'Not going to happen': Bernie Sanders bashed for urging progressives to support Biden despite differences

MONTPELIER, VERMONT: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) faced quite a backlash as he called on his progressive supporters to coalesce behind President Biden in the November elections despite their differences.

Looking past divergent views on Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the burgeoning protest vote movements within Democratic primaries, Sanders highlighted the urgency of collective action and unity within the party.

Sanders' call to set differences aside

During an interview on CBS's 'Face the Nation' with Margaret Brennan on Sunday, March 10, Sanders declared, "If you believe that climate change is real, you’ve got to vote for President Biden. If you believe that women have a right to control their own bodies, you’ve got to vote for President Biden."

The longtime Senator emphasized the imperatives of tackling wealth inequality, tax breaks, lowering prescription drug prices, and fortifying democratic institutions.

“The contrast between Biden and Trump is day and night,” he said.

“The election of Trump would be a disaster for this country. And in my view of the world, we’ve got to come together, re-elect Biden, but at the same time we have to demand that we have a progressive agenda where we have an economy that works for all, not just a few.”

Acknowledging the palpable discontent within progressive ranks regarding Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Sanders noted the emergence of an "uncommitted" protest vote movement, which garnered significant traction, securing 19 percent of the vote in the recent Minnesota primary.

Despite these reservations, Sanders implored progressives to maintain their advocacy for change while stressing the critical importance of rallying behind Biden in the general election.

"I am saying we’ve got to calm — not put it aside — the fight continues to change Biden’s policy in Gaza," Sanders declared, as quoted by The Hill.

Sanders' endorsement of Biden's re-election campaign echoes his sentiments from last year, where he emphasized the existential threat posed by Trump's authoritarian tendencies. 

“We’re taking on the … former president, who, in fact, does not believe in democracy – he is an authoritarian, and a very, very dangerous person,” the Vermont independent said at NBC’s 'Meet the Press' in August.

“I think at this moment there has to be unification of progressive people in general in all of this country.”

However, his stance has not been without controversy, with critics accusing him of capitulating to fear rather than steadfastly upholding progressive principles.

Sanders defended his position at the time. "I think, in these really very difficult times, there is a real question whether democracy is going to remain in the United States of America," he said.

“You know, Donald Trump is not somebody who believes in democracy, whether women are going to be able to continue to control their own bodies, whether we have social justice in America, [whether] we end bigotry," he added, per The Guardian.

Sanders faces online criticism

However, Sanders received significant pushback on social media for his calls to support Biden this time around.

"Not going to happen," one posted on X.

"Bernie gets in line," another wrote.

"I bet Bernie got another house for this," someone else added.

"Greatest money-grabbing self-enricher next to Biden and [Pelosi]," another alleged.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.