Bernie Sanders is being accused of racism and sexism over this announcement

Democrats are accusing Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) of sexism and racism over his announcement that he would be giving his own rebuttal speech to the State of the Union speech from the president.

Why is this sexist and racist? Because Democrats have chosen Stacey Abrams, the failed candidate for the governorship of Georgia, to give their official response.

"Stacey Abrams is a great choice to deliver the Democratic response," Sanders tweeted. "I'm very much looking forward to her speech."

"For the third year in a row, following the Democratic rebuttal I'll be on Facebook Live, Twitter and YouTube to respond to Trump," he added.

But many on the left objected to his "upstaging" the African-American woman, despite the fact that he would be giving his response after hers, and that he had done so in the past as well.

"We hope that @berniesandersunderstands that in many progressives' minds he has a woman problem and a POC problem, and by presenting his own response it will just confirm those issues," remarked the account for the progressive radio station WMNF. "This doesn't have to be about his 2020 plans. Let @staceyabrams be front and center."

Liberal activist Leah McElrath accused Bernie of "erasure" of Abrams' voice.

"Bernie Sanders should reconsider doing his own response tomorrow," responded liberal filmmaker Adam Best. "Stacey Abrams, the first black woman to ever give a State of the Union rebuttal, deserves the spotlight. She's more than capable of mopping the floor with Trump without any help."

"Bernie sanders feeling the need to come after Stacey Abrams tomorrow should disqualify him from ever being taken seriously again," tweeted Don Calloway. "What an arrogant gesture."

Former Hillary Clinton campaign aide Charlotte Clymer said of the move, "it is so damn disrespectful."

"Just one day. That's all," Clymer tweeted. "Wait until the little hand does two complete cycles and have at it. Why is that so much to ask? Why is @BernieSanders choosing the same night as the first Black woman to deliver a State of the Union response? It is so damn disrespectful."

Others, like journalist Michael Tracey, mocked Democrats' over-exuberant attacks on Sanders over the announcement.

The State of the Union address will be made by President Trump on February on Tuesday after the president and House Speaker agreed on a bill to stop the government shutdown for three weeks.

Here's the latest on the SOTU speech:

Kellyanne Conway previews Trump's State of the Union addresswww.youtube.com