VT Insights: Bernie Sanders holds his own against Sacha Baron Cohen

Aki Soga | Burlington Free Press

Bernie Sanders can hold his own against Sacha Baron Cohen.

Vermont's independent senator sat down for an interview with the shape-shifting British comedian known for characters such as Borat and Ali G to talk about health care in Cohen's new Showtime series "Who Is America?" that debuted July 15.

Cohen arrived in the guise of Dr. Billy Wayne Ruddick, an "unbiased journalist" with a website, Truthbrary.org, who says he's sitting down with "Bernard Sanders to talk about the political situation and to see if we have any common ground."

Cohen/Ruddick opens the interview with the question, "Do you believe in Obamacare?"

Sanders, polite and earnest, starts with his standard reply that the Affordable Care Act was a good start but didn't go far enough. He also argues how the wealthy should pay taxes so that everyone should have access to health care.

But it doesn't take long for Sanders to figure out something is out of whack. You can see it in Bernie's face.

Cohen begins talking about how America needs to move the 99 percent into the 1 percent, pulling out a chart showing how that would work.

Sanders starts pointing out that the whole idea makes no sense, but finally tells Cohen, "Billy, I don't know what your're talking about. I really don't."

End of segment with dramatic sound effects.

In the show, Cohen assumes characters spouting outrageous views to test the composure, character and credulity of well-known figures. The purpose, as the show's tag line puts it, is "to explore the diverse individuals who populate our unique nation."

The first episode also includes segments in which Cohen plays an ultra-liberal sitting down with a couple of conservative Republicans who support President Donald Trump and an Israeli terrorism expert promoting arming toddlers with guns.

The show garnered some publicity last week after reports that Cohen had duped notables such as 2017 Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who accused the actor of impersonating a disabled vet.

Politico reported on how the show gained access to one subject of the show, former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, a Republican from Illinois.

"In Walsh’s case, Cohen’s team used fake identities and dummy websites, and concocted media opportunities over the course of several months. It also leaned on flattery, intrigue and the disarming use of the word “Liberty” to reel the former congressman into a TV appearance in which he endorsed arming young children with heavy weaponry."

Sanders' office decline to comment on how the senator came to agree to an interview with Cohen/Ruddick.

Dominic Patten reported in Deadline Hollywood that "Who Is America?" fared poorly in the ratings, writing, "Just 327,000 sets of eyeballs tuned in to the premium cable on Sunday night to see the Borat star."

Aki Soga is engagement editor for The Burlington Free Press. Email him at asoga@freepressmedia.com or chat with him on Twitter: @asoga