Senator Sanders’ refusal to let Hillary Clinton interrupt him became one of the most circulated moments of Sunday night’s Democratic debate in Flint, Michigan. “Excuse me, I’m talking,” said Sanders.
Within moments, comparisons of failed Clinton Senate competitor, Rick Lazio, cluttered the internet.
Pro-Clinton group, Correct the Record, compiled a list of tweets making the comparison and sent an email which included the Bernie’s Lazio moment.
Sanders campaign rebuffed the Lazio comparisons saying Clinton was interrupting constantly. David Sherfinski of the Washington Times reported:
A top strategist for Sen. Bernard Sanders‘ presidential campaign said Monday that Mr. Sanders wasn’t being disrespectful at all during Sunday’s Democratic debate and that the Vermont senator was getting constantly interrupted by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.“I don’t think he was disrespectful at all,” Sanders adviser Tad Devine said on CNN’s “New Day.” “I think she constantly interrupted him, I think she constantly distorted his record, and I think he felt a need to speak about that, and I think he did so in a respectful way.”“You know, last night they were comparing Bernie to Rick Lazio in the debate that he had with her in the Senate,” Mr. Devine said. “I remember that — Lazio walked across the stage and practically mugged her, OK? So no, it was nothing like that.”
“How aggressiveness can destroy your campaign,” is the lesson of Rick Lazio’s failed Senate bid. During the first debate for 2000’s Senate election, Congressman Lazio went a little bit too far, demanding Clinton sign a New York Freedom from Soft Money Pact on stage, mid-debate. Immediately after the debate’s conclusion, Lazio’s campaign tanked.
The Bernie/Lazio comparison is a tad far fetched. Sanders wasn’t overly aggressive nor demanding. He didn’t halt the debate in order to make a scene; he was just sick of being interrupted.
More accurate? Hillary channelled Donald Trump’s need to talk over everyone else on the debate stage.
Follow Kemberlee on Twitter @kemberleekaye
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