Hillary Clinton implied in a new book by an NBC News reporter that her former Democratic primary opponent Bernie Sanders is a sexist, saying, ‘I know the type of things he says about women and to women.’
Clinton made the statements to NBC News Capitol Hill reporter Ali Vitali as part of her new book, ‘Electable: Why America Hasn’t Put a Woman in the White House… Yet.’
In a passage released on Friday by Politico, the writer recounts Clinton’s remarks during a widely aired heated debate between Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, both of whom were on the ballot for the 2020 presidential race.
During the debate, Warren accused Sanders of privately informing her that a woman couldn’t win the presidency. He denied making the remark, prompting Warren to approach him onstage after the debate while their microphones remained turned on.
‘I believed her, because I knew Sanders, and I know the type of things he says about women and about women,’ Clinton said as she watched it all happen. As a result, I assumed she was speaking the truth about their discussion.’
Vitali’s book, a political memoir on her experience covering female candidates in previous U.S. presidential elections, is set to be released later this month. Clinton told Vitali that she wished Warren had ‘pushed back in front of everyone’ after witnessing the scene unfold that night in 2020.
‘I believe it’s essential to call it out when it occurs, and that’s my one regret for her: I wish she had simply turned on him and said, ‘You know, it’s one thing to mislead people about your healthcare plan,’ she added.
‘It’s one thing to tell someone face to face that a discussion you know took place didn’t.’ That would have been a significant moment for her, I believe.’ Warren clashed with Sanders after he allegedly informed her in a private meeting in 2018 that a woman could not win the president against Trump. Sanders denied mentioning this, prompting Warren to question him after the event.
‘I believe you branded me a liar on national television,’ Warren said to Sanders, who then sought to end the discussion.
‘Let’s not do it now,’ Sanders said. ‘If you want to talk about it, we’ll talk about it.’
Warren looked to be having another chat before being cut off.
‘You labeled me a liar, you warned me not to do it now,’ Sanders replied.
Sanders maintained his 2020 presidential campaign until he was defeated by Joe Biden.
In 2016, he was beaten by Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
‘Electable,’ Vitali’s next novel, will be released on August 23.