Bernie Sanders: Democratic presidential candidate was less than impressed when questioned about Hillary Clinton's hair

'I am running for president of the United States on serious issues, O.K.? Do you have serious questions?'

Bernie Sanders is attracting support for his left wing campaign in the U.S.A (Getty)

We get it: As a woman running for President of the United States for a second time, Hillary Clinton has been – and probably will continue to be – the subject of at least mildly sexist media coverage and political attacks alike.

But how do you ask her leading Democratic primary opponent about it?

Over at the New York Times Magazine, Ana Marie Cox took a stab at it with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), opting for a somewhat coy approach.

Simply put, Sanders wasn't amused:

Anna Marie Cox:

Do you think it’s fair that Hillary’s hair gets a lot more scrutiny than yours does?

Bernie Sanders:

Hillary’s hair gets more scrutiny than my hair?

AC:

Yeah.

BS:

Is that what you’re asking?

AC:

Yeah.

BS:

OK, Ana, I don’t mean to be rude here. I am running for president of the United States on serious issues, OK? Do you have serious questions?

To be fair, Cox wasn't asking whether Clinton's hair deserves attention; rather, she was trying to ask Sanders what he thinks about the accusations that focusing on Clinton's hair is sexist.

But again, Sanders wasn't taking the bait.

Anna Marie Cox:

I can defend that as a serious question. There is a gendered reason —

Bernie Sanders:

When the media worries about what Hillary’s hair looks like or what my hair looks like, that’s a real problem. We have millions of people who are struggling to keep their heads above water, who want to know what candidates can do to improve their lives, and the media will very often spend more time worrying about hair than the fact that we’re the only major country on earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all people.

AC:

It’s also true that the media pays more attention to what female candidates look like than it does to what male candidates look like.

BS:

That may be. That may be, and it’s absolutely wrong.

Next question, please.

Copyright: Washington Post