OK, I realize there is virtually nothing you can write here regarding Bernie Vs. Hillary that will not result in a certain amount of nasty comments, on both sides. And I don’t expect to be the exception to that, although y’know…in my dreams.
Here’s my story.
I came to my support of Bernie via Thom Hartmann’s show. Every week for years I listened to “Brunch with Bernie.” It was an intimate platform, as radio can be. Bernie patiently, consistently, politely and endlessly answered questions from listeners. He was incredibly astute, well spoken, and always, respectful of his listeners and questioners. In fact, I think he was so stellar in that platform, that sometimes I don’t recognize the angrier Bernie, now on the stump in the presidential campaign.
There is no doubt in my mind that his biggest bling is in understanding the why and how of income inequality. He is as well versed and spoken in this as any politician I can think of…including Elizabeth Warren, who I think still maintains a certain distance from her constituents. Not Bernie. He reaches out. He really is a personal kind of guy, and I wish that showed up more in his national campaign, but I digress.
So. I have dedicated mostly my money, but also my time to amplify his voice and his chances. And I don’t regret a dime or minute of it. And I haven’t stopped in lieu of any supposed “inevitable candidate.” Yep, still sending money to Bernie, speaking up for him in my travels, where ever and however I can.
Of course, y’all know there’s a “but” coming. And here it is. I just refuse to fight for Bernie by tearing Hillary down. My first and foremost reason for this is that I don’t think it works. Anymore than I think tearing Bernie down works to gain Hillary supporters. In short, I don’t think any of it works that way.
I see the endless Bernie Vs. Hillary diaries here, rarely participate, but often read them and skim the comments, and I see NO forward motion for any of us in them, or whoever we’re going to vote for in the primary.
Look, in the end, ANY candidate must win it for himself/herself. There are few things any of us can say to change minds. Minds are not changed by endless diminishing of another’s opinion, by sniping and linking and parsing. People change their minds based on THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE, and IN THEIR OWN TIME.
So, it just might not be Bernie’s time to be the 2016 Democratic candidate. OTOH, anything can happen, and it might be just his time. What do I know? Nothing for sure, but one kind of sees the writing on the wall.
What’s important to me is NOW. Now, when Bernie is out there saying things NO DEMOCRATIC candidate has said in my lifetime. NOW, when whether he wins this thing or not, he had the courage to jump in and take it on. NOW, when young Democrats and liberals are learning the spectrum of voice in this party.
So I am a Bernie supporter. But I am NOT a Hillary hater. Not at all. I respect a lot of things about Hillary. She is one tough nut, and I like that. My God, I watched a lot of her response to 11 hours of grilling by the Benghazi! republican committee, and she blew my socks off with her resolve, her calm, and her command of the facts. She. Was. Awesome. She made Trey Gowdy sweat, grow a shiny angry face and look ridiculous. I love her for that.
As a progressive AND a Democrat, frankly, I feel we have an embarrassment of riches with just two--- OK, three for those Martin O’Malley fans---candidates. Our bench is actually the deeper bench, on substance and every measure of sanity, as we Democrats see it.
Remember, this is NOT true in the GOP right now. I know moderate republicans who are twisting themselves in knots right now---they feel they have no viable choice. Do y’all really think we’re in the same place? Do you think we have no viable choice if Bernie loses? Or if Hillary loses?
I think we do, whichever way it goes. And I’m keenly aware that Bernie might not win this thing, and I’ll be damned if I’ll support him by trashing Hillary. We all talk about how the Democrats can use primary GOP war statements in the general. Well, it goes both ways.
So yeah, Bernie lovers, I’m with you. But no, Hillary haters, I’m not with you. I’ll adapt to what comes, and I’ll be just fine with that, and I won’t have to plug my nose.
Like I said, I’m a different kind of Bernie supporter. But somehow, I think Bernie and I have a lot in common when push comes to shove.