Sanders fires back at Clinton’s ‘mean-spirited’ gun attack

by Jesse Byrnes - 01/13/16 2:33 PM ET

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday pushed back on charges from his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton that he doesn’t stand up to the gun lobby.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Sanders started during an interview on MSNBC when asked by host Thomas Robert about Clinton’s remarks.

{mosads}Sanders noted that he has a “D-” rating from the National Rifle Association, something that he often touts on the campaign trail in an effort to deflect criticism from Clinton and others.

“In 1988, I probably lost a congressional election because I said maybe we should not have assault weapons being sold in America,” Sanders said Wednesday on MSNBC.

“So to say that I’m kind of a supporter of the NRA is really a mean-spirited and unfair and inaccurate statement,” Sanders added.

Clinton has seized on the issue of guns as one of few where she has attempted to run to the left of Sanders, and has stressed the issue just three weeks before ballots are cast in Iowa.

“If you’re going around saying that you stand up to special interests, well then stand up to the most powerful special interests. Stand up to that gun lobby,” Clinton told supporters Tuesday.

Clinton ratcheted up her criticism during a round of interviews Wednesday morning, saying on NBC’s “Today” show that “Sen. Sanders has been a pretty reliable vote for the gun lobby.”

Tags 2016 Democratic primary Bernie Sanders Guns Hillary Clinton