Sanders dismisses Carville advice for Democrats to ‘roll over and play dead’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dismissed Democratic strategist James Carville’s advice for Democrats to “roll over and play dead” in the face of Republican control.

Sanders joined NBC News for “Meet the Press” on Sunday, when host Kristen Welker asked him about his recent speaking tour across the U.S. and Carville’s comments about the party in an op-ed.

“Democratic strategist James Carville wrote this: ‘Roll over and play dead, allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight and make the American people miss us,’” Welker said. “Senator, what say you? Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“No, I don’t,” he replied. “In fact, the problem is the Democrats have been playing dead for too many years.”

He highlighted the wealth inequality across the country, a topic he’s been passionate about for decades. By disagreeing with Carville, Sanders is exposing the differing views on how top Democrats think they should respond to the influx of Trump administration action.

“I don’t think you play dead. I think you stand up for the working class of this country and make the point that right now, the Trump administration is clearly an administration designed to represent the interests of the [Elon] Musk’s of the world,” Sanders said.

Carville in recent weeks has argued that the Republican Party and Trump administration will work against itself, and Democrats need to sit back and let it happen. He said he believes the administration will “collapse” within a month.

Sanders disagrees and has launched a tour titled “Fight Oligarchy,” intended to rally the Midwest, particularly in unstable Republican districts. There, he’s criticized tech billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the government and attempted to highlight the administration’s plans.

“What we have right now in Washington, let me be very clear, is a government of the billionaire class, by the billionaire class and for the billionaire class,” Sanders said on NBC.