In a contentious interview with Bernie Sanders aired on Tuesday’s NBC Today, correspondent Kristen Welker demanded the socialist senator pledge to support Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party: “Would you pledge to Democrats that you’re gonna campaign for Secretary Clinton?...Do you feel a sense of loyalty to the Democratic Party? What would you say to Democrats who have that question?”
Welker worried about him staying in the presidential race: “Sanders balked at any suggestion he might be hurting Hillary Clinton's chances against Donald Trump, even as polls show her lead against the Republican slipping.” The reporter pressed: “When you look at those numbers, how can you argue that this primary battle is not, in some ways, hurting her in a general election, and hurting those numbers?”
The Vermont senator sarcastically shot back: “Well, first of all, I guess if we take your assumption, and Clinton supporters' assumption, to the logical conclusion, you know what we should do? We should go back to a monarchy and not have any elections at all.”
Here is a full transcript of the May 24 segment:
7:09 AM ET
MATT LAUER: While Hillary Clinton tries to look ahead to November, Bernie Sanders is again saying don't count him out just yet. He opened up about the road ahead, including what he expects at the Democratic National Convention, to NBC's Kristen Welker. Kristen, good morning.
KRISTEN WELKER: Matt, good morning to you. Bernie Sanders isn't backing down today, and he told me in our one-on-one interview, he's feeling confident about his chances here in must-win California. Sanders again insisted a prolonged Democratic fight is good for democracy and resisted any suggestion he may be wounding Hillary Clinton in a general election.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sanders Says Convention Could Get “Messy”; Dem Candidate on Clinton, Calls to Quit & California Debate]
WELKER: Bernie Sanders rallying a crowd of more than 6,700 people in Santa Monica Monday night.
BERNIE SANDERS: Show the world you're ready for a political revolution!
WELKER: After our fiery one-on-one interview.
SANDERS: We don't live, thank God, in an authoritarian country, people dissent.
WELKER: Sanders, who just struck a deal with the DNC to play a major role in shaping the party's platform, weighed in on a report that he’s predicting the convention could be messy.
SANDERS: The media often takes words out of context. The context of that was that democracy is messy. That people will have vigorous debate on the issues.
WELKER: Will the convention be messy?
SANDERS: Well, of course it will be, but everything – that's what democracy is about.
WELKER: And Sanders balked at any suggestion he might be hurting Hillary Clinton's chances against Donald Trump, even as polls show her lead against the Republican slipping.
[TO SANDERS] When you look at those numbers, how can you argue that this primary battle is not, in some ways, hurting her in a general election, and hurting those numbers?
SANDERS: Well, first of all, I guess if we take your assumption, and Clinton supporters' assumption, to the logical conclusion, you know what we should do? We should go back to a monarchy and not have any elections at all.
WELKER: And what if Sanders doesn't win?
[TO SANDERS]: Would you pledge to Democrats that you’re gonna campaign for Secretary Clinton?
SANDERS: First of all, my focus right now is to win the Democratic nomination.
WELKER: But will you campaign –
SANDERS: But at the end of the day – excuse me. At the end of the day, we hope to win a majority of the pledged delegates.
WELKER: Insisting he still has a path to victory, Sanders also took a swipe at Clinton for refusing to debate him in California.
SANDERS: She is really insulting the people of the largest state in our country, who have a right to hear a vigorous debate on her views. So I am disappointed, although not surprised.
WELKER: And Sanders sidestepped a question about party loyalty.
[TO SANDERS]: Do you feel a sense of loyalty to the Democratic Party? What would you say to Democrats who have that question?
SANDERS: I have a very strong sense that Donald Trump would be a disaster if he were elected President of the United States.
WELKER: Now, as for the Democratic debate, the Clinton campaign says they declined the offer so they can focus on campaigning here in California and preparing for the general election. Both Clinton and Sanders will barnstorm this state in the coming days. Sanders vowing to rally as many as 200,000 people before the June 7th primary. Matt, Savannah?
LAUER: Alright, Kristen Welker. Kristen, thank you.
