Clinton Donor George Stephanopolous Attacks Sanders on Past Positions

STEPHANOPOULOS: “You know, you’ve — Secretary Clinton’s campaign is also making the point about electability. She seemed delighted by the fact that Karl Rove’s campaign is now running an ad against her in Iowa. And you know that in a campaign, past positions are going to get scrutiny. So I wonder how you respond to some of the things that are circulating now about your past positions, back when you were running for Governor of Vermont, as the Liberty Union Party candidate, in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Do you urge congressmen to give serious thought to the nationalization of the oil industry? And then you went on in the long run, Sanders said, all utilities must go under public ownership and all necessities of life must be provided free for people.”
SANDERS: “You know what, George? George, George — you know, when — that was a long, long time ago. Before I ever was elected to anything. I was Mayor of Burlington for eight years. I’ve in Congress for 25 years. You’re right, they can go back. People can go back and look at the fact that Hillary Clinton, as I understand it, was a supporter of Barry Goldwater. Who cares? That was a long, long time ago. What I...”[crosstalk]
STEPHANOPOULOS: “...was going to ask you...”
SANDERS: “...have run...”
STEPHANOPOULOS: “What — what were you thinking then and what changed your mind?”
SANDERS: “No, I don’t — it’s — what I said 40 years ago is less important you talk about electability. If you look at all of the polls, or almost all of the polls that are out there today, today, what you find is that Bernie Sanders defeats Donald Trump by a much larger margin than does Hillary Clinton. In the last national poll that I’ve seen, we beat Trump by 13 points. If you look at the battleground states like Iowa and New Hampshire, we beat him also by a whole lot, more than Hillary Clinton. I think our appeal is through not only Democrats, not only the young people, not only the working class people, but the Independents as well. So if you are concerned, or if the American people, or Democrats, are concerned about which candidate has the best opportunity to defeat right wing Republicans, I think you’re looking at him: Bernie Sanders.”
STEPHANOPOULOS: “OK, and finally, just to be clear, so those positions — you completely disavow them.”
SANDERS: “You know, George, I have been an elected official for 25 years. Yes, those positions are what I — what were before I even assumed any office. I have a record of eight years as the Mayor of the City of Burlington, 16 years in the House, 9 years in the Senate. I’m very proud of that record. And anyone who wants to argue with me about that record, that’s fine. You want to go back 40 or 50 years? That’s fine. I don’t think people give much credence to that.”
STEPHANOPOULOS: “Senator Sanders, thanks very much for your time this morning.”
SANDERS: “Thank you.”