Presidential Election

WikiLeaks Dump Could Confirm Sanders Fans' Worst Fears About The DNC

An email allegedly shows Democratic National Committee staffers plotting to hit Sen. Bernie Sanders on his religious beliefs.

WikiLeaks Dump Could Confirm Sanders Fans' Worst Fears About The DNC
Getty Images / Mark Wilson
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That WikiLeaks dump of Democratic National Committee emails happened as promised Friday. And one email allegedly shows DNC staffers plotting to attack Bernie Sanders' religious beliefs. 

The message from May says, "He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist. ... My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist." 

Sanders isn't actually named in the email, but in May, he was the only candidate with a Jewish heritage from either party. It's also not really clear if he's even an atheist. 

"I would not be running for president of the United States if I did not have very strong religious and spiritual feelings," Sanders said.

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But the idea that members of the DNC staff may have been plotting against a Democratic candidate is sure to piss off nearly everyone. Criticism of a "rigged system" to make sure Hillary Clinton was the nominee plagued the primary from the start. This is going to make it a lot worse. 

And if Clinton and Democrats need anything as they head into their convention next week, it's not protesters yelling about a rigged nomination.

According to The Intercept, the author of the email says he doesn't remember the message but says, "It would not have been Sanders. It would probably be about a surrogate." 

This video includes images from Getty Images, clips from C-SPANDemocratic National CommitteeHillary for America and Bernie 2016. Music provided courtesy of APM Music.