WATCH: Bernie Spokesperson Equates Questions About His Medical Records To A ‘Smear’ Campaign
Voters might want to know the health status of a 78-year old who suffered a heart attack a few months ago. Is that a ‘smear’?
According to Briahna Joy Gray, National Press Secretary for the Bernie Sanders campaign, the answer is “yes.”
Gray was speaking to John Berman on CNN’s New Day about Bernie refusing to release his medical records after suffering a heart attack and requiring surgery while on the campaign trail in October.
She said that Bernie is only going to release as much as “any other candidate” on the field right now and historically. Gray added that it’s “reminiscent” of smear and skepticism campaigns in the past which questioned where they were from or aspects of their lineage.
Apparently, wanting to know if Bernie is healthy enough to finish a possible 4-year term in an incredibly stressful job is tantamount to birtherism.
That is one helluva spin!
But she doesn’t stop there.
Gray then goes on offense and says that it’s telling that nobody is asking these questions about Michael Bloomberg who is the same age as Bernie and claims that he has also “suffered heart attacks.” This last statement is apparently false, as confirmed by Bloomberg’s campaign.
JUST NOW: Press Sec for @BernieSanders equates questions on his medical records to "smear" campaign. & claims @MikeBloomberg has "suffered heart attacks."
Bloomberg had an irregular heartbeat & stents. But I've seen no record of attack. Checking now.pic.twitter.com/iW5Ag2xbUt
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) February 19, 2020
CNN’s Jake Tapper tweeted a response from Bloomberg’s campaign along with a fact-check.
2/ Sheekey says Bloomberg has annual physicals at Johns Hopkins, part of which are cardiac stress tests. “In 2000 he had a stent put in as a result of the test,” he says. Bloomberg, a pilot, “reported it to the FAA as required.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 19, 2020
4/ “It’s really telling none of the same concern is being demonstrated for Bloomberg, who suffered a heart attack in the past,” she said.
Which is apparently false.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 19, 2020
It seems reasonable to request the medical records of a man who would be 79 by the time the election rolls around in November and — in the unlikely event that he won — would be 82 years old at the end of his first term.
For a little perspective, President Reagan was 77 years old when he left office after two terms.
We have several septuagenarians running for the highest office in the land, and it seems like a reasonable thing to ask what the status of their health is right now. There are clearly no guarantees, but it would be nice to know if someone who is 70+ has a catastrophic illness or some health condition that would sideline him/her requiring handing over control to the Vice President.
Do you know who agrees with that? Bernie Sanders circa October 2019.
Sanders in October (when he said Joe Biden should release his records!)
"I think when you're running for President of the United States the American people have a right to know the condition of your health. I think that is a standard that should be applicable to all candidates." https://t.co/i2bFkvKkT5 pic.twitter.com/xtFMgQghS1
— Zach Parkinson (@AZachParkinson) February 19, 2020
Do you agree or is that an invasion of privacy?
Let us know what you think in the comments.