Bernie Sanders Blames These ‘Pathetic’ Insiders For Democrats’ Disconnect With Voters

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) railed against political consultants while talking about how detached some Democrats are from their constituents and how others have found a way to connect to voters.

During a Monday appearance on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the progressive torchbearer said, “It is my view that the leadership of the Democratic Party, in many respects, is way out of touch with where Democrats in general are, where many independents are, where the grassroots of America are.”

He continued, “The division that we’re seeing in the Democratic Party right now are those who get a whole lot of money from wealthy campaign contributors, they hire consultants, and I gotta tell you, that consultant class is so far removed from reality it is really quite pathetic. That’s one wing of the Democratic Party.”

Comparing the old guards’ approach to the success of rising stars like New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Sanders said, “And then there’s the other wing, and that is what Mamdani did in New York. He ran a campaign which said, ‘You know what? We’re gonna take on the oligarchs. We’re gonna create a city that is affordable.’ And he put together an extraordinary grassroots movement. Some 90,000 volunteers.”

“Now, needless to say, I happen to agree with the latter approach,” the Democratic Socialist from Vermont continued.

His comments come as ideological fractures within the Democrats appear deep as ever. In the wake of a strong Democratic showing during last week’s election, eight moderate senators caved to pressure to reopen the government and voted for a Republican-crafted funding bill without getting a single concession.

Sanders said the decision was “terrible” for the American people, made the party look “weak” and undermined the political momentum that was already on their side.

When asked if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) should be ousted for failing to keep the party in line, Sanders said, “I can make the case that Chuck Schumer has done a lot of bad things” but the progressive flank has yet to cultivate enough candidates to successfully “take on the Democratic establishment.”

At 84 years old, Sanders has already been frank about the need to find new voices to carry on his progressive political mission.

When asked whom he wants to pass the torch to in an August interview with CNN’s “State of the Union,” he said whoever his political successors are have to “understand that you got to stand unequivocally with the working class of this country.”

He didn’t name any names, but added, “There are some great young people” who fit the bill.