Former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and moderate Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) had wildly different responses to the4 choice from Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to drop her status as a member of the Democrat party and declare herself an independent.
Tester spoke up on This past Sunday’s episode of “Meet the Press,” saying Sinema’s disaffiliation does not change much because she still plans to caucus with the Democrats. On the flip side, however, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, also an independent who caucuses with Democrats, slammed Sinema as a “corporate Democrat” that “sabotaged” the agenda of the party.
“I was surprised that she made the change, but functionally, I don’t think it changes a thing,” stated Tester. “I think we’re going to continue doing the same thing we were doing, whether she’s an independent or part of the Democratic caucus.”
“It’s about keeping relationships in Washington, D.C., if you’re gonna get things done, and I think Kyrsten Sinema knows that,” he went on. “And I think, whether she’s a Democrat or a Republican, that really doesn’t matter. The label doesn’t matter. What matters is, you’ve gotta have somebody in Washington, D.C., that wants to get things done and move things forward.”
WATCH: Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) says “functionally, I don’t think it changes a thing” that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is leaving the Democratic Party. @SenatorTester: “I look forward to working with her as I have in the past.” pic.twitter.com/zpauZoCckS
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 11, 2022
While speaking up on an episode of “State of the Union” from CNN, Sanders openly rebuked Sinema for placing her worries about her own role before the agenda of the party.
“I think the Democrats there are not all that enthusiastic about somebody who helped sabotage some of the most important legislation that protects the interests of working families and voting rights and so forth. So, I think it really has to do with her political aspirations for the future in Arizona.”
“She is a corporate Democrat who has, in fact, along with [West Virginia Democratic] Senator [Joe] Manchin, sabotaged enormously important legislation,” he stated.
"She's a corporate Democrat … "
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reacts to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) leaving the Democratic Party and what it could mean for Congress. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/xilfbBfACp
— CNN (@CNN) December 11, 2022
A prime Democratic adviser stated this past Friday that the choice from Sinema was most likely prompted by across the board discontent from the Democrats in Arizona.
“I’ve seen polling (recent polling even),” explained the former Deputy Director of the 2020 Biden campaign in Arizona, Tony Cani, via social media. “Sinema gets crushed in a primary by any dem. Dissatisfaction w/ the way she operates is not a left-wing thing. Dems of all ages & ideologies are frustrated with the way she operates, plus the vast majority of Rs will vote for an R nominee. Ds across the spectrum dislike the way Sinema operates so much that she gets no credit for passing widely popular legislation. Her significant legislative wins this session has not improved her standing even a little. Voters have made up their minds about her & have not budged.”
