Nevada Democratic Debate 2020: Why is Sanders facing the heat over ugly online attacks on Culinary Union
The nasty online attacks by alleged supporters of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the members of the Culinary Union after they criticized the presidential hopeful’s “Medicare for All” became a big talking point at the ninth Democratic debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday, February 19, three days ahead of the caucuses in the Silver State.
One of the top rivals of Sanders in the primaries — Elizabeth Warren — lashed out at him over the recent incident ahead of the debate. On Monday, February 17, she said the Vermont senator would have to answer a lot of questions over the matter.
Indicating that Sanders has to own up to his supporters’ act, Warren told NBC News in an interview: “I’ve said before that we are all responsible for what our supporters do, and I think Bernie has a lot of questions to answer here.” She said it is not a way to build an inclusive Democratic party.
Members of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents 60,000 workers in Nevada’s gaming and hospitality industries, alleged this week that Sanders’ supporters had “viciously attacked” its members after it expressed reservations over the “Medicare for All” plan.
Sanders also said in an interview that the attacks were “not acceptable”. He even refused to acknowledge the people spreading hatred online were his supporters. “Anybody making personal attacks against anybody else in my name is not part of my movement,” Sanders told PBS in an interview.
But the controversy refused to let Sanders go on the debate day. After Warren raised the issue on stage and Sanders defended himself, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg attacked the 78-year-old saying he was “at war” with Nevada’s influential Culinary Union.
Sanders at war with the Union: Buttigieg
The 38-year-old told Sanders that he is not the only person who cares about America’s working class. “Most Americans believe we need to empower workers. As a matter of fact, you're the one who is at war with the Culinary Union right here in Las Vegas,” he said.
Sanders, who was visibly upset when Buttigieg called him a “polarizing” figure along with Michael Bloomberg, responded saying his campaign has more union support that the young Democrat has ever dreamed of. He claimed that unions across the US back him.
The Culinary Union, which is a force in Nevada politics and has helped the Democrats deliver in the state over the years, recently issued a flier, saying Sanders would put an end to culinary healthcare if elected as the next US president. The flier speaks about the Democratic candidates’ stand on issues like health care, jobs and immigration and indicated that Sanders, among the top six candidates, will put an end to the union’s health care, pointing to his universal medicare plan. The culinary body provides health insurance coverage to over 130,000 people.
Even though Sanders said he didn’t own those who carried out the attacks in response to Warren, Buttigieg was not convinced. He said Sanders should accept “some responsibility” for the vicious attacks made by his supporters. “I think you have to accept some responsibility and ask yourself what it is about your campaign in particular that seems to be motivating this behavior more than others,” Buttigieg said without mincing words.
“But at a certain point,” he said, continuing: “You've got to ask yourself: Why did this pattern arise? Why is it especially the case among your supporters?"
Sanders says his campaign women were attacked too
Sanders then tried to put up a counter-narrative saying women on his campaign have also been made victims of “most ugly sexist, racist attacks”. He also cited the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, saying: “I’m not saying that's happening. But it would not shock me.”
“I saw some of those tweets regarding the Culinary Workers Union. I have a 30-year, 100% pro-union voting record. Do you think I would support or anybody supports me would be attacking union leaders? It's not thinkable,” Sanders said.
Buttigieg then said leadership is not just about policy about how one motivates people. “Leadership is about what you draw out of people, it's about how you inspire people to act. Right now we're in this toxic political environment,” he said.
Last week, former Vice-President Joe Biden also criticized the online attacks by Sanders’ supporters in an exclusive interview on NBC and urged his Democratic presidential rival to accept greater responsibility and discourage it, after calling the threats on the union as “outrageous”.