(Republicaninformer.com)- Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a registered Independent, last weekend pushed criticized Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema for registering as an Independent, claiming her decision was politically motivated.
During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sanders told host Dana Bash that Sinema’s decision was driven by her “political aspirations” in Arizona. He said he didn’t think Arizona Democrats are “enthusiastic” about a Senator who “helped sabotage some of the most important legislation” like “voting rights” and protecting “working families.”
The Vermont Independent concluded that Sinema’s decision to become an Independent “really has to do with her political aspirations” in Arizona. But it won’t change much in the Senate, Sanders added.
When asked if he would support a Democrat running against Sinema in 2024, Sanders said he will always back “progressive” candidates “who have the guts to take on special interests.”
While he admitted that he doesn’t know how things will shake out in Arizona, Sanders told Bash that he would wait and see whom Arizona Democrats nominate to run against Sinema in the General Election before deciding to support the nominee.
Sinema, who has modeled her political career on the “maverick” style of the late Senator John McCain, announced the change on December 9 but clarified that she wasn’t planning to caucus with the Republicans.
She told CNN’s Jake Tapper that evening that she “never fit neatly into any party box” and she never tried. Sinema explained that registering as an Independent is not only being “true to who I am” but also provides “a space of belonging” for Arizonans who are “tired of partisanship.”
While Sanders is correct that Sinema’s decision won’t shake up the balance of power in the Senate, her switch to Independent is being seen by some political analysts as a shot across the bow at the Democrat Party, which has for the last year, been pressuring the Arizona Senator to conform with the far-left goals of the party.
