Bernie Sanders Slams GOP On Voting Rights: ‘They’re Political Cowards!’

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, right, talks with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow during a democratic presidential candidate forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. ... Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, right, talks with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow during a democratic presidential candidate forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called Republicans “political cowards” for their efforts to restrict voting rights and suggested a constitutional amendment might be necessary to protect the franchise.

“Maybe this is personal because I run for office. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win,” Sanders said, when Rachel Maddow brought the topic up at Friday’s MSNBC Democratic 2016 Forum.”It has never occurred to me as a candidate to figure out a way to deny the vote to people because they might vote against me. People who do that are political cowards. They’re afraid of a fair election.”

He said the push for voting restrictions was a “a real crisis in this country” and said legislation or “maybe a constitutional amendment” was needed to guarentee that everyone 18 years of age is registered to vote.

“What Republican are doing is so un-American, so outrageous. It is literally beyond belief,” Sanders said. “They’re political cowards and if they can’t face a free election, they should get another job.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. “What Republican are doing is so un-American, so outrageous. It is literally beyond belief,” Sanders said. “They’re political cowards and if they can’t face a free election, they should get another job.”

    That pretty much sums them up.

  2. Amen, Bernie! Testify!

  3. This was a great forum! I watched on line (NBC programming always effs with my video, so there were more than a few times everything jolted, stilted, dragged, etc.) and I was impressed with the substance and depth. Light moments, of course, but overall it was really good. Rachel Maddow did a fantastic job. Thank you, Rachel!

    I must say that I would be comfortable with any of the three sitting at the desk in the Oval Office, but I my takeaway here is Martin O’Malley made me wonder if at sometime in the future he won’t be back. I don’t think this is his time but I do think he’d make a great candidate.

  4. There really is no other word or phrase to describe the Republicans’ actions today with regards to voting rights, gerrymandering, etc. Sanders is spot-on with this observation.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

66 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for al_fisher Avatar for jw1 Avatar for sywht Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for thepsyker Avatar for stephen_maturin Avatar for amazedinchicago Avatar for eric_jaffa Avatar for rbinnc Avatar for cyberduckie Avatar for theworm Avatar for bardi Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for emilianoelmexicano Avatar for beattycat Avatar for albesure Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for towerofbable Avatar for gorehound Avatar for tiowally Avatar for Landshark2995

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: