On Sunday, self-described Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sat down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos to discuss his newly formed presidential campaign and the This Week moderator fretted that his guest’s campaign could cause trouble for Hillary Clinton.
Speaking to Sanders, Stephanopoulos claimed that “[m]ost people don’t believe you can actually become President of the United States. Are you worried at all that your race might weaken Hillary Clinton without helping yourself?”
For his part, the ABC host did correctly call Sanders a socialist but Stephanopoulos did his best to press his guest from the left over the differences between him and the Democratic Party:
You know, you’ve said this campaign will be a clash of ideas? Which ideas? What are the biggest differences between you and Hillary Clinton?...Let's talk about a Sanders administration. What would it look like? You voted against both Obama Treasury Secretary nominees both Jack Lew and Tim Geithner. Name a couple people you would consider for Treasury Secretary.
Later in the broadcast, the “Powerhouse Roundtable” discussed Sanders’ presidential prospects and Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of the far-left Nation magazine eagerly touted his socialist agenda. Vanden Heuvel hilariously claimed that if only "the mainstream media gives Bernie Sanders a chance” the American people will embrace his agenda.
Stephanopoulos seemed taken aback and asked his liberal guest “you don’t think he can win?” and Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, could barely contain himself from laughing.
Vanden Heuvel continued to promote a Sanders presidency but complained that the “mainstream media” wasn’t giving the Socialist candidate a chance:
His message is in sync with the populist moment we are in. And I think his message that he wants to fulfill the promise of America. That this is not a country that is going to be defined by billionaires but lift up ordinary Americans, deal with staggering income inequality, the climate crisis.
Give people good jobs, not be held to corporate defined trade deals. Bernie Sanders announced, who announced to the nation a year ago that he would consider running for president, let's give him a chance and the mainstream media might well trivialize and distort others. But let's give Bernie a chance.
See Stephanopoulos’ questions below.
ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos
May 3, 2015
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And Senator Bernie Sanders joins us now. Welcome to This Week. Why are you the best choice for President of the United States?
STEPHANOPOULOS: So does that mean that Hillary Clinton is part of the billionaire class?
STEPHANOPOULOS: You're asking for a lot of shakeup. Is it really possible for someone who calls themselves a socialist to be elected President of the United States?
STEPHANOPOULOS: I can hear the Republican attack ad right now. He wants America to look more like Scandinavia.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You're the longest serving Independent in Congress as I said. And when you announced Thursday you said you would remain an Independent but now you’re prepared to file as a Democrat?
STEPHANOPOULOS: So if you lose in this nomination fight will you support the Democratic nominee?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Not going to run as an Independent.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You know, you’ve said this campaign will be a clash of ideas? Which ideas? What are the biggest differences between you and Hillary Clinton?
STEPHANOPOULOS: You told my colleague John Karl this week that you have some concerns about the money raised by the Clinton Foundation. What are those concerns exactly?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's talk about a Sanders administration. What would it look like? You voted against both Obama Treasury Secretary nominees both Jack Lew and Tim Geithner. Name a couple people you would consider for Treasury Secretary.
STEPHANOPOULOS: How about Secretary of Defense?
STEPHANOPOULOS: The presidential campaigns are famously x-ray of souls of candidates. Every part of your life is going to get scrutinized. SO let's do a shortcut. What's the most surprising thing people are going to learn about Bernie Sanders over the course of the next year?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Most people don’t believe you can actually become {resident of the United States. Are you worried at all that your race might weaken Hillary Clinton without helping yourself?
