Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Establishment gave the progressive wing of the party the finger and sadly we may just have to take it, for now.
As a real Democrat, as a person who believes in what the Democratic Platform had stood for, for decades, I think the Democratic establishment’s recent and past actions are positioning the party for defeat. They are snatching what can be a sure win to a narrow loss.
It was always clear that the DNC did not want Bernie Sanders to do well in the primaries. His policies are anathema to the Democratic Establishment, the corporate wing. I am of the firm belief that they did want Bernie in the primaries to siphon off the anti-establishment vote from another more ‘worthy’ contender that would challenge Hillary.
Bernie Sanders’ success shocked many. Many said then that Bernie Sanders had to fight not only Hillary Clinton but the Democratic Party itself, the DNC. It was not difficult to figure that out.
Bernie Sanders still garnered at least 43% of the vote to Hillary Clinton’s 55%. He did not win but it shows that the party has a large contingent of real progressives that are tired of the status quo.
As I head to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, I am torn. I am torn because no matter what happens now, Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Establishment have made a Democratic victory unnecessarily difficult. Yes, Wikileaks released the damaging proof that the DNC was actively trying to sabotage the Sanders’ campaign. But we all knew that. No establishment would ever have the intent to share power let alone give it up.
The selection of Tim Kaine as the vice presidential candidate shows not only a disregard for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. It shows a tone-deafness to the current political climate. It gives the Trump campaign a potent real-time narrative of disregard. After all, Tim Kaine just recently spoke out in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and signed on to new bank deregulation.
So what is a Bernie Sanders supporter to do? How does a Sanders supporter actively campaign for the head of a ticket that is severely flawed to many who believe in real progressive values, when they are codified by poor personnel picks? It will be difficult indeed.
Real progressives must not in disgust, stop a necessary movement. Setbacks occur in real life. Many expect setbacks to ultimately defeat movements. Perseverance is a must. A war is won only after the final battle irrespective of intervening losses.