Sanders: Clinton attacks me ‘every single day’

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders defended his recently hostile tone toward front-runner Hillary Clinton on Friday morning, saying her campaign is the one that’s truly gone negative.

{mosads}”We get attacked every single day,” Sanders said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “I’ve been called the protector of the [National Rifle Association]. The Clinton campaign has said I want to dismember American healthcare, leave people without Medicaid or Medicare; that I am attacking Planned Parenthood, when I think Planned Parenthood is one of the great organizations in this country.”

Sanders said it was Clinton who struck first in a recent spat over if the two are qualified to be president, and he said he’s been holding fire on certain topics.

“How often have I talked about Hillary Clinton’s emails? Have you heard me? Not a word. How often have I talked about the Clinton Foundation’s fundraising? Have you heard me say one word about it during the campaign?”

The Vermont senator denied that his comments about Clinton have been vitriolic.

He was also pressed about praise he had given Clinton in 2008 when President Obama tapped her for secretary of State. Asked what has changed since then, Sanders said, “She’s running for president now, that’s what changed.”

“Look, I think she is very bright, and I’m not going to get dragged into telling you something that is not true. I’ve known her for 25 years; I respect her.”

Still, Sanders defended his escalating rhetoric, saying that the Clinton campaign has resorted to negative attacks.

“What am I supposed to do? Just sit back and say ‘Hey, I come from a small state, we’re really nice people,’ we gotta fight back and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“Let’s get back to the issues,” he added.