Barack Obama supporters outraged by Bernie Sanders' 'deplorable' attack on Democratic Party on anniversary of Martin Luther King assassination

Peter Stubley
Updated
Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in Memphis, Tennessee, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in Memphis, Tennessee, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Bernie Sanders has triggered a backlash by making comments interpreted as an attack on Barack Obama on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King.

The senator for Vermont appeared to criticise the first black US President as he branded the Democratic Party a "failure".

Speaking in Jackson, Mississippi, he said Democrats had lost a record number of legislative seats.

"The business model, if you like, of the Democratic Party for the last 15 years or so has been a failure,' said the Vermont Senator.

"People sometimes don't see that because there was a charismatic individual named Barack Obama. He was obviously an extraordinary candidate, brilliant guy. But beyond that reality..."

Mr Sanders' comments were quickly branded "patronising" and "deplorable".

Actor Jeffrey Wright, who appeared in the James Bond and Hunger Games film series, said Mr Sanders was "giving a master class on expressing TOTAL ignorance of how black folks work."


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