Bernie Sanders believes in transformational politics – in a campaign which aims to break the corporate stranglehold on Washington to place people first in meaningful, practical ways. It's what drives his focus on wealth inequality, his fight against Citizens United, his championing of a living wage.
However, for someone who is running a campaign focused upon meeting the needs of those most oppressed by the current state of affairs in America, Sanders fails miserably when confronted by those very people who have needs which fall outside his specific focus.
We saw this at Netroots Nation just days ago. While trying to speak on economic matters, Sanders was interrupted by Black Lives Matter activists, demanding that he say the name of Sandra Bland and acknowledge the suffering of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.
His initial response was this:
"Black lives of course matter. And I spent 50 years of my life fighting for civil rights and for dignity. But If you don't want me to be here, that's okay."
Can anyone imagine President Obama responding to protesters by saying, annoyed,
If you don't want me to be here, that's okay while waving his hand in exasperation?
No, because that would not only be dismissive, but wholly unproductive and unsettling. Yet this is how Sanders responded before returning to his prepared remarks, continuing over the protesters voices for five minutes after saying, "The issue that we're talking about ..."
People may not realize that this is not the first time Sanders has shown little regard for those who disrupt and challenge on behalf of the weak, the suffering. A most striking example comes from last summer, during a town hall meeting in the small town of Cabot, Vermont, in which Sanders was challenged by pro-Palestinian progressives during Israel's assault of Gaza.
Yes, some of the attendees were disruptive and angry. However, Sanders responded to them in kind with anger, defensiveness and condescension, at one point yelling to an audience member, "Shut up! You don't have the microphone!"
You can see this part of the town hall meeting, in which Sanders loses his composure, below:
As one who is leaning toward supporting Sanders in the Democratic primary, these moments give me pause.
Can one who wants to lead this country—one who wants to do so with the interests of those most vulnerable in mind—be fully trusted when those who challenge him, also representing the oppressed and disenfranchised, are met with short-tempered condescension?
It's a question I've yet to answer, but one Sanders might want to resolve, and soon.
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David Harris-Gershon is author of the memoir What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, recently published by Oneworld Publications.