Not much you can do but wonder what the heck is going on.
Today, a prominent Democratic blog owner (and our fine host here) posted yet another in a running series of vulgar, insult-ridden tirades at the Sanders campaign staff — and this time, Sanders himself — for their sore-loserish groaning about the Southern blowouts they suffered. It’s true they took it hard, with Sanders continuing to grumble even now that the South should not be so front-loaded in the primary schedule.
The questionable merits of the fruits of Sanders’s bitter chagrin aside, we’ve seen, here and elsewhere, Sanders getting repeatedly raked over the coals for every racially dubious misstep, whereas similar and rather prominent missteps by his opponent have been passed over in judicious silence.
That is partly due to the many years of wildly successful relational politics established by the Clinton couple with communities of color across the nation. That trust and familiarity is tough to compete with for any politician not ultra-conversant in listening to, discussing with, and connecting with non-white audiences in all regions. And it has gained them some well-merited cover for overlooking their occasional, ahem, wayward moments.
But it is also partly due to the powerful political machine of the Clintons, and the terrific sway it wields over down-ballot candidates far and wide. And our fair host along with many Hillary supporters have not shied away from valorizing that fund-raising, networking tangle of alliances, and criticizing Sanders for being, supposedly, unable to generate the same:
Sanders has undoubtedly activated a core group of people, one that could have incredible influence in our politics moving forward. But that will require broadening their portfolio of candidates so that their impact is felt up and down and in every corner of every ballot.
And as we’ve seen, that rather sane critique has been taken up and beaten into the ground by Hillary supporters with vehemence and hostility in no small part fueled by the repeated personal taunting sent the way of Sanders campaign managers — and now, Sanders himself — by our fearless leader.
Sanders is not a real Democrat, Sanders won’t help anyone down-ballot, Sanders will destroy the party from within, Sanders is only out for Sanders, Sanders and his supporters are #BernieSoWhite and just don’t care about people of color.
Oh really?
Well guess what Bernie Sanders has been up to all this time?
While kos and the Bernie Bashers here were busy incinerating their straw man Sanders, Bernie went out and walked the walk. In style:
Bernie Sanders Reaches Down Ballot To Expand His Political Revolution
On Wednesday he endorsed three Democratic candidates for Congress, all women, one white, one Indian-American, and one Latina. Two of them are running for competitive seats now held by incumbent or retiring Republicans. Hmmmm. That doesn’t sound too much like a racially conflicted bro-driven anti-Democratic selfish one-man operation only and ever about his long-shot Presidential run.
Doesn’t sound like the acts of a delusional dick to me.
But can he have an influence on the races?
Take Nevada’s 4th District, where Sanders-endorsed progressive Democrat Lucy Flores is running for the Democratic nod to unseat Republican incumbent Cresent Hardy. Sanders sent out one fundraising email for Flores Wednesday.
One email.
How’d he do, 24 hours later?
Bernie Bashers, STFU.