Portrait of Hillary Clinton
Politician · person
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Hillary Clinton on Bernie Sanders

Scathing 2020 Critic (strong)

Hillary Clinton holds a largely critical view of Bernie Sanders, rooted in their rivalry during the 2016 Democratic primary election.

In a documentary released around January 2020, Clinton stated unequivocally that "nobody likes" Sanders and asserted he was an ineffective politician who "had one senator support him" during his career. She dismissed his populist claims as "just baloney" and expressed sympathy for voters who became supporters, suggesting they were "sucked into it."

Clinton also heavily criticized the political culture surrounding Sanders's campaigns, specifically pointing to the "relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women" by his online supporters, often dubbed "Bernie Bros." She expressed deep concern that Sanders has not only permitted but actively seems to support this culture of insult and attack, which she felt also damaged her own 2016 campaign.

Even after their primary contest, Clinton suggested Sanders's attacks caused "lasting damage" to her general election efforts against Donald Trump. While she later stated she would support the eventual Democratic nominee to defeat Trump, she initially refused to commit to endorsing Sanders in the 2020 race, indicating the rift remained significant in early 2020.

Context

Hillary Clinton's perspective on Bernie Sanders is significant due to their direct competition for the 2016 Democratic Presidential nomination, which was closely fought. Her comments often frame Sanders as an outsider who attacks the party establishment without offering practical solutions, a narrative she used during their primary contest and reiterated afterward.

Her relationship with Sanders is a key element in understanding the internal divisions within the Democratic party between its progressive and moderate wings, especially during the 2020 election cycle when Sanders was a top contender. Her willingness to speak harshly about him, even after the primary, highlights a continuing, unresolved political tension between the two figures.

Timeline

  1. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders competed in a bitter Democratic primary, which Clinton ultimately won.
  2. In her memoir, What Happened, Clinton blamed Sanders's attacks during the primary for causing 'lasting damage' to her general election campaign.
  3. Clinton stated she did not hate Sanders but acknowledged he 'hurt me there's no doubt about it' during the 2016 primary.
  4. Clinton sharply criticized Sanders in a documentary and interview, calling him a 'career politician' whom 'nobody likes,' and refused to commit to endorsing him at that time.

Key Quotes

He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It's all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.

Hillary documentary/Hollywood Reporter interview January 1, 2020 — Her assessment of Sanders's political effectiveness and likeability in 2020.

It's not only him, it's the culture around him. It's his leadership team. It's his prominent supporters. It's his online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women.

Interview with The Hollywood Reporter January 1, 2020 — Criticism of the political culture fostered by the Sanders campaign.

And I really hope people are paying attention to that because it should be worrisome that he has permitted this culture — not only permitted, [he] seems to really be very much supporting it.

Interview with The Hollywood Reporter January 1, 2020 — Expressing concern over Sanders's tacit support for negative campaign tactics.

Comparison

Comparison to 2008 Primary vs. 2016 Primary:

  • Clinton contrasted her 2008 primary battle with Barack Obama as having 'honest differences' that were properly defended.
  • She suggested Sanders's 2016 campaign lacked a strategy beyond promising 'more of it' than she did, making an adequate argument 'not possible.'
  • Clinton claimed she did not receive the same 'respect' from Sanders and his supporters that she showed Sanders after her loss to Obama.