Sanders: Media attacks on Carson unfair

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday blasted media reports questioning the veracity of Ben Carson’s autobiography.

“I think it might be a better idea — I know it’s a crazy idea — but maybe we focus on the issues impacting the American people and what candidates are saying, rather than just spending so much time exploring their lives of 30 or 40 years ago,” Sanders said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

{mosads}The Vermont senator, who’s running for the Democratic presidential nomination, said there is plenty of room to criticize Carson on the issues.

“When you look at Dr. Carson, to the best of my knowledge, this man does not believe that climate change is caused by human activity,” Sanders said. “This man wants to abolish Medicare, impacting tens of millions of seniors. And this man wants to give huge tax breaks to the rich.”

Sanders said the American people have become turned off from politics because of how the media cover elections.

“The people want to know why the middle class of this country is disappearing,” Sanders said. “Why we have 47 million people living in poverty, why we have massive income and wealth inequality.”

Several reports have been unable to substantiate claims made by Carson about his life story, such as that he attempted to stab someone when he was 14 and that he was offered a “full scholarship” to West Point.

Sanders also defended Hillary Clinton at the first Democratic primary debate last month amid media scrutiny surrounding her use of a private email server while secretary of State.

He also said his stance on Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of State has not changed since the first Democratic debate, when he said Americans are “sick and tired” of hearing about the controversy.

“My views on Hillary Clinton’s emails are exactly what I said at the debate and right after the debate: The American people are sick and tired of seeing on the front pages emails,” he said. “They want a real discussion on real issues.”

“There is an investigation ongoing, I have nothing to do with it, that’s that,” he added.