Bernie rescinds Cenk Uygur endorsement after backlash

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

By JEREMY B. WHITE 12/13/2019 05:01 PM EST Updated 12/13/2019 06:08 PM EST

Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday rescinded his day-old endorsement of a California congressional candidate — an extraordinary concession to a furious backlash from local groups over liberal journalist Cenk Uygur’s history of homophobic and sexist comments.

“Cenk has been a longtime fighter against the corrupt forces in our politics, and he's inspired people all across the country,” Sanders said in a statement. “However, our movement is bigger than any one person. I hear my grassroots supporters who were frustrated and understand their concerns.”

Sanders’ abrupt reversal represented a misstep for Vermont senator and presidential candidate. The California arm of his campaign was warned about Uygur's past comments and urged the national campaign to stay out of the race, sources told POLITICO.

But Sanders endorsed Uygur regardless. His intervention created turmoil on the ground in California’s 25th Congressional district, a seat that Democrats flipped in 2018 but is now vacant after Democrat Katie Hill resigned amid allegations of sexual impropriety.

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