During CNN's town hall in New Hampshire on Monday, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders argued that all convicted felons should have the right to vote, including the Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
"I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy. Yes, even for terrible people," said Sanders.
The controversial proposal riled The View co-host Meghan McCain and bashed the Democratic presidential candidate and called his comment "disgraceful."
McCain was fuming over senator Sanders's comments on Tuesday morning's broadcast:
"It is not hard to say people who commit acts of terror in this country should not only be punished but God forbid they should have any rights that any of us had."
You can watch McCain's frustration over the issue of felons having the right to vote as U.S. citizens in the YouTube clip of The View, below.
Bernie Favors Felons' Right to Vote | The Viewwww.youtube.com
McCain emphasized it is not difficult to distinguish between those who commit violent crimes and those who commit low-level crimes like marijuana possession to determine who gets to vote.
"It is not hard to put lines between terrorists and people who commit low-level crimes. It's not hard to say the Boston terrorist was a psycho lunatic who is a threat not only to national security but shouldn't be allowed the right to vote in any elections."
The topic ignited a spar between McCain and Whoopi Goldberg, who tried to keep the conversation relevant to whether or not a reformed convicted felon who has served their time should have the rights afforded to them as U.S. citizens.
McCain's tirade continued on Twitter, where she implied that Tsarnaev having the privilege to vote is "bat sh*t insane" and is "deeply offensive" towards the victims of the bombing.
"The man who commits one of the most massive acts of terrorism in this country where 3 people were killed and 264 were injured should have the same voting rights I do?"
"All Democrats have to do is not be crazy and this is bat shit insane and deeply offensive to the bombing victims."
McCain added that she may have written many 30-second opposition ads and that her criticism of Sanders is "just another one."
Many believed that a felon should retain his right to vote after serving time.
At CNN's town hall, Sanders was responding to a question from Anne Carlstein, a Harvard student, who asked:
"Does this mean that you would support enfranchising people like the Boston Marathon bomber, a convicted terrorist and murderer? Do you think that those convicted of sexual assault should have the opportunity to vote for politicians who could have a direct impact on women's rights?"
The presidential candidate intent on "creating a vibrant democracy," responded:
"If somebody commits a serious crime — sexual assault, murder — they're going to be punished. They may be in jail for 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, their whole lives. That's what happens when you commit a serious crime."
"But I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy. Yes, even for terrible people. Because once you start chipping away, you say, 'Well that guy committed a terrible crime, not going to let him vote,' or, 'That person did that, not going to let that person vote.' You're running down a slippery slope."
When moderator Chris Cuomo pressed the Democratic socialist further on defending the Boston bomber's right to vote while behind bars, Sanders said:
"This is a democracy. We've got to expand that democracy, and I believe every single person does have the right to vote."
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