Sanders on Bill Clinton suggesting a sexist double standard “Well I appreciate Bill Clinton being my psychoanalyst. It’s always nice.”

Today on CNN’s State of the Union, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), joined anchor, Jake Tapper to discuss Bill Clinton, Israel, General Electric and more.

For more information, see https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/. Also, text highlights and a transcript of the discussion are below.

MANDATORY CREDIT: CNN’s “State of the Union”

Contacts: Lauren Pratapas — Lauren.Pratapas@turner.com; 202.465.6666; Brooke Lorenz- Brooke.Lorenz@turner.com

CNN STORY: Sanders: Clinton ‘condescending’ to young voters

TEXT HIGHLIGHTS

Sanders on Bill Clinton suggesting a sexist double standard: “Well I appreciate Bill Clinton being my psychoanalyst. It’s always nice. But the reality is that ever since Wisconsin, when that became the sixth out of seven states that we have won in either caucuses or primaries, I think the Clinton campaign has made it public, basically, they told the media, that here in New York they’re about to become very negative, about to beat us up. I just want them to understand that we have tried to run an issue-oriented campaign. But that we are not going to be attacked every single day. Our record is not going to be distorted. We are going to fight back. And what I said is that a candidate like Secretary Clinton who voted for the disastrous war in Iraq, who has supported, virtually, every disastrous trade agreement, which has caused use millions of decent-paying jobs, and who receives incredible amounts of money, we’re talking about tens of millions of dollars through her super PAC, from every special interest you can think of, and from the billionaire class. You know, I have my doubts about what kind of president she would make [TAPPER] But you would support her if need be? [SANDERS] By the way, in terms of experience, no question that she has the experience. But I think she and I would agree, and I hope that is her view, that we would do everything possible to prevent this country from seeing Donald Trump or some other Republican in the White House. That would be a disaster for this country. And I will do everything I can to prevent that.”

Sanders on his interview with the New York Daily News: [TAPPER] “During your recent interview with the New York Daily News editorial board, you were asked about Israel. [SANDERS] The famous interview with the New York Daily News. [TAPPER] Well, I’m not questioning how well you performed. I do want to ask you about something you said in it. Which is you said your recollection about the Israel-Gaza war was that over 10,000 innocent people were killed. As you know… [SANDERS] Wait a minute. Did you read the whole transcript? [TAPPER] I did. I read the entire transcript. [SANDERS] And what did I say in it? What I said is am I right on it? I didn’t know what the number was. [TAPPER] You didn’t know what the number was. Absolutely, I understand. [SANDERS] And the gentleman there was the fellow who was conducting the meeting said let me check on it. He Googled it up and the number was 2100. You know, it does amaze me. I have to – if I say to you – you ask me a question and I say, well I think it’s the number, but I ‘m not sure. What do you think, I’m not sure. And you come back and say it’s another number, okay. Why is that a major production? [TAPPER] I get it. But as you know, the number was much lower. [SANDERS] Yes. [TAPPER] I want to ask you about a reaction that Michael Oren had. [SANDERS] Who is Mr. Oren? [TAPPER] Michael Oren, the former Ambassador of Israel to the United States. And now he’s a politician in Israel. [SANDERS] I see. And he’s attacking me for a statement I did not make.[TAPPER] He’s attacking you, not only about the number. He’s attacking you for your take of what happened. [SANDERS] Okay, that’s – alright. Let’s divide this.[TAPPER] Forget the number part of it. Forget the number part of it. [SANDERS] Let us forget the number. But the number is not forgotten.

Was Israel’s response disproportionate? I think it was. Alright, Israel has a 100 percent, and no one will fight for that principle more strongly than I will, has the right to live in freedom, independently, and in security without having to be subjected to terrorist attacks. But I think that we will not succeed to ever bring peace into that region unless we also treat the Palestinians with dignity and respect, and that is my view. [TAPPER] It is interesting, you will permit me to say, that the first Jew in American history to win a delegate, much less a primary, is taking this position with Israel that is usually in American politics, and I’m not criticizing you for it, but is usually in American politics everyone just supports Israel whatever Israel wants to do, but you are taking a more critical position [SANDERS] I’m taking a more balanced position.”

Sanders on Bill Clinton’s clash with Black Lives Matter: [TAPPER] I don’t know if you say any of the footage. Bill Clinton was in Philadelphia on Thursday and he was at a rally. And he was disrupted by some Black Lives Matter protestors who were objecting to Hillary Clinton’s use of the term super predators back in the 90’s. And he offered a full throated defense of, not just the 1994 crime bill, but also the term at the time. What do you make of that specific debate? [SANDERS] Sorry Jake, not going to go there. [TAPPER] Forget Bill Clinton. Forget the protesting. But what do you make of the super predator term? And that debate? [SANDERS] I think, the Secretary has said that she would not use that term again. I think it has race connotations at that period. And I think Secretary Clinton said that is not a phrase she would use again.”

Sanders on Hillary Clinton’s comments about young people: [TAPPER] “Hillary Clinton was asked this week about your charges of her taking money from the fossil fuel industry, she said quote “I feel sorry sometimes for the young people who believe this, they don’t do their own research.” I just wonder what you think about her take on young people who believe this they don’t do their own research.” [SANDERS] “Well, I think that’s a little bit condescending, I’ll tell you my experience with young people man, you know, and I see them every day because they’re coming out to our rallies, these are young people who want to be involved in shaping the future of this country, they’re proud of this country, they want to make it a better country. I think they do a whole lot of research and I think that the internet has opened up the opportunity for them to do a lot of research, and I’ll tell you, one of the reasons I think we’re doing so well is a lot of those people are going to the internet and hearing what we have to say and what Bernie Sanders believes in.”

Sanders on General Electric: [TAPPER] You also had an intense back and forth this week with General Electric, you accused them of destroying the moral fabric of America- [SANDERS] Well, among many others, it wasn’t just that, you know, It was talking about the greed of corporate America including General Electric, and what I was saying, which is absolutely true, is you have a large multinational corporation which was in a sense born and raised right here in the United Sates, I think in Schenectady, New York, as a matter of fact, and here is a corporation that has shut down plants all over this country, moved to countries where they can find the cheapest possible labor, in fact, the guy who was head of General Electric before Jeff Inmelt, he basically said that you know he’d like to see his manufacturing plants on a barge so they can move to the cheapest labor. They have in a given year paid nothing in federal income taxes, you know, they are part of lobbying efforts in Washington to protect the interest of the wealthy, yeah, so I think my comment was valid. [TAPPER] But you didn’t seem to, you seem to give Apple a pass, even though they also manufacture a lot of products outside the United States. [SANDERS] Well I used General Electric as an example, you can look at many corporations, you’re right, Apple does manufacture a lot of their products in China, and I sure as heck would like to see them, and if I have anything to do with it, and I will as president, to try to bring back manufacturing to the United States of America, but I think General Electric is a company which is well known for negotiating contracts with its workers which call for concessions, sending jobs outside of this country, and not paying their fair share of taxes, and that I think a greedy corporation. [TAPPER] Jeff Inmelt the CEO of GE criticized you, he said there’s a GE plant in Vermont and you’ve never come by to visit. [SANDERS] he’s not telling the truth. [TAPPER] You’ve been there? [SANDERS] Sure, years ago, in Rutland, Vermont, yeah, it’s a large plant that makes airplane parts.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

THIS IS A RUSH FDCH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: So, in this back and forth with Secretary Clinton about her qualifications, I know you said that she is qualified. Bill Clinton, today, was asked about the comments and said ‘of course you wouldn’t have made the same charges if she were a man.’ And he said, ‘I think there are some different standards for women, some of them are subconscious.’

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: Well I appreciate Bill Clinton being my psychoanalyst. It’s always nice. But the reality is that ever since Wisconsin, when that became the sixth out of seven states that we have won in either caucuses or primaries, I think the Clinton campaign has made it public, basically, they told the media, that here in New York they’re about to become very negative, about to beat us up. I just want them to understand that we have tried to run an issue-oriented campaign. But that we are not going to be attacked every single day. Our record is not going to be distorted. We are going to fight back. And what I said is that a candidate like Secretary Clinton who voted for the disastrous war in Iraq, who has supported, virtually, every disastrous trade agreement, which has caused use millions of decent-paying jobs, and who receives incredible amounts of money, we’re talking about tens of millions of dollars through her super PAC, from every special interest you can think of, and from the billionaire class. You know, I have my doubts about what kind of president she would make.

TAPPER: But you would support her if need be?

SANDERS: By the way, in terms of experience, no question that she has the experience. But I think she and I would agree, and I hope that is her view, that we would do everything possible to prevent this country from seeing Donald Trump or some other Republican in the White House. That would be a disaster for this country. And I will do everything I can to prevent that.

TAPPER: I don’t know if you say any of the footage. Bill Clinton was in Philadelphia on Thursday and he was at a rally. And he was disrupted by some Black Lives Matter protestors who were objecting to Hillary Clinton’s use of the term super predators back in the 90’s. And he offered a full throated defense of, not just the 1994 crime bill, but also the term at the time. What do you make of that specific debate?

SANDERS: Sorry Jake, not going to go there.

TAPPER: Forget Bill Clinton. Forget the protesting. But what do you make of the super predator term? And that debate?

SANDERS:I think, the Secretary has said that she would not use that term again. I think it has race connotations at that period. And I think Secretary Clinton said that is not a phrase she would use again.

TAPPER:During your recent interview with the New York Daily News editorial board, you were asked about Israel.

SANDERS: The famous interview with the New York Daily News.

TAPPER: Well, I’m not questioning how well you performed. I do want to ask you about something you said in it. Which is you said your recollection about the Israel-Gaza war was that over 10,000 innocent people were killed. As you know…

SANDERS: Wait a minute. Did you read the whole transcript?

TAPPER: I did. I read the entire transcript.

SANDERS: And what did I say in it? What I said is am I right on it? I didn’t know what the number was.

TAPPER: You didn’t know what the number was. Absolutely, I understand.

SANDERS: And the gentleman there was the fellow who was conducting the meeting said let me check on it. He Googled it up and the number was 2100. You know, it does amaze me. I have to – if I say to you – you ask me a question and I say, well I think it’s the number, but I ‘m not sure. What do you think, I’m not sure. And you come back and say it’s another number, okay. Why is that a major production?

TAPPER: I get it. But as you know, the number was much lower.

SANDERS: Yes.

TAPPER: I want to ask you about a reaction that Michael Oren had.

SANDERS: Who is Mr. Oren?

TAPPER: Michael Oren, the former Ambassador of Israel to the United States. And now he’s a politician in Israel.

SANDERS: I see. And he’s attacking me for a statement I did not make.

TAPPER: He’s attacking you, not only about the number. He’s attacking you for your take of what happened.

SANDERS Okay, that’s – alright. Let’s divide this.

TAPPER: Forget the number part of it. Forget the number part of it.

SANDERS: Let us forget the number. But the number is not forgotten.

Was Israel’s response disproportionate? I think it was. Alright, Israel has a 100 percent, and no one will fight for that principle more strongly than I will, has the right to live in freedom, independently, and in security without having to be subjected to terrorist attacks. But I think that we will not succeed to ever bring peace into that region unless we also treat the Palestinians with dignity and respect, and that is my view.

TAPPER: It is interesting, you will permit me to say, that the first Jew in American history to win a delegate, much less a primary, is taking this position with Israel that is usually in American politics, and I’m not criticizing you for it, but is usually in American politics everyone just supports Israel whatever Israel wants to do, but you are taking a more critical position

SANDERS: I’m taking a more balanced position.

TAPPER: Balanced would be another interpretation of it, you didn’t travel to AIPAC to give that speech

SANDERS: Well that was the schedule I would be given, I did want to go to AIPAC but it was just a question of having to campaign on the west coast, but I gave that speech and I spoke to the fellow who was organizing the meeting for AIPAC and apologized for not being there.

TAPPER: But you take my point, is it an only Nixon can go to China kind of thing?

SANDERS: I don’t look at it that way, look, this is the way I see it whether you’re Jewish or not Jewish, I would hope that every person in this country wants to see the misery of never-ending war and conflict ended in the middle east. It’s a difficult issue and good people have tried to deal with it for years, all that I’m saying, as somebody who is absolutely pro-Israeli, absolutely 100% supports Israel’s right to exist in peace and in security, I think the only way we succeed is that if the United states plays a role, which is of course we are going to support Israel, but you cannot ignore the needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza right now, poverty, unemployment, their community has been decimated you can’t ignore that fact and you can’t just be only concerned about Israel’s needs, you have to be concerned about the needs of all of the people of the region.

TAPPER: Hillary Clinton was asked this week about your charges of her taking money from the fossil fuel industry, she said quote “I feel sorry sometimes for the young people who believe this, they don’t do their own research.”I just wonder what you think about her take on young people who believe this they don’t do their own research.

SANDERS:Well, I think that’s a little bit condescending, I’ll tell you my experience with young people man, you know, and I see them every day because they’re coming out to our rallies, these are young people who want to be involved in shaping the future of this country, they’re proud of this country, they want to make it a better country. I think they do a whole lot of research and I think that the internet has opened up the opportunity for them to do a lot of research, and I’ll tell you, one of the reasons I think we’re doing so well is a lot of those people are going to he internet and hearing what we have to say and what Bernie Sanders believes in.

TAPPER: You also had an intense back and forth this week with General Electric, you accused them of destroying the moral fabric of America-

SANDERS: Well, among many others, it wasn’t just that, you know, It was talking about the greed of corporate America including General Electric, and what I was saying, which is absolutely true, is you have a large multinational corporation which was in a sense born and raised right here in the United Sates, I think in Schenectady, New York, as a matter of fact, and here is a corporation that has shut down plants all over this country, moved to countries where they can find the cheapest possible labor, in fact, the guy who was head of General Electric before Jeff Inmelt, he basically said that you know he’d like to see his manufacturing plants on a barge so they can move to the cheapest labor. They have in a given year paid nothing in federal income taxes, you know, they are part of lobbying efforts in Washington to protect the interest of the wealthy, yeah, so I think my comment was valid.

TAPPER: But you didn’t seem to, you seem to give Apple a pass, even though they also manufacture a lot of products outside the United States.

SANDERS: Well I used General Electric as an example, you can look at many corporations, you’re right, Apple does manufacture a lot of their products in China, and I sure as heck would like to see them, and if I have anything to do with it, and I will as president, to try to bring back manufacturing to the United States of America, but I think General Electric is a company which is well known for negotiating contracts with its workers which call for concessions, sending jobs outside of this country, and not paying their fair share of taxes, and that I think a greedy corporation.

TAPPER: Jeff Inmelt the CEO of GE criticized you, he said there’s a GE plant in Vermont and you’ve never come by to visit.

SANDERS: he’s not telling the truth.

TAPPER: You’ve been there?

SANDERS: Sure, years ago, in Rutland, Vermont, yeah, it’s a large plant that makes airplane parts.

TAPPER: Lastly sir, your campaign manager Jeff Weaver said this week that there will certainly be an open convention on the democratic side goes over the magic number of delegates with the pledged delegates alone so I just want to make sure I understand this, you will contest and try to get the nomination even if Clinton has more votes and more pledged delegates after California?

SANDERS: Well you know I think, first of all t’s a long way off, its three months off and I’m not much into speculation about the future, I have a primary here on April 19th that I would like to win. We think we have a oath towards getting more pledged delegates than secretary Clinton. I think if continue to do better in general election polls in terms of defeating Trump by a much larger margin than Secretary Clinton and other republican candidates I think a lot of the super delegates will say what is a lot more important is that we don’t have Trump in the White House and we’re gonna support Bernie Sanders. But I think if neither candidate ends up having the kind of votes they need, I think there will be some discussion. But that is way off and I’m not thinking about that too much.

TAPPER: Senator Sanders thanks so much. Thanks for showing me your Brooklyn here.

###END INTERVIEW###