News (USA)

Bernie vs. Barney: Sanders campaign clashes with Clinton’s champion

Bernie vs. Barney: Sanders campaign clashes with Clinton’s champion
Former congressman Barney Frank brought his barbs and bristle to the Boston studio where he took part in an old-fashioned, “Crossfire”-like caustic exchange with Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager.

The former Massachusetts representative scolded campaign manager Jeff Weaver when Wednesday’s conversation on MSNBC’s Hardball turned to the tone of Sanders’ campaign: Frank said he felt the runner-up was overly critical of his candidate, Hillary Clinton, and should instead focus on presumptive GOP nominee, Donald Trump.

“I haven’t seen any of [Sanders] ads being critical of Trump. I didn’t say he ‘never’ criticized him…”

“You should read the media accounts, Mr. Frank,” interrupted Weaver.

“I’m sorry, I think you should not interrupt me. Let’s all be civil.” As he attempted to finish his sentence, Weaver interrupted again, “That could start with you, sir.” Host Chris Matthews spoke up, saying, “One at a time.” Frank appeared bewildered by Weaver’s remark: “I haven’t interrupted you. Why the chip?”

If Weaver did indeed have a chip on his shoulder, perhaps it was over the issue of Frank’s role at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next month. Last week, the Sanders campaign filed a request to have him removed from the rules and platform committees, along with Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut, because of their support for Clinton, and alleged animus toward Sanders.

Weaver called Frank “a very hostile and attack surrogate” for Clinton, because Frank has insulted Senator Sanders as “dumb,” a “McCarthyite” and “unrealistic.”

Frank acknowledged he’d been critical of Sanders, but then fired back, “I am somewhat surprised to hear a Sanders representative complain about divisive rhetoric. It seems to me that both he and I have been very willing to speak out and be critical of other people.”

The former congressman also found time to snarkily slam his fellow New Englander as a hypocrite while at the same time touting his own generosity in previously supporting Sanders’ campaigns as the U.S. senator from Vermont.

“And frankly as a senior member of the Banking Committee, sometimes when I did fundraisers a banker or two showed up. So I hope for the sake of Senator Sanders’ purity they can scrub that and see if maybe they need to give some money back.”

Throughout most of Frank’s comments, Weaver resembled a bobblehead, his bald noggin shaking back and forth, “no, no, no, no.” But Matthews also put the screws to him, pinning him down on why Sanders hasn’t released more than one year of tax returns and his candidate’s plan to campaign all the way, up and until the convention roll call.

Watch the exchange below from MSNBC’s Hardball.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Supergroup Dead & Company to donate $100K from NC show

Previous article

NY court considers new inclusive definition of parenthood

Next article