Bernie Sanders Defends Biden-Harris Ticket From Progressive Criticism: 'Trump Must Be Defeated'

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by throwaway5272
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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders defended the presumptive Democratic Party presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris from progressive criticism, saying the vast majority of liberals know the country must oust President Donald Trump.

Sanders sought to remind viewers of ABC News' This Week Sunday morning that in order for any progressive policies to make their way through government, Biden must be elected on November 3.

The former Democratic presidential primary candidate against Biden touted Harris as "incredibly smart and incredibly tough" and a tremendous asset in taking down Trump in the upcoming election. Sanders pushed back against former members of his own campaign who are saying they are not enthusiastic about supporting the Biden-Harris ticket.

"I would say the overwhelming majority of progressives understand that it is absolutely imperative that Donald Trump be defeated," Sanders said Sunday morning.

"That we have a president who is trying to undermine American democracy, a president who has turned his back on the working families of this country, a president who has done a horrible job in terms of the pandemic, who does not believe in science, and who is not dealing with existential threat of climate change," he continued.

The Vermont senator responded to his former 2020 campaign national press secretary, Briahna Joy Gray, who joined many progressive liberals and Sanders backers in saying Biden hasn't done enough to embrace their views.

"We are in the midst of the largest protest movement in American history, the subject of which is excessive policing, and the Democratic Party chose a 'top cop' and the author of the Joe Biden crime bill to save us from Trump. The contempt for the base is, wow," Gray tweeted on August 11, referencing Harris' controversial past as California's attorney general — something Sanders criticized during his own primary run.

Sanders responded Sunday: "Obviously there will be some disagreements. A lot of my supporters are not enthusiastic about Joe Biden — you know why? I ran against Joe Biden."

"But I think there's overwhelming understanding that Donald Trump must be defeated, Biden must be elected, and the day after he is elected we are going to do everything we can to create a government that works for all of us and not just the one percent and wealthy campaign contributors," the senator continued.

Sanders reflected on his time spent working alongside Harris in the Senate and touted her as an aggressive asset to Biden on the campaign trail against Trump.

Newsweek reached out to Sanders' Vermont Senate office as well as the Biden campaign for additional remarks Sunday morning.

Jerome_Eugene_Morrow on August 16th, 2020 at 17:42 UTC »

You can tell Bernie really cares about America and Americans. When Warren’s support was falling in the primaries I cast my ballot for Bernie, and I’ll never feel bad about doing so. Now that Bernie is out of the race I’ll cast a vote for Biden and Harris with a clear conscience, same as Bernie.

Thewallmachine on August 16th, 2020 at 17:40 UTC »

I'll take slow progress over fast destruction. I love Bernie and sure would prefer him. Maybe even Warren over Biden. But, Trump truly is a unique case. He must go. My vote is going to Biden. I'm not smiling about it, but I'm voting.

M00n on August 16th, 2020 at 15:15 UTC »

Sanders pushed back against former members of his own campaign who are saying they are not enthusiastic about supporting the Biden-Harris ticket. "I would say the overwhelming majority of progressives understand that it is absolutely imperative that Donald Trump be defeated," Sanders said Sunday morning.