Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was visibly frustrated after a reporter asked during a Monday press conference whether it’s “sexist” for Sanders to remain in the race even though Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton has more delegates.
The reporter, who identified herself the New York Times’ Yamiche Alcindor, asked Sanders if it’s “sexist” for him to potentially be “getting in the way of what could be the first female President.”
“Is that a serious question?” he replied. “Your question implies any woman, that any person, who’s running for President is by definition the best candidate. So any woman who runs.”
He continued: “So if Hillary Clinton runs for President, is your point that it is sexist for any man to oppose her?”
Alcindor responded that Clinton has more delegates than Sanders.
“Then that is another point,” Sanders said, cutting her off. “I don’t think it’s sexist. I think the issue is, first of all, our focus is running and winning here in California.”
He went on to say it’s “absolutely imperative” to stop Republican Donald Trump from winning the White House.
After the press conference, Alcindor tweeted:
Some women think @BernieSanders will be standing in way of history tmrw if HRC wins & he doesn’t concede. He got testy when I asked; Oh well
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 6, 2016
Watch the exchange via CSPAN:
“Is that a serious question?” @BernieSanders answers a question on whether staying in the race is sexist.https://t.co/myG1n6VmjV
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 6, 2016
Okay, that was just a stupid question. I can give the Bern some credit for that response.
I am not a Sanders fan but that was a stupid question…
And this particular reporter has been very favorable to Sanders is her coverage
Of course it was a stupid question, but the manner in which the response was given (“testy”) is also revealing. Bernie has two competing temperamental phases. Asleep and choleric.