Sanders unloads on Clinton for seeking the approval of accused war criminal Henry Kissinger: "I am proud to say he is not my friend"

Clinton said she doesn't know who he gets foreign policy advice from -- "It ain't Kissinger," Sanders replied

Published February 12, 2016 3:36AM (EST)

Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton (Credit: PBS)
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton (Credit: PBS)

Bernie Sanders was not the least bit impressed with Hillary Clinton's decision to defend her foreign policy credentials by touting her association with former Secretary of State under Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger.

"I find it rather amazing" that Clinton boasts about the support of Kissinger, "given that I happen to believe that Kissinger was one of the most destructive secretaries of state in the modern history of this country. I am proud to say that Henry Kissinger is not my friend. I will not take advice from Henry Kissinger."

In fact, he said, "Kissinger's actions in Cambodia...created the instability that allowed Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge to come in and butcher 3 million people -- one of the worst genocides in the history of the world. So count me in as someone who will not be listening to Henry Kissinger."

Clinton replied that "journalists have asked who you do listen to on foreign policy, and you have yet to answer that."

"It ain't Henry Kissinger!" Sanders replied.

Clinton boasted that she listens to a wide variety of voices, and that with respect to China, Kissinger's relationship to China is "extremely useful."

Watch the entire debate below via PBS NewsHour.


By Scott Eric Kaufman

MORE FROM Scott Eric Kaufman


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Bernie Sanders Democratic Debate Elections 2016 Henry Kissinger Hillary Clinton Video