Sanders says idea he can’t work with Republicans is ‘total nonsense’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Monday that the idea that he can’t work with Republicans is “total nonsense.”

Sanders spoke at a CNN town hall, where he referenced writing “one of the most sweeping veterans bills in history” with the last Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and working with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to end the U.S. participation in the war in Yemen. 

“The idea I can’t work with people is one of those myths that keeps popping up as the election day comes closer,” Sanders said. 

Sanders’s answer was sparked by Chris Cuomo asking him how he responds to former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s comments that he’s “polarizing” and “inflexible.” 

An audience member also posed a question to him asking how he will “allay the fears of those who see your political ideology as too radical” to beat President Trump in the general election.

Sanders called it “absolutely imperative” to “defeat this extremely dangerous president” before citing polls which show him beating Trump.

“I know if you look at the media, they say Bernie’s ideas are radical, they are extreme, they are out of mainstream,” he added. “Let me just tell you, I don’t think that is true.”

The senator then asked the audience if raising the minimum wage to $15, offering free college for all or providing health care is “radical,” each to which the audience responded, “No!”

“I rest my case,” Sanders said.

Bernie Sanders says he doesn’t think his ideas are radical. “Is guaranteeing health care to all people as a human right a radical idea? … Is addressing the existential threat of climate change a radical idea?” #CNNTownhall https://t.co/zQOTaXIYEF pic.twitter.com/DauMMG8055

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 25, 2020

The presidential candidate addressed concerns about his ideology possibly being too liberal at the town hall as moderate Democrats are raising the alarm that Sanders would not be capable of defeating Trump.

Sanders leads the 2020 pack with 45 delegates from the first three primary races in the country.