Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was mocked across social media Wednesday night after a town hall exchange where a young audience member pressed him on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s role in the government shutdown.
During a CNN town hall, Rohan Naval asked Sanders:
“How do you think this shutdown reflects on Chuck Schumer’s leadership?”
Sanders quickly deflected, blaming House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and President Donald Trump.
The response prompted a smirk from Naval.
“Tell me how do you feel?” Sanders asked, pivoting to taxes and healthcare.
“You think it’s a good idea to give $1 trillion in tax breaks to the richest people in the country and then make massive cuts to healthcare for working-class people?”
Naval, an intern at Americans for Tax Reform, calmly shot back:
“I think Chuck Schumer has voted for a continuing resolution 13 times in the last four years, and he has the opportunity to vote for one again, but he’s refusing to come to the table.”
WATCH:
The response immediately went viral, with conservatives and White House officials highlighting the exchange.
“Crazy Bernie just got wrecked on national television,” the White House Rapid Response team posted on X.
“Bingo. The Schumer Shutdown is all about politics,” Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) added.
“Bernie Sanders got embarrassed HARD,” wrote Florida’s Voice assistant director Eric Daugherty.
“LOL this kid just rekt Crazy Bernie,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said.
Townhall.com called the moment “BRUTAL,” while conservative commentator Paul A. Szypula added that Sanders was exposed for covering for Schumer’s refusal to fund the government.
Sanders Deflects, Shutdown Drags On
Sanders tried to recover, arguing that Republicans must negotiate with Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold.
“Mike Johnson is not talking,” Sanders insisted.
“John Thune is not talking.
“President Trump is not talking.
“That is the problem.”
But the exchange underscored the frustration with Democrats, who for the 10th time blocked Republican efforts to reopen the government on Thursday.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has vowed to keep forcing votes on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR), which would reopen the government through Nov. 21.
Senate Democrats, led by Schumer, continue to hold out for guarantees on extending Obamacare subsidies.
Schumer defended his party’s refusal to compromise.
“The bottom line is [Republicans] won’t even negotiate with us,” he said.
“We need to address the crisis that has afflicted, and that’s the right word, the American people.”
The shutdown, now in its 16th day, shows no sign of ending soon.
However, Sanders’ viral moment may have done more damage to Democrats’ messaging than to Republicans.
READ MORE – Bernie Sanders: Tens of Thousands Will ‘Die’ If Democrats’ Shutdown Demands Are Not Met
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