanders responded, “The answer is yes.”
But he noted that “everybody has their own sets of problems. I’m 78 years of age. That’s a problem.”
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He added that some voters would likely say his competitor, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE was too young for the job.
“I would just hope, very much, that the American people look at the totality of a candidate, not at their gender, at their sexuality, but at everything,” Sanders added.
Bernie to NHPR
Question: do you think that gender is still an obstacle for female politicians?
Sanders: Look, I, th- the answer is yes. But I think everybody has their own sets of problems. I’m 78 years of age. That’s a problem. pic.twitter.com/h7ztuYmCXJ
— Alex Thompson (@AlxThomp) January 19, 2020
The interview comes in the wake of Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) claiming Sanders privately told her he did not believe a woman could be elected president. Sanders has vehemently denied making the comment, and shortly after Warren made the claim, a 1988 clip emerged of Sanders saying he believed a woman could be elected president.
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Sanders addressed the claim in the same interview, saying, “I don’t want to get into it anymore other than to say I’ve always believed and I believe today that a woman can be elected president of the United States.”
“The world has changed, and to those people who think that a woman cannot be elected, you’re dead wrong,” he added.
Full verbatim of Bernie Sanders’s NHPR interview responses on electability: pic.twitter.com/SqkKVXl90v
— Emma Kinery (@EmmaKinery) January 19, 2020
Asked about Sanders’s comments, specifically pertaining to his own age as a disadvantage, Warren responded, “I have no further comment on this. … I have been friends with Bernie for a long time.”
Warren responds: “I have no further comment on this. I have no further comment on this…I have been friends with Bernie for a long time. https://t.co/LxrJPVaLXG pic.twitter.com/9pKVV7M2s4
— Alex Thompson (@AlxThomp) January 19, 2020