CNN Host Compares Bernie Sanders To Coronavirus

CNN host Michael Smerconish has compared Bernie Sanders and his surge in the Democratic polls to the coronavirus outbreak.

His comment sparked outrage online as well as a storm of mockery.

RT reports: Smerconish made the outlandish comparison while discussing the prospects of the Democratic forerunner in South Carolina – the last of the four early states – which is voting in the Democratic primaries on Saturday.

“Can either coronavirus or Bernie Sanders be stopped?” the host wondered.

Here is @cnn's @smerconish casually linking Corona Virus and @BernieSanders in the same sentence. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/6i7Q4ucm1l

— Jordan (@JordanChariton) February 29, 2020

The comparison between Sanders and the virus – which has killed nearly 3,000 globally – was apparently deemed to be fine by the network, since it also appeared in the channel’s chyron.

The presenter’s ‘unconventional’ way of describing Sanders’ solid lead in the Democratic polls has since been met with an overwhelmingly negative reaction online, with many condemning the remark’s extremely poor taste.

Jesus, cnn, do better. https://t.co/t8Mfbur6tW

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 29, 2020

"Can either Coronavirus or Bernie Sanders be stopped?"

This is where media pundits put the most racially diverse coalition of working class people: in the same category as a viral disease pic.twitter.com/IWzrfSVAgA

— Nikola (@niktaylorde) February 29, 2020