On Thursday, Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), endorsed a far-left Democrat candidate for Congress, Cenk Uygur, the founder of “The Young Turks,” who is running for Congress in disgraced former California Rep. Katie Hill’s 25th District.
Sanders said, “I’m endorsing Cenk because I know he will serve ordinary people, not powerful special interests. He is a voice that we desperately need in Congress & will be a great representative for CA-25 and the country.”
Uygur has previously said disparaging things about women, as well as endorsed raping animals (bestiality). Uygur said, “Obviously, the genes of women are flawed. They are poorly designed creatures who do not want to have sex nearly as often as needed for the human race to get along peaceably and fruitfully.” This comment is mild in comparison to other disparaging remarks he has made about women regarding his sexual organs.
Uygur said on one occasion “I believe that if I were the benevolent dictator of the world, I would legalize bestiality where you are giving, you are pleasuring the animal.”
On Friday, Uygur sent out a tweet rejecting all endorsements, including that of Sen. Sanders, writing, “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the endorsements of Bernie Sanders, Ro Khanna, Nina Turner & local progressive groups that gave me their support. Their stance took real courage in the face of the corporate media and Democratic establishment onslaught. I want to be free of any influence other than the voters of CA-25. I will not be beholden to corporations, lobbyists, or special interest groups and I will not stand by while those groups attack my political allies. That’s why I have decided that I will not be accepting any endorsements.”
After Uygur’s announcement, Sanders retracted his previous endorsement, writing, “[Cenk Uygur] has been a longtime fighter against corruption. However, our movement is bigger than any one person. I hear my supporters who were frustrated and understand their concerns. Cenk today said he is rejecting all endorsements for his campaign and I retract my endorsement.”
Sanders made no comment about Uygur’s misogyny or support of bestiality in his retraction.