Among Politico reporter Glenn Thrush’s takeaways from Tuesday’s New York primary, which saw big wins for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, was a senior Clinton aide’s sharp take on Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT): “tone it down” or “fuck him.”
Reflecting on Clinton’s double-digit victory, the anonymous senior aide told Politico: “We kicked ass tonight,” adding, “I hope this convinces Bernie to tone it down. If not, fuck him.”
Late last month, the Clinton campaign delayed signing on to debate Sanders in Brooklyn, New York, saying they would consider adding the event if the Vermont senator changed his “tone.”
The dig was a stark departure from the Democratic race’s generally diplomatic rules of engagement. After months of amicably agreeing to disagree, the claws came out while campaigning in New York, Clinton’s adopted home state and Sanders’ birthplace.
The remarks also captured the growing fault lines between the candidates’ supporters, with hopes of Democratic voters unifying to support the party’s nominee in the general election growing more remote.
h/t Gawker
