Bernie supporters hoping to see Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) endorse their favorite candidate to defeat former Vice President Joe Biden might have to wait a long while. As Warren exited the presidential race on Thursday, she ripped into Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) army of online trolls (a.k.a. Bernie Bros) and tacitly blamed her “friend” and colleague for the abuse she received.
“It’s not just about me, I think it’s a real problem, with online bullying and organized nastiness. And I’m not just talking about people who said mean things. I’m talking about some really ugly stuff that went on,” Warren told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, as reported by USA Today.
Warren then recalled some of the abuse that she received as well as the abuse that several women who worked for her campaign and other organizations endorsing her received.
“Out in Nevada, when Unite Here [union] had put out an analysis of the different candidates and their views on healthcare and other issues, and some of the Bernie supporters online took exception to it,” explained Warren. “They actually published the home numbers and phone addresses of the two women, the executive director and the communications director, women of color, immigrant women, and really put them in fear for their families. These are tough women, tough women who run labor organizing campaigns and have really earned their union jobs. And yet, they said for the first time, because of this onslaught of online threats, they felt really under attack.”
While not explicitly blaming Bernie Sanders for this abuse, Warren did say that candidates do share some responsibility for what their supporters do online.
“I think there is a fundamental question of what goes on online and where those lines are, and how much each of us, and I want to say this for all the candidates: We are responsible for the people who claim to be our supporters and do really threatening ugly dangerous things two other candidates,” exclaimed Warren.
“And it’s a particular problem with Sanders supporters?” asked Maddow.
“It is. It’s just a factual question. It is,” responded Warren.
Elizabeth Warren calls out Sanders' supporters for online bullying and "organized nastiness" in her first interview since exiting the presidential race. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/4xKMY0vYjI
— PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 6, 2020
Elizabeth Warren ended her failed presidential campaign on Wednesday after staying in the race through Super Tuesday despite having no pathway to victory and the fact that Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out and immediately endorsed Joe Biden. President Trump and others have argued that Warren intentionally stayed in through Super Tuesday to sabotage Sanders’ chances. Given the fact she has yet to give him an endorsement, it is clear that the two share some bad blood.
“So selfish for Elizabeth Warren to stay in the race,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “She has Zero chance of even coming close to winning, but hurts Bernie badly. So much for their wonderful liberal friendship. Will he ever speak to her again? She cost him Massachusetts (and came in third), he shouldn’t!”
“The Democrat establishment came together and crushed Bernie Sanders, AGAIN! Even the fact that Elizabeth Warren stayed in the race was devastating to Bernie and allowed Sleepy Joe to unthinkably win Massachusetts,” he later added. “It was a perfect storm, with many good states remaining for Joe!”