--- title: Bernie Sanders Brushes Off Hillary Clinton Super PAC Attacks description: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders brushed off attacks from a super PAC affiliated with Hillary Clinton. canonical: https://time.com/4037944/bernie-sanders-correct-record-david-brock/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-17T10:59:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:42:27.796Z article:section: Politics og:title: Bernie Sanders Brushes Off Clinton Super PAC Attacks og:description: "That’s what negative campaigning is about." og:url: https://time.com/4037944/bernie-sanders-correct-record-david-brock/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9aa2c9a81ec50170/698863fa8e0601faa5462613/gettyimages-488235212.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Bernie Sanders Holds Campaign Rally At Virginia Fairground og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Bernie Sanders Brushes Off Clinton Super PAC Attacks twitter:description: "That’s what negative campaigning is about." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9aa2c9a81ec50170/698863fa8e0601faa5462613/gettyimages-488235212.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Bernie Sanders Brushes Off Clinton Super PAC Attacks > Sponsored content. 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Bernie Sanders: Abortion is a "painful and difficult decision"_ by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Sep 17, 2015 10:59 AM UTC  Thousands of people gather to hear Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during a campaign rally at the Prince William County Fairground September 14, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. Thousands of people gather to hear Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during a campaign rally at the Prince William County Fairground September 14, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Sep 17, 2015 10:59 AM UTC When Bernie Sanders was attacked by a hardened team of political operatives who dished dirt on him to reporters, the Vermont senator sniffed and turned to what he knows best: the moral of the story. “That’s what negative campaigning is about,” Sanders tells TIME in an interview for this week’s cover story, responding personally to an attack against him by a [Hillary Clinton-affiliated super PAC](http://time.com/4028995/hillarys-bulldog/), Correct the Record. Clinton’s surrogates finally bared their teeth this week and attacked Sanders after months of watching him surge in the polls, linking Sanders in opposition research sent to a reporter with the socialist authoritarian president, Hugo Chavez. The research pointed to a program Sanders negotiated to buy discounted Venezuelan heating oil for low-income Vermonters; Sanders pointed out to TIME that Vermont was the sixth state to do so. “To connect that to all of Chavez’s views or activities is preposterous,” Sanders says. “I think it’s very unfortunate, and that is the kind of politics that I am trying to change.” It’s the answer of a candidate who has never played politics like his rivals. The prevailing brand—barbed attacks, research passed to favored reporters in private emails, well-funded research machines—is anathema to Sanders. He has no super PAC and a only a thin staff at his headquarters in Vermont, with little manpower to research dirt on his opponents. This is a strategy Sanders doesn’t know how to employ. Soap opera, Sanders scoffs. In a traditional campaign year, his would be a losing stance. But in a year of deep disappointment with the political status quo, the usual rules don’t apply. Sanders’ above-the-belt approach reflects the purity of the movement that he is seeking to build, and it’s what has brought crowds as large as 28,000 in Oregon and 11,000 in Arizona. Sanders’ “political revolution”—a sweeping far-left platform that includes universal healthcare, free tuition at public universities, a $15 minimum wage and comprehensive campaign finance reform—doesn’t dwell long on personal slights. ### See the 2016 Candidates' Campaign Launches  Sen. Ted Cruz kicked off his campaign for 2016 Republican presidential nomination at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. on March 23. Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images  Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul launched his bid for the Republican nomination at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville on April 7\. Supporters held signs with the slogan "Defeat the Washington Machine / Unleash the American Dream." Amy Harris—Corbis  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her campaign in a YouTube video posted April 12 that has been seen nearly 4.5 million times. One boy featured in the video boasted about playing a fish in a school play. Hillary For America  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced his campaign for the Republican nomination during a rally at the Freedom Tower in Miami on April 13\. He took a drink of water during the speech, a callback to his State of the Union response in 2013. Wilfredo Lee—AP  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced his bid for the Democratic nomination across the street from the U.S. Capitol on April 30, 2015\. The backdrop was unusual, since most candidates rail against Washington. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson announced his bid for the Republican nomination at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts May 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The launch featured a gospel choir covering Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Bill Pugliano—Getty Images  Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina announced her campaign for the Republican nomination in a conference call on May 4, then went on "Good Morning America" to talk to George Stephanopoulos. Lou Rocco—Getty Images  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced his campaign at a community college in his hometown of Hope, Ark., on May 5\. Singer Tony Orlando (right) performed. Left: Danny Johnston; Right: Matt Sullivan—Getty Images  Republican presidential candidate and former New York Governor George Pataki (C) greets supporters after formally announcing his candidacy for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Exeter, N.H. on May 28, 2015. Dominick Reuter—Reuters  Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee announces his candidacy for the democratic presidential nomination at George Mason University in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announces his 2016 presidential candidacy in Central, S.C. on June 1, 2015. Erik S. Lesser—EPA  Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is joined by his wife Katie O'Malley (R) as he announces his intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination during a speech at Federal Hill Park in Baltimore on May 30, 2015. Jim Bourg—Reuters  Former Texas governor Rick Perry announces his candidacy for Republican presidential nominee at an event held at Addison Airport in Addison, Texas on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Louis DeLuca—Dallas Morning News/Corbis  Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush waves on stage as he announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination during an event at Miami-Dade College - Kendall Campus in Miami on June 15 , 2015. Joe Raedle—Getty Images  Donald Trump holds up his financial statement showing his net worth as he formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during an event at Trump Tower in New York City on June 16, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Republican presidential candidate and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Kenner, La. on June 24, 2015. Jonathan Bachman—Reuters  Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie formally announces his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during a kickoff rally at Livingston High School in Livingston, N.J. on June 30, 2015. Brendan McDermid—Reuters  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker greets supporters after announcing that he will seek the Republican nomination for president in Waukesha, Wis. on July 13, 2015 . Scott Olson—Getty Images  Ohio Governor John Kasich arrives on stage to formally announce his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during a kickoff rally in Columbus, Ohio on July 21, 2015. Aaron P. Bernstein—Reuters Some 182,000 people have asked Sanders how they can volunteer, setting up tables in farmers markets, canvassing door-to-door and preaching the word on colleges quads and sports arenas. Stories abound of supporters such as Bob Friedlander of New Hampshire, who left his position as a palliative care doctor to volunteer full time, or Corbin Trent of Tennessee, who sold his food truck business and campaigns full time for Sanders, driving around the state on his own dime. They say they are attracted by Sanders’ authenticity—pointing to his nearly 50-year-long career as an activist—and his vision, which sounds like a progressive’s Shangri-La: healthcare for all, a trillion-dollar jobs program and big money out of politics. Most observers say Sanders’ movement is a quixotic gesture, destined to die a demographic mess if he fails to shake Hillary Clinton’s firm support from African-American voters. Sanders says his fight is aimed at challenging Washington interests. He sees clearly drawn moral lines, pledging to fight an issue-based campaign that he hopes will mobilize millions. “In this fight we are taking on the greed of the billionaire class,” he tells TIME. “And they are very, very powerful and they’re going to fight back furiously. And the only way we succeed is when millions of people stand up and decide to engage.” As Sanders surges in the presidential race and overtakes Clinton in New Hampshire and Iowa, he is beginning to draw fire from the frontrunner’s surrogates. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Clinton supporter, criticized Sanders for not reaching out to the Hispanic caucus in Congress. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo compare Sanders unfavorably to Clinton, and Sen. Claire McCaskill in June suggested Sanders is too liberal to be elected. Clinton has complimented Sanders obliquely, saying he’s done a good job campaigning, but she has not mentioned his name on the trail. **Read More:**[_The Presidential Candidate Who Agrees the Most With Pope Francis_](http://time.com/3661552/bernie-sanders-pope-francis/) Brock’s super PAC, Correct the Record, is one of the organizations that can spend unlimited sums of money this election cycle thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United. Sanders, meantime, vows to overturn the decision with a constitutional amendment, and he does not have a super PAC. For his own part, Sanders has not restrained himself in criticizing Clinton’s positions, and he can tick off their differences one by one. “Secretary Clinton and I have very significant disagreements on a number of issues,” Sanders says. “How we deal with Wall Street. I believe in reenacting Glass-Steagall and breaking up these big financial institutions, she does not. Our views on foreign policy will be different. I voted against the war in Iraq and she didn’t.” “I believe in raising minimum wage nationally to $15 an hour and I don’t believe that’s her positions,” Sanders continues. “I believe we have got to kill this Trans Pacific Partnership, that is not her position. I believe we have got to stop the Keystone Pipeline, she has not made a position on that. I voted against the USA Patriot Act she voted for it.” Sanders often cites Pope Francis, saying he admires the Pope’s advocacy for the poor and screeds against income inequality. When the Pope visits Washington next week, Sanders will be cheering him on. “The message to the Pope is: Keep doing what you’re doing,” Sanders says. To read more of TIME’s interview with Sanders, check out the magazine story [here](http://time.com/4038080/the-gospel-of-bernie/). ### See an Intimate Portrait of Hillary Clinton  With an ice cream cone in hand, Hillary waves to the crowd in Weedsport, New York, as she heads to the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged in Auburn, New York, one of the stops on her Save America's Treasures tour, July 14, 1998. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Getting ready for President Clinton's second inaugural, Hillary gets her first glimpse of daughter Chelsea's short skirt. Jan. 20, 1997 Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  The President and the First Lady Share a private moment, one of their last in the Oval Office. Jan. 11, 2001. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Hillary checks her messages upon departure from Malta for the as-yet-undisclosed location, Tripoli, Oct. 18, 2011\. This photo was turned into a meme that circulated around the world. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Before an appearance with David Letterman, Hillary checks her BlackBerry while Diana Walker takes their picture. Feb. 4, 2008. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Hillary gathers her thoughts moments before her introduction at Nueva Esperanza Academy Charter High School in Philadelphia. Apr. 18, 2008. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Hillary walks up the steps of the US Capitol to meet with Senate leaders. May 16, 2006. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME  Hillary enters a Super Bowl party at a bar and grill in St. Paul Minnesota, where she watches the New York Giants win the game, Feb. 3, 2008. Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME ## Transcript [00:00] I do understand and I do believe that it is improper [00:04] for the United States government or state government, [00:08] to tell every woman in this country the [00:12] very painful and difficult choice that she has to make [00:15] on that issue. [ CHEERING ] And I [00:20] honestly, [ APPLAUSE ] Don't want to be too provocative [00:23] here, but very often conservatives say, get the [00:26] government out my life! I don't want the government [00:29] telling me what to do. [ APPLAUSE ] But on this [00:33] very sensitive issue, of which this nation is divided. [00:36] Right. A lot of people agree with you, a lot of people [00:39] agree with me. But my view is I respect absolutely [00:43] a family that says, no. we are not going to have an [00:46] abortion. I understand that, I respect that. But I would [00:49] hope that other people respect the very painful and [00:52] difficult choice that many women feel they have to [00:55] make, and don't want the government telling them [00:58] what they have to do. 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