By Paul Bean
At a CNN town hall on Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), expressed frustration during a heated exchange with a young GOP attendee over his question about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s and his handling of the ongoing government shutdown.
Flanked by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sanders took a question from American University student Rohan Naval, a Republican, who pressed him on how the shutdown reflected Schumer’s leadership.
“How do you think this shutdown reflects on Schumer’s leadership,” asked Naval.
Sanders shifted the blame, stating, “It reflects more on Mike Johnson’s leadership and President Trump’s leadership. Do you think it’s right to push for $1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthiest while cutting healthcare for working-class families?”
Naval responded, “Chuck Schumer has supported continuing resolutions 13 times in the last four years and has the chance to vote for one now, but he’s refusing to negotiate.”
Sanders responded, “There are 53 Republicans in the Senate, right? They need 60 votes. That means you have to talk to the other side. Mike Johnson isn’t talking. John Thune isn’t talking. President Trump isn’t talking. That’s the issue.”
Republicans have pointed fingers at Schumer, accusing him of stalling the shutdown to appease the Democratic Party’s progressive faction.
During the same CNN town-hall, both Senator Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were hesitant to give President Trump credit for the peace deal in the middle east.
They both acknowledged the hostage release as a “tremendous accomplishment” providing “healing to so many people, Israelis and Palestinians,” but AOC insisted that “President Trump was an obstacle to peace previously, as well,” while expressing concerns about the ceasefire’s durability.
“This is not a time for credit. This is a time to think about American policy,” said Sanders, claiming “The entire infrastructure of Gaza… have been destroyed under Trump,” and criticizing $22 billion given to Netanyahu’s government for policies that “have been starving children.”
Sanders however did say he was happy that the hostages had been released and added that he hoped peace in the region would last.