Watch Bernie Sanders Turn A Simple Town Hall Question Into A Civics Lesson No One Wanted

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders turned a straightforward question about bipartisanship into a winding civics lecture during the CNN Town Hall on Wednesday.

CNN hosted the event during “The Source With Kaitlan Collins,” where an audience member asked Sanders which Republicans he could work with to pass a continuing resolution and reopen the government. Sanders launched into a long, sprawling answer that drifted from basic lessons on American democracy to a broader criticism of GOP loyalty.

“There are some decent, honest Republicans, and, you know, in American society, we believe in democracy. You’re a conservative Republican. We disagree. So what? It’s called America. We have different points for you,” Sanders said.

Sanders then accused Republicans of caring more about pleasing Trump than representing their constituents.

WATCH: 

“We are seeing the Republican Party doing less of representing their districts and their states than just swearing allegiance to the President of the United States. So now, I never thought that I would say this, but you have somebody like Marjorie Taylor Greene saying, ‘You know what? I was elected by my constituents. That’s who I am beholden to, not the President of the United States,’” Sanders added.

Senate Democrats voted Tuesday to block a bipartisan measure that would have reopened the government as the funding lapse reached its 14th day. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led the opposition, insisting Republicans address rising healthcare costs before his caucus would agree to end the shutdown. (RELATED: Elizabeth Warren Lays Out What She’ll Do If Trump Sends Troops To Massachusetts)

Schumer has said he believes Democrats will gain politically from a prolonged shutdown, but recent polls show no such boost yet. Surveys continue to indicate that voters trust Republicans and the Trump administration more on economic issues.

Sanders went on to tell a story about Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis dropping his reelection plans. Sanders said President Donald Trump and wealthy donors turned on Tillis for opposing a bill.

“Thom Tillis, conservative Republican from North Carolina. When we’re debating this Big, Beautiful Bill, Tillis looks at the bill, he reads it, and he says, ‘This is a disaster for North Carolina. I can’t vote for it.’ Literally, the next day, Trump was all over social media,” Sanders said. “The billionaires were all over, saying, ‘OK, you’re finished. We’re going to primary you.’ And a day later, this guy says, ‘I’m out of here. I’m not running for reelection, all right?’ That’s where we are right now, and that is a very serious issue.”

Tillis announced in June that he will not seek reelection after facing growing pressure within the party over his vote against advancing a major tax and immigration bill.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.