Bernie Sanders continues to play with fire. In an interview with the Associated Press, Sanders says the Democratic National Convention this summer could get “messy” if the party does not make the right choice. The AP reports:

Sanders said he will “condemn any and all forms of violence” but his campaign was welcoming political newcomers and first-time attendees of party conventions. He said the Democratic Party faces a choice of becoming more inclusive or maintaining the status quo.

“I think if they make the right choice and open the doors to working-class people and young people and create the kind of dynamism that the Democratic Party needs, it’s going to be messy,” Sanders said.

“Democracy is not always nice and quiet and gentle but that is where the Democratic Party should go.”

That message is bound to worry fellow Democrats, especially since Sanders is also downplaying the behavior at the Nevada Democratic convention. Sanders tells the AP he was “bothered” by the coverage because while there was “rowdyism” (which he agrees was inappropriate) there was no violence.

After the AP story was published, Sanders appeared on NBC’s Today show to clarify his “messy” remark. Politico reports:

“The media often takes words out of context. The context of that was that democracy is messy. That people will have vigorous debate on the issues,” Sanders told NBC News’ Kristen Welker in an interview aired Tuesday on “Today.” Asked whether the convention itself will be messy, Sanders replied, “Well of course it will be. But everything — that’s what democracy is about.”

Sanders also bristled at the suggestion that his staying in the race would hurt Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump, snapping, “I guess if we take your assumption, and Clinton supporters’ assumption, that that is the logical conclusion, we should go back to a monarchy and not have any election at all.”

Sanders is certainly not my cup of tea but you sort of have to admire a guy who, unlike everyone else (except perhaps Trump), refuses to be intimidated by the Clinton machine. He is willing to fight it out and even let it get messy despite Clinton’s none-too-subtle hints about what she wants Sanders to do.