(Added Note: This is a personal essay written with my fellow Bernie supporters in mind — particularly those who are threatening to not vote in November. To Hilary supporters, I congratulate you on your historic victory. Read on, if you like, but feel free to click elsewhere.)
I'm no stranger to political disappointment.
My first presidential election cycle (at 19) was in 1980. I voted for Ted Kennedy in the primary. Come November, as I was driving from work to my polling place, a little before 7 PM, Pacific Time, President Carter conceded the election to Ronald Reagan. I went in and voted for Carter anyway, just for the hell of it, even though the election was technically over.
In 1984 I became an early fan of Gary Hart and he was my primary choice. He was way in the back of the Democratic field that year (when the time came, I got behind the Mondale-Ferraro ticket, like any good little Democrat would), but for the next four years I read all I could by and about Hart, and was ready for him in '88.
Although an early leader in 1988, the Hart campaign went down in flaming hubris. Talk about disappointment: I'd just spent four years promoting the jerk who dared the press to follow him and "accidentally" discover him with his mistress. My second choice, Jesse Jackson, got my primary vote. Jackson didn't get the nomination either. I voted for third choice, third-rate, Mike Dukakis, in the 1988 general election. He didn't win.
In 1992 I distrusted Bill Clinton and the whole Democratic Leadership Council gang, but once my primary choice, Jerry Brown, was out of the race, I watched the Democratic Convention, drew a deep breath, and volunteered to help elect Bill. After a dozen years of voting, I finally backed a winner!
By 1994 I regretted having backed that winner. I had also grown tired of the smug arrogance of several of my local Democratic elected leaders. Shortly after the '94 mid-terms (probably in January of 1995) I quit the Democratic party and re-registered as a Green. Two decades before #DemExit became a trending topic, I made my stand for independence and progressive values. Whoopee!
In '96, as a Green, I was thrilled to support Ralph Nader, as I did again in 2000. (No, Nader did not elect Bush II, Gore's incompetence and the Supreme Court did that). Around 2004 or 2005 I did my #GreenExit and re-registered as "No Party Preference," and that is my status today.
2008 was different. There was a Democratic candidate I actually believed in more than any of my third party choices. Thanks to California's then-new Open Primary, I was able to vote for Barack Obama in the primaries, and again in November. I've rarely been more proud of my nation as when he won.
2012 looked like it might be close, so at the end of October I packed my bags, drove up to Reno, checked into a cheap hotel, and spent much of the week before the election going door-to-door in an evenly divided swing county in an evenly divided swing state, and we re-elected Barack Obama. He's not perfect. I have many disagreements with what he's done. But I'm still proud, and I'm still thankful.
And then in 2015 an upstart Independent Senator from Vermont announced he was running for the Democratic Party's nomination for President. Many people laughed and said, "Bernie who?" I was thrilled.
I still remember reading about Bernie Sanders back in the early '80s when was first elected Mayor of Burlington. It was probably a small piece in Mother Jones (or something similar) about the crazy new Socialist Mayor. I have followed and admired Bernie since that day thirty-five years ago.
Of course I supported him in the primary. Not only was I already a fan, but he was the candidate I agreed with on more issues than any other candidate in this or any other election of my life.
I also have a strong dislike for Hilary Clinton. Not because of emails/Benghazi/or other bullshit "scandalous" innuendo, but because of her stated positions and her record. She is a hawk. She has never met a war she didn't like. She thinks Obamacare is just fine as is, and is not interested in adding a public option. Etc., etc.
So, am I disappointed with Bernie's endorsement of Hilary? Am I a #BernieOrBust kind of guy? Or will I support Hilary, regardless of my views?
How about No, No, and Maybe.
Bernie Sanders hasn't survived a 35 year political career as an independent outsider, from small-town Vermont to the US Senate and a strong presidential run by not being realistic and pragmatic. I knew from the start that this moment was likely, and that he would not be overcome with ego or pride and cut out on his own. That's actually part of what makes him such an honorable and worthy public servant. Anybody who expected Bernie to split the Democrats and run solo is a newcomer to Bernville and a bit naive.
So, yes, I was prepared to accept Hilary as the nominee this week, and to support her election in November. I had hoped to write a blog this week extolling her virtues and what a great President she would be. But she makes it so damned hard.
Her bringing on disgraced, out-going DNC Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, as "honorary campaign chair" - the very same day that DWS was forced to resign the DNC - was pretty much of a final straw for me. Wasserman Schultz was sworn in her position to remain neutral between candidates and help the party pick the best candidate. Instead she manipulated and plotted and made sure that Clinton won and Sanders lost. Clinton embracing her and bringing her on is a huge middle finger pointed at everybody who supported Sanders. (Yes, DWS' new campaign job is "honorary" and unpaid, but she's still a visible part of the campaign, and optics are everything in politics).
It also shows how insular and unaware the Clinton campaign is. In any previous election year her tactics would be correct: post-primary you tack to the middle to secure the cross-over vote. Well there is no more middle. Or, rather, she is what's left of the middle. To win she needs to tack left and pull in the disaffected Democrats and independent progressives who backed Bernie (or would have backed Elizabeth Warren). That she missed that point (with her VP choice and the DWS affair) leaves her extremely vulnerable and may have lost her the election.
I almost wish I were still a Democrat just so I could #DemExit with the others and tell them to take a hike all over again.
In any other year I would easily move over to supporting Green Party candidate, Dr. Jill Stein. I have far more areas of agreement with Stein than I could ever have with Clinton. But this is not just any year.
The best argument for Hilary that I keep hearing is, "We've got to stop Trump." And I agree. While a Clinton presidency would be frustrating and useless (at best), at least I'd be sure we'd have another chance in 2020. With Trump I am seriously not so certain.
Trump is a man who has spoken with admiration about various dictators and their ability to maintain order. He has spoken with venomous hatred (and growing cheers) about banning Muslims and deporting Mexicans. Once his people get their first taste of blood with that, do you really think they'll stop there? As a Jew, I know I'm not far down the list of "who's next."
Watch what's happening right now in Turkey, where an attempted coup is enough for the President to assume emergency powers, and clamp down on democracy. Teachers are banned from travel, the purge is starting. It can happen here just as easily. Some national emergency - real or imagined - and President Trump will cling to power like he clings to his hair and the Constitution will be over.
We've now made the leap from "Vote your hopes, not your fears," to, "Vote your darkest fears. Please!"
"Stop Trump" is not an inspiring slogan; it is a strategy. So here's my suggested strategy:
If your state is at all a toss-up (polls show Clinton and Trump within 9 points of each other), vote to save the Constitution, and put up with Clinton for four years.
But, if your state is a sure bet for either Clinton or Trump (polls showing a lead of 10+ points), vote however your conscience dictates. Whatever you do, just please vote.
If you're a first-time voter who supported Bernie, don't give up! We will need you more than ever in the coming years. Keep fighting and keep voting! Look at the down-ballot races and fight for the most progressive candidates you can find for the House, the Senate, your State Legislature, and on down the line. As outlined above, I have been disappointed again and again. But I have never yet given up.
And if you're a first-time voter (whomever you supported), and you're over 30, and thinking of not voting again, you are part of the problem. If you've had the opportunity to vote in the past and sat on the sidelines, you're part of why we are in the predicament we're in now. I'm thrilled you finally voted, consider this a practice round, and keep doing it till we get it right.
Democracy isn't something you dabble in casually when you feel like. It's something you do and fight for every day of your life. Motivation feels difficult today, but we've got a job to do.