Senator Bernie Sanders has lead a revolt through the Democratic Party over the last several months, crashing the Hillary Clinton coronation and getting under the skin of the Democratic National Committee. Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, never once hiding her bias, kept the primary in the bag for Clinton. Superdelegates have been Chairwoman Wasserman Schulz’s willing army of disciples keeping the party establishment on track.
But to his credit, Senator Sanders stayed in the race and fought through each primary state. His movement expected him to stay in until the end and it became clear over time he was serious about fighting for his electoral chance.
But in order for an election to become a movement, there has to be a willingness to go against the political grain.
Senator Sanders already foreshadowed his imminent capitulation to the establishment weeks ago after meeting with President Barack Obama and Clinton herself. After these meetings, he stated that he would work with Clinton to prevent probable Republican nominee Donald Trump from becoming President.
In order to stop Trump from becoming President, there are a few options. Senator Sanders could vote for Hillary Clinton, who the Associated Press nominated for the Democratic ticket. This would not be in step with his own movement of progressives, but it would appease the Democratic establishment and put his political career in better standing.
But if you’re going to step up your game and stand up to anti-progressives, Clinton is not an option.
There is Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico with a libertarian lite philosophy that leans to the left. Recent polls have shown he actually beats Clinton among Independents, which Senator Sanders has long identified with as a United States Senator.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein is likely more left-leaning however, and has made more open attempts to attract progressives. She has even gone as far as offering to share her Green Party ticket with Senator Sanders.
Stein has also made the case that Clinton is worse than Trump, because whereas Trump has words, Clinton has a history of terrible actions.
Senator Sanders has now all but confirmed what many suspected he would do, by revealing he would be voting for the AP-nominated Hillary Clinton in the upcoming general election.
The reasoning behind Senator Sanders finally caving and selling out his movement is the idea that Donald Trump would be a disaster for the United States of America as President. While this isn’t wrong, it’s a stretch to admit that Hillary Clinton is a good alternative.
Hillary Clinton has a long record of disregarding the law, mishandling classified material, supporting big government, wanting to imprison whistleblowers against the surveillance state, and encouraging undeclared conflicts as part of her constant push for war.
If Senator Sanders can comfortably say he’s voting for Hillary Clinton in November, knowing all of the things he criticized her for, he’s a sell out. It shows he never seriously considered her a bad candidate and never seriously took issue with who she is as a politician or potential leader.
If the future of the progressive movement is a sell out like Senator Bernie Sanders, progressivism is dead.
