Story highlights
Sanders on Sandy Hook families: "I don't think I owe them an apology"
Clinton: Attacks on my judgment "phony"
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squared off in a bruising Brooklyn debate Thursday night, less than a week out from New York’s critical – and increasingly contentious – primary.
Here are a few of the most memorable lines. (For the blow-by-blow, check out the CNN live blog.)
Clinton, with a light jab at Ted Cruz: “We worked hard to really keep New York values at the center of what we are and what we do together.”
Sanders on Clinton’s qualifications: “Does Secretary Clinton have the experience and intelligence to be a president, of course she does, but I do question her judgment. I question a judgment which voted for a war in Iraq, the worst foreign policy blunder in the history of this country.”
Clinton on her qualifications: “Sen. Sanders did call me unqualified. I’ve been called a lot of things in my life. That was a first.”
Clinton on questions about her judgment: “This is a phony attack that is designed to raise questions when there is no evidence or support to undergird the insinuations that he is putting forward.”
Sanders mocks Clinton’s comment on calling out the big banks:“Oh my goodness, they must have been really crushed by this. Was that before or after you received huge sums of money by giving speaking engagements?”
Clinton after Sanders struggled to name a specific instance when her bank ties influenced her behavior: “He cannot come up with any example because there is no example.”
Sanders on why he hasn’t released his tax returns yet. “(Sander’s wife) Jane does our taxes. We’ve been a little bit busy lately. You’ll excuse us.”
Sanders, questioning Clinton’s dedication to the “fight for $15”: “I am sure a lot of people are very surprised to learn that you supported raising the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour.”
Clinton questioning whether Sanders holds gun manufacturers to same standards as bankers: “We hear a lot from Sen. Sanders about the greed and recklessness of Wall Street. And I agree we’ve got to hold Wall Street accountable. But what about the greed and recklessness of the gun manufacturers and dealers in America.”
Sanders on whether he should apologize to Sandy Hook families: “I don’t think I owe them an apology.”
Clinton on the 1994 crime bill, signed into law by former President Bill Clinton: “I’m sorry for the consequences that were unintended and that have had a very unfortunate impact on people’s lives.”
Clinton on racism in America: “I want white people to recognize that there is systemic racism – it’s in employment, it’s in housing – but it’s in the criminal justice system.”
Sanders on why he called out President Bill Clinton for defending Hillary Clinton’s use of the term “superpredator” in the 1990s: “Because it was a racist term and everybody knew it was a racist term.”
Clinton suggests Sanders has no plan to deal with global warming: “It’s easy to diagnose a problem. It’s harder to do something about a problem.”
Clinton reacts to Sanders’ challenge on global warming: “I don’t take a backseat to your legislation that you’ve introduced that you haven’t been able to get passed. I want to do what we can do to actually make progress in dealing with the crisis.”
Sanders, to Clinton, on his support for a non-binding resolution to support the Libyan people during their Arab Spring protests: “Please do not confuse that with your active effort for regime change without contemplating what happens the day after. Totally different issue.”
Clinton on the financial cost of maintaining the NATO alliance: “Yes, of course, they should be paying more. But doesn’t mean if they don’t, we leave. Because I don’t believe that’s in (America’s) interests.”
Sanders on Israel’s 2014 use of force in Gaza: “Was that a disproportionate attack? The answer is I believe it was. … I believe the U.S. and the rest of the world have got to work together to help the Palestinian people. That does not make me anti-Israel.”
Sanders on Middle East policy and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: “There comes a time when, if we pursue justice and peace, we are going to have to say that Netanyahu is not right all of the time.”
Sanders points (north) to a country with universal health care: “I live 50 miles away from Canada. It’s not some kind of communist authoritarian country. They’re doing OK.”
Clinton on the importance of victories down the ballot in November: “There is still something call Congress. And I want Democrats to to regain a majority in the Senate so a lot of what we are talking about can actually be implemented when I am president.”
Sanders doubles down on plans for free public higher education: “Public colleges and universities tuition-free? Damn right! That is exactly of what we should be doing.”
Clinton on why debating Sanders can be frustrating: “It’s always a little bit challenging because if Sen. Sanders doesn’t agree with how you are approaching something then you are a member of the establishment.”
Sanders on his losses: “Secretary Clinton cleaned our clock in the Deep South. No question about it. We got murdered there.”
Clinton on the lack of debate discussion of abortion rights: “We have states, governors, doing everything they can to restrict women’s rights. We have a presidential candidate by the name of Donald Trump saying that women should be punished and we are never asked about this.”
Clinton with one final jab at Sanders in her closing statement: “Together, we won’t just make promises we can’t keep, we’ll deliver results that will improve the lives of people in New York and America.”
