A Bernie Sanders supporter who used the phrase “corporate Democratic whores” while introducing the candidate at an event last week has since resigned as chairman of the California-based Courage Campaign.
“Medicare-for-all will never happen if we continue to elect corporate Democratic whores who are beholden to big pharma and the private insurance industry instead of us,” Dr. Paul Song said during his introductory remarks at Sanders’ campaign rally last Wednesday in New York City’s Washington Square Park.
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Song’s remark was immediately interpreted as a jab at Hillary Clinton, who Sanders has repeatedly targeted for her accepting campaign cash from Wall Street.
“I am very sorry for using the term ‘whore’ to refer to some in Congress who are beholden to corporations and not us. It was insensitive,” Song tweeted Wednesday evening, shortly after Sanders himself condemned the comment as “inappropriate.”
Song, who’s served as chairman of the progressive Courage Campaign since 2013, now plans to step down from his chairmanship with the organization. A press release announcing Song’s resignation did not include comments from Song. In a statement released last week, the group said it does not endorse political candidates and called Song’s comments “contrary to the values of Courage Campaign.”
“These comments were unacceptabl,e and that sort of rhetoric has no place in our political dialogue,” the group wrote.
