Is there an excuse for the “bloodsuckers” remark? That has the overtones of blood libel and is a well-known antisemitic epithet.
Blood libel? Really? I doubt that many people associate the term “bloodsucker” with Jews and/or blood libel. Most people think of “bloodsuckers” as a person or entity who works to take everything away from another without mercy. This terms applies to “people” who fit the description.