A day after the Congressional Black Caucus backed Hillary Rodham Clinton’s candidacy and snarked that challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders was AWOL in the civil rights war, the CBC fired up another attack on the New Hampshire primary winner and promoted by Team Hillary.
The Clinton campaign circulated a new release from the CBC and Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks that assailed Sanders’ criticism of President Obama, echoing Clinton’s assault in the Thursday Democratic presidential debate.
“I believe Senator Sanders’ disparaging comments towards the President are misplaced, misguided, and do not give credit where credit is due. No matter how much Senator Sanders and his surrogates self-servingly claim otherwise, President Barack Obama will go down in history as one of the best presidents of all time,” said Meeks.
In the release, printed in full below, he also levels several other charges against Sanders.
Black support is a critical issue in the upcoming Democratic primaries and Sanders is making inroads with the community, scaring the Clinton campaign.
CBC PAC Chair Meeks Responds to Sanders Criticizing President Obama’s Leadership
The Congressional Black Caucus PAC Chair Congressman Gregory Meeks released the following statement responding to Senator Bernie Sanders criticizing President Obama’s leadership in a recent interview.
I condemn and strongly disagree with recent criticisms from Senator Sanders that call into question President Obama’s leadership ability and insinuating that he has been “weak” on progressive issues. Maybe Senator Sanders has forgotten that President Obama has brought our country back from the brink of a financial collapse, maybe he’s forgotten that President Obama fought for quality and affordable healthcare for millions of Americans, maybe he’s forgotten that when Congress wouldn’t act President Obama took executive actions on gun control
During the course of his presidency, we have seen time and time again his commitment to middle-class families, reducing unemployment rates, acting on climate change, and protecting woman’s rights, and much more. Despite the President facing unprecedented opposition from Republicans in Congress who vowed to block all of his policies, he has been extremely productive and moved our country in the right direction. Senator Sanders wants to undo President Obama’s accomplishments for our nation while Secretary Clinton will build and expand on them.
I believe Senator Sanders’ disparaging comments towards the President are misplaced, misguided, and do not give credit where credit is due. No matter how much Senator Sanders and his surrogates self-servingly claim otherwise, President Barack Obama will go down in history as one of the best president’s of all time.
Background:
— In 2011, Bernie Sanders called for a primary challenge to President Obama, saying that it would be good for American democracy.
— Bernie Sanders has called President Obama “weak.”
— In January, Bernie Sanders endorsed an anti-Obama book called “Buyer’s Remorse: How Obama Let Progressives Down”. In a quote featured on the book’s cover, he wrote that that people should “read this book.” However, instead of apologizing for this insult to President Obama, Bernie Sanders doubled down and stood by his quote.
— Bernie Sanders said that his own presidency would be a “course correction” from President Obama’s administration.
— Bernie Sanders continues to deploy campaign surrogates like Cornell West and Killer Mike who have a history of repeatedly attacking President Obama.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
