Story highlights "I appreciate Bill Clinton being my psychoanalyst," Sanders told CNN's Jake Tapper

The 42nd president said questions about Hillary Clinton's qualifications arose from "different standards"

Watch Jake Tapper's interviews with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on "State of the Union," Sunday at 9 a.m. ET.

New York (CNN) Bernie Sanders on Friday offered Bill Clinton a sarcastic thanks for his "psychoanalyst" work after the former president suggested attacks on his wife's White House qualifications were attributable to "subconscious" double standards.

"I appreciate Bill Clinton being my psychoanalyst," Sanders told CNN's Jake Tapper during an interview for "State of the Union." "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 have told the media that here in New York, they're about to become very negative, about to beat us up."

Questioned by a reporter earlier in the day if "gender was a factor" in the debate over whether Clinton is qualified to be commander in chief, the 42nd president said, "Yes, I think there are some different standards. Some of them are subconscious."

Sanders has insisted that Clinton instigated the ongoing fight, and that he was only defending himself when he cited her 2002 Iraq war vote and willingness to accept super PAC support as evidence she isn't "qualified" to be president.

Read More