This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/apr/17/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-donald-trump-new-york
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton flock to New York – campaign live | Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton flock to New York – campaign live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.41pm BST | |
| 16:41 | |
| Ben Jacobs | |
| John Kasich has spent part of the weekend in the private quarters of New York’s Orthodox Jewish community, with my colleague Ben Jacobs in pursuit of the Ohio governor’s quixotic campaign for the Republican nomination. | |
| On Saturday, John Kasich gave what many of the reporters covering his campaign thought was one of his most effective and touching speeches yet. Because it was in a New York synagogue, cameras were banned and even note taking was considered forbidden. As a result only the 500 or so Orthodox Jews who were in the room at the Great Neck Synagogue will ever have seen it. | |
| That, in microcosm, is what John Kasich faces as he stumps New York. The Ohio governor is, in effect, running not to lose. With no path to the 1,237 delegates required to win the nomination (he still needs well over 1,000 and there are only 852 still available), Kasich is banking on a deadlock leading to a contested convention and then emerging as a dark horse if neither Donald Trump nor Ted Cruz prevails. | |
| The Ohio governor’s strategy speaks to his precarious situation. Kasich is hopscotching the state from congressional district to congressional district, to places where he can keep Donald Trump under 50% and finish second, thus winning one delegate. | |
| Kasich spent Saturday targeting Jewish voters, many of whom are wary of Trump for reasons ranging from his inconsistency on foreign policy to his sometimes autocratic presentation. The appearance at the synagogue in Great Neck – a heavily Jewish community with a mix of Ashkenazi and Persian Jews – came at a time when many Jews in the United States are feeling particularly uneasy with the rise of Islamic terrorism and growing anti-semitism throughout the world. | |
| There were moments of awkwardness here too, including Kasich briefly citing the end of Psalm 23 to solve a debate among Jewish theologians about the afterlife; and he cited the approaching holiday of Passover as an opportunity to see the Cecil B DeMille classic The Ten Commandments. But mostly the Ohio governor talked about his faith in a touching, personal way. He rooted it in a retelling the story of how his parents were killed by a drunk-driver in a car accident, and discussed the story of Joseph from Genesis. | |
| His sincerity was evident. Kasich cited his past gaffes defensively – “I’m not trying to teach, sometimes when I get carried away they say he’s trying to teach to us and preach to us, I am not.” The only hint of anything political was when he offered what was likely an inadvertent contrast with Trump: “Sometimes we invest too much in the power of leadership and not investing enough in the power of ourselves to bring a healing and justice to this world to live a life bigger than ourselves.” | |
| Related: Away from spotlight, John Kasich speaks to those who would listen | |
| 4.12pm BST | 4.12pm BST |
| 16:12 | 16:12 |
| North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory is the last guest in the talk shows this morning, on NBC’s Meet the Press. | North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory is the last guest in the talk shows this morning, on NBC’s Meet the Press. |
| McCrory is appearing to defend a new law dubbed “the bathroom law” that been protested by LGBT people, corporations, celebrities and other state governments. The law is seen as sanctioning discrimination against LGBT people. | McCrory is appearing to defend a new law dubbed “the bathroom law” that been protested by LGBT people, corporations, celebrities and other state governments. The law is seen as sanctioning discrimination against LGBT people. |
| The governor says it’s actually about “government overreach” and liberals. “It was the left that brought about the bathroom bill,” he says. | The governor says it’s actually about “government overreach” and liberals. “It was the left that brought about the bathroom bill,” he says. |
| “The city of Charlotte passed a bathroom ordinance mandate on every private sector employer,” McCrory says, “and I think that’s government overreach. | “The city of Charlotte passed a bathroom ordinance mandate on every private sector employer,” McCrory says, “and I think that’s government overreach. |
| “It’s not the government’s business to tell the private sector what their bathroom, locker room, shower practices should be.” | “It’s not the government’s business to tell the private sector what their bathroom, locker room, shower practices should be.” |
| “To allow a man into a women’s restroom or a shower facility at a YMCA for example,” would be inappropriate, he says. “I’m not going to tell any manufacturing plan any bank their policy.” | “To allow a man into a women’s restroom or a shower facility at a YMCA for example,” would be inappropriate, he says. “I’m not going to tell any manufacturing plan any bank their policy.” |
| “But I do believe in our high schools, in our universities we should continue the tradition we’ve had for many years” – separate men’s and women’s rooms. | “But I do believe in our high schools, in our universities we should continue the tradition we’ve had for many years” – separate men’s and women’s rooms. |
| Todd tries to pin McCrory down on the apparent contradiction: he is using the state government to handcuff what city governments can do, ostensibly to prevent government overreach. | Todd tries to pin McCrory down on the apparent contradiction: he is using the state government to handcuff what city governments can do, ostensibly to prevent government overreach. |
| “I don’t think the government ought to be the HR director for each business,” McCrory says. “This is that fine line between how much does government tell the private sector.” | “I don’t think the government ought to be the HR director for each business,” McCrory says. “This is that fine line between how much does government tell the private sector.” |
| Then the NBC host questions McCrory about the central problem of discrimination: why don’t LGBT people deserve the same protections as any other Americans? | Then the NBC host questions McCrory about the central problem of discrimination: why don’t LGBT people deserve the same protections as any other Americans? |
| “We have got to deal with this extremely new social norm,” he says, “and have these discussions about the conception of equality.” | “We have got to deal with this extremely new social norm,” he says, “and have these discussions about the conception of equality.” |
| He says that he doesn’t know of any business in North Carolina that is actively discriminating against LGBT people. | He says that he doesn’t know of any business in North Carolina that is actively discriminating against LGBT people. |
| “This is basically a restroom privacy issue versus equality, and these things need to be discussed, not threatened by Hollywood,” an apparent allusion to the criticism he’s drawn from stars such as Bruce Springsteen and George Clooney. | “This is basically a restroom privacy issue versus equality, and these things need to be discussed, not threatened by Hollywood,” an apparent allusion to the criticism he’s drawn from stars such as Bruce Springsteen and George Clooney. |
| Related: North Carolina governor refuses to reverse anti-LGBT law in executive order | Related: North Carolina governor refuses to reverse anti-LGBT law in executive order |
| 3.59pm BST | 3.59pm BST |
| 15:59 | 15:59 |
| Meanwhile. | Meanwhile. |
| I would have millions of votes more than Hillary except for the fact that I had 17 opponents and she just had a socialist named Bernie! | I would have millions of votes more than Hillary except for the fact that I had 17 opponents and she just had a socialist named Bernie! |
| 3.57pm BST | 3.57pm BST |
| 15:57 | 15:57 |
| Reince Priebus is making one last stop on the talk shows, on NBC’s Meet the Press. He’s asked for the third time this morning about Donald Trump’s complaints. | Reince Priebus is making one last stop on the talk shows, on NBC’s Meet the Press. He’s asked for the third time this morning about Donald Trump’s complaints. |
| “I don’t know what the motivation is. There’s really nothing being rigged or changed or altered,” Priebus says. “These are really the same rules that’ve been in place for really a century.” | “I don’t know what the motivation is. There’s really nothing being rigged or changed or altered,” Priebus says. “These are really the same rules that’ve been in place for really a century.” |
| He says that states had to submit their rules by “October 1st of 2015 and not a single thing has changed about them.” | He says that states had to submit their rules by “October 1st of 2015 and not a single thing has changed about them.” |
| “You have to go state by state by state. It’s a pretty extraordinary task.” | “You have to go state by state by state. It’s a pretty extraordinary task.” |
| Who elects a nominee, voters or delegates? | Who elects a nominee, voters or delegates? |
| ‘The voters empower the delegates but the the delegates, who in most cases are bound,” Priebus says, before adding that the convention, “it’s not a four-day party. A convention in the legal sense is the party coming to gather” and write rules and decide how the party works. | ‘The voters empower the delegates but the the delegates, who in most cases are bound,” Priebus says, before adding that the convention, “it’s not a four-day party. A convention in the legal sense is the party coming to gather” and write rules and decide how the party works. |
| “It has a legal value,” he says. “If the boy scouts have a national convention they do similar things. We actually do a lot of business at a convention, and now everyone’s interested in the business.” | “It has a legal value,” he says. “If the boy scouts have a national convention they do similar things. We actually do a lot of business at a convention, and now everyone’s interested in the business.” |
| Trump’s complaints have a shaky foundation, Priebus implies. “He’s winning a plurality of votes and he has a plurality of delegates,” he says, but “majority rules on everything.” | Trump’s complaints have a shaky foundation, Priebus implies. “He’s winning a plurality of votes and he has a plurality of delegates,” he says, but “majority rules on everything.” |
| 3.50pm BST | 3.50pm BST |
| 15:50 | 15:50 |
| Clooney: I raised 'obscene amount of money' for Clinton | |
| George Clooney is on NBC with Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, where the actor strikes a friendly tone toward Bernie Sanders and the criticism that he’s complicit in raising “obscene” amounts of money from wealthy interests. | George Clooney is on NBC with Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, where the actor strikes a friendly tone toward Bernie Sanders and the criticism that he’s complicit in raising “obscene” amounts of money from wealthy interests. |
| “Yes,” he says. “I think it’s an obscene amount of money. I think, you know, we had some protesters last night when we pulled up in San Francisco and they’re right to protest, they’re absolutely right, it is an obscene amount of money. | |
| “The Sanders campaign when they talk about is absolutely right. It’s ridiculous that we should have this kind of money in politics. I agree, completely.” | “The Sanders campaign when they talk about is absolutely right. It’s ridiculous that we should have this kind of money in politics. I agree, completely.” |
| “The overwhelming amount of the money that we’re raising is not going to Hillary for president it’s going to the downticket for congressmen, for senators to try to retake Congress,” he says. | |
| “We need to take the Senate back because we need to confirm a supreme court justice, because that fifth vote on the supreme court can overturn Citizens United and get this obscene, ridiculous amount of money out so I never have to do a fundraiser again.” | |
| The actor then links the problem to that of the “incredibly helpful” Panama Papers and corruption in politics more broadly. “I spend probably a quarter of my time now raising millions and millions of dollars for my foundation which is basically chasing and looking form money that these corrupt politicians all around the world have been hiding.” | |
| “I think Citizens United is one of the worst laws passed since I’ve been around.” | |
| Todd asks whether Clooney has ever met Sanders. “I met him once, I was sitting own at a table. He was nice, and we talked a couple of times I think, and then he went on Larry King and told everybody I was very short,” the actor laughs. “I said well I met you sitting down.” | Todd asks whether Clooney has ever met Sanders. “I met him once, I was sitting own at a table. He was nice, and we talked a couple of times I think, and then he went on Larry King and told everybody I was very short,” the actor laughs. “I said well I met you sitting down.” |
| Clooney then turns this toward the broader race: “Trump and Cruz are making this a campaign of fear. We have to be afraid of everything, we have to be afraid of refugees, we have to be afraid of Muslims, we have to be afraid of minorities.” | Clooney then turns this toward the broader race: “Trump and Cruz are making this a campaign of fear. We have to be afraid of everything, we have to be afraid of refugees, we have to be afraid of Muslims, we have to be afraid of minorities.” |
| “Are we really going to be scared of the very things that made our country great?” | “Are we really going to be scared of the very things that made our country great?” |
| If the answer is yes, Clooney says, Americans will have to answer to history. “We are not afraid. We are not a country that is afraid.” | If the answer is yes, Clooney says, Americans will have to answer to history. “We are not afraid. We are not a country that is afraid.” |
| The actor concedes that “fear has always worked, one way or another … fear has always been one of the great tools of any election. But the reality is we are not the descendants of a fearful people. So no, we are not going to ban Muslims from this country, that’s never going to happen. We are not going to go back to torture. We are not going to kill the families of terrorists or suspected terrorist. Because that is not who we are.” | The actor concedes that “fear has always worked, one way or another … fear has always been one of the great tools of any election. But the reality is we are not the descendants of a fearful people. So no, we are not going to ban Muslims from this country, that’s never going to happen. We are not going to go back to torture. We are not going to kill the families of terrorists or suspected terrorist. Because that is not who we are.” |
| Finally Todd asks Clooney about an anti-LGBT law recently enacted in North Carolina. “I think the law is ridiculous,” Clooney says, before praising some of the protests made by corporations who’ve stopped services in the state. Citing the example of corporations that protested a “religious freedom” law in Indiana, Clooney says “I think that can have some great effect.” | Finally Todd asks Clooney about an anti-LGBT law recently enacted in North Carolina. “I think the law is ridiculous,” Clooney says, before praising some of the protests made by corporations who’ve stopped services in the state. Citing the example of corporations that protested a “religious freedom” law in Indiana, Clooney says “I think that can have some great effect.” |
| Related: 'They sell you a dream': tech workers protest Clooney event for Clinton | Related: 'They sell you a dream': tech workers protest Clooney event for Clinton |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.31pm BST | |
| 3.47pm BST | 3.47pm BST |
| 15:47 | 15:47 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| Reince Priebus now on CBS, to be asked, again, about the Republican primary rules that Donald Trump does not like. He goes through the motions. | Reince Priebus now on CBS, to be asked, again, about the Republican primary rules that Donald Trump does not like. He goes through the motions. |
| Does he take the “rough July” remark from Trump as a threat? “Not particularly. I don’t know if it’s hyperbole or positioning.” Dickerson pushes – Trump has shown ability to get his supporters “energised”. | Does he take the “rough July” remark from Trump as a threat? “Not particularly. I don’t know if it’s hyperbole or positioning.” Dickerson pushes – Trump has shown ability to get his supporters “energised”. |
| Priebus says he is doing shows like this to get the message across: “Each candidate has to know the rules, learn the rules and abide by the rules.” And the rules are decided at the convention, by the grass roots. | Priebus says he is doing shows like this to get the message across: “Each candidate has to know the rules, learn the rules and abide by the rules.” And the rules are decided at the convention, by the grass roots. |
| Nor does Priebus think Trump aide/supporter/operator Roger Stone’s remarks about possibly sending out delegates’ room numbers are a good thing. | Nor does Priebus think Trump aide/supporter/operator Roger Stone’s remarks about possibly sending out delegates’ room numbers are a good thing. |
| “We’re going to have plenty of security, plenty of protection for the delegates,” Priebus says, adding: “It’s going to be a great convention… we’re going to be watching American history.” | “We’re going to have plenty of security, plenty of protection for the delegates,” Priebus says, adding: “It’s going to be a great convention… we’re going to be watching American history.” |
| Is that a reassuring answer? | Is that a reassuring answer? |
| 3.39pm BST | 3.39pm BST |
| 15:39 | 15:39 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| And it’s over to CBS, and Face the Nation. Facing the Nation this week is… Bernie Sanders. | And it’s over to CBS, and Face the Nation. Facing the Nation this week is… Bernie Sanders. |
| First, it’s CBS Battleground Tracker time. Trump is way ahead in New York, Pennsylvania and California. Clinton is up on Sanders in California and New York. | First, it’s CBS Battleground Tracker time. Trump is way ahead in New York, Pennsylvania and California. Clinton is up on Sanders in California and New York. |
| Here’s Sanders, to be asked about the changed, some would say deteriorated tone of the Democraric contest. He says he was not “ferocious” in the Brooklyn debate this week, but has become “a little bit fed up” with the negativity of the Clinton campaign and has therefore responded in kind. | Here’s Sanders, to be asked about the changed, some would say deteriorated tone of the Democraric contest. He says he was not “ferocious” in the Brooklyn debate this week, but has become “a little bit fed up” with the negativity of the Clinton campaign and has therefore responded in kind. |
| “I am making it very clear that my views are representing the needs of the working class,” he says. | “I am making it very clear that my views are representing the needs of the working class,” he says. |
| He is asked to what negative Clinton tactics he is referring. | He is asked to what negative Clinton tactics he is referring. |
| “Oh, you name it. After we won eight of nine caucuses and primaries … they made it clear their goal was, and I think I’m quoting, ‘disqualify and defeat’.” He says he has not attacked Planned Parenthood, for example, which he says the Clinton campaign says he has. And he returns to the fundraising difference – small donors for him, big for Clinton. | “Oh, you name it. After we won eight of nine caucuses and primaries … they made it clear their goal was, and I think I’m quoting, ‘disqualify and defeat’.” He says he has not attacked Planned Parenthood, for example, which he says the Clinton campaign says he has. And he returns to the fundraising difference – small donors for him, big for Clinton. |
| As he said on CNN, he says he is not saying Clinton has done anything specifically for donors, but uses her positions on Wall Street reform as an attack point, as he did in the debate. | As he said on CNN, he says he is not saying Clinton has done anything specifically for donors, but uses her positions on Wall Street reform as an attack point, as he did in the debate. |
| Host John Dickerson accuses Sanders of “fuzzing up” an economic policy debate with Clinton by concentrating on Clinton’s speaking fees from Wall Street banks and her lack of support (she said yesterday she supported it) for a $15 minimum wage. | Host John Dickerson accuses Sanders of “fuzzing up” an economic policy debate with Clinton by concentrating on Clinton’s speaking fees from Wall Street banks and her lack of support (she said yesterday she supported it) for a $15 minimum wage. |
| Related: Hillary Clinton detours from Clooney fundraisers to back minimum wage rise | Related: Hillary Clinton detours from Clooney fundraisers to back minimum wage rise |
| The 1994 crime bill, now. Does he regret his support? Sanders uses his usual line on this: any big bill will have good things in it and bad, and this one had good things on violence against women and an assault weapons ban, so he voted for it. | The 1994 crime bill, now. Does he regret his support? Sanders uses his usual line on this: any big bill will have good things in it and bad, and this one had good things on violence against women and an assault weapons ban, so he voted for it. |
| And on superdelegates, is the system stacked against him, à la Trump? “Yes. Hillary Clinton is the establishment candidate.” He thinks he can win New York on a big turnout but the state system prohibits independents from voting in the Democratic primary, and that’s wrong. | And on superdelegates, is the system stacked against him, à la Trump? “Yes. Hillary Clinton is the establishment candidate.” He thinks he can win New York on a big turnout but the state system prohibits independents from voting in the Democratic primary, and that’s wrong. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.50pm BST | at 3.50pm BST |
| 3.37pm BST | 3.37pm BST |
| 15:37 | 15:37 |
| Donald Trump’s convention manager Paul Manafort is next on the ABC program, where Stephanopoulos asks him about the businessman’s recent shutout losses to Ted Cruz in Colorado in Wyoming. | Donald Trump’s convention manager Paul Manafort is next on the ABC program, where Stephanopoulos asks him about the businessman’s recent shutout losses to Ted Cruz in Colorado in Wyoming. |
| “We didn’t even play there because it was a closed system and we didn’t want to waste our money there dealing with party bosses,” Manafort says. | “We didn’t even play there because it was a closed system and we didn’t want to waste our money there dealing with party bosses,” Manafort says. |
| “There isn’t going to be a second ballot,” Manafort insists. “There is [sic] many paths to 1,237 to Donald Trump through June and July,” including New Jersey and California. | “There isn’t going to be a second ballot,” Manafort insists. “There is [sic] many paths to 1,237 to Donald Trump through June and July,” including New Jersey and California. |
| He then tries to frame Trump as a surprising underdog of sorts. “This was supposed to be the time when Cruz was supposed to be well ahead,” he says. Cruz wins in “the reddest of red states, where you have closed rules,” Manafort argues. | He then tries to frame Trump as a surprising underdog of sorts. “This was supposed to be the time when Cruz was supposed to be well ahead,” he says. Cruz wins in “the reddest of red states, where you have closed rules,” Manafort argues. |
| “Trump wins in states where we have to win to win the presidency.” | “Trump wins in states where we have to win to win the presidency.” |
| Manafort blames “systems that keeps the voters” out. “When voters participate, Donald Trump wins. When the bosses participate…” | Manafort blames “systems that keeps the voters” out. “When voters participate, Donald Trump wins. When the bosses participate…” |
| The “bosses” don’t like Trump, he says, because the businessman has promised to “change the banking system, change the economy”. | The “bosses” don’t like Trump, he says, because the businessman has promised to “change the banking system, change the economy”. |
| “They’re not playing by their own rules,” Manafort says, adding that he’ll be “filing protests” in Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming. | “They’re not playing by their own rules,” Manafort says, adding that he’ll be “filing protests” in Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming. |
| “And we’re playing by [the rules], and we’re winning, and that’s the point, there’s only going to be one ballot.” | “And we’re playing by [the rules], and we’re winning, and that’s the point, there’s only going to be one ballot.” |
| He’s dismissive of Cruz’s delegate tactics: “Those are not votes he’s winning, those are bodies he’s winning. If there’s no second ballot it’s much ado about nothing.” | He’s dismissive of Cruz’s delegate tactics: “Those are not votes he’s winning, those are bodies he’s winning. If there’s no second ballot it’s much ado about nothing.” |
| The aide then defends Trump’s complaints about a “rigged” primary process. “He’s complaining about the system, that’s the point that keeps getting lost here,” Manafort says. “We’re trying to open up the process.” | The aide then defends Trump’s complaints about a “rigged” primary process. “He’s complaining about the system, that’s the point that keeps getting lost here,” Manafort says. “We’re trying to open up the process.” |
| He adds his own criticism of caucuses and conventions and closed primaries. | He adds his own criticism of caucuses and conventions and closed primaries. |
| “That’s the system of the 1920s, not 2016. And yes, there’s history in conventions, but that history is ancient now, not of the modern presidency.” | “That’s the system of the 1920s, not 2016. And yes, there’s history in conventions, but that history is ancient now, not of the modern presidency.” |
| 3.30pm BST | 3.30pm BST |
| 15:30 | 15:30 |
| Stephanopoulos moves on to foreign policy, asking Sanders about his remarkable turn away from a long tradition of American politicians who have hewed tight to an uncompromising defense of Israel. | Stephanopoulos moves on to foreign policy, asking Sanders about his remarkable turn away from a long tradition of American politicians who have hewed tight to an uncompromising defense of Israel. |
| Sanders, the first Jewish candidate to have won any state primary or caucus for president, has criticized Israel for what he calls its “disproportionate” response in the 2014 war against Gaza, in which 66 Israelis died and more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed. | Sanders, the first Jewish candidate to have won any state primary or caucus for president, has criticized Israel for what he calls its “disproportionate” response in the 2014 war against Gaza, in which 66 Israelis died and more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed. |
| “It goes without saying we have to protect Israel, its right to live in peace, to defend the security of its people,” Sanders tells ABC. | “It goes without saying we have to protect Israel, its right to live in peace, to defend the security of its people,” Sanders tells ABC. |
| “Israel has every right in the world to respond to terrorism,” he adds, “but that was a disproportionate response.” | “Israel has every right in the world to respond to terrorism,” he adds, “but that was a disproportionate response.” |
| The senator does not back down from his criticism of Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister who he says is not infallible. “You cannot just nod your head to Netanyahu.” | The senator does not back down from his criticism of Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister who he says is not infallible. “You cannot just nod your head to Netanyahu.” |
| Sanders doesn’t go so far as to say that Hillary Clinton has “ignored” the devastation and poverty in which Palestinians live (Stephanopoulos’ word), but he does stress its importance. “Poverty rate is off the charts [there], 40% people are unemployed.” | Sanders doesn’t go so far as to say that Hillary Clinton has “ignored” the devastation and poverty in which Palestinians live (Stephanopoulos’ word), but he does stress its importance. “Poverty rate is off the charts [there], 40% people are unemployed.” |
| Stephanopoulos then asks about Saudi Arabia’s threats to sell off huge American assets if the US passes a bill that would target Saudis linked to terrorism for prosecution. | Stephanopoulos then asks about Saudi Arabia’s threats to sell off huge American assets if the US passes a bill that would target Saudis linked to terrorism for prosecution. |
| “Well, we can’t be blackmailed,” Sanders says, agreeing with Clinton that he wants to look at the legislation before making any kind of position on it. But he doesn’t shy from a critique of the Kingdom. “I have said throughout this campaign that we are not taking a hard enough look at Saudi Arabia,” he says. | “Well, we can’t be blackmailed,” Sanders says, agreeing with Clinton that he wants to look at the legislation before making any kind of position on it. But he doesn’t shy from a critique of the Kingdom. “I have said throughout this campaign that we are not taking a hard enough look at Saudi Arabia,” he says. |
| “Saudi Arabia is one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the world,” he continues, “The evidence is quite clear that sections of that very large royal family have funded Wahhabism,” an ultraconservative form of Islam. | “Saudi Arabia is one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the world,” he continues, “The evidence is quite clear that sections of that very large royal family have funded Wahhabism,” an ultraconservative form of Islam. |
| “That is what al-Qaida is about,” Sanders says,” this horrific fundamentalist ideology.” | “That is what al-Qaida is about,” Sanders says,” this horrific fundamentalist ideology.” |
| “So let me look at it, let me look at it,” he says of the legislation. “I do believe that Saudi Arabia is playing a very dangerous role in fomenting fundamentalism all over the world.” | “So let me look at it, let me look at it,” he says of the legislation. “I do believe that Saudi Arabia is playing a very dangerous role in fomenting fundamentalism all over the world.” |
| Finally, Stephanopoulos asks whether Sanders will support Clinton should she win the nomination. Sanders basically says yes. “At the end of the say we must defeat Trump, we must not allow a Republican” to win the White House. | Finally, Stephanopoulos asks whether Sanders will support Clinton should she win the nomination. Sanders basically says yes. “At the end of the say we must defeat Trump, we must not allow a Republican” to win the White House. |
| Related: Candidates spar over Israel and fate of Palestinians in Democratic debate | Related: Candidates spar over Israel and fate of Palestinians in Democratic debate |
| 3.23pm BST | 3.23pm BST |
| 15:23 | 15:23 |
| Stephanopoulos turns away from the live stream with Clinton and to his desk, where Bernie Sanders is sitting across from him. He asks about fundraising, which has been one of Sanders biggest criticisms of Clinton. | Stephanopoulos turns away from the live stream with Clinton and to his desk, where Bernie Sanders is sitting across from him. He asks about fundraising, which has been one of Sanders biggest criticisms of Clinton. |
| The senator says that he wants the US to “move away from Super Pacs, as you know secretary Clinton has many of them”. | The senator says that he wants the US to “move away from Super Pacs, as you know secretary Clinton has many of them”. |
| He contrasts this with his own campaign’s contributions: “We have received seven million individual campaign contributions, averaging $27 bucks a piece”. | He contrasts this with his own campaign’s contributions: “We have received seven million individual campaign contributions, averaging $27 bucks a piece”. |
| He then links the wealthy donors to the cynicism of many Americans about their politics. “I don’t think you do that by raising money from the top 1% and then” say you represent everyone else,” Sanders says. “That kind of doesn’t pass the laugh test.” | He then links the wealthy donors to the cynicism of many Americans about their politics. “I don’t think you do that by raising money from the top 1% and then” say you represent everyone else,” Sanders says. “That kind of doesn’t pass the laugh test.” |
| “And people see that, and that’s why so many people don’t vote,” he continues. “So I think we need a revolution, certainly in campaign finance [and an] emphasis on getting more working people, young people in the political process.” | “And people see that, and that’s why so many people don’t vote,” he continues. “So I think we need a revolution, certainly in campaign finance [and an] emphasis on getting more working people, young people in the political process.” |
| He says that Clinton’s intentions to regulate and prosecute Wall Street run afoul of her contributors. “You can’t do that when you’re dependent on them for your fundraising.” | He says that Clinton’s intentions to regulate and prosecute Wall Street run afoul of her contributors. “You can’t do that when you’re dependent on them for your fundraising.” |
| “I am trying to lead this country in a different direction,” he says. While Clinton says she’ll sign measures to increase the minimum wage or regulate Wall Street, she’ll only do so once Congress sends it to her desk, he argues. “I want to lead that effort, not just follow.” | “I am trying to lead this country in a different direction,” he says. While Clinton says she’ll sign measures to increase the minimum wage or regulate Wall Street, she’ll only do so once Congress sends it to her desk, he argues. “I want to lead that effort, not just follow.” |
| Related: 'They sell you a dream': tech workers protest Clooney event for Clinton | Related: 'They sell you a dream': tech workers protest Clooney event for Clinton |