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Sanders Avoids Saying If It’s OK To Talk Monica Lewinsky On The Trail

by Sara Jerde

04.24.16 | 12:00 pm

Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders presidential campaigning, Wilmington, Delaware, America - 23 Apr 2016 (Rex Features via AP Images)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) avoided saying Sunday whether he thought it was fair game to talk about Monica Lewinsky on the campaign trail.

Actress Rosario Dawson, a Sanders’ supporter, mentioned Lewinsky, who has taken on anti-bullying efforts, during a campaign event.

“We are literally under attack for not just supporting the other candidate,” Dawson reportedly said. “Now I’m with Monica Lewinsky with this: Bullying is bad.”

Sanders was asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” if it was appropriate to talk about Lewinsky on the trail.

“We have many, many — Rosario is a great actress, and she’s doing a great job for us,” Sanders replied. “And she’s been a passionate fighter to see that we see the increase voter turnout, that we fight for racial, economic, environmental justice.”

CNN host Jake Tapper interrupted Sanders and asked “yes or no” if his surrogates should be talking about Lewinsky.

“I have no idea in what context Rosario was talking about her,” Sanders said. “But I would hope that all of our people focus on the real issues facing working people and the massive level of income and wealth inequality that we have.”

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Sara Jerde Sara Jerde is a newswriter based in New York. Her bylines have appeared in The Star-Ledger, The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Columbus Dispatch. She graduated from Ohio University. Send emails to sara@talkingpointsmemo.com and follow her @SaraJerde.

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Notable Replies

pine says:

April 24, 2016

““I have no idea in
what context Rosario was talking about her,” Sanders said. "But I would
hope that all of our people focus on the real issues facing working
people and the massive level of income and wealth inequality that we
have.”

Should be case closed, but you know the MSM Bernie.
tetrisd says:

April 24, 2016

The Sanders campaign has really jumped the shark between this and Weaver’s insistence on winning on superdelegates even if Hillary has more pledged delegates and popular vote. Dead campaign walking
k_in_va says:

April 24, 2016

Nothin’ reeks like desperation on Sunday morning talk shows.
kendyzdad says:

April 24, 2016

But Hillary is the one not willing to answer questions, who always ducks the tough ones.
jw1 says:

April 24, 2016

Sanders Avoids Saying If It’s OK To Talk Monica Lewinsky On The Trail

Shorter Trump… er, Sanders:

“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“I’ll have to look into it.”

No idea what someone spoxing for his campaign is saying to the press?
That’s some messaging discipline Sen Sanders.

jw1

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