Where are your eyes that looked so mild, when my poor heart you first beguiled? –Johnny I hardly knew ya, Dropkick Murphys.
Following his loss in Kentucky and win in Oregon last night, Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a pseudo victory speech excoriating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the so-called Democratic establishment. The new progressive movement, nee Liberals, speak of the Democratic Party as if it is some sort of secret cabal determined to undermine the will of the public. You may not agree with the total direction of the Party but equating the Party that brought you Social Security, minimum wage, child labor laws and Medicare with Republicans is flying in the face of logic. Even during one of the bleakest periods of my life, Jim Crow discrimination, President Johnson was pushing hard for Civil and Voting rights. The passing of these laws so angered southern Democrats that they no longer found a home in the Democratic Party and are now the roots of the Republicans Party.
Last night with the strains of, “Bernie or bust” chants wafting over the crowd, Senator Sanders proceeded to warn the Democratic Party, of which he has only been a member long enough to run for President, [so much for purity of position] that trouble is coming if Hillary Clinton is the nominee. From his surrogates like Jeff Weaver who likened Mrs. Clinton to being in league with the devil, I wonder if Mr. Sanders is becoming a victim of his own hype. For many years he has fought the good fight for the poor and underserved. He has challenged the power of money in politics and has been a consistent champion of the little guy.
I have to admit for the first time last night, as a long time card carrying and proud Democrat, I felt offended. I was not bothered by any media described attack tactics, that’s democracy and politics; I was offended by a man who claimed he was above the fray for so many years. I have listened to years’ worth of his speeches and intimate press conferences and have stood and applauded, but not last night. My friend is a Bernie guy and each time Hillary wins I prepare myself for the inevitable, “fix” claims. The complaints of the unfair Super Delegates process, rigged and closed primaries and how the distribution of delegates is handled. Mr. Sanders is a Super Delegate, he caucused with the Democrats to set the Party rules and his campaign had the same opportunity to organize as the Clinton camp. Sometimes you just lose.
I heard the same scream of foul play from the PUMAs when I supported President Obama in 2008. The stakes are a lot higher, we have someone advocating fascism running for the Presidency of the United States of America. Am I completely satisfied with Mrs. Clinton; of course not, I am not completely satisfied with anyone. I hope Senator Sanders dispenses with the lectures and veiled threats and goes back to the guy that first captured my attention, the spokesman for the little guy. The guy who said, “who cares about her damned e-mails” made sense.