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Sanders touts controversial comedian's 2020 support, sparking criticism

Published 01/24/2020, 03:49 PM
Updated 01/24/2020, 03:49 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa

By Amanda Becker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders' decision to highlight an unofficial endorsement from Joe Rogan drew criticism on Friday due to the comedian's brand of humor that some see as dismissive of issues like equal pay and transgender rights.

The online flap comes as Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, has been trying to move past a weeks-long controversy over whether he told rival Elizabeth Warren, a friend and progressive ally, in a 2018 meeting that a woman could not beat Republican President Donald Trump, a charge he has denied.

Sanders, who is leading some opinion polls in the important early-voting state of Iowa, tweeted a video clip of Rogan on Thursday saying he would "probably vote for Bernie. He's been insanely consistent his entire life."

"Look, you could dig up dirt on every single human being that's ever existed if you catch them in their worst moment and you magnify those moments," Rogan continued in explaining his support.

Sanders has been criticized in the past for failing to denounce a following of "Bernie Bros," men who levy gender-based attacks at women political rivals on social media.

Sanders spokeswoman Briahna Joy Gray said that building a coalition to beat Trump requires "sharing a big tent" that includes "those who do not share every one of our beliefs, while always making clear that we will never compromise our values."

Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," is downloaded millions of times each month. In the show, which is ideologically inconsistent and often veers into territory that is deemed not politically correct, Rogan has interviewed politicians, including Sanders and fellow 2020 rivals Andrew Yang and congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.

Rogan has also been accused of criticizing transgender individuals, has said divorce laws are anti-feminist and biased against men, and has argued that a gender-based pay gap does not exist or companies would hire all women to save money.

"Men don't make more money because they do the same job and make more money at that job than the woman does; they do different jobs," Rogan said in a 2018 podcast episode.

While some studies showing a gender pay gap compare the median annual pay of all women working full-time to the median annual pay of all men working full-time, others that compare pay within occupations and industries also show gender-based compensation differences.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa

"Deeply disappointing to see you celebrate this," Democratic consultant Evan Sutton responded to Sanders on Twitter.

Latest comments

The pay gap is a myth that is well debunked. It's a tool to secure the coveted 'victim privilege' allowing women to demand they be hired (by law) and demand pay they aren't worth.
Found the sexist!
Found the projectionist !
Found two little weeny-ists.
I can only speak regarding my last place of employment (25 years) but there was a definite bias in women's favor. Almost every department head was female. When management openings came, women were promoted regardless of knowledge or experience. My last supervisor was promoted after only being in the division for a year and a half and her entire career prior to that was in an entirely different industry. She was still in the learning curve on her initial assignment when she was made supervisor. She was in way over her head but managed to last a few years before being fired. Why was she put in this position to begin with? ... Because the HR Director and Financial Director (both female) convinced the new Executive Director that she was qualified for the job despite other individuals with much more knowledge and experience. Go figure...
 I was aware of her pay. She picked up at the exact pay level of the man she replaced and was given a raise not long after that!
Exactly why I only mentor and create opportunities for young men. I don't need the possibility of "impropriety" anyway. I don't hold doors for women anymore either (except my wife of course). If women want to take unearned positions away from seasoned men, that's their right, but we don't have to play along..
Ah, reverse sexism? I believe it as many use their weaknesses as shields. It's a different world and I've been criticized at work for things said that are genuinely not meant as politically incorrect but interestingly buy a guy claiming religion while he's worked to aid in my being fired. I've heard it, seen it but he doesn't have the seeds to say it to my face as many are backstabbers. He's a manager there too...
Ask "her" about equal pay to women. There was a piece about that when she was running, remember?
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