Hillary Clinton hit back at Bernie Sanders on Tuesday night over claims he and his campaign made that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Planned Parenthood endorsed her because they are part of the “political establishment.”
Speaking with Rachel Maddow on Tuesday night, Senator Sanders said,
What we are doing in this campaign, it just blows my mind every day. Because I see it clearly: we're taking on not only Wall Street and the economic establishment, we're taking on the political establishment. So, I have friends and supporters in the Human Rights Fund and Planned Parenthood. But you know what? Hillary Clinton has been around for a very, very long time. Some of these groups are, in fact, part of the establishment.
In speaking of the endorsements, Sanders mislabeled the Human Rights Campaign as the Human Rights Fund.
Shortly after the interview, Hillary took to Twitter to voice her displeasure with Sanders' characterization of both HRC and Planned Parenthood. Hillary tweeted, “Really Senator Sanders? How can you say that groups like @PPact and @HRC are part of the “establishment” you're taking on?” Hillary signed the tweet “-H” which indicates that she wrote the tweet herself.
Really Senator Sanders? How can you say that groups like @PPact and @HRC are part of the "establishment" you're taking on? -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 20, 2016
Both Planned Parenthood and HRC were disappointed that Sanders labeled them as “the political establishment.”
We respect @SenSanders. Disappointed to be called "establishment" as we fight like hell to protect women's health. https://t.co/kiimTsVw2x
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) January 20, 2016
We share @PPact's disappointment in Sanders' attacks. @HRC has proudly taken on the establishment & fought for LGBT people for over 30 years
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 20, 2016
Tuesday also saw Sanders' spokesman Micahel Briggs blast HRC for its endorsement of Clinton, telling The Washington Blade, “It's understandable and consistent with the establishment organizations voting for the establishment candidate, but it's an endorsement that cannot possibly be based on the facts and the record.”
Watch Sanders' interview with Rachel that prompted Hillary to call him out, below.
