Nearly two years may have passed since the 2016 presidential primaries, but the divide between the Democratic Party's establishment and progressive wings was still readily apparent during a feud this week.
Philippe Reines, a former adviser to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, took to Twitter Monday to castigate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) for being a "hypocrite" after he criticized Amazon for not paying taxes when Sanders himself has refused to release his income tax returns.
"You know what @SenSanders paid in federal income taxes last year? Hypocrite," Reines tweeted.
You know what @SenSanders paid in federal income taxes last year?
Hypocrite. https://t.co/BdfZiPvQyF
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 1, 2018
It didn't take long for Sanders' army of progressive supporters to pounce on Reines. The former Clinton spokesman, however, was more than capable of holding his own while being berated by self-described "Bernie Bros."
Writer Eoin Higgins specifically attacked Reines for being identified as "Original Guy" in New York Times reporter Amy Chozick's book. Chozick, who covered the Clinton campaign for the Times, described "Original Guy" in less than flattering terms, saying he often made sexist comments.
"Love to hear political commentary from 'Original Guy' that doesn't involve his repulsive, misogynistic comments to the women in his orbit," Eoin Higgins said.
"Listen Oink, if that’s your answer to Why didn’t Bernie release his taxes, then thank for making my point for me," Reines responded.
Listen Oink, if that’s your answer to Why didn’t Bernie release his taxes, then thank for making my point for me.
But I do love it when the Bros play to type and respond to any Bernie criticism with rage. Hypocritical rage since he wrote about raping women.
Rage On Oink!
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 1, 2018
Thank you for admitting two things:
1) Bernie’s folks held back
2) You’re going to need us in 2020— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 1, 2018
There will be a great group of Democrats to choose from.
And then there will be Bernie.
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 1, 2018
In politics 102 you learn the basic point that losing by 4 million votes is appealing to 4 million fewer people than required.
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 1, 2018
Reines obviously hadn't gotten his fill of antagonizing the senator's acolytes because on Tuesday he increased the scope of his attacks. He compared the fanaticism of Sanders' supporters on social media to "Assange minions"–supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange–and clarified the comparison wasn't "a compliment." Reines also expanded on his criticism of the democratic socialist by citing he was "Pro-Gun," "Pro-Russia," and "Not a Dem."
Forgot the trick of criticizing Bernie. His Bros are as rabid as Assange minions (Bros: I know you love Assange but most of us don’t; it wasn’t meant as a compliment).
All I said was he refused to release his taxes. But let’s add:
Bernie’s...
- Not a Dem
- Pro-Gun
- Pro-Russia— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) May 1, 2018
This isn't the first time Reines has openly called prominent members affiliated with the Democratic Party out for hypocritical behavior. In November, Reines lambasted Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) for saying President Bill Clinton should have resigned over his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.